MD maT A TES TIE trae tee, ete,

usa

Empress

Hotel is

better than ever

VICTORIA — THE Empress Hotel is back, better than
ever, and with it a feeling that the CPR, as it was, may have
found a way at last to win the hearts and minds of Cana-

dians — by being grand hoteliers.

The CPR is no stranger to runn-
ing hotels of course, but the divi-
sion that has, with the takeover of
CN Hotels, become Canadian

Pacific Hotels and Resorts is

travel
talk

- David Wishart

building a new reputation in the
west with the refurbishing of the
Hotel Vancouver — 50 this year —~
and the construction of the
Chateau Whistler Resort.

As a guest at the first night in
Victoria said, it’s hats off to the
company for sinking so much
money into a property that was in
danger of becoming a tired old
relic.

Perhaps the Empress’s owners
had no choice, said another,
because the 81-year-old hotel is a
heritage landmark.

Whatever the reason, the origi-
nal budget of $32.5 million was
stretched to $45 million to ac-
commodate what general manager
Tan Barbour called unforeseen site
conditions and bad weather.

But even an open cheque book
could not get everything finished
for opening night, and to mark the
occasion a worker drilled through
a water pipe which put the hotel’s
heating out of action. Nevertheless
it was a beautiful evening and most
guests probably had their windows

open.

One thing the Empress still does
not have is guest-room air condi-
tioning, the reason being, said
Barbour, that visitors to Victoria
like to be able to open their win-
dows and look out over the har-
bor, to smell the sea air and watch

Your house is more than a home,
it’s an investment in the future.

For a brighter future,

call:

DIANE ABOUD

CLOSING OUT
SALE

Teo many kids & not enough time!!

HUGE SAVINGS ON
DINNERWARE:

Heartland, Marmalade, Desert Rose
Le Jardin, Printemps, Avignon, Lindt Stymeist
‘COLLECTORS PLATES
© Hummel ¢ Linens @ Glassware
® Prints ¢ Decorative Accessories ®
© Mats Jonasson Crystal ©
© Caithness ¢ ©
ALL STOCK MUST GO!!!
Thank you for the fun & patronage
over the past six years.

VILLAGE Plates & Collectibles

3151 Edgemont Blvd.

980-4757

24 - Suadsy, May 7, 1989 ~- North Shore News

CALIFORNIA —
GROWN
NO. GRADE