Geography
The Empress Hotel stands in the heart of Victoria, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island.
Famous Ties
No one, not even celebrities, can resist the Empress's charm. Regulars have included Rita Hayworth, Jack Benny, Katherine Hepburn, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Tallulah Bankhead. Shirley Temple arrived with her parents in the midst of rumors that she fled from California because of kidnapping threats.
Tea Time
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Karen
The Empress is most famous for its elegant afternoon tea serving more than 75,000 visitors annually. Tea-time guests are served berries, Chantilly cream, scones, crumpets, preserves, sandwiches, pastries, tarts and--of course--tea.
Rehabilitation
In 1965, threats of tearing down the Empress to make way for a more modern building sparked outrage among the locals and regular tourists alike. After much protest, in 1966 a decision was made to renovate the building in a $4 million project known as "Operation Teacup."
Unearthly Visitors
Stories of unearthly visitors, such as the maid who floats around cleaning rooms and the little girl that roams the halls, have made visiting this historical landmark even more exhilarating.
