A three-tiered silver tray with champagne grapes, petit fours, and chocolate-dipped strawberries wrapped in cellophane, tied with the hotel’s gold and black monogrammed ribbon welcomes you to your suite. A card addressed to you wishes you an enjoyable stay, personally signed by this floor’s housekeeping staff.

This could be the suite where Celine Dion, Mikhail Gorbachev, Elton John, Sophia Loren, Don Johnson, Bill Cosby, or Dolly Parton stayed. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip stayed on this floor in 1990. Chosen to host Olympic VIPs during the XV Olympic Winter Games in 1988, the Fairmont Palliser in Calgary is among the city’s oldest and most luxurious hotels.

Built almost a century ago, it is the oldest downtown hotel. In the 1970s and 80s, millions of dollars were spent restoring the hotel to its original splendor. If you appreciate Renaissance Revival style, be sure to stroll through the lobby, lower level guest rooms and other public areas.

Rimrock, the hotel’s fine restaurant, boasts an old fireplace the architecture of which can rarely be found elsewhere today. In fact, couples holding engagement or wedding parties hold photo shoots by this fireplace. Even those who marry at City Hall come here for pictures after their civil ceremonies, according to General Manager Brigitte Fritz.

For a 360-degree view of this city, walk down the street to Calgary Tower. With a population of just one million, the city is drawing attention from investors. From the observation deck, I counted 16 cranes in downtown alone, a sign of prosperity according to some economists. Calgarians joke about the crane being their state bird.

If you are daring, step out into space on the glass floor section of the observation deck. Thirty-six-feet long and over four feet wide, each of the panes that make up the glass floor holds the weight of a couple of hippos. So, know that you are safe, and focus on your sensation of standing 525-feet in space above the ground. You will have earned your boasting rights.

A business advantage of staying on the Gold floor of the Fairmont Palliser is the potential contacts you make. It has its own private check-in and concierge staff, and comes with its own lounge, where you can enjoy complimentary breakfasts and hors d oeuvres during cocktail hours from 5 to 7 p.m. That provides ample chances to network with conference speakers, leading to potentially invaluable opportunities. During breakfast, I noticed three attendees chatting with one speaker. Each walked away with knowledge of an upcoming opportunity that was not made known in the conference. Of course staying on the VIP floor also includes the privilege of not being disturbed by the public.

If you want to simply take a break from meetings or touring the city, relax in the lounge with a cup of tea. Its décor and music from Sinatra’s era will transport you to yesteryear, where you savor the fruit of your labor before returning to your 21st century schedule.

The Fairmont Gold has its own business center. The staff is happy to accommodate you should you need to work after hours. They let me stay while they were setting up the lounge for the following day. When available, you can turn it into a private boardroom.

Every morning, the newspaper is delivered to your door in a monogrammed bag. Should you require other papers the VIP staff will do its best to meet your needs. You can start the day with coffee, tea, or juice delivered to your room. If you want to look extra sharp for a meeting, use the shoe shining service: all complimentary for those staying in the hotel within a hotel.

When you walk down the hall from your living room to your bedroom, you are greeted by soft music from the radio or CD player, courtesy of the turn down service. Slip into your monogrammed bathrobe and slippers and watch the news on your second TV. On your nightstand is a handwritten card with weather updates for the following day to help you plan your wardrobe. Don’t look for a hairdryer mounted on the bathroom wall; it’s neatly wrapped in a monogrammed bag on the marble counter top.

I asked a Gold concierge to recommend her favorite restaurants in downtown Calgary.

• Begin with the Dan Aykroyd drink in the Oak Room Lounge at the Palliser
• The Belvedere uses local organic suppliers, and has a wide selection of wine
• Teatro’s on Stephen Avenue serves Italian cuisine in an old bank building.
• Joey Tomato’s in Eau Claire Market does not take reservation; it seems to draw younger diners
• Run by a family, Sushi Hiro offers superb service and provides opportunities to observe and enjoy Japanese traditions

To satisfy your sweet tooth, take a stroll in Kensington or along 17th after your meal and stop by Crave Cookies and Cupcakes.

While Banff is only one and a half hour away, downtown Calgary offers enough cultural events to keep you in town, including a Bon Jovi concert, Dec. 2007; the winefest in Feb. 2008; and the famous Calgary Stampede, July 2008.

Fairmont Palliser
133 9th Ave. S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
Tel: (800) 441-1414
www.fairmontpalliser.com

- Reviewed by Estrella Chan (estrellaschan@yahoo.com)

Estrella Chan, founder of www.englisharoundtheworld.com, coaches dignitaries and executives in public speaking to American audience and writes for authors with a story to tell but not the time to write it.