About Us

A British nobleman, Sir Norman Watson, purchased the Lake Louise Ski Lodge and adjacent cabins in 1947. Sir Norman was an avid sportsman who had travelled extensively in the Swiss Alps. Drawing on these experiences, Sir Norman had a grand vision for the future of skiing in the Canadian Rockies. By the time he purchased the Lodge, Sir Norman had already built two backcountry lodges – Temple Chalet and Skoki Lodge. With the Lodge being close to the Lake Louise train station, it was the perfect starting point for a ski journey to the backcountry.

With more and more summer visitors, the name Ski Lodge no longer seemed appropriate. In 1951 the name was changed to simply Lake Louise Lodge. However, this name caused some confusion with the Chateau Lake Louise. In 1957 the name Post Hotel was chosen. This name paid homage to the many Post Hotels of the Swiss Alps. At the time, there was also another building on the property that was leased to the Post Office, so Post Hotel seemed especially appropriate.

In the early years, “The Ski Club of the Canadian Rockies” not only included Post Hotel, Temple Chalet and Skoki Lodge, it also owned and operated the Lake Louise Ski Area. The Ski Club held this asset until the mid-1960’s.

In 1965, with the increasing demand for accommodations in Lake Louise, the 25-room Pipestone Motel was built adjacent to Post Hotel. Named for the Pipestone River, the picturesque mountain stream that borders the property to the east and south.

In 1978 Sir Norman Watson sold Post Hotel to André and George Schwarz. Sir Norman did not want his dreams for the area to fade away. The Schwarz family, with their Swiss origins and their background steeped in skiing, hospitality, and fine dining were the perfect choice.

The Schwarz’s immediately put their energies into The Dining Room; hiring European trained chefs, sourcing the very finest products available and slowly building a more comprehensive wine collection. It wasn’t long until the restaurant was one of the most popular in the area attracting guests from all over the world.

With the restaurant’s rise in popularity, the time was right to expand Post Hotel. In 1986 the Schwarz’s embarked on a major redevelopment. When Post Hotel re-opened in July 1987, it featured 93 luxurious guest rooms and suites, an expanded Dining Room, a new aquatic facility with indoor salt water pool, steam room and whirlpool plus an additional luxurious lodge on the Pipestone River – Watson House.

As a testament to the vision of the ownership and the efforts of the staff, Post Hotel was admitted to the prestigious Relais & Châteaux group in November 1990. Relais & Châteaux represents some of the finest hotels and restaurants in the world. To be considered, a property must be independently owned, intimate and must excel in the areas of comfort, cuisine, service and special character. For discerning travelers, the Relais brand signifies a quality guarantee.

More renovations and upgrades were completed through the 1990’s including the addition of seven luxury suites on the second level of the original building, a spectacular post and beam library and private dining room. Several beautiful suites were created by combining two rooms into one, and a host of new amenities were introduced.

The wine cellar at Post Hotel had grown to one of the most impressive in the country and has become an attraction all on its own. Meticulously curated over the years, the cellar received the Grand Award by Wine Spectator Magazine, an accolade it has retained for over twenty consecutive years. With a collection that had grown to over 25,000 bottles, a magnificent new cellar was opened in 2005.

In 2005, Post Hotel opened Temple Mountain Spa – a blissful sanctuary built around health, wellness, beauty and therapy. With eight treatment rooms, steam rooms, plunge pools and the indoor pool and whirlpool, Temple Mountain Spa offers a harmonious blend of products and services - the perfect respite after a day of mountain activities.

Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts purchased Post Hotel & Spa from George and Andre Schwarz in 2021. In the words of Larkin O’Connor, President of CRMR; “We are extremely excited to carry on the incredible legacy of the Schwarz brothers and welcome Post Hotel & Spa into our family of companies, building upon the foundations that have been created by André and George, we look forward to continuing the traditions of Post Hotel & Spa and honouring its renowned Schwarz hospitality.”