Hotel Bessborough
Encyclopedia
The Delta Bessborough hotel is a three star (Forbes Travel Rating), ten-story hotel located in downtown Saskatoon
, Saskatchewan
, Canada
. The hotel is a historical landmark in Saskatoon and is known for its castle-like appearance. The hotel was built by the Canadian National Railway
from 1928 to 1932 and is designed in the same Château-style as many of Canada's other railway hotels. Although it is still referred to as "The Bessborough Hotel" today, many people have adopted an abbreviated form, known as "The Bess" . The landmark provides a picturesque eastern terminating vista
for Saskatoon's 21st Street East and is also a view terminus on Spadina Crescent from points south of the hotel.
built a railway hotel in Regina in 1926, the Saskatoon business community lobbied Canadian National Railway
to build one in Saskatoon
. On December 31, 1928 Sir Henry Thorton, President of the Canadian National Railway, announced that they would build a similar hotel in Saskatoon. The hotel was designed by Archibald and Schofield
of Montreal
, and intentionally designed to resemble a Bavarian castle. In February, 1930, the excavation of the site began utilizing a steam thawer and gasoline excavator. Materials used in construction were of Canadian origin including Tyndall stone from Manitoba
, brick from the Claybank Brick Plant
in Claybank, Saskatchewan
, and tiles from Estevan, Saskatchewan
In exchange for building a "chateau" style hotel with a minimum of 200 rooms, the city exempt the railway from property tax on the hotel for twenty-five years.
On May 30, 1931, Walter Pratt, General Manager of Hotels, Sleeping and Dining Cars of the Canadian National Railway announced that Sir Vere Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough
and 14th Governor General of Canada
had given consent for the hotel to be formally named “The Bessborough”. The Earl and Countess visited the hotel under construction in 1932. Construction was completed in 1932 but due to the difficult financial times of the Great Depression
, the hotel failed to open until Horace N. Stovin became the first official registered guest on December 10, 1935.
In 1972, Donald, Dick, and Marc Baltzan
purchased the Bessborough. Canadian Pacific Hotels
purchased Canadian National Hotels
in 1982. The Bessborough was placed under CP Hotels' subsidiary Delta Hotels
during the 1990s. In 1999, CP Hotels and Delta Hotels were placed under Fairmont Hotel and Resorts. It was acquired by the Legacy Hotels Real Estate Investment Trust
in 1998 and in 1999, that a $9,000,000 restoration of the Bessborough Hotel would be completed, returning many of its historical features. The hotel underwent a major renovation in 2003.
. It hosted the Police and Fire Can-Am games in the summer of 2008.
Restaurants & Dining
Recreation & Services
Meeting & Events Planning
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The hotel is a historical landmark in Saskatoon and is known for its castle-like appearance. The hotel was built by the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
from 1928 to 1932 and is designed in the same Château-style as many of Canada's other railway hotels. Although it is still referred to as "The Bessborough Hotel" today, many people have adopted an abbreviated form, known as "The Bess" . The landmark provides a picturesque eastern terminating vista
Terminating vista
In urban design, a terminating vista is a building or monument that stands at the end or in the middle of a road, so that when one is looking up the street the view ends with the site....
for Saskatoon's 21st Street East and is also a view terminus on Spadina Crescent from points south of the hotel.
History
After the Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
built a railway hotel in Regina in 1926, the Saskatoon business community lobbied Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
to build one in Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
. On December 31, 1928 Sir Henry Thorton, President of the Canadian National Railway, announced that they would build a similar hotel in Saskatoon. The hotel was designed by Archibald and Schofield
Archibald and Schofield
Archibald and Schofield was a collaborative relationship between Canadian architects John Smith Archibald and John Schofield. They were known for their designs for the Canadian National Hotels for the Canadian National Railway....
of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, and intentionally designed to resemble a Bavarian castle. In February, 1930, the excavation of the site began utilizing a steam thawer and gasoline excavator. Materials used in construction were of Canadian origin including Tyndall stone from Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, brick from the Claybank Brick Plant
Claybank Brick Plant
Claybank Brick Plant was a brickworks factory for the manufacturing of bricks from clay located with a quarry for clay on site. The Claybank Brick plant has been conserved as a part of Saskatchewan's industrial heritage with its official announcement June 29, 1997 as a National Historic Site of...
in Claybank, Saskatchewan
Claybank, Saskatchewan
Claybank is a small hamlet in southern Saskatchewan, Canada at the foot of the Dirt Hills. The community takes it's name from the rich clay deposits found in the area. Claybank is best known for its National Historic Site, the Claybank Brick Plant, which closed in 1989 but remains one of the finest...
