Accor is continuing its commitment to expand its footprint in North America with a range of openings and renovations for 2021. A highlight will be the opening of Fairmont Century Plaza, an iconic property in Los Angeles originally designed by famed architect Minoru Yamasaki. A number of renovation projects are also scheduled to be completed in 2021, including Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle, Fairmont Chateau Whistler and Fairmont San José.
Hotel Openings
Accor’s global pipeline encompasses more than 208,000 rooms across 1,192 hotels (as of Q3 2020). Here is a look at major 2021 openings in North America:
Fairmont Century Plaza – The iconic Century City hotel will open this spring after a $2.5 billion redevelopment of Minoru Yamasaki’s mid-century modern hotel. Fairmont Century Plaza has been completely updated by Yabu Pushelberg to include 351 guestrooms and 49 suites—all with private balconies. The hotel will have four restaurant and bar concepts: Lumière, helmed by executive chef Jason Franey, plus The Bar at Century Plaza, Café Vignette and Pool Bar, all of which pay homage to the hotel’s past. Fairmont Spa Century Plaza, a 14,000-square-foot space, will include state-of-the-art facilities like experiential showers, a sanarium, Himalayan salt room, aromatherapy steam room and hammam.
SLS Cancun Hotel & Residences – The sixth SLS hotel and first SLS in Mexico, SLS Cancun Hotel & Residences is set to make its grand debut on February 10 with 45 suites and 130 residential units in Cancun, Mexico. Designed by architect and designer Piero Lissoni, SLS Cancun Hotel & Residences will encompass a vibrant private beach club and poolside scene, a luxurious spa and international dining at Leynia. The destination will also have a private marina and 18-hole Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course.
SLS Harbour Beach Residences – Neighboring SLS Cancun Hotel & Residences, this luxury, beachfront residential tower is also designed by Piero Lissoni and offers 121 one- to four-bedroom residences with private elevator access and floor-to-ceiling views of the marina and the Caribbean Sea. Homeowners are given access to a range of luxurious amenities, including the marina, 18-hole golf course, children’s playroom, theater room and fitness center