Fairmont Story The Birth of a Legend

In 1907, history was made when Fairmont San Francisco, Nob Hill's grand dame, opened its doors. The iconic hotel soon became the city's venue of choice for glittering balls, presidential visits and political gatherings, making the name Fairmont synonymous with “place of occasion”. With this auspicious beginning, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts brand was born.

The Creation of an Iconic Legacy

The distinctive collection of unrivaled hotels under the Fairmont banner reflects our belief in providing world-class service to guests who appreciate unique locations. Today, when you think of a landmark hotel around the world, chances are it’s a Fairmont Hotel. From The Savoy in the heart of London to Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai or Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel, our portfolio of properties features the most celebrated addresses. At the heart of capital cities or ocean-front in the Maldives, we continue to strive to be worthy of our legacy of providing unforgettable experiences to our treasured guests.

Luxurious accommodations in the most-sought after destinations

Fairmont Hotels offer more than luxurious rooms, world-class dining and amazing locations. They help guests create lasting memories. Perhaps this is why so many celebrities, royalty, politicians and artists have made their favorite Fairmont hotel their home away from home.

Claude Monet painted evocative scenes of London during several visits to The Savoy. In fact, scientists have pin-pointed which balconies he painted from based on the lighting conditions in his canvases (rooms 610 and 611 in 1900 and rooms 510 and 511 in 1901).  Noël Coward recovered from the flu and finished his comedy Private Lives in the penthouse of Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai. And the roster of Hollywood’s A-list of celebs and stars is endless.

Our hotels have been called upon for starring roles in historic events. The UN Charter was drafted and signed by 50 countries in the Garden Room of Fairmont San Francisco. William Lyon Mackenzie King hosted Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt at Fairmont Le Château in 1943 as the two men drew up plans for the Normandy invasion of Europe.  Lennon and Yoko Ono made history with their Bed-in for Peace at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal in 1969, when the former Beatle penned the lyrics and recorded “Give Peace a Chance”, which became the anthem of the anti-war movement.

Favored by royalty, our iconic hotels have welcomed Queen Elizabeth II in every decade of her reign. We’ve also welcomed local notables to their debutante balls, hosting countless afternoon tea dances and lavish galas. Whether it’s a headline-making event or providing an outpost for the code-breaking headquarters of British Intelligence in Bermuda, our goal is to deliver an exceptional experience to every guest.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visit Fairmont Banff Springs during their 1939 North American tour.

Diana, Princess of Wales peeks around a lectern during a dinner at Fairmont Le Château Laurier during a 1983 Royal Visit.

Unforgettable
Moments

As we embrace our second century of hospitality, we celebrate the defining moments that are our history. Distilling more than a century of notable guests and headline events, this timeline offers a small glimpse into what makes Fairmont Hotels & Resorts an unrivaled luxury brand.

1885

Fairmont Hamilton Princess

On January 1, 1885, the Hamilton Princess and Beach Club opens its doors, earning it the title of the oldest member of the Fairmont family. It quickly becomes a popular choice for such luminaries as Mark Twain.

1907

A Phoenix Rises from the Ashes

April 18, 1907 marks the opening of Fairmont San Francisco, exactly one year to the day after the Great Earthquake and subsequent fire which destroyed the city. Although the building survived the quake, Julia Morgan was hired to lead the reconstruction of the Nob Hill landmark.

1943

The First Quebec Conference

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is the site of secret meetings between Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt. The meetings, hosted by William Lyon Mackenzie King, are to devise invasion plans to end the war.

1945

A United World for Peace

Global history was made in the Garden Room of Fairmont San Francisco on June 26, 1945, when 50 countries came together to draft and sign the Charter establishing the United Nations.

1969

The Bed-In for Peace

John Lennon and Yoko Ono make suite 1742 famous with their week-long Bed-In for Peace at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth. The famous couple greets friends and the press during their stay as they compose and record the anti-war anthem, "Give Peace a Chance" from their bed.

1999

Creating a North American Luxury Legend

Fairmont Hotels, a leading luxury hotel brand, and Canadian Pacific Hotels, with its rich heritage of 25 luxury hotels, merge to form the  largest North American hotel management company.

2007

100 Years Young

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts celebrates its Centennial anniversary with a yearlong series of special events. The public is invited to celebrate with "Open Door" days to tour landmark properties, and a special edition of the game Monopoly is released with six custom tokens, including a steamer trunk and a doorman.

2015

Helping the Planet Breathe Easier

Fairmont Hotels is recognized as the first Canadian hotel brand and hospitality company to meet its WWF Climate Savers goal. In 2006, Fairmont pledged to reduce its operational CO2 emissions by 20%, the equivalent of the CO2 generated by 13,569 passenger vehicles.

2016

Bonjour, Paris

The iconic luxury brand, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is acquired by AccorHotels Group. This gives Accor a significant presence in the North American luxury market.

2018

Ready for Our Close-Up

Fairmont Hotels have hosted crews, actors and provided film locations since 1921, when the silent film Kipps was shot, in part, at The Savoy. In 2019, we celebrate this proud history with pop-up events and a retrospective photo exhibit, Fairmont Loves Film.