Frequently Asked Questions
What to expect while staying in the mountains? |
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Location of The Banff Centre? Getting here from Calgary? Getting to the town of Banff? |
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Bringing additional guests to the Conference, or planning separate vacation time at the Centre? |
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Taxes and tips? |
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Details about amenities at The Banff Centre (bedrooms, dining, business services, parking, events, other programs, etc.)?
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Conference contacts and mailing/shipping address? |
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Other information? |
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What should I pack when I come? What should I prepare for?Banff has a cool, dry climate. The area, which is at an altitude of 1,476 m (4,500 ft), has “mountain weather,” meaning it is subject to daily changes in temperatures and conditions. Summer temperatures range from 20°C to 25°C, but nights are significantly cooler. Autumn is typically clear and sunny, with daytime temperatures in the 10°C to 15°C range and night-time temperatures slightly below freezing. Winter, which generally lasts from November to March, offers great snow for skiing, with typical temperatures ranging from -5°C down to -20°C. Spring temperatures are generally comfortable 10°C to 15°C during the day. Banff is also subject to Chinook winds and conditions. Warm, humid air flowing over the mountains from the west can raise winter temperatures substantially in a short time and reduce snow accumulations dramatically in a few days. People unaccustomed to living at our altitude may require a couple of days to acclimatize. In the winter, consider packing
In the spring/summer, consider packing
Click here for up to date weather information in Banff. What is a "park pass"?A "park pass" is required by all people using the Banff National Park; revenues from park passes fund Banff National Park's daily operations. Passes can be purchased at the gate when entering the national park or at the Parks Canada Information Centre in downtown Banff (224 Banff Avenue). Please contact: Click here for Daily Park Admission Prices What is there to do when I get there?Activities around Banff and at The Banff Centre are varied and depend on the season. Please consult The Banff Centre Events Section of our web site for music concerts, operas, stage productions and workshops available at the time of your stay. Seasonal activities in the surrounding Banff and Lake Louise areas can be discovered at www.igpublications.com with links to winter and summer tour information, ski and hiking opportunities. Banff offers some excellent and diverse dining and shopping opportunities, also described at this Web site. Further information about The Banff Centre productions and activities can be obtained through The Banff Centre Box Office at 403-762-6301, or at our Web site: www.banffcentre.ca/events/ Further information about Banff and Lake Louise and surrounding area activities can be obtained through: Banff/Lake Louise Tourism Can I expect to see any wildlife on my trip?As The Banff Centre and the town of Banff are located in Banff National Park, various types of wildlife are often observed. Sightings range from different bird species to the most frequently encountered large mammal: the elk. Bears, mountain lions, and mountain goats are very elusive and are rarely observed. Keep in mind that the wildlife you may encounter is just that — wild! Please ensure that you respect the animals’ spaces and habitats while in the park. That perfect picture can sometimes lead to a compromising situation for both the subject and the photographer! How do I get to The Banff Centre?Click for a detailed directions/map The Banff Centre is located in the town of Banff, a two-hour drive west of Calgary. From the airport, the transport options are varied and range from rental cars/vans to shuttles directly to Banff hotels. Bus
service is available from
Calgary International Airport to Banff and Lake Louise hotels
through Banff Airporter and Brewster Transportation
How far is The Banff Centre from Banff?The Banff Centre is located on St-Julien Road, a gradual climb up the side of Tunnel Mountain. The Banff Centre is located on the east side of Banff, four blocks from Banff Avenue. The town can be accessed by foot three ways from the Centre grounds: St-Julien Road, Buffalo Street, and the Ken Madsen Path to town. It is approximately a 10-15 minute walk downhill to town. The return trip is slightly longer as it is uphill. Click for a detailed directions/map Downtown Banff can be reached by taxi for less than $10 each way. There is no shuttle bus that runs from The Banff Centre to downtown Banff. Can I bring my spouse and family? How much extra does it cost?The Banff Centre has a wide variety of room types ranging from single or double occupancy to suites complete with kitchenettes and extra beds. When booking your reservation, please be sure to indicate the number of adults and children so that we can ensure that you are assigned the best room possible. Should the size of your family require a larger, upgraded room, you will be quoted a higher room rate than the price quoted for your conference package. As a delegate, you will have been offered a special conference nightly rate that includes some variation of a meal