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Historic hotel celebrates birthday

By: Staff Writer

18/11/2009 6:56 AM | Comments: 10

The Marlborough Hotel on Smith Street in downtown Winnipeg.

KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image

The Marlborough Hotel on Smith Street in downtown Winnipeg.

WINNIPEG — The Marlborough Hotel is offering birthday cake today to its guests, staff and friends.

The historic downtown hotel is marking its 95th birthday by dishing out cake between noon and 2 p.m. Hotel general manager Mike Episcopo said the hotel will also provide free tours of the hotel at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Cindy Tugwell, executive director of Heritage Winnipeg, will make a presentation at noon.

The hotel opened Nov. 18, 1914, as the Olympia Hotel. It changed its name to the Marlborough Hotel in 1923.

Included among the hotel’s storied history: It was the founding place of the Royal Canadian Legion in 1925 and the long-time home of the Winnipeg Press Club.

The hotel was designated by the City of Winnipeg as a Grade II historical building in 1998.

city.desk@freepress.mb.ca

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10 Commentscomment icon

@ libertarian...Please do not insult my integrity or knowledge of this property.
Endora spend plenty of her time keeping up and being in the know.
I have also had friends and relations stay there only to have been accosted inside the hotel,one nearly mugged outside, one was spoken to very rudely.One was aggressively harassed and nearly stabbed a foot away from the entrance.
To accuse me of racism is disgusting.
hollywood00 and average joe agree..Undesirables come in all shapes,sixes and colours libertarian.
Perhaps you need to check out all the so called lovely rooms..
Many of the rooms are still in a state of disrepair.Barely working TV's, dowdy furniture and linens.
I have seen many of them and been embarrassed for my guests to stay there.
They all asked how could I put them there?
The hotel is full because of the PRICE.
Great rates but very poor service from the front desk because their hands are tied with limited funds.
I know a few employees who left the hotel due to the lack so safety and the poor conditions existed ..resulting in situations where they could not help clients that you obviously are unaware of.
The dining room is now another banquet room.
Some of the banquet rooms and rest rooms elevators are worse than in a 2.5 star hotel.
Safety is still the major concern.

Endora is going to put a hex on someone for that. "Calling Dr. Bombay, come right away!"

How was that comment racist at all?
The "folk" outside of it. Does that have anything to do with race? The less fortunate come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Nice try guys.

Congratulations to The Marlborough! I booked several multi-day meetings for a national board of directors throughout the late 1990's. The service was always wonderful and attentive. The hotel was comfortable, and the restaurant provided top-notch food.

Starting a racism angle based on that comment seems like a real stretch.

"As far as the slur against current clients, one hopes it isn't racism rearing its ugly head."

I agree! There's nothing uglier than Racism!

I attended a BEAUTIFUL & ELEGANT Wedding Reception that was held in The Skyview Ballroom at The Marlborough this past fall and it was amazing! I would highly recommend this venue.

The staff are very professional, friendly & accomodating, the place is clean & the remodelling is tasteful & fashionable.

Congratulations Marlborough on your 95th! All The Best!

Congrat's. Stayed there and loved it. A

Endora Stevens has obviously not spent much time following the Marlborough Hotel. Current ownership has invested a lot of money on the hotel, upgrading rooms, adding pool and conference facilities and promoting group uses. Often when I have visitors and call the Marlborough for rooms they are sold out. It is a highly successful venue, which it couldn't have been descibed as for the previous 30 years.
As far as the slur against current clients, one hopes it isn't racism rearing its ugly head.

Totally agree Endora. It could be a splendid hotel but when I drive by it and see the folk that hang out outside of it, I'd NEVER consider using that hotel to host a function or to stay at.

The older original section of the hotel is fabulous.
What a shame it has fallen into such a state of disrepair.
The hotel needs some devoted love and attention and an owner to do what the Fort Garry Hotel has done.The hotel owners of The Fort Garry took a failing dowdy hotel, restored it to its former glory and now it can compete with the best.
In its current format, the clients @ The marlborough it is attracting and the state of decay are cause for concern.
Also, many complain about safety concerns.
Let's bring this majestic building back to life.

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