, and tiles from Estevan, Saskatchewan
Estevan, Saskatchewan
Estevan is the eighth largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located at , which is near the southeastern corner of the province. The Souris River runs by the city. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Estevan No. 5.-History:...
In exchange for building a "chateau" style hotel with a minimum of 200 rooms, the city exempt the railway from property tax on the hotel for twenty-five years.
On May 30, 1931, Walter Pratt, General Manager of Hotels, Sleeping and Dining Cars of the Canadian National Railway announced that Sir Vere Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough
Vere Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough
Captain Vere Brabazon Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough was a British businessman and politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 14th since Canadian Confederation....
and 14th Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
had given consent for the hotel to be formally named “The Bessborough”. The Earl and Countess visited the hotel under construction in 1932. Construction was completed in 1932 but due to the difficult financial times of the Great Depression
Great Depression in Canada
Canada was hit hard by the Great Depression. Between 1929 and 1939, the gross national product dropped 40% . Unemployment reached 27% at the depth of the Depression in 1933...
, the hotel failed to open until Horace N. Stovin became the first official registered guest on December 10, 1935.
In 1972, Donald, Dick, and Marc Baltzan
Marc Baltzan
Marcel Alter Baltzan, OC, SOM was a Canadian physician and nephrologist who was a pioneer in the field of kidney research. He was a member of the team that performed Canada’s second kidney transplant in Saskatchewan in 1964.Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the son of David M...
purchased the Bessborough. Canadian Pacific Hotels
Canadian Pacific hotels
Canadian Pacific Hotels was a division of Canadian Pacific Railway that operated a series of hotels across Canada. Most of these resort hotels were originally built and operated by the railway's Hotel Department, while a few were acquired from Canadian National Hotels...
purchased Canadian National Hotels
Canadian National Hotels
Canadian National Hotels was a hotel chain under control by Canadian National Railways. In addition to their own hotels, it acquired some from rival railway companies like the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, Grand Trunk Railway and Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway...
in 1982. The Bessborough was placed under CP Hotels' subsidiary Delta Hotels
Delta Hotels
Delta Hotels is a chain of 45 hotels and resorts across Canada, primarily in the 4 star range of standard. Delta once had a hotel in the United States, the Delta Court of Flags Hotel, located in Orlando, Florida, however, it was closed sometime after 1996 and has subsequently been demolished...
during the 1990s. In 1999, CP Hotels and Delta Hotels were placed under Fairmont Hotel and Resorts. It was acquired by the Legacy Hotels Real Estate Investment Trust
Legacy Hotels Real Estate Investment Trust
Legacy Hotels Real Estate Investment Trust was a real estate investment trust that was based in Toronto, Ontario.It was established in 1997 and was owner of 24 hotel and resort properties most of which are located in Canada, but it also had a couple in the United States...
in 1998 and in 1999, that a $9,000,000 restoration of the Bessborough Hotel would be completed, returning many of its historical features. The hotel underwent a major renovation in 2003.
Amenities
The Delta Bessborough Hotel has 225 guest rooms, numerous meeting facilities and function rooms, two restaurants, a lounge, a pool, a fitness facility and 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) of private waterfront gardens backing onto the river in downtown Saskatoon. The gardens are used to host large functions - they are commonly used for weddings, business barbecues, retirement parties, concerts, and as a venue for the SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz FestSasktel Saskatchewan Jazz Fest
SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival is an annual outdoor music, food and fun event in the province of Saskatchewan hosted by Saskatchewan Jazz Festival, Inc. . Normally staged during June, it is host to a range of Canadian and International jazz musicians who travel from across the world to take part...
. It hosted the Police and Fire Can-Am games in the summer of 2008.
Restaurants & Dining
- The Samurai Japanese Restaurant (located on the first floor)
- The Garden Court Cafe (located on the Mezzanine level, overlooking the gardens and river valley)
- Stovin's Lounge (located on the first floor, beside 'The Samurai')
Recreation & Services
- Pool area (located on the first floor)
- Fitness facility (located on the first floor beside pool area)
- Health facility (a place to relax and receive professional massages)
- Signature Club Lounge (located on the Mezzanine level)
- Room service (available 6am-11pm)
Meeting & Events Planning
- Various function rooms (such as small conference room for business meetings to larger spaces for wedding receptions)
- Over 20 000 square feet of function space