The History of Banff Springs Hotel
The Fairmont Banff Springs is a world famous hotel located in Banff National Park, Canada. It is also known as the Banff Springs Hotel. The hotel dates back to 1886.
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Canadian Pacific Railway
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William Cornelius Van Horne, the general manager of the Canadian Pacific Railway, determined in the 1880s that resort hotels along the rail line would increase passengers and lead to higher profits. Three other hotels were built along the line before he built Banff Springs.
Design and Construction
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Bruce Price designed the Banff Springs Hotel in 1886 and construction began in 1887. The following year on June 1, the hotel was opened to the public.
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Fire
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The original hotel experienced a fire in 1926 that destroyed the north wing. In 1928 the wing was rebuilt and opened to the public.
1930s
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In the 1930s the hotel became a high profile getaway for famous celebrities, including Queen Elizabeth. Frequent guest Benny Goodman even helped the city obtain its first landing strip because he wanted to fly his plane into town. The 1930s also brought the first golf course to the hotel.
Closing
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The Banff Springs Hotel closed in 1942 because of a lack of guests. World War II brought certain restrictions on American travelers, which were the biggest source of business for the hotel. It stayed closed until 1945.
Marketing
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In the 1970s the hotel began marketing itself towards foreign travelers from Asia and group tours. The hotel also began staying open during the winters when it was previously closed for the season.
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