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Charles Melville Hays, the man who founded the first CP Hotel, was an American who worked for the Wabash Railway. He moved to Montreal in 1896 to become general manager of Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. Hays convinced Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier to construct a second transcontinental line, and the government agreed to subsidize the venture to the tune of $30 million. Financing was chaotic, however, and by the end of 1911, Hays' company was $100 million in debt. Hays met with the board of directors in England and proposed a strategy that included building a chain of luxury hotels across Canada. He had already begun construction on what would be Grand Trunk's flagship hotel, the Château Laurier, which was scheduled to open April 26, 1912.

© Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

On April 10, 1912, Hays set sail for home on the Titanic with his wife, daughter and son-in-law. He was also transporting dining-room furniture for the hotel. Not long before the disaster, Hays was chatting with two other passengers and remarked that "the trend to playing fast and loose with larger and larger ships will end in tragedy." Twenty minutes later the Titanic struck an iceberg and Hays perished along with some 1500 others. The Château Laurier opened with little fanfare on June 12, 1912, nearly two months after its scheduled inauguration. In 1919, Canadian National Railways was created and assumed control of Grand Trunk Hotels.

What began in tragedy evolved into nearly a century of success for the Fairmont Château Laurier: it has received several CAA Four-Diamond awards and consistently makes Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List. It's not difficult to see why. The 429-room limestone, granite and copper structure is a study in mixing old world and modern - marble floors, brass railings, ornate ceilings and antique furniture blend in quietly with high-speed Internet, PlayStations, a state-of-the-art health club and an 18-metre Art Deco swimming pool. Rooms vary in size, but all are comfortable, beautifully decorated and offer lovely views of the city. The Entrée Gold floor has its own concierge with private check-in, and a lounge that offers a cocktail hour with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and an honour bar service. Breakfast is also served in the lounge each morning.

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Although the hotel is a long-time favourite for politicians, conventioneers and visiting celebrities, it's also popular with families and couples on weekend getaways. There's a kid's playroom in the health club, and the pool has a lifeguard on staff. There's also a babysitting service and kids' menus in all of the restaurants, including room service. Grown-ups won't find any shortage of things to do in and around the hotel either. Zoé's Lounge has nightly live entertainment, and the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography is connected to the hotel. Right across the street is Holtz Spa, which offers an impressive list of massages, facials, body treatments and more.

The Rideau Canal, Rideau Shopping Centre and Parliament Hill are across the street. Just down from them is ByWard Market, a cobblestone-paved shopping district with crafts stores, fruit, vegetable and flower stands as well as restaurants, pubs and specialty shops. The Canadian Museum of Civilization, which also houses a Children's Museum, the National Arts Centre and the National Gallery of Canada are all within walking distance.