plan for you alone: spouses are not normally included in the meal plan for a conference. Should your spouse wish to dine with you and the conference group, a meal ticket can be purchased either at the Front Desk or the dining room. If your spouse is accompanying you while you are attending a conference and is NOT attending the conference sessions, there is no charge for the spouse in the room. If your spouse is also attending the conference as a delegate, the quoted "double" conference rate outlined on your registration form will apply to each of you. Meals will be included for both people if that has been pre-arranged with the conference. If you wish to bring children, children under the age of 13 years who stay in the same room as their parent(s), stay free of charge. Any child over the age of 13 will be considered another adult in the room and an extra fee of $20.00 per child per day will apply. More than two adults in a room will incur an extra charge of $20.00 per person per day. What is the 2% Tourism Improvement Fee (T.I.F.)?Effective November 1, 2006, the Tourism Improvement Fee (T.I.F.) is a 2% accommodation charge which will be used to enhance the experience of visitors by funding destination initiatives such as more and enhanced special event and heritage tourism programs, improvements and maintenance of information centres and services, and quality and ease of access to online information at www.banfflakelouise.com. What is the 4% Alberta Tourism Levy?Alberta imposes a 4% Alberta Tourism Levy on all lodgings. This is non-refundable. The tax will not apply to no-show charges or cancellations. What is the 5% GST (Goods and Services Tax)?Canada imposes a 5% tax on all goods and services purchased in Canada. This can be refunded for accommodation room charge only to non-Canadian residents upon application. Applications can be obtained at the Front Desk or in the town of Banff at various restaurants, shops and hotels. There are two ways to apply: F-1 Refund Services Inc. Revenue Canada Visitor Rebate Program How do I pay gratuities?If you are attending a conference, gratuities for baggage service and housekeeping are built into the nightly package rate. Other gratuities are paid upon the client's discretion for other services attained at either The Banff Centre or at other establishments in the town of Banff. Do the bedrooms at the Centre have modern amenities?Yes, in varying degrees. Each accommodation building is listed below with the corresponding amenities.
Disabled AccessThe Banff Centre welcome guests with disabilities. We recommend that you contact us in advance so that we can meet you upon your arrival to facilitate your understanding of the best routes and services available. Please contact Jim Olver, Director of Guest Services: E-mail jim_olver@banffcentre.ca or telephone 1-403-762-6123 and he will be pleased to assist you. The Banff Centre is located on the side of a mountain and is undergoing a major Revitalization project. Our site does present some challenges to people with limited mobility. There is ramp access to most buildings. Wheelchair and handicap access routes are shown on the campus map. Some bedrooms have been adapted for wheelchair access. and some phones in Donald Cameron Hall are positioned at a lower level for wheelchairs. For our hearing impaired guests, there is a phone equipped with an amplifier handset on the sixth floor of Lloyd Hall. Do you have smoking rooms?As of September 1, 2008, all bedrooms at The Banff Centre will be non-smoking. For the health, safety, and comfort of our guests, The Banff Centre has designated all bedrooms, public areas, classrooms, performance spaces, and service areas as non-smoking. Smoking is not permitted in building entrance areas, or on outside patios where food service is available. The Centre has designated more than twenty outdoor smoking areas, as outlined on the campus map (detailed version). Aboriginal smudging and sweetgrass ceremonies associated with Banff Centre programs are exempt from the non-smoking policy. Please note that under the Alberta Tobacco Reduction Act, smoking is prohibited in public places and workplaces, and within five metres of any doorway, window, or air intake. The Act came into force on January 1, 2008. We appreciate your cooperation as The Banff Centre strives to create the best possible environment for our guests and staff. Are all the bedrooms located in the same building?No. The superior bedroom types are located in the Professional Development Centre only. The Professional Development Centre is also the location of our Front Desk Check-in Desk. The standard bedrooms types are located in Lloyd Hall and Corbett Hall. Economy room types are located in Smith Hall and Farrally Hall. For more information, go to the accommodations section of our Web site. When is check-out time?Check-out time is 12:00 noon. Late check-outs will be charged a late check-out fee. Check-in time is after 4:00 p.m. on arrival day. You may try to check-in earlier, but we cannot guarantee that your room will be ready. What dining options are available at The Banff Centre?The Vistas Dining Room offers market-style breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you are attending with a conference, there is usually a meal portion built into your package at discounted rates for the conference and meals will be taken with the rest of the conference group for designated meals. Additional meals may be purchased at the prices noted below (subject to change, exclusive of 5% GST).
