Destination Promotion: Banff Lake Louise DO BUSINESS The Fairmont Gold Lounge at the Banff Springs Hotel IN BANFF Kinnear Centre for Creativity & Innovation Forget about blah, cookie-cutter Here you’ll find 16 modern and competitively they want to have that exposure to a creative conference rooms. Banff Lake priced conference hotels offering flexible con- environment,” says Jill Sawyer, media and vention, exhibition and meeting spaces, plus communications officer. Louise is all about celebrating another eight hotels that are equipped to host Perched 750 ft. above the town of Banff, the great outdoors, even when board meetings, brainstorming sessions and the Rimrock Resort Hotel is an architectural workshops. Banff National Park can handle up you’re inside. wonder. “The hotel is actually built cascading to 2,000 delegates. down the side of Sulphur Mountain,” explains Visitors can’t help but feel inspired at The sales manager Stacey-Jo Strombecky. “The Banff Centre, a destination for Canadian and bonus for groups is that all rooms have a view international artists since the early 1930s. For – either the alpine forest, where elk and deer meeting planners, there are more than 60 wander freely, or a mountain view.” impressive facilities to choose from including The CAA/AAA Four Diamond property features lecture theatres, auditoriums, a dance studio two restaurants, two lounges, and 346 rooms and an outdoor amphitheatre. including 21 suites. The conference centre With over 400 guestrooms, The Banff Centre offers 18,000 sq.ft. of function space and is a full-service meeting, conference and breakout rooms to accommodate groups of convention facility as well as a popular off-site up to 550 people. And the hospitality suite’s venue. The Kinnear Centre’s soaring atriums wraparound balcony is ideal for meetings, are perfect for cocktail receptions, and local receptions, wine tastings and a range of other artists and environmentalists can help facilitate exclusive events. the creative conference experience through If you’re looking to combine a grand hotel workshops or team-building activities. “One experience with the intimacy of a modern of the reasons people choose to come here is p Get the App Download the official Banff Lake Louse Tourism app and discover listings for accommodations, dining, seasonal adventures, weather conditions and much more. Free for Blackberry smartphones and Apple’s iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. therealbanff.com Photos: Canadian Tourism Commission (above left); Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Banff Lake Louise Meetings & Incentives is the Destination Marketing Cathy Macdonald Organization for Banff, Lake Louise and Banff National Park. Just Senior Manager, Meetings & Incentives Let’s Get one call will get things started: bid presentations and site inspections 403.762.0281 plus everything you need to know about accommodations, DMCs, [email protected] STARTED transportation, meeting facilities and off-site venues. BanffLakeLouise.com/meetings Destination Promotion: Banff Lake Louise NATURALLY GREEN Businesses operating in Banff National Park take environmental stewardship very seriously: more than half of the hotels exceed the minimum guidelines for linen reuse, recycling and energy Photo: Canadian Tourism Commission Photo: Canadian Tourism efficient and water conservation practices; restaurants source from local, organic or sustainable meat and vegetable producers where possible; and local festivals and events aim for zero-waste. LeFroy Room, The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Rimrock Resort Hotel Hotels with Conference and continued from page 61 Authentic Western Meeting Space boutique, the Fairmont Gold Floor at Fairmont’s tures 554 guest rooms and suites, six restaurants Banff Springs and Chateau Lake Louise properties and lounges, 36,000 sq.ft. of flexible function When Annette Brewster started Brewster’s posters, photos, saddles and other authentic * Banff Park Lodge provides that distinctive and personalized service. space and breathtaking views of the turquoise MountView Barbecue almost 40 years ago, western paraphernalia line the walls of the log * Inns of Banff The dedicated Gold Floors offer private reception waters of Lake Louise. she was continuing a six-generation tradition of construction building in homage to mountain * Banff Rocky Mountain Resort and guest lounge, continental breakfast, afternoon providing authentic western hospitality. Today, guides and Brewster family cowboys of the The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel – at 72,000 * Buffalo Mountain Lodge canapés and an honour bar. “The Fairmont Gold her daughter, Alison Brewster, manages the past. “The Brewster family has a lot of history sq.ft. of function space, 52 meeting rooms and * Banff Ptarmigan Inn experience is exactly the same at each of our operation, which is located in a secluded forest when it comes to the mountain guides and 768 guest accommodations – is Canada’s largest * Mount Royal Hotel properties,” says Craig Hudspith, director of group area less than 10 minutes from downtown Banff. other activities within Banff National Park. It’s conference resort, says Luke Sunderland, director sales, The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. “It’s