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Celebrity gossip Fairmont Macdonald Hotel

Celebrity gossip at The Fairmont Macdonald in Edmonton

Luxury travel blog » Places to Travel » North America Travel » Canada Travel » Alberta » Celebrity gossip at The Fairmont Macdonald in Edmonton
June 24, 2016 by Carol Perehudoff

This post may contain affiliate links.

Heading to Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada? If you want to stay where the superstars stay, check out (or into) the luxurious Fairmont Macdonald in Edmonton. To whet your appetite and to stoke those tabloid fires, here is all the celebrity gossip I could dig up.

Macdonald Hotel Edmonton, Alberta

Celebrity gossip at The Fairmont Macdonald in Edmonton

While Smudge, the resident yellow lab at the Fairmont Macdonald in Edmonton, Alberta, is probably the most endearing celebrity to pad walk through the doors of Edmonton’s top luxury hotel, he’s certainly not the first star to make himself at home here. The Hotel Macdonald, an Edmonton landmark since 1915, is one of the original grand railway hotels built in Canada. Its turrets, towers and classic chateau-esque style make it – literally – fit for a queen.

I’m here for you, World. I know how much you need gossip  

In the spirit of feeding the world’s insatiable craving for celebrity gossip (not to mention my own craving) I tried to collect plenty of tabloid secrets about ‘The Mac,’ most of it having to do with the hotel’s glamorous Queen Elizabeth II Suite. None of my scoop is substantiated because hotel staff are loathe to gossip, but I’ve done my best to ferret out the best celebrity gossip from The Fairmont Macdonald hotel, just for you.

Celebrity gossip Fairmont Macdonald Hotel
What secrets does the Fairmont hold? Photo credit: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Hockey celebrity at The Fairmont Macdonald

The Washington Capitals stayed at the Hotel Macdonald in 2014. Rumour has it that when superstar Alex Ovechkin was in the lobby he agreed to pose for a photo with a little girl but refused to pose with a well-dressed woman. (PS: The well-dressed woman wasn’t me. I’m never considered well dressed.)

Larger than life superstars

When the great opera singer Luciano Pavarotti stayed in the Elizabeth II Suite of ‘The Mac’ he was, ahem, fairly large. A platform-like seat had to be built next to the bathtub so he could get in. (And word has it he was at the hotel with his mistress rather than his wife.)

Macdonald Hotel in Edmonton
Pavarotti was here! Photo credit: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Don’t cry for me, I’m a celebrity

When Carol Burnett stayed in the Queen Elizabeth II Suite, which has a loft-like bedroom on the second level, she stood at the railing and sang Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.

Persian rug at Fairmont Macdonald Hotel Edmonton
Persian perfection

Rugs for the rich and famous

When the Aga Kahn stayed in theQueen Elizabeth II Suite, genuine Persian rugs had to be purchased for the suite. They’re still there.

Edmonton luxury hotel The Macdonald
Classic fixture on the Edmonton skyline Photo credit: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Listen to what the Man Said

While in Edmonton Paul McCartney also stayed in Macdonald’s swanky Queen Elizabeth II Suite. To accommodate him a baby grand piano had to be rented and brought up to the suite on the 8th floor. No easy task. And – you heard it here first, folks – Paul McCartney likes healthy wholegrain bread.

Queen Elizabeth Suite Fairmont Macdonald in Edmonton
Queen Elizabeth Suite from the 2nd level

Edmonton’s first traffic jam

Blame the Hotel Macdonald. In 1939, when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later known as the Queen Mother) visited the much-loved ‘Mac,’ so many well-wishers and celebrity spotters crowded below the main balcony of the hotel that Edmonton’s first traffic jam was born.

Another royal visit to Edmonton’s ‘castle’ hotel

My source, He Who Shall Remain Nameless, told me that the current queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, was very nice when she stayed at The Fairmont Macdonald and never made outrageous demands. She does, however, travel with a 5-ton truckload full of perfectly coordinated outfits – and I’d be very nice and gracious if I had a wardrobe that size, too.

 

 

About The Fairmont Macdonald

The Fairmont Macdonald is a celebrity in itself – a heritage one. Closed in 1983 and threatened with demolition, the City of Edmonton managed to designate it a Municipal Heritage Resource, which saved its skin, or at least its Indiana limestone exterior. The Mac was the first Edmonton building to receive this designation and five heritage areas are included: the hotel exterior, the Confederation Lounge, the lobby, the Wedgwood Room and the Empire Ballroom.

