Quote:
Originally Posted by undercoverbrother
Did the hotel give you an explanation on what was going on and why they were at "half strength"?
|
Not really... I was with my family and the kids were happy/busy enough, which in my mind makes the weekend a success. We knew about the spa going in, so that wasn't a surprise and probably not something we would have had an opportunity to use anyways.
It had been a couple of years since we were there, and there were some changes... The main lounge is now more of a restaurant, and while I remember getting burgers and nachos with the kids a few years ago, the menu is now more formal (which wasn't ideal since my wife and I had a little too much wine the night before)... It would have been preferable to go to the "pub" in the lower level, but it's now "Alpine Social" and wasn't open for lunch... Neither was the other "lounge" (High tea only, yet they were empty) or the Walliser Staub, or the Italian place at the other end of the hotel... So that left the main lounge and the new Mediterranean place on the lower level, which was underwhelmed for dinner the night before...
If I had to guess, it would come down to staffing, which is sort of our fault for booking in the shoulder season and I'm sure they'll ramp up in the coming weeks.
Again, nothing to ruin a trip or anything like that, but something worth knowing going in just to keep expectations in check.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sliver
Yeah, I know some people really like the Rimrock, but I find it to be sterile and lacking in personality. Feels like a great start to a hotel, but after the drywallers and painters left they just sort of said, good enough.
|
The Rimrock was recently purchased and I believe the new owners are planning on a $100mm renovation, which IMO, would finally mean there are two top-tier hotels in Banff. Otherwise, I agree, as it is, it's just missing something.
Edit: Sliver nailed it on the Rimrock... From Oxford's own investment statement:
"The Rimrock has a great history but has not received the appropriate investment and operational attention in recent years. There is a tremendous opportunity through renovation to transform the property physically as well as through programming and guest experience to build off the beautiful physical setting to ultimately create a truly iconic destination"
FWIW, Oxford partnered with Accor in the acquisition... Accor operates the Banff Springs.