There’s lots of news in the hotel world, and today I’ve got updates from both Fairmont and IHG.
FAIRMONT HOTEL RENOVATIONS AROUND THE WORLD
Driven by a commitment to ‘Make Special Happen’, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced that 20% of the Fairmont portfolio is undergoing transformation.
This includes the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia with redevelopment projects at Fairmont Southampton in Bermuda and Fairmont Grand Geneva in Switzerland, both slated for a Fall 2026 reopening.
ONGOING RENOVATIONS
Fairmont Southampton– Bermuda: Embarking on the largest renovation project in Bermuda’s history.
Fairmont Pacific Rim– Vancouver, British Columbia: The Wellness Club at the Forbes Five-Star Fairmont Pacific Rim is Vancouver’s premier destination for elevated self-care and holistic wellbeing with the newly renovated Fairmont Spa.
(This is a spectacular hotel with fabulous food and cocktails)
The Savoy, London, England: Reflects Fairmont’s commitment to preserving iconic heritage with both its storied Art Deco and Edwardian wings.
Fairmont Chateau Laurier- Ottawa, Ontario: Extensive guestroom and bathroom renovation currently underway. (Hands down the most historic property in the nation’s capital.)
The Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa at dusk. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Fairmont Tremblant- Mont-Tremblant, Quebec: Comprehensive guest renovation program with the unveiling of a new Presidential Suite for fall 2026.
Fairmont Waterfront- Vancouver, British Columbia: Unveils 96 renovated guest rooms reflecting the hotel’s Pure Coastal Luxury identity.
Fairmont Grand Hotel Geneva- Geneva, Switzerland: Addition of elegant loggias to rooms overlooking Lake Geneva.
Fairmont Le Château Frontenac- Quebec City, Canada: Addition of 34 new Gold guestrooms alongside a fully renovated Gold Lounge. (Some say this beauty is the most photographed building in Canada. It’s certainly worthy of the attention.)
RECENT RENOVATIONS
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge – Jasper, Alberta, Canada: Originally conceived as a collection of luxury tents established on the shores of Lac Beauvert by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1915, the property has undergone a comprehensive, multi-phased repositioning, culminating in the reopening of its iconic main lodge. (A truly magnificent place to stay in the Canadian Rockies.)
Fairmont Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Guest rooms refresh, reimagined elegance with sweeping skyline views. (A gorgeous hotel in a surprising, underrated city.)
Fairmont Orchid – Waimea, Hawai’i: Fairmont Orchid on Hawai’i Island completed a multi-million-dollar property transformation in June 2025, with the resort’s guest rooms, Fairmont Gold floor and meeting and event spaces all fully refreshed. (An outstanding Hawaiian resort.)
The grounds and gardens at the Fairmont Kea Lani are among the prettiest on Maui.
Fairmont Kea Lani- Maui, Hawai’i-Reimagined return of Kō, the resort’s celebrated signature restaurant. (One of my fave hotels in Hawai’i, with tremendous food, a great beach and pool complex, and beautiful, massive rooms)
COMING SOON
Fairmont Winnipeg – Winnipeg, Manitoba: Fairmont Winnipeg is undergoing a complete property transformation spanning all guestrooms, the lobby level, the Fairmont Gold Lounge and fitness and pool facilities.
Fairmont Beijing – Beijing, China: Fairmont Beijing will close its doors on September 1, 2026 to embark on a complete renovation, marking the beginning of a significant new chapter for one of the brand’s landmark addresses in Asia.
OTHER CHANGES
Other improvements and renovations include a renovation of the conference centre at the spectacular Fairmont Banff Springs in Alberta, a reopening of the Bengal as the breakfast room at the Fairmont Empress, a renovation of the Addison by William Bradly restaurant at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego, California and a transformation of the East Retail Promenade at the regal Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.
SPEAKING OF FAIRMONT: A LOOK AT CANADA’S FAMOUS RAILWAY HOTELS
AOL recently ran a nice piece about Canada’s historic railway hotels. All but one are Fairmont properties, while the other is the lovely Algonquin Resort in St. Andrews by the Sea, New Brunswick. Here’s a link.
IHG EXPANSION ACROSS CANADA
IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to extend its presence in Canada with nearly 40 hotels in the development pipeline. The broadening of properties will add to IHG’s current portfolio of more than 200 hotels in the country.
Six additional hotels planned to open this year include Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites properties in Barrie, Aurora East, Pembroke and Woodstock, Ontario. These openings will build on the seven new hotels that arrived in Canada in 2025, including a Crowne Plaza in Toronto and four Staybridge Suites properties.
The lobby at the Kimpton Saint George Hotel, Toronto.
IHG’s growth in Canada additionally includes the introduction of several of its new and emerging brands. voco hotels – IHG’s fastest-growing premium brand globally – recently signed its first Canadian hotels in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Niagara Falls. IHG also is capitalizing on growing regional demand for high-quality midscale conversions, with the Garner brand set to make its Canadian debut in 2027 with three planned southern Alberta hotels in Red Deer, Medicine Hat and near Calgary International Airport.
Other IHG brands include Avid, Holiday Inn, Kimpton, Intercontinental and Iberostar. The company has more than 7,000 hotels around the world.
