The Old And The New
Toronto Canada.....I loved this old hotel:)
The Royal York was a state-of-the-art hotel upon completion in 1929, with ten elevators, a radio in each of its 1,048 rooms, and a private shower or bath in each room. Other features included a large Concert Hall fitted with an impressive Casavant Frères pipe organ. With five manuals and 107 stops, it was the largest pipe organ in Canada. The telephone switchboard was 66 feet long and required 35 operators. The hotel was enlarged in 1956-57 with the addition of the east wing to a total of 1,600 rooms and was the largest hotel in the Commonwealth for many years. From 1988 until 1993, the Royal York Hotel underwent a $100 million restoration.
As guests enter the main lobby, they are greeted with nothing but grandeur. The high vaulted ceilings, the warm colour palette of deep reds and golds and the ornate ornamentation all add to this effect. The once fully carpeted lobby has been replaced with a light coloured mosaic tiled floor, but early 20th century styled carpets are still found throughout the building. Big armchairs and couches allow travelers to take in the atmosphere of the lobby while others wait patiently for friends to arrive beside the old railway clock, which is centrally located within the hotel lobby area. The railway clock rises in the middle of a large spiral staircase from the avenue level of the Hotel. The lobby of the Royal York Hotel shimmers with light from large crystal chandeliers and is overlooked by the mezzanine level.
The hotel has been the residence of choice for Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Canadian Royal Family when in Toronto. The Queen usually has an entire floor reserved for her and her party, occupying the Royal Suite herself.
After Canadian Pacific Hotels acquired Fairmont Hotels and Resorts and chose to use the Fairmont name on all its hotels, there was a public outcry when it was announced that the chain planned to take down the historic “Royal York” sign and replace it with a new “Fairmont” sign. As a result of the protest, a new sign with both names “Fairmont Royal York” was erected.
The PATH underground walkway system connects the hotel to the Royal Bank Plaza and Union Station.
Organic green tea from Japan is the house speciality and is found in every room.
The Old And The New
Toronto Canada.....I loved this old hotel:)
The Royal York was a state-of-the-art hotel upon completion in 1929, with ten elevators, a radio in each of its 1,048 rooms, and a private shower or bath in each room. Other features included a large Concert Hall fitted with an impressive Casavant Frères pipe organ. With five manuals and 107 stops, it was the largest pipe organ in Canada. The telephone switchboard was 66 feet long and required 35 operators. The hotel was enlarged in 1956-57 with the addition of the east wing to a total of 1,600 rooms and was the largest hotel in the Commonwealth for many years. From 1988 until 1993, the Royal York Hotel underwent a $100 million restoration.
As guests enter the main lobby, they are greeted with nothing but grandeur. The high vaulted ceilings, the warm colour palette of deep reds and golds and the ornate ornamentation all add to this effect. The once fully carpeted lobby has been replaced with a light coloured mosaic tiled floor, but early 20th century styled carpets are still found throughout the building. Big armchairs and couches allow travelers to take in the atmosphere of the lobby while others wait patiently for friends to arrive beside the old railway clock, which is centrally located within the hotel lobby area. The railway clock rises in the middle of a large spiral staircase from the avenue level of the Hotel. The lobby of the Royal York Hotel shimmers with light from large crystal chandeliers and is overlooked by the mezzanine level.
The hotel has been the residence of choice for Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Canadian Royal Family when in Toronto. The Queen usually has an entire floor reserved for her and her party, occupying the Royal Suite herself.
After Canadian Pacific Hotels acquired Fairmont Hotels and Resorts and chose to use the Fairmont name on all its hotels, there was a public outcry when it was announced that the chain planned to take down the historic “Royal York” sign and replace it with a new “Fairmont” sign. As a result of the protest, a new sign with both names “Fairmont Royal York” was erected.
The PATH underground walkway system connects the hotel to the Royal Bank Plaza and Union Station.
Organic green tea from Japan is the house speciality and is found in every room.