The Fairmont Palliser hosts conferences for up to 450 people theatre style, banquets for up to 320 and weddings, across 13 event rooms renovated in 2023. The hotel stands on 9th Avenue SW in downtown Calgary, Alberta, within easy reach of the Calgary Tower, and has welcomed guests for more than 110 years.
Seminars and company events
The Crystal Ballroom, the largest room at 443 square meters, seats 450 theatre style, 200 in a classroom layout and 76 around a U-shape. The Alberta Ballroom, at 241 square meters, seats 250 theatre style, 104 as a classroom and 60 at a boardroom table. The Banff Room takes 180 theatre style and the Oak Room 144. Below these, the Oval, Lake Louise and Aspen rooms seat between 60 and 100 theatre style and work as breakout rooms, while the Canadian Pacific Boardroom seats 20 at one table. Smaller rooms, Juniper, Birch, Willow, Spruce and Maple, handle board meetings of 10 to 20. The event team plans food, drink and technology, and audiovisual services are provided in house.
Weddings and receptions
Weddings use the same 13 rooms, for up to 450 guests. The Crystal Ballroom, with 13 crystal chandeliers and marble columns, seats 320 for dinner. The Alberta Ballroom, with hand-painted murals and daylight, seats 160, and the Oak Room 96 at banquet tables. Each wedding has a Wedding Manager who helps with floor plans, food and drink, menu tastings, the cake and supplier recommendations, and the hotel offers wedding packages.
Rooms and capacities
Banquet capacities run as follows: Crystal Ballroom 320, Alberta Ballroom 160, Banff Room 96, Oak Room 96, Oval Room 80, Aspen Room 60, Lake Louise Room 48, and 24 each in the Willow Suite, the Juniper Room and the Birch Room. The Canadian Pacific Boardroom, the Spruce Room and the Maple Room are set as boardrooms. Some figures differ between the hotel's room descriptions and its capacity chart. The Oak Room, for example, is described for 90 seated or 150 standing, so confirm the layout with the sales team.
Accommodation
Guests stay in the hotel, in categories from Fairmont and Deluxe rooms to Signature rooms, the Fairmont Gold level and suites including the Heritage, Palliser, Wild Rose and Royal suites. The rnr Wellness spa, an indoor pool and a health club are in the building.
Catering
Event menus come from Executive Chef Gregor Dunki and his team, built on local and organic produce and the flavors of Alberta, with wine pairings. The Hawthorn Dining Room and Bar serves modern prairie cooking, with live music from Thursday to Saturday, weekend brunch and afternoon tea, which gives delegates a place for an informal dinner outside the event rooms.
History and setting
The hotel describes itself as a landmark in Canadian history after more than a century of welcoming guests, and the Canadian Pacific Boardroom carries the name of the railway company. It sits in the center of downtown, close to the Calgary Tower and within reach of Calgary Zoo.
Getting there
The address is 133 9th Avenue SW, Calgary. Calgary International Airport is about 18 kilometers away by road, and taxis run between the airport and the hotel.
