Photo by Riverwood Photography
Walking Through Time
with the Fairmont Palliser Hotel W r i t t e n b y R e n n a y C r a a t s | P u b l i s h e d b y B r i t t a n y Fo u q u e t t e
T
o walk the same halls as British royalty, Hollywood superstars and political heavyweights, Calgarians need only venture as far as the iconic Fairmont Palliser. For 110 years, this historic hotel has acted as the backdrop of the city, marking its evolution from within the hotel’s luxurious lobby, grand ballrooms and stunning guest rooms. Built in 1914, Fairmont Palliser helped transform the perception of Calgary from country to cosmopolitan and, in the process, open up the west to tourism and commercial destination in its own right. Canadian Pacific Railway pushed
across Canada and created a rail stop complete with a hotel before it reached its picturesque destination of Banff. “Everything revolved around rail travellers and Palliser was put here to satisfy the needs of travellers with luxury accommodation,” says Ken Flores, general manager of the Fairmont Palliser. “There was nothing like it in the city when it was built and for more than 50 years it was the tallest building not only in Calgary but across the prairies.” The Palliser became a beacon on the Calgary landscape, drawing discerning travellers in with its palatial
Fairmont Palliser Hotel | Celebrating 110 Years
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