Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

A new era of glamour has been ushered in for the historic Fairmont Hotel Vancouver which has completed massive renovations.

Location
‘Location, location, location‘ is what hotels swear by. In this case, however, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver defines the location, not the other way round. An imposing building with a distinct green copper castle-shape roof, the hotel brings glamour and reverence to the heart of Vancouver’s shopping and entertainment district.

Ambience
The lobby is artistic and stylish, giving a great sense of arrival. There’s a feeling of lightness, spaciousness and joy, the modern design appealing to me more than the classic interiors of grand old dames.

What’s more the renovation of the lobby, which also includes a new restaurant, Notch8, hasn’t robbed the hotel’s history. White walls are adorned with framed architectural drawings of the property, which was originally opened in May 1939 by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

Notch8 itself pays homage to the hotel’s role with the Canadian Pacific Rail, its decor reflecting the romance of rail travel, while its name refers to the ultimate running capacity only attained by engineers after years of experience. And that’s how the word ‘top-notch’ is derived. There is so much to learn from this hotel!

I love its idea of having canine ambassadors at the lobby to welcome guests – you should see how our faces ‘pawsitively’ lit up when lovable Ella, a two-year-old Labrador/Golden retriever mix, is around.

Rooms
My room is a Deluxe King Non Smoking room, it too newly-renovated and continues the modern, residential theme, with touches of Victorian elegance. The room is highly comfortable. But the bathroom can hardly fit two people, however I do recognise this is not unusual in old structures.

My partner is a member of Fairmont President’s Club and we arrive at this hotel from a stay at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. But the data isn’t captured. There’s no turndown service, a privilege accorded to members, despite my asking for it. There are no bathroom slippers and no drinking water.

Coming from Asia, it’s a bit of a cultural shift: Turndown in luxury hotels is not a privilege, it is a given. It’s also funny there’s a bucket of ice in the room, but no water, let alone champagne.

Facilities
The fitness centre is just great, with technogym machines and kinesis wall. Other facilities include an indoor pool, the Absolute Spa and 5,110m of flexible meeting space. And lovers of luxury brands, rejoice – Lobby level boutiques include Canada’s flagship Dior while Hermes is just opposite the hotel.

Service
Friendly.

Verdict
A must-visit when in Vancouver, even if it’s just for a drink or meal – for a dash of style to the trip.

No. of rooms 557
Rates From $299 CAD (US$233)
Contact details
Tel: 1 (604) 684-3131
Email: hvc.concierge@fairmont.com
Website: http://www.fairmont.com/hotel-vancouver/

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