Fairmont Empress

A historic railway hotel on Victoria’s Inner Harbour with about 18,000 sq ft of meeting space. It has its own banquet menus and outdoor spaces for weddings and receptions.

About the venue

On EventPlans.ca it is listed in Victoria, at 721 Government Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1W5.

Event spaces

The venue lists these spaces. Capacities are the venue’s own figures and change with the layout you choose.

• Crystal Ballroom: 4,560 sq ft; 450 banquet / up to 500 reception
• Shaughnessy Ballroom and Garden Terrace: 3,542 sq ft; 300 guests; private outside entrance
• Rattenbury: 3,256 sq ft; 280 guests
• The Palm Court: 2,156 sq ft with a stained-glass dome; 200 guests
• The Library: 784 sq ft; 40 guests
• Outdoor spaces: 25–500 guests

Capacity

Groups up to 1,200; the Crystal Ballroom holds 450 banquet and up to 500 reception. Confirm the capacity of the specific room in the layout you want, whether seated dinner, standing reception, theatre or classroom.

Catering

Catering is provided by the venue.

Questions to ask on your site visit

• Is there a minimum food and beverage spend for the date, and does it include the service charge and GST and PST?
• Which rooms are held for you, and is a second room available as a weather or overflow backup?
• Is in-house audio-visual required, or can you bring your own production company?
• Where do vendors load in, and at what times?
• What are the parking options and accessible entrances for guests?

Use the venue capacity calculator to check layouts and the budget calculator with Victoria selected to estimate costs.

Official website: www.fairmont-empress.com