One of Canada’s most famous hotels, and its second-largest, the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal has re-opened after a year of restoration, renovation and additions.
The iconic hotel, with over 1,000 rooms, closed a year ago, and re-opened June 10, with refurbished rooms, new restaurants, Montreal’s second-largest convention and meeting venue and more. The hotel is owned by Ivanhoe Cambridge, and operates under the Fairmont name. For many years, it was managed by Hilton.
Connected to Montreal’s main railroad station and the ‘underground city,’ it was built in the 1950s by the Canadian National Railway. It was originally to be named Chateau Maisonneuve, after the founder of Quebec, but when Elizabeth came to the throne during the planning, the head of CN insisted on the name.
The roster of famous guests is almost endless, including the Queen several times, Charles de Gaulle, Princess Grace, several U.S. presidents and scores of big-name entertainers. Perhaps some of the less-likely on the list are Fidel Castro, the first head of state to stay there, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who staged their well-publicized ‘bed-in for peace’ in Room 1742, where the original single of “Give Peace a Chance” was recorded.
Photo: RedAndr/Wikimedia
One of the finest restaurants I’ve ever had the privilege of dining at is the Beaver club within the Fairmont QE. It’s not a club — anyone can enjoy it, and it is to die for!