FAIRMONT
Operating in over 16 countries worldwide, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a leader in the global hospitality industry, with an extraordinary collection of luxury hotels including iconic landmarks such as The Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Monte Carlo
and The Fairmont San Francisco. Fairmont hotels are one-of-a-kind properties where sophisticated travellers can discover culturally rich experiences that are authentic
to the destination.
The group is committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership programme. Its portfolio includes 56 distinctive hotels, with plans to develop over 20 new properties in the coming years in destinations as diverse as Shanghai, Abu Dhabi and Anguilla.

Recent completions include The Plaza, one of New York’s most distinctive landmarks, reopened in March 2008 following a delicate and thoughtfully curated $400M, three-year lobby-to-roof renovation, and the Fairmont Mara Safari Club. Opening following a successful $35M phased enhancement programme, Fairmont Mara Safari Club is the epitome of tented luxury accommodation and joins two additional renowned properties – Fairmont The Norfolk and Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club.

“We pride ourselves on not just well documented historic events or lavish parties, but also on simple, everyday travel experiences that are unique and meaningful to each guest,” says President Thomas Storey. “Our strategy has been largely to find key international destinations, be they city centre destinations or unique resort destinations. Our development team is currently focused on some 25 strategic locations. Opportunistically, as projects that we feel fit the Fairmont profile present themselves, we will consider those as well.”
Fairmont is a global leader in responsible tourism and was the first major hotel chain in North America to embrace environmental stewardship within its daily operations. For close to two decades, it has strived to minimize its impact on the planet through industry-leading Green Partnership, a comprehensive program focused on key areas such as waste reduction, energy management, water conservation, and innovative community outreach programs. Introduced long before environmental action was in vogue, this program is a key component of Fairmont’s CSR platform.

Be it an exhilarating run down the pristine mountain slopes of Whistler, a long awaited getaway at the Willow Stream spa in Scottsdale, a round of golf in St Andrews, Scotland, the quiet enjoyment of Afternoon Tea at The Fairmont Empress, or a taste of Hawaiian culture through an outrigger canoe excursion at The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui, Fairmont offers a chance to create lasting memories.
Brand growth remains a top priority, with the focus over the next 2-3 years very much on portfolio diversification, adding key gateway cities and international hubs, and leveraging management opportunities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. 
This year, projects are due to open in Beijing, Kenya, Abu Dhabi, Kunshan, Cairo, Zimbali, Pittsburgh and Vancouver, to name but a few.
“Our development strategy remains focused on growing the company through hotel management,” continues Storey. “Fairmont has successfully executed this approach to become a dominant player in the North American market, and we will look to replicate this course on an international level in the coming years.

“While we are committed to growth on a global scale, I think the Fairmont brand will look to key markets such as Europe and Asia Pacific in particular. Already, the brand has announced several projects in Asia and will soon welcome new hotels such as the Fairmont Beijing, the Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai and a future hotel development project on Macao’s Cotai Strip,” he says.

For the full article please see the RLIFebruary 09 issue
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