Reopened in 1991, Hotel MacDonald is now a 5-star Fairmont Hotels & Resorts property.

Staying at the Hotel Macdonald

Feel like a celebrity yourself with a stay at the Hotel Macdonald. Splash out and opt for one of their signature rooms, restored in a historic style. Or go all out and stay in the splashy Queen Elizabeth II Suite, a 2-level suite with a large foyer, dining room, service pantry, 2 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, and living room. (Personally, I’d just be lost without a service pantry, wouldn’t you?)

Located downtown with panoramic views of the North Saskatchewan River, the Hotel Macdonald is Edmonton’s top hotel. To reserve a room call: 1 800 257 7544 or visit their website. (My room was about $250 CAD per night, but it’s always worth checking their packages and promotions online.)

More celebrities at The Fairmont Macdonald

Who else has stayed at the Hotel Macdonald, you ask? I hate to name drop (no, I don’t) but here are a few: Brad Pitt, Jessica Biel, Bill Clinton, Justin Timberlake, Oprah Winfrey, the Rolling Stones and Gene Simmons.

Who had never slept at the Hotel Macdonald? Cher. Apparently she was booked into the hotel but ended up sleeping in her tour bus instead. Is she crazy? Why didn’t she give her suite to me?

Read more about the Fairmont Macdonald, Edmonton, and travel to Canada

Read about Smudge! Dog Days at The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald or read about an Art Gallery trip to Edmonton.
Travelling to Canada? Read this Top destinations in Canada blog post

 

 

 

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Category: Alberta, Celebrity, Hotel Reviews

About Carol Perehudoff

A former freelance travel columnist for the Toronto Star, Carol has won more than 30 writing awards and honours. A spa and luxury travel expert, she’s written for top travel publications around the globe.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carol Perehudoff

    Me, too, Sherel! Fairmont is a great hotel brand.

  2. Lesley Peterson

    Fun post, Carol! Who knew so many celebrities visited Edmonton?! The Persian carpet in the Queen Elizabeth II suite is gorgeous. Glad to hear the Fairmont invests in beautiful handmade things!

  3. Buddy The Traveling Monkey

    It certainly looks like a nice hotel! And yeah, I’d have to stay in the Queen Elizabeth II Suite. Because, you know, the pantry! lol

  4. Dailey Adventurers (@daileyadventure)

    What a beautiful hotel! I have never stayed at a Fairmont before, although I’d certainly love to. It sounds like this one has plenty of stories to tell. What a fun post!

  5. RaW | Ramble and Wander

    A Fairmont is a Fairmont, you can never go wrong with one. :) I’m curious though, particular about the heritage status of the 5 areas of the hotel? Does it mean that these 5 sections have to remain as they are and any planned changes, e.g. to the Ballroom, have to be approved by the authority first?

  6. Sherel Purcell

    Love all the Fairmont properties!

  7. London-Unattached.com

    Obviously I need to stay there! Looks wonderful!

  8. Vicki Louise

    Impressive hotel – and I bet there would be a hell of a lot more gossip if those walls could talk! Good for you in finding these gems though!

  9. Rosemary

    What a fun post. Love the celebrity dish/gossip. What a place with such a wide range of guests. That’s funny that Cher did not end up sleeping in her suite :) Would love to visit the hotel at some point.

  10. Carol Perehudoff

    Thanks, Carla – glad I’m not the only gossip girl.

  11. Carol Perehudoff

    Oh, lucky you, Carol. Fairmont Banff Springs is one of my favourite hotels in the world!

  12. Carol Perehudoff

    I gave Mick Jagger a tiny footnote. I’m sure he deserves more. Oh, I wish I could dig up the dirt on that visit, Wendy!

  13. carla

    Loved this post! specially the gossips hahaha. I love going on lurk-mode when wandering around luxury hotels. I may never afford them but to set foot in theirs grand lobby is a tour itself.

  14. Carol Colborn

    We stayed at Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel last month and the Fairmont chain is now my favorite hotel! We dined at Fairmont Chjateau Lake Louise, too!

  15. Wendy Fedec

    You forgot to mention Mick Jagger…I heard he stayed in the Queen Elizabeth Suite too!

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