Be seen in on line and in print

Hotels and
Resorts
See our original site for links to these properties.


New Development and Expansion (details to come)

Alberta Hotels
BC Hotels- BCYHA
Canada's Castles
Choice Hotels
Fairmont Airport
Harrison Resorts
Hotel History
Hotel humor
Hotel Packaging
Hyatt Regency
Sheraton Wall
Centre
Westin Grand
Whistler Hotels
Yukon Hotels

 


Famous Travel Posters by CPR

Canada's Famous Doors
of Hospitality

by Jerry W. Bird


Canada is dotted with famous hotels, inns, lodges and resorts; a few having existed since pioneer days, while others are but faded memories. Some of my favourite haunts remain as attractive and popular as ever, keeping up with the times, yet retaining their unique charm - those built during the hey day of Canada's two great continental railways. Victoria's elegant Empress, the Hotel Vancouver, the palatial Banff Springs and Chateau Lake Louise, Edmonton's Macdonald, Saskatoon's Bessborough, Regina's Hotel Saskatchewan and Calgary's Palliser are all prime examples.

Hotels\ AnimationFurther east, there's Winnipeg's Fort Garry, Toronto's Royal York, Quebec's Chateau Frontenac, Montreal's Queen Elizabeth and Ottawa's Chateau Laurier. How can one forget the Algonquin, a tudor style resort on the Bay of Fundy at St. Andrews by the Sea, a pleasant bus ride from St. John, NB. We enjoyed the Mother of all Lobster Feasts on the grounds of that historic property during a convention I helped stage for CGA-Canada. We have participated in many such events, worked on projects or enjoyed memorable stays at most of these superb hotels, the Banff Springs in particular. For several months, a suite in Edmonton's Macdonald Hotel served as our advertising agency's branch office.


Romantic Dream Vacation: Coast to coast rail trip, with overnight stops at several of these nostalgia-inspiring properties, including Victoria's Imperial Empress, Banff Springs Mountain Majesty and Quebec's charming Chateau Frontenac. It's a romantic, fairyland vacation for folks of any age. From Vancouver or Halifax. Train connections by Via Rail Canada, Royal Canadian Pacific and Rocky Mountain Rail tours. Contact Railways of the World Tours; fax (604) 681-6595, airhwy@dowco.com

Harrison Hot Springs Resort, near Vancouver also 'springs' to mind. It recalls a legend of CPR's glory days, when high rollers, from movie stars to royalty rode the Canadian Pacific Railway, staying at hotels and resorts at or near the main line. I am touched by that same spirit with each visit to The Harrison. And its always a happy return. We launched Air Highways Magazine there, when the BC Aviation Council selected me to speak at its 1996 Conference. Our publishing group is working on a history of that great resort and others for our Suite 2001 Program.

New Year's Eve 2001 Win New Year's Eve Dinner & Dance Package
The colors of fall foliage and the crisp morning air are just part of a relaxing getaway to Harrison Hot Springs. Soaking in our outdoor pools while light rain dances on the surface is a wonderful way to be proud of living on the west coast. For a limited time we have a weekend special and to keep the goblins away a Spooky Spa Special. Friday & Saturday October 26 & 27 rates start as low as $114.00 per night for a two-night booking. Wednesday, Oct 28, the Two Night Spooky Spa Special that includes full buffet breakfast, accommodations in the East Tower and a 55-minute Swedish massages at Healing Springs Spa is just $197.00 per person based on double occupancy.
Call 1- 800-663-2266 or reserve online
http://www.harrisonresort.com

Hotels along the Yukon

One winter, while finishing high school in Dawson City on my own, I earned my 'meal ticket' working at Curly Salois' Westminster Hotel, one of the more sturdy remnants of Gold Rush Days. For some reason Curly's place stood on its foundation, despite the heaving permafrost that left most older buildings lurching to the right or left at some crazy angles. Yes Virginia, they really did have meal tickets, and there really was a hotel named The Pearl Harbour, after Pearl Carswell, a family friend. Then there's the original Whitehorse Inn, which my grandfather, Ernie J. Somerton, almost won in a poker game with owner T.C. Richards, a legend in his time.

As a curious youngster, I had a great fascination for abandoned road houses, such as the Hollenbeck on the Klondike's North Fork. The Arlington near the Bonanza gold fields was still operating at the time. Each roadhouse was a nugget , in a chain of coach stops from Dawson City, via Stewart, Minto, Carmacks and Lac Le Berge to Whitehorse, head of rail and steamboat transportation. Apple Jimmy had the only fruit store in the Yukon , at a time when the only fresh fruit came by Paddle wheeler. We plan to name a computer column in his honor.

While attending Klondike Night at the 1997 British Columbia & Yukon Hotels' Association Convention, an old high school friend, Kip Fisher of Mayo mentioned that today's Yukon hotels are as modern as any on the outside. As guests at two Westmark Inns, while producing the Alaska Highway's 50th Anniversary video, I can vouch for this. Going to the Yukon this year? Perhaps you may relive some of the history I spoke of, and I can assure you the accommodation will be to your liking. The "Mile Houses" along the Fraser River during BC's Cariboo Gold Rush are another story we will enjoy telling soon.

At our Air & Marine Tourism Conference in Vancouver , Victoria's Kevin Walker, President of the BC-Yukon Hotels' Association at the time, spoke of how today's hoteliers can meet the challenge by creative tour packaging.
Reservations and information on many of the above mentioned hotels, including those in the fotomation sequence and vintage hotel posters are available from Fairmont hotels
www.fairmont.com

Fotomation- series of souvenir posters available
at Canadian Pacific Stores. Catalogue:
http://www.cphotels.ca.

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