Empress Hotel

The Empress—now officially named the Fairmont Empress—is one of Victoria’s oldest and most celebrated hotels. With an ideal location right in Downtown, facing the Inner Harbour, this Chateauesque-style hotel was opened in 1908 as one of the grand railway hotels of Canada.

About the Empress Hotel

Still commonly referred to as “The Empress”, the Fairmont Empress is a National Historic Site of Canada, and one of Victoria’s best lodging experiences. The convenient location of the hotel makes it a popular place for visitors to Victoria, with the Maritime Museum of British Columbia, the Victoria Bug Zoo, and the popular Inner Harbour all nearby.

Visiting the Empress Hotel

The Empress Hotel features 464 guest rooms and suites spread throughout the expansive building. A world-class spa, complete with a Finnish sauna and mineral pool, can also be found in the hotel, and every room features incredible views of gardens, the harbor, or the city skyline.

History

The Empress was originally intended to be the terminus hotel for Canadian Pacific’s steamship line. Designed for Canadian Pacific Hotels by Francis Rattenbury, The Empress was modeled after other successful grand railway hotels that were built in Chateauesque style.

Construction on the hotel took place from 1904-1908. While the original design included lavish features, like a Chinese-motif palm garden and oversized entrance hall, Rattenbury was relieved as the designer due to constant delays in the project—he was replaced by the Canadian Pacific Railway’s chief architect.

The stunning architecture of The Empress landed it on the list of National Historic Sites of Canada in 1981. In 1999, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts—a spin-off of Canadian Pacific Hotels—rebranded The Empress as the Fairmont Empress, sending a wave of controversy through the local area. Despite the opposition, the name stuck. As a compromise, the signage in front of the hotel still reflects the original name of The Empress. After changing hands through the following decades, the Fairmont Empress was sold a final time in 2014 to private owners Nat and Flora Bosa of Vancouver.

Interesting Facts

From its contribution in Chateauesque architecture to its 100+ year history, The Empress Hotel remains a top Victoria attraction and an incredible look into British Columbia’s past. With beautiful designs throughout, there’s no better place to stay when you want to be in the heart of Downtown Victoria’s action.

• Since its opening in 1908, the Fairmont Empress has undergone two expansions—one completed in 1912 and one completed in 1928.
• A major restoration of the historic hotel took place from 2015-2017, when $60 million was invested to bring the building back to its former glory.
• While the hotel reflects the design of most Chateauesque hotels with a stone and brick exterior, neo-Gothic dormers, turrets, gables, and copper roofs, it has the unique touch of incorporating other styles, such as Tudor and Second Empire.
• The majority of the hotel was covered with ivy until the completion of the restoration project in 2017, when the ivy was removed due to brick damage and issues with wildlife.
• The hotel has had many famous past guests, including Shirley Temple in the 1930s, King George VI, and Queen Elizabeth.

Points of Interest

Restored to its original glory, the Fairmont Empress has stood the test of time to be both a historical site and an exciting place to stay when visiting Victoria. With a mix of historic designs and modern touches, The Empress continues its legacy as a premier location in the heart of one of British Columbia’s most beautiful cities.