For over a century, the Fairmont Banff Springs has been a beacon of luxury in the heart of Banff National Park, Canada. This iconic Canadian railway hotel has consistently been among Canada’s best hotels. In the short time that travel awards have become more common, the list of awards the Banff Springs Hotel has won is impressive!
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Here are some of the Banff Springs Hotel awards and distinctions granted over the past two decades:
National Historic Site of Canada
The Banff Springs Hotel was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in June 1988. Fittingly, this prestigious designation was granted 100 years after this iconic Canadian railway hotel first opened for business in Banff National Park.
Of all the awards the Banff Springs Hotel has earned, being declared a National Historic Site of Canada is the most important. To be considered for a National Historic Site of Canada designation, a place must have had a nationally significant impact on Canadian history, or must illustrate a nationally important aspect of Canadian human history.
The National Historic Site of Canada plaque on Spray Avenue reads:
“The [Banff Springs Hotel] is among the largest and most renowned of the fashionable resort hotels established along railway and steamship routes in Canada during the late-19th and early-20th centuries. Constructed by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company in stages between 1911 and 1928, the [Banff Springs] hotel developed an international reputation for excellence as a vacation retreat and became a symbol of the significance of tourism in the Canadian Rockies. Its striking natural setting, Château-style design and lavish interior decor appealed to a wealthy clientele seeking a wilderness experience in opulent surroundings”.
Learn more about the Banff Springs Hotel National Historic Site of Canada designation.
World Travel Awards
Banff Springs Hotel – Best Resort Awards
Winner: Best Resort in Alberta
The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is a 5-time winner of Alberta’s Best Resort: 2020, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
Winner: Best Spa Resort in Alberta
Home to the luxurious Willow Stream Spa, the Banff Springs Hotel was the winner of Alberta’s Best Spa Resort in 2008. The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel was also a finalist for the Best Spa Resort in Alberta in 2007, 2006 and 2005.
Finalist: Best Golf Resort in North America
With the famous Banff Springs Golf Course right next door to the hotel, it’s not surprising the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel was a finalist for North America’s Best Golf Resort in 2006.
Finalist: Best Golf Resort in Alberta
In addition to the North American nomination, the Fairmont Banff Springs was also a nominee for Alberta’s Best Golf Resort in 2005.
Banff Springs Hotel – Best Hotel Awards
Winner: Best Hotel in Alberta
The award for Alberta’s Best Hotel was given to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in 2004. The Banff Springs Hotel was a also finalist for the Best Hotel in Alberta award in 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
Winner: Best Ski Hotel in Canada
Another category in which the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is a 5-time winner is Canada’s best ski hotel: 2012, 2009, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
The Banff Springs Hotel was also a finalist for the Best Ski Hotel in Canada an incredible 10 times: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011 and 2010.
Finalist: Best Business Hotel in North America
The Fairmont Banff Springs has been a finalist for North America’s Best Business Hotel 9 years in a row – from 2012 to 2020! Given this award is open to the whole continent of North America, this is an amazing testament to the meeting and event facilities at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
Finalist: Best Business Hotel in Canada
Given the nominations for the Best Business Hotel in North America, it’s not surprising the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel was also nominated for Canada’s Best Business Hotel every year for the same 9-year stretch from 2012 to 2020.
Finalist: Best Hotel in Canada
The Banff Springs Hotel was an honored finalist for Canada’s Best Hotel in 2020.
Finalist: Best Hotel Suite in Alberta
The centerpiece of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel Signature Collection, the magnificent Royal Suite was a finalist for Alberta’s Best Hotel Suite in 2020.
Finalist: Best Ski Hotel in Alberta
In addition to the many awards for Best Ski Resort in Canada, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel was a finalist for Alberta’s Best Ski Hotel in 2008.
Finalist: Best Ski Hotel in North America
The Banff Springs Hotels was a finalist for North America’s Best Ski Hotel in 2006.
World Culinary Awards
Finalist – Canada’s Best Hotel Restaurant
The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel Vermillion Room was a finalist for the best hotel restaurant in Canada in 2020.
Condé Nast Traveller Readers Choice Awards
Condé Nast Traveller is synonymous with luxury and lifestyle travel. The Condé Nast Traveller awards are based on votes from their distinguished readership.
