Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced it will open seven new luxury hotels in 2010. While most are newly developed properties, Fairmont will also throw open the doors at two of the world’s most celebrated addresses: The Savoy in London and the Peace Hotel in Shanghai.
The Savoy, A Fairmont Managed Hotel – paying homage to its original Edwardian and Art Deco design, The Savoy will unveil the culmination of a nearly two-year, GBP100-million restoration programme. Encompassing the entire building, including 268 guest rooms and suites, the courtyard and American Bar, the extensive restoration includes a new Royal Suite and the complete remodel of the River Restaurant. The Savoy Grill will return under the operation of Gordon Ramsay Holdings. New additions include The Beaufort Bar, a venue for champagne and cocktails, and the Savoy Tea Shop, a patisserie and take-away cafe. Within the Thames Foyer, the re-introduction of a winter garden gazebo beneath a glass dome will provide a perfect spot for afternoon tea. Opening Q2 2010.
Fairmont Peace Hotel is the new name for the newly restored Peace Hotel, a Shanghai landmark for over a century. Situated on the Bund, the 12-story, 269-room property enjoys a downtown location, facing the Pudong area over the Hangpu River. The new hotel will resurrect the much-loved Jazz Bar, a Shanghai institution since the 1930s. The ninth floor will host the Peace Hall, where the property’s sprung-wooden dance floor evokes memories of old Shanghai cabarets and gala parties. Opening Q2 2010.
Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel in Saudi Arabia, will be the focal point of the iconic Abraj Al Bait Complex, which includes seven towers and is adjacent to the Masjid al Haram, the holiest site in Islam. The 858-room hotel will offer numerous dining outlets and conference facilities. The 76-storey hotel tower, at 577 metres (1893ft) high, will be among the world’s tallest and features a 40-metre (130ft) clock, more than five times larger than London’s Big Ben, which will announce daily prayers to the Muslim world. The tower will feature a Lunar Observation Center and an Islamic Museum. Opening Q3 2010.
Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver will open the doors to a 377-room luxury hotel with 175 residential condos. Situated by the ocean, the hotel will be adjacent to the Vancouver Conference Center expansion and will provide views of Stanley Park, the Burrard Inlet, the North Shore Mountains and the city of Vancouver. Opening Q1 2010.
Fairmont Pittsburgh offers 185 rooms and suites in Pittsburgh’s newest cultural district. The hotel has views of PNC Park and the Pittsburgh skyline on one side and Mount Washington and the downtown area on the other. Located in Three PNC Plaza – a mixed-use building complex intended for certification under the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System – the hotel will combine luxury accommodation and state-of-the-art facilities with responsible tourism. Opening Q1 2010.
Fairmont Beijing is home to 222 rooms and located near the city’s major cultural, shopping and business areas, including The Forbidden City. Meeting spaces mix state-of-the-art technology with the traditional style of old Beijing "courtyard" culture. For the ultimate in relaxation, a visit to the three-level, 2,000-square-metre Willow Stream Spa provides the ideal sky-high-level rejuvenation experience. Currently in soft-opening phase; progressively opening Q1 2010.
Fairmont Zimbali Resort sits along South Africa’s east coast, between a forest reserve and the sea. The resort’s natural beauty is dotted with pockets of urban flair and enhanced by the rich Zulu heritage of the KwaZulu-Natal province. Over 150 rooms offer views of the Indian Ocean and oversized verandas. The region boasts thousand-year-old battlefields and renowned eco-parks, and offers unique game-viewing and safari opportunities. Opening Q2 2010.