The Empress Hotel

Introduction :
Hi, everyone! For this presentation, we chose The Fairmont Empress, formerly and commonly
referred to as The Empress, an important and imposing building, here, in Victoria. That luxury
waterfront hotel and national historic site is one of the oldest hotels in Victoria and an iconic
symbol of the city.

Location :
Located on 721 Government Street, the hotel is situated in Downtown Victoria, facing the city's
Inner Harbour. Surrounding the Empress are the Parliament Buildings, home to the Legislative
Assembly of British Columbia, and the Royal BC Museum. As part of the heart of Victoria’s city
center, Fairmont Empress is in the perfect location for guests to experience all the grandeur of the
local history. The hotel sits just steps away from whale watching tour providers, float plane
services and shops on the historic Government Street. It is also just a 30-minute drive from the
famous Butchart Gardens.

Ghost Stories :
Many haunting stories are associated with the Empress as it is one of the oldest hotels in Victoria,
BC. An unusually high number of ghost sightings have been reported at the Empress over the
years. Indeed it has been said that many visitors never left the place. The ghost of the hotel’s chief
architect, Francis M. Rattenbury, who was beaten to death in England in 1935 by his second wife’s
lover, is said to haunt the area where his picture hangs. The spirit of a woman who died of natural
causes in a room that was later demolished to make way for an elevator is said to roam the halls,
following people until they reach the elevators and then disappearing. In the 1960s, a construction
worker reported seeing a human figure swinging from the ceiling in a room where another worker
apparently hanged himself a year earlier. Other ghost stories include a young girl who appears in
one particular room and a maid who is seen cleaning on the sixth floor. These have all contributed
to the local legend that the Empress is haunted.

Historical Significance :
The Empress story began in the early 1900s when Canadian Pacific Railway wanted to build
chateau-style hotels across Canada to accommodate their affluent clients. They didn’t want to build
any hotels though. The hotels needed to be in iconic locations and in communities that would
showcase Canada’s breathtaking and diverse landscapes. They hired the well known architect
Francis Rattenbury to make this dream a reality in Victoria. The construction began in 1904 and
four years later, on January 20, 1908, The Empress Hotel opened. You should know that the CPR’s
network of hotels also includes the Banff Springs Hotel, Château Lake Louise and Le Château
Frontenac in Quebec. This hotel was named after Queen Victoria. The city of Victoria literally
grew up around the stunning Empress hotel, which has been the social and business center of this
city since it opened.

There have been three major renovations over the decades. In the 60s, Operation Teacup was a $4
million renovation that saved The Empress from being demolished. The $45 million Royal
Restoration in the 80s uncovered the magnificent stain-glass ceiling of the Palm Court. And last
but not least, the most recent restoration, Return of the Queen, is a $64 million facelift that was
completed in June 2017 and touched every part of the hotel which made the hotel that you see
today. Those renovations follow the sale of the hotel on June 27, 2014, to Vancouver-based
owners, Nat and Flora Bosa. Thanks to those renovations, the Empress hotel earned Forbes Four-
Star Hotel Award, proudly put us on the list of the 21 Most Iconic Hotels in the World and in 2020,
made Fairmont Empress the Best Historic Hotel in the Americas.

The Empress hotel was designated a Canada National Historic Site in 1981. In addition, it was
rebranded with the prefix 'Fairmont' in 1999. This led to a loud uproar and consternation by
Victoria's newspapers and its citizens, a decision they viewed as sacrilege. Although the new name
stuck, Fairmont made no changes to the hotel's original exterior signage, as a compromise to soothe
local anxieties and respect its heritage.

On another hand, there is also a British Royalty’s love affair associated with the Empress since its
beginning. In 1919, Edward Prince of Wales waltzed in the iconic Crystal Ballroom which was an
important event for the Victorians. Also, Queen Elizabeth 11 has visited Victoria every decade of
her reign. Other royals graced the Edwardians Hallways such as Princess Margaret, Queen Mother,
Will and Kate and many more.

