Royal York Hotel History
In 1927 The Canadian Pacific Railway in Toronto began the construction of the largest hotel in the British Commonwealth, immediately across from Union Station and Canadian Pacific Railway.
On June 11, 1929, the hotel officially opened as The Royal York in Toronto. It was the tallest building in the British Commonwealth and it quickly set the benchmark for hospitality around the world. The magnificent Royal York Hotel became known as a city within a city. It was 28 floors tall, full of architectural splendor and equiped with mechanical genius and opulence never before seen in Toronto. It boasted 1,048 rooms, a 12-bed hospital, 12,000-book library and ten ornate passenger elevators.
Today, after welcoming more than 40 million guests, The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto continues to epitomize gracious hospitality as one of the most luxurious hotels in Toronto. Luxurious features such as the magnificent hand-painted ceilings, the travertine pillars, ornate furnishings, crystal chandeliers and wall hangings create an aura of luxury.