The Great George Hotel Will Change The Way You Experience P.E.I.
CHARLOTTETOWN – When you enter The Great George Hotel from the cobblestone sidewalk in downtown Charlottetown, the lobby will impress you with its grandness and comfort, the large fireplace and comfy leather couches. But you will be most struck by the smell of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.
“We start baking them at 2 p.m. and our arrival time is typically any time after 3 p.m.,” says Rachel Vidito, the Director of Hotel Operations and General Manager.
“When you walk into the lobby to check-in, you’re hit with this beautiful smell of chocolate cookies, just like grandma’s kitchen. We have had a number of guests e-mail us and ask if we’re still serving cookies. Absolutely. We’re known for our personalized service and we’re known for our cookies.”
The Great George is a boutique hotel with 54 richly decorated suites among 17 carefully restored heritage buildings, all within walking distance of downtown shops, restaurants and bars.
“The hotel takes up a full block and a half downtown, with gardens connecting the backyards,” says Vidito. “It’s really a very cool property – nothing like you’ve ever seen before.”
The hotel first opened as The Pavilion in 1857; at the height of its popularity in that era, it hosted some of the delegates from the 1864 Charlottetown Conference on Union, where Prince Edward Island became the Birthplace of Confederation.
The original buildings from that time, the Pavilion and the Wellington, are still part of the expanded hotel, which was renovated and renamed the Great George in 1996 by the current owners. But the atmosphere is still very much steeped in mid-19th century lore.
“There is an Old Wives Tale that our Wellington building has an underground tunnel that connects it to Province House, which is where they had the meetings,” says Vidito. “We’ve often tried to find it, but we can’t!”
A historical tour is a popular part of the stay here but it’s not being offered yet out of respect for guests and their need for physical distancing during Covid-19.
“We want to see how our guests feel first,” says Vidito. “We need to ensure they feel safe and comfortable.”
The hotel is abiding by government restrictions and putting in some guidelines of its own to protect staff and guests, but at the same time delivering the premium experiences The Great George is known for.
The hotel ordinarily offers a deluxe continental breakfast buffet, but instead is preparing a high-end breakfast to go.
On weekdays, they usually invite guests to the lobby for a glass of wine or craft beer. Like the chocolate cookies, the drinks can be delivered to their rooms instead.
However, guests can still enjoy the lobby, a hub of activity and Vidito’s favourite part of the grand old hotel.
“It has the feel of a Victorian library – not stuffy but with a lot of comfort,” she says. “I love coming down in the afternoon and someone is curled up in front of the fireplace reading a book. It’s so comfy and cozy, a lovely place to meet and gather.”
With Covid-19 restrictions, only 15 people can be in the lobby at one time.
“We just have to be mindful of the number of people in the lobby and that they’re still social distancing,” says Vidito. “All of our guests have been so amazing.”
The Great George guests revel in both the luxury and comfort of the hotel experience, and the best the city has to offer.
“The rooms are so beautiful that when guests settle into their rooms, what we hear is, ‘I don’t want to leave,’” she says. “People definitely want to come and just enjoy the sanctuary that is their beautiful room, but also they are in the heart of downtown. You can park the car in our lot and walk the city and not have to worry about driving anywhere.”
“There are so many great restaurants and little shops, places to grab a drink, all within walking distance.”
Along with its sister hotel, The Hotel on Pownal, The Great George has developed packages with local businesses. They have a “date night” package that includes chocolate truffles from the Anne of Green Gables shop and rose petals from a local florist. There is also a “choose your own adventure” package where guests can choose either a half-day paddleboard rental in Brudenell or a one-and-a-half-hour guided kayak tour in North Rustico.
Despite the Covid-19 restrictions, The Great George is delivering the experience people expect from a stay there.
“They’re still going to get the genuine island hospitality, the warm friendly welcome, the attention to detail and personalized guest service – that has not changed,” she says. “That’s the backbone of The Great George.”
This story is sponsored by The Great George Hotel.