Architecture :
The Empress hotel is noted for its picturesque Château-style design and decadent interiors. Francis
Rattenbury was a British architect although most of his career was spent in British Columbia. He
designed the province’s legislative building and the Empress Hotel. Rattenbury’s design for the
Empress can be understood as a Franco-Scottish Château style. It includes six stories in the
Château style — evidenced by the unadorned facade, steep roofline and asymmetrical floor plan
— but also incorporates elements of Tudor, Gothic, Baronial and Edwardian styles. The interiors,
designed by Kate Reed, are decadent, with coffered ceilings (sunken panels that form geometrical
shapes), classically inspired columns, a rich color palette and interior plants throughout. Lavish
ornamentation on the facade and within the interiors, including Tudor arches and Gothic flourishes
such as cornice quatrefoils and steep slate roofs with copper-covered dormers, creates the fairy-
tale quality typical of the Château style, which was a signature Canadian style during this period.
The result of this combination of styles was a social setting fit for aristocrats and a style of enduring
elegance.

As is often the case with older, high-profile hotels, phases of renovation, restoration and
maintenance have been required to keep the original spirit of the design intact. The hotel sold out
regularly during its first year, necessitating the addition of a North and South Wing, designed by
Painter, to address the need for more capacity. By the 1960s, the hotel was aging poorly and was
even considered for demolition. However, Fred Saunders’ four-hectare garden established a fresh
face for the hotel. Additional features such as specialty Chrysanthemum Tea, summer and winter
sports and attractions became available to the hotel’s visitors. Throughout all these renovations,
the hotel kept its Franco-Scottish Château style. Fun fact, until 1960 the hotel did not have a sign
above the front entrance.

The Ivy :
In the beginning, the hotel featured a lush green landscape and ivy-covered facade, which
distinguished it from its urban setting. They removed some of the ivy in 1989. Angela Rafuse-
Tahir, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing at the moment, said that during a renovation, a
60-foot root ball of ivy reportedly had to be removed from the ground after it caused damage to
the building, necessitating further repairs. They removed the rests during renovations from 2014
to 2017. The removal of the ivy was done to prevent damage to the bricks and to prevent animals
from living within the overgrowth.

Nowadays :
Nowadays, the Empress is still known as a hotel, but also as a national historic site of Canada since
1981. It has been recognized worldwide by many magazines, like National Geographics.

It became the most popular tourist attraction in Victoria for its traditional afternoon tea that is
served every day in the graceful tea room, which is a 138-seat lobby lounge, since the hotel’s
opening back in 1908. On the menu there is custom-made tea with a choice of 21 loose leaf teas,
sandwiches, scones and pastries, all homemade. The ingredients used are local and some are even
grown on the hotel’s rooftop garden or come from their honey bee apiary. One of the most
symbolic items is the warm raisin scone whose recipe has not been changed and was kept secret
across the years. It is served with cream and rich strawberry lavender jam made in house and
deeply beloved by the guests. It is believed to be a truly unique and memorable experience. For
supper there are many restaurants available within the hotel, like the Lobby Lounge, Q at the
Empress Restaurant, and the Q Bar.

Regarding the cost, it is no secret that it is a very expensive experience. The afternoon tea has a
price of $95 per person, the 412 rooms are available for prices varying between $485 to $4499 a
night depending on the size of the suite and the services. They also have spa treatments offered at
the Willow Stream Spa for $175 to $310. The Empress is also suitable for special occasions, like
meetings, proposals and weddings.

Conclusion :
In conclusion, it is now clear how unique the Empress hotel is by its unique location in the city, its
significance for the influx in tourism and the beauty of its architecture. That’s why we really hope
you get a chance to visit this imposing building, even if it’s just by walking through the lobby or
outside. Thank you! Here is our bibliography!