LILLEY: Canada's delegation to Queen's funeral spent almost $400,000 for hotel rooms alone
Even in a city as luxurious as London, the accommodation costs need not have been so high
Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Trudeau arrive for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London. PHOTO BY GEOFF PUGH /WPA Pool/Getty ImagesArticle content
One hotel room cost $6,000 per night and the total cost of hotels for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral is more than many Canadians spent for their house, according to bills paid by the federal government.Everyone knew the bill for the Canadian delegation attending the Queen’s funeral last month would be steep, but the king’s ransom paid out is still shocking.
Documents released to the Sun through the Access to Information system peg the hotel rooms alone at just shy of $400,000.
Most of that money went for the stays of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his wife and the various celebrities staying at London’s Corinthia hotel. A smaller portion, about 10% of the bill, was paid for support staff to stay at the Hampton by Hilton out by London’s Stanstead airport.
Described as “one of the top luxury hotels in central London,” the Corinthia is the place where Trudeau was recorded singing Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody two days before the funeral. This five-star hotel is at the centre of London’s west end, steps from Parliament, 10 Downing St. and Trafalgar Square.
The total bill for the Corinthia rang up at 281,400 pounds or, according to the exchange set by Global Affairs Canada, $356,981.70. That bill includes rooms beginning on Sept. 11 and then growing in size until the number of king-bed rooms taken tallied up to 48,360 pounds per night, or $61,000, during the main period the delegation was in London.
Given the single room rate listed on the bill of 1,560 pounds or $1,978 per night, it looks like the Canadian delegation may have had as many as 31 rooms at its peak.
Rooms costing $6,000 a night?
Also on the detailed bill from the Corinthia is a charge for 4,800 pounds per night for the River Suite — at current exchange rates, that works out to more than $6,000 per night for five nights. These room rates match the rates currently on offer on the hotel’s website and don’t appear to have been increased due to high demand for the funeral.
What the documents don’t show, and what the government has not answered at this point, is who stayed in the River Suite. While most likely the Governor General or the prime minister, at this point, requests for clarification on what amounts to a $30,000 hotel stay have not been answered.
The River Suite at the Corinthia Hotel in London comes with a complimentary butler and costs $6,000 per night. PHOTO FROM CORINTHIA.COM