Celebrating Fairmont Vancouver Airport’s 25th Anniversary
Fairmont Vancouver Airport recently celebrated their 25th Anniversary! In celebration of their big silver milestone, let’s look at some of the best past and present moments that make their hotel so special.
A home away from home
Since Fairmont Vancouver Airport opened their doors on October 7, 1999, they have consistently provided the comforts of home to travellers arriving at, transiting through or departing from Vancouver International Airport. For a quarter of a century, the hotel has never closed their doors; in fact, they don’t even have any front doors to close.
An enchanting experience in support of a great cause
In 2015, Fairmont Vancouver Airport’s Globe@YVR restaurant launched their first annual Princess Afternoon Tea. Guests enjoy an afternoon tea fit for a little prince or princess, including sweet and savoury treats, face painting, a photo booth, a silent auction and a sing-along with their favourite princesses.
A large percentage of the proceeds from the event are donated to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, which provides pediatric palliative care to children with life-threatening illnesses.
Keepers of the catch
In 2013, Fairmont Vancouver Airport hooked onto something unique: A “Fish Valet” service that provides their guests safe storage of their fresh catch.
During the summer months, the hotel is a frequent stopping point for guests returning from one of B.C.’s many exceptional fishing excursion companies and fishing lodges. Upon arrival, fish are “checked in” to a 575-cubic foot freezer, where they will be safely stored and watched over until guests are ready to depart.
The hotel’s resident expert on fish storage is Harvey Makasa, a lifelong hospitality professional who has overseen the fish freezer since 2013 and is well known to guests who return annually.
All that glitters is gold
Every room at Fairmont Vancouver Airport is a luxurious oasis for guests, but those staying on the Fairmont Gold floor are treated to a very special experience.
Newly renovated in 2019, Fairmont Gold at Fairmont Vancouver Airport goes above and beyond to provide guests with exceptional amenities, including
- Access to the exclusive 24-hour Fairmont Gold Lounge.
- A self-serve honour bar serving top-shelf spirits, wines, cocktails and more.
- Runway and mountain views.
- Complimentary breakfast and evening canapés in the exclusive Fairmont Gold lounge.
- Personal concierge service.
- Exclusive access to YVR’s FasTrack Lane at international, domestic and transborder checkpoints.
A partner in times of need
Given their location inside Vancouver International Airport, Fairmont Vancouver Airport is ideally positioned to provide accommodations at times when unexpected events disrupt operations at YVR.
Over the years, Fairmont Vancouver Airport has partnered with YVR to assist our airport community during a wide range of crisis response situations. From helping passengers in need of a space to sleep to supporting airport staff needing rest between shifts, Fairmont Vancouver Airport has been here to provide accommodation when we need it most.
Room service for all
Fairmont Vancouver Airport has long provided pet-friendly accommodations for folks staying at the airport with their animal companions. With pet beds and bowls available, guidance provided on nearby walks and animal relief areas, recommendations for doggy daycare and more, they go above and beyond to ensure your pet feels as relaxed and pampered as you do during your stay.
In the summer of 2024, they introduced one more treat for your pet or service animal to enjoy: dog-friendly menus! A selection of healthy, freshly-made dishes crafted with your pup in mind are available through room service from 6 a.m. to midnight daily, featuring Ocean Wise seafood, free-range eggs from Rabbit River Farms in Richmond, B.C. and organic vegetables from Local Harvest Farm in Chilliwack, B.C.
Shining bright like a diamond
Since 2014, Fairmont Vancouver Airport has been frequently recognized as one of the top airport hotels both in North America and worldwide by the well-regarded SKYTRAX World Airport Awards. For 2024, they were voted the #2 Airport Hotel in North America and #5 in the world.
The hotel was also awarded the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Rating for 2024, reserved for those hotels that best exemplify superior hospitality, personalized service, extensive amenities and refined, upscale accommodations.
Going green
At YVR, we pride ourselves on leading the way when it comes to sustainability in aviation, including our journey to Net Zero emissions by 2030, and are proud to partner with commercial partners who share that priority.
Just a few of the environmentally friendly practices in place at Fairmont Vancouver Airport:
- They use key cards made from FSC Certified wood instead of plastic.
- Refillable glass water containers are found in every guest room instead of plastic water bottles.
- Large-format bath and shower amenity dispensers help to eliminate single-use plastics.
- The hotel repurposes open and unfinished amenities for those in need by partnering with local community-focused organizations like Soap for Hope and Habitat for Humanity.
- They use eco-friendly products and processes to treat pool water.
Over the years, their efforts have been recognized with a number of awards including a Green Key Global 4-Key Rating, a 2019–2020 YVR Green Excellence Award and a spot on Canada’s Greenest Employers List.
A warm winter send-off
During the 2023 holiday season, YVR ordered 80,000 cookies from the Fairmont to distribute free of charge to passengers throughout the terminal. With batches needing to be baked fresh daily, this was a huge endeavour for the Fairmont’s pastry team, leading the hotel kitchens to smell enticingly of gingerbread and feel distinctly like Santa’s workshop leading up to the holidays.
Cheers to 25 years! As a longstanding partner, we’re grateful to Fairmont Vancouver Airport and all that they have provided to our airport community as a space to rest and relax when we need it most. Here’s to the next 25!