Fairmont Hotels of Vancouver, BC
British Columbia has Three of the 5-star Brand Hotels in One City
An overview of the Fairmont Waterfront, Fairmont Vancouver, and Fairmont Airport hotels reveals that each is unique, with luxury service, staff, and accommodations.
The Fairmont group provides 4- and 5-star accommodations and amenities, at rates that are almost cheap for hotels of their class. Not only that, but Fairmont has led the way in environmentally aware and eco-friendly travel. For example, this hotel brand was the first to introduce linen exchanges across the chain, and hotel restaurants use local, organic ingredients as much as possible. Fairmont also recently became the first luxury hotel and resort chain to work actively towards reducing greenhouse emissions. As a member of the World Wildlife Fund Climate Savers program, Fairmont hotels and resorts will improve energy efficiency, and has set a carbon output reduction target of June 2008. Now, Vancouver is home to several of Luxury Travel's favorite luxury hotel chain. Reason enough for a vacation in Vancouver BC!
The Fairmont Hotels in Vancouver are the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Fairmont Waterfront, and the Fairmont Vancouver Airport.
- Fairmont Waterfront - Luxury Travel saw mainly professionals on business trips staying here. Of all this brand's lodgings in Vancouver, the Waterfront is the closest to a 4-star (rather than a 5-star) hotel. Now, there is a Gold Floor, with the upscale accommodations and amenities to match any luxury hotel in the city, but the "regular" rooms seem in need of an updating. The televisions aren't flat-screen and the bedding isn't luxurious and plush, as they are at the other two hotels. Further, there is something a bit used-looking about the inside of the dresser drawers. However, this hotel has knock-out views of the harbor - hence the name - and with the sun streaming in, watching cruise ships dock next door, life feels pretty good.
- Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - The most classy, classic hotel on the list, this is really the grande dame in this city's Fairmont collection. The blue spires are icons in the city, and the location - in the center of town, right across form the art gallery - can't be beat for a luxury cosmopolitan vacation in British Columbia. There's a real "old money" feel to this one: Families with messy, loud children may feel out of place. On the other hand, if it's a traditional, impeccably decorated Victorian hotel you want, you can't do better than the Fairmont Vancouver: From the tinkling of the live piano music in the lobby to the British tea service, from the cheery, professional staff to the two sleepy dog mascots, 5-star vacations in this city are perfect here.
- Fairmont Vancouver Airport - Frequent air travelers know all about airport hotels; the chock-a-block architecture, the shuttle service to the airport, the uninspired decor and lethargic room service. This hotel is amazingly, jaw-droppingly better. First of all, it's right above the international terminal building - yes, on top of the airport- but the thick, triple-pane windows have reduced airport noise to next to nothing. Second, the service and high quality staff typical of all in the Fairmont brand is exemplified here. Third, attention to the decor is evidenced in the modern, brand-new pale woods and modern technology (such as flat screen TVs) in each room. And last - the hotel restaurant, Globe@YVR, is truly inspired; using local and sustainably harvested ingredients whenever possible, the chef still creates a menu that is healthful and delicious. Imagine an overnight stay in an airport hotel, wherein you wake up the next morning, take the elevator down to the bottom floor, and walk around 50 yards to check in. No more shuttle buses! What a luxury.
A new hotel, the Fairmont Pacific Rim, is due to open in 2009 as well. Being built in preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics, it will presumably continue in the mode of the Fairmont brand's collection of luxury class hotels in Vancouver, British Columbia.
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