Children’s prices are available: age 0-5 years, no charge; 6-12 years, half price; 13 year and over, full price. Should you have special meal requirements, please inform us prior to your arrival. The Banff Centre Room Service is available from 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. nightly. Information and menus are located all bedrooms. Props Pub offers our full room service menus from 4:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. nightly. Props Pub offers full bar service along with pool, darts and fun! The Gooseberry Juice Bar and Deli (located in the Sally Borden Building) is a newly renovated deli and juice bar offering made-to-order sandwiches, fresh salads and home-made soups. The Gooseberry hours are 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. weekdays, and 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. weekends. Purchases made here are on a cash basis or can be charged to a bedroom account. What print services are available at The Banff Centre?For larger jobs that require completion prior to the end of the conference, The Banff Centre offers two facilities to help you complete these jobs. Xerox Global Services is located on-site and offers services ranging from large print jobs to complete binding and color printing services. They are electronically compatible to accept jobs for completion prior to your arrival. Xerox offers competitive pricing when compared with other options located in downtown Banff. Click here for further information. For smaller, quick jobs, the Business Centre, located at the Front Desk in the Professional Development Centre (PDC), can complete simple print jobs, transparencies and faxes. For convenience, charges may be deferred to your room account. The Business Centre also offers a full supply of office materials for purchase. Are there internet connections at The Banff Centre?All Banff Centre accommodation rooms have data-ports in the phones for working or checking e-mail on a laptop. Standard long-distance charges apply as well as a 0.75 connection fee for all long distance calls. Throughout The Banff Centre there are PCs (Macintosh or MS Windows) for guest and artist use. Two are located in the Paul D. Fleck Library (lower level of Lloyd Hall), one in Glyde Hall, two located in the lobby of Donald Cameron Hall, and two in the Fireplace Lounge, Professional Development Centre (PDC). In Banff, there are two Internet cafes, located in the Bear Street Mall and in the lower level of Sundance Mall. Where can I park at The Banff Centre?There is parking available on site at The Banff Centre. There is a two-level parkade as well as a lot located next to the Professional Development Centre, close to the Front Desk and Reception. Parking is complimentary for Banff Centre guests and we require a pass to be placed on the dash of your car, which you will receive upon check-in. Our parking areas are patrolled on a regular basis by on-site security. As thefts can occur, we suggest that all valuables be removed from view in the car. The Banff Centre is not responsible for theft or damage to vehicles while parked on our site. It is the policy of The Banff Centre that no vehicles or motorized equipment on the Banff Centre campus will be stationary with the engine operating for more than two minutes. When attending a conference, what is there to do at The Banff Centre?A wide selection of activities ranging from gallery exhibits to classical music concerts, from early morning work-outs to walks and hikes. Royal Winnipeg Ballet performances, readings, think tanks...there is something for everyone at The Banff Centre. Dial 0 from your room or ask for details from our Sales and Conference Service Managers. Upcoming events at The Banff Centre. Can my organization arrange a pre- or post- program for our conference?Choose from one of the Leadership Development programs or ask us to customize a package specific to your business and/or recreational needs. The Banff Centre's Sales and Conference Services Managers can build a program that will give your group a taste of the arts or a unique flavour to this magnificent Rocky Mountain place. Call our sales office, toll free, at 1-877-760-4595. How do I get information about Conference Services at The Banff Centre?
What is your shipping/mailing address? * Click here for conference exhibitor material mailing address
If it is conference materials, please indicate the conference name on the package or courier envelope. Should the package be for an individual, please indicate the name on the package or courier envelope. Please consult a Conference Services Manager at 1-877-760-4595 for detailed information about international (including U.S.) shipments through customs. What are some links to other sites that will help me plan my trip? The following links will allow you reach sites that offer more information about trip planning, events and activities in Banff, Lake Louise, Canmore, and the entire Bow Valley. |
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