Anyone who walks along Government Street or Belleville Street in Victoria will not miss the majestic buildings of the famous Fairmont Empress Resort Hotel.
It ranks first in all the hotels on Vancouver Island in 2009. The hotel has long been accustomed to entertaining kings, queens, movie stars, Hollywood celebrities and many famous people.
In 1965, there was much debate on whether to tear this hotel down to make room for a more modern, functional high-rise one. One local newspaper warned the people that, 'Without this splendid relic of the Edwardian era, literally tens of thousands of tourists will never return. This is the Mecca, this is the heart and soul of the city.' The decision was announced on June 10, 1966: The Fairmont Empress would not be demolished. Instead she would embark on a $4 million campaign of renovation and refurbishment, named as 'Operation Teacup.'
One remarkable sight of this hotel is that red and green creepers are covering its walls and they have been so “shaved” that they leave out the windows and give “life” to this grand hotel.
In my opinion, its outlook is much better than that of our Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong. The hotel buildings also include Victoria Conference Centre and the Miniature World.
2 comments:
It was a wise decision not to demolish this building of splendour. Hope the beautiful creepers will live long.
Your first picture is well taken with a classical street-lamp at the front, then the grand hotel underneath the grand sky. Men's splendour and God's splendour in compliment with each other.
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