Charming old hotel (1930’s) with good staff but in need of upgrading and more staff. We had a standard room on the Signature floor (key access + perks) that was very well appointed but rather small. Signature rooms give you access to free continental breakfast and one internet station in a private reading room. The grounds are very well kept along the river. Excellent walking/jogging/cycling path along the South Saskatchewan River. Restaurant and bar service were good. We attended a conference and found the catering satisfactory. Members of the staff had a very pleasant attitude and were responsive. The booming economy means that the hotel is short of staff thus housekeeping occasionally left something to be desired. Recommended for those who like the old charm and who do not seek very large accommodation. Much larger rooms are available at higher cost.

The building is great, the location is great, and the views are particularly pleasant (at least in summer). The few staff holding down the fort were pleasant. The room was less of an antique than a relic of better times gone by, but everything was clean and everything worked. Free broadband was a big plus; the remarkably uncomfortable mattress was not. In winter I suspect the ample gym and indoor pool would be a huge plus. Otherwise it's not clear what distinguishes the modern Bess from any other chain hotel in town.

The palatial Bessborough is one of the many grand railway hotels built across Canada in the early decades of the 20th century. Located next to the riverfront, this hotel is within walking distance of just about everything in downtown Saskatoon. This property appears to have a happy and motivated staff, as I was greeted with eye contact, a smile and a greeting at just about every opportunity. (Kudos in particular to the woman at the front desk and bellman working on the morning of Mar. 12 and the restaurant server and room service waiter working the following morning for a level of service and kindness that went beyond the call of duty.) Although there are a few flaws, such as thin walls and slow elevators, the Bessborough is nonetheless a first-rate hotel.