Yesterday the Fairmont Hamilton kicked off its 125th birthday.

The hotel has been a beacon to travellers for over a century and seen Bermuda go from a winter destination for wealthy New Yorkers who arrived by steamship to a spring break capital for east coast college students to a destination for discerning travellers looking for something different from what other Islands offer.

General Manager Jon Crellin said: “The Princess Hotel, as it was originally known, opened its doors on January 1, 1885, just two years after Princess Louise, who was the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, visited Bermuda and called it “a place of eternal spring.”

“From the day it opened, this hotel has been part of the fabric of the Bermuda community. We have been here for generations of Bermudians and visitors, for so many different reasons and on countless occasions, turning moments into memories for 125 years.

“Like Bermuda, our history is rich. The Princess Hotel was here when Bermuda’s nascent tourism season was winter, when guests arrived by steamship from New York and stayed on the island for months, when horses and buggies transported passengers along dusty roads.

“In those days, as ocean liners entered Hamilton Harbour and sailed past The Princess, it was tradition for our staff to welcome them, dressed in white jackets and waving pink handkerchiefs.”

Over the years it has seen its fair share of celebrities, including Mark Twain who was known to recite poetry while smoking a cigar on the veranda.

To kick off their birthday year they launched an “International Memorabilia Search”.

Mr. Crellin said: “We invite the public to share with us memorabilia they have from The Princess Hotel over the last 125 years. We know from experience that every keepsake has attached to it a memory and we invite you to share those too. In the fall, we will host a public reception displaying the memorabilia for all to see.”

Starting February they will offer special discounted prices for rooms and meals, which will continue throughout the year.

There will also be monthly open houses and history tours of the hotel and to cap it all off there will be a celebratory anniversary gala in the fall to benefit a charity.

“We are also proud to be giving away a very special destination wedding to Bermuda,” he said. “We will partner with Destination Weddings & Honeymoons magazine, Saks Fifth Avenue and JetBlue to promote the giveaway throughout North America and to create excitement about a wedding in Bermuda with The Fairmont Hamilton Princess as the backdrop.”

John Harvey, Chief Executive Officer of the Bermuda Hotel Association, said the hotel has played a leading role in Bermuda tourism.

“A key ingredient in the hotel’s success has been the loyal, dedicated and professional staff, many who have been there for more than 20 years and the commitment by the hotel’s various owners, who have kept the Grand Dame tastefully decorated and equipped with the latest furniture and fixtures, and first-class hotel amenities,” he said. “This hotel also plays a significant role in Bermuda’s economy and has more value to our residents’ income than the U.S. Naval Base provided, when it was in operation.”