The Mount Royal Hotel, located in the heart of Banff, officially reopened its doors on July 1 to welcome the community and guests back to the historic property. After a devastating fire in December 2016, the hotel has been restored to its former beauty, seamlessly blending its storied heritage with thoroughly modern amenities and design.
“The reopening of the Mount Royal Hotel will provide a truly unforgettable Banff experience for today’s modern traveller, bringing together a thoughtful juxtaposition of rich history and contemporary design,” said Dave McKenna, president, Banff Jasper Collection by Pursuit.
Designed by Dialog, the $45 million transformation embraced the storied past, incorporating the building’s evolution into the design to provide guests with the ultimate Canadian experience. For a building that occupies a large portion of one of the principal blocks on Banff’s iconic main street, the bar was set high.
“Guests today want a deeper experience from a hotel,” says Alison McNeil, design lead. “And that means a whole collection of little details that all fit together.”
The design inspiration reimagines the building as a quilt, symbolizing the distinct generations of the hotel coming together, emulating the patchwork of architecture. Dubbed by the team as “destination design,” meaning it’s rich with personality and true-to-place. “We are after a more curated, eclectic feel. It looks like someone’s house, not an airport hotel,” adds Alison.
And while the hotel has a contemporary feel that appeals to the most modern of travelers, it’s balanced with historic details in a very deliberate way. History is brought into many details: the library display, the guest room directories, and the hallways transition between decades.
Features of the historically inspired décor and remarkable amenities include the much anticipated rooftop lounge with outdoor hot tubs. A custom-designed museum and a hotel library provide unique spaces for guests and the community to connect and relax, while the well-appointed and spacious guest rooms showcase outstanding mountain views.
For more than 100 years, the Mount Royal Hotel has been an anchor in Banff’s community.
