Banff National Park is the oldest national park in Canada and is located in scenic Alberta. One of its landmarks is a very unusual building in the style of a grand Scottish baronial house. The Banff Springs Hotel was commissioned as a railway hotel by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company and opened its doors in 1888. The original construction was of wood and the hotel burned down in a fire in 1926, opening again two years later.
Fairmont Hotels and Resorts are the present owners of the gothic hotel and have recently completed a refurbishment program, expanding the amenities to include an exclusive spa, named the Willow Stream. The spa contains mineral spring pools, whirlpools, a steam room, sauna, hot tub and a fitness center. The resort hotel has a superb setting, above the Bow Falls in the Rocky Mountains. It is world famous for its championship 9-hole and 18-hole golf courses.
There is so much to do in the area for active guests. Banff Springs Hotels is a particularly good base for skiing and snowboarding with ski resorts nearby. There are four main areas; Lake Louise Ski Area, Mount Norquay Ski Area, Sunshine Village and Nakiska, where the 1988 Winter Olympic Games were held in 1988. There is also dog sledding, snowmobile riding, cross country skiing and heli-skiing.
The hotel can help guests to participate in various activities, such as mountain biking, water sports, tennis, hiking and horseback riding. Many guests also like to go canoeing, kayaking or on a boat cruise. Fishing enthusiasts can charter a fishing boat with a guide on board or go ice fishing. There is a choice of heated outdoor or indoor swimming pools and an ice rink. There are also coach tours and excursions to the surrounding area.
Diners are spoilt for choice, with seven restaurants on site at the Banff Springs Hotel. The best of American and Canadian food, wines and locally brewed beer is available alongside an Italian restaurant and a sushi bar. There is also a restaurant with a Bavarian theme, offering a menu of German and Swiss dishes and informal dining areas that provide snacks.
Business users are welcomed and there are facilities for meetings, conferences and banqueting. Meeting spaces in the Banff springs Hotel include three elegant ballrooms with space for large gatherings. Internet access and a fax service means that staying in touch with the office is easy and there is a photocopying and printing service and courier assistance.
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