Top 10 Resorts in Canada
The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel has been recognized by the readers of Condé Nast Traveller as one of the Top 10 Resorts in Canada three times in the last 6 years:
Top 5 Spas in Canada
In addition to the recognition as a Top 10 Resort in Canada, the readers of Condé Nast Traveller have named the Willow Stream Spa as one of the Top 5 Spas in Canada.
Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards
With over 6 million readers, Travel + Leisure is a trusted source of travel information. Each year hundreds of thousands of T+L readers vote on the World’s Best. The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel has appeared on several of the Travel + Leisure World’s Best lists, including:
Top 10 Resort Hotels in Canada
The Banff Springs Hotel was voted into the Top 10 Resort Hotels in Canada in each of the past two years. The Banff Springs Hotel placed #6 in 2020 and #7 in 2019.
Top 5 Family Resorts in Canada
The Fairmont Banff Springs is one of the most kid-friendly hotels in Banff. The Travel + Leisure readership recognized this by voting the Banff Springs Hotel as the #3 Resort in Canada for Family Travel in 2015.
Canada’s Best Hotel Spa
Also in 2015, the readers of Travel + Leisure named the luxurious Willow Stream Spa at the Banff Springs Hotel the Best Hotel Spa in Canada. The Willow Stream Spa was also included in their list of the World’s Best Hotel Spas.
World Golf Awards
Winner: Canada’s Best Golf Course
The Banff Springs Golf Course is a 3-time winner of the Best Golf Course in Canada award in 2019, 2016 and 2014.
In addition, the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course was a finalist for the Best Golf Course in Canada in 2020, 2018, 2017, 2015 and 2014.
Winner: Canada’s Best Golf Hotel
The Banff Springs Hotel was declared the winner of the Best Golf Hotel in Canada in 2016.
The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is a 6-time finalist for the Best Golf Hotel in Canada in 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015 and 2014.
Finalist: North America’s Best Golf Course
Competing against the best golf courses on the continent, the Banff Springs Golf Course has been nominated twice for the Best Golf Course in North America in 2019 and 2016.
Finalist: North America’s Best Golf Hotel
In addition to being named Canada’s Best Golf Hotel in 2016, the Fairmont Banff Springs was also nominated as the Best Golf Hotel in North America.
Golf Magazine
With over 7 million monthly readers, Golf is one of the most visited and trusted sites in the golf industry. Golf Magazine has recognized the Fairmont Banff Springs with two important distinctions:
- In May 2021, the Banff Springs Golf Course was ranked #17 on Golf Magazine’s Top 100 public courses in North America for 2021-22.
- The Banff Springs Hotel was named as one of the Top 100 Golf Resorts in North America.
- In addition the Banff Springs Hotel was named the #3 Golf Resort in the World for All-Around Excellence.
Golf Digest
For over 70 years, golfers have referred to Golf Digest as a leading authority on how to play, what to play and where to play. Golf Digest has bestowed the following honors on the Banff Springs Hotel and the Banff Springs Golf Course:
Top 30 Golf Courses in Canada
In 2020, a panel of over 1,700 well-traveled amateur golfers named the Banff Springs Golf Course the #9 Best Golf Course in Canada.
Best Golf Resorts in Canada
In addition, the Banff Springs Hotel was a 2020 Golf Digest Editors Choice for one of the Best Golf Resorts in Canada.
Green Key Global
Green Key Global is an international environmental certification body. The Banff Springs Hotel has earned a Green Key Eco Rating of 4 Green Keys (out of 5).
Top Banff Springs Hotel Deal
Are you an Albertan looking for a staycation in the Rocky Mountains? The Banff Springs Alberta resident rate offers locals up to a 30% discount on room rates!
Not from Alberta? See even more Banff Springs Hotel deals.
Discover More About the Banff Springs Hotel
Dan Brewer, a life-long Alberta resident, calls Canmore home along with his wife and two kids. He is the co-owner of Travel Banff Canada, where he gets to share his passion for the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Dan, along with his family, love being outdoors doing one of the many activities they enjoy in the mountains: hiking, mountain biking, paddleboarding, skiing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
When he's not in Canmore enjoying one of his favourite local hikes, you can find him hoping on a plane to explore a new country with his family or working on one of their other two travel sites: Family Can Travel and Baby Can Travel.