authentic and it’s real,” Stanton says. * Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa of sales and marketing. Amid the ambience of a roaring central bonfire, that personal service – the staff will know you by * Lake Louise Inn Brewster’s MountView Barbecue MountView serves up hearty, buffet-style meals name.” The Chateau is fully accessible and fea- For groups not booking guest rooms on the including a 55-lb. barbecued Alberta hip of beef dedicated Gold Floors, both Fairmont properties that is ceremoniously carried into the dining can create a Gold-like experience in other ways. hall on a gleaming pitchfork. Local country and For example, groups can book The Fairmont Banff western musicians, fiddlers, a gunfighter show, Springs’s entire Stanley Thompson Wing and a First Nations ceremony dance and a mechani- enjoy a dedicated entrance, reception desk and cal calf-roping machine entertain guests. lounge. And the added bonus is that the confer- ence centre is right next door. “We have the best Try These The venue hosts about 500 in cooler weather of both worlds in terms of history, ambience and Fun Themes: and as many as 1,400 in summer. “When the functionality,” says Sunderland. Wild West workday’s done, we’re a nice alternative to a Klondike Casino formal sit-down dinner. The casual atmosphere makes a big difference. People can really let BANFF Oktoberfest their hair down and have fun,” says Brewster. Fire and Ice Spaghetti Western Similarly, Brewster’s brother-in-law, Kevin PARK Stanton, operates the Brewster Cowboy’s Bar- becue and Dance Barn in Lake Louise. Located adjacent to The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, LODGE the Dance Barn is a casual off-site option where Getting Here Is Easy Our meeting Once your flight touches down at Calgary facilities are International Airport, Banff is a mere 90-minute drive along the Trans-Canada Highway through fully scalable the spectacular foothills and Rocky Mountain For a breathtakingly scenery. It’s your choice: Brewster airport shuttle, Unique Venues 1/3 AD unique meeting rental car, limo, motorcoach or chartered bus. From elegant galleries and museums to mountain ski lodges and dance barns, these experience, talk to unique venues of Banff Lake Louise will have guests raving Treat yourself to the door-to-door comfort of the us about your next Banff Airporter shuttle service, an environmental • Banff Gondola Mountaintop Experience • Cave and Basin National Historic Site conference or off-site partner with Bullfrog Power. • Whyte Museum of The Canadian Rockies • Wild Bill’s Legendary Saloon function. banffnorquay.com • Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre • Banff Mount Norquay t: (403) 762-4421 | e: [email protected] Photos: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts (left); Rimrock Resort Hotel Destination Promotion: Banff Lake Louise Banff National Park truly belongs to all Canadians. established in 1885 as Canada’s first national park and spanning 2564 sq.mi. of mountains, glaciers, rivers, valleys and forests, it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site. For more than 125 years, the park has attracted adventurers, explorers, environmentalists, artists and entrepreneurs. No matter the budget, your experience can be as rugged or as elegant as you choose. Heritage Golf at The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel Retro Cool Play The Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course the way designer Stanley Thompson meant it to be experienced complete with hickory High-Flying clubs, a personal caddy and 1930s costume. Rent a heritage bathing suit and “take the waters” at the historic Banff Upper Hot Springs Bath House just like the Gatsby Adventure Photo: Canadian Mountain Holidays, T.Donahue generation used to do. The Mountain Heritage Guide Program at There are some places on earth you just can’t The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise harkens For experienced skiers looking for their next great thrill, back to 1899 when Swiss mountain guides get to by road or trail. A heli-adventure is all 11 CMH lodges offer heli-skiing and heli-snowboarding were employed in the area to lead climbing just the ticket for VIPs and groups who are adventures during the winter months. expeditions. Today, professional guides really serious about getting away from all the facilitate adventures for all skill levels, from distractions. No hustle, no bustle. Just soaring a leisurely lakeside stroll to full-day hikes. Mountain Heritage Guide Program at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise ridges, vast glaciers, alpine lakes and lush flowering meadows. Photos: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Banff-based Canadian Mountain Holidays The Lodge Experience (CMH) operates 11 mountain lodges in the nearby sub-ranges of the Columbia Moun- Who says rustic can’t be wired? Banff National Park has return for the authentic Rocky Mountain cuisine served tains, two of which – the Bobbie Burns and an impressive selection of authentic mountain lodges in the on-site Bistro, and then end the day with a the Bugaboo lodges – offer summer programs. and resorts that are fully equipped for business meet- campfire alongside Baker Creek.