VICTORIA, B.C., Canada
Fairmont Empress, named in honor of Queen Victoria, will celebrate its official grand opening on June 28 following a restoration. The two-year and over $60 million project celebrates the history and natural beauty of the west coast, and aims to elevate the historical property into a new era of modern luxury.
Recently unveiled to guests, the restoration's final phase showcases a renovated health club and pool; refreshed Willow Stream Spa with an expanded lounge, updated reception and revitalized retail area; and 229 luxurious guest rooms. Gracing the exterior of the building is the porte cochere, which was constructed to provide a sense of welcome prior to entering the new reception lobby. The renovation’s showstopper is said to be the "Twill Flower"—a six-meter-high, floral-shaped chandelier. Hand-woven with roughly 250,000 crystals the sculpture is homage to Victoria's reputation as the City of Gardens.
"We've taken a landmark building and restored the original architectural elements with modern, elegant touches,” said Fairmont Empress General Manager Indu Brar. “It's a fairy tale transformation and a milestone for this beautiful [and historic] castle ... And, we're ready for the world to see it."
Fairmont Empress opened in 1908 and lured world travelers to the far flung destination of Vancouver Island. The hotel hosted the likes of Winston Churchill, Bob Hope, and members of the Royal Family. In 2014, Vancouver developer and philanthropist Nat Bosa and his wife, Flora, purchased the hotel and commenced the comprehensive two-phase renovation shortly thereafter.
"When Flora and I bought the hotel, we had a vision of restoring this Grand Old Lady to her former glory,” Nat Bosa said. “True to my words at the time, this old mistress has given me some headaches, has cost me one hell of a lot of money, but is now beginning to bring us some pleasure.”
Phase One of the iconic restoration launched in June 2016 with the grand opening of Q at the Empress -a bold new restaurant and bar. Designed by Puccini Group, an internationally recognized hospitality firm, the venue reflects a modern sense of royalty with traditional coffered ceilings, quartzite bar, elegant furnishings and artwork featuring Queen Victoria. The re-imagined Lobby Lounge—home of the world-renowned Tea at the Empress—reveals a modern Victorian parlor featuring a fresh color palette inspired by the original Empress tea service china, whimsical artwork and textured furnishings.
Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) of San Francisco, a world-renowned hospitality interior design firm and notable designer of Raffles and St. Regis properties, oversaw the design of Fairmont Empress' lobby, guest rooms and Fairmont Gold with a mandate to respect the architectural and historical integrity, and infuse a modern, upscale design inspired by the area's natural beauty. Fairmont Gold, with private concierge and check-in services, has expanded to 65 guest rooms and includes two new lounges and a spacious outdoor terrace that overlooks the inner harbor. A Royal Suite was also added to the property.
The Fairmont Empress features 23,000 square feet of meeting space and over 96,000 square feet of total space when combined with the adjacent Victoria Conference Centre, ideal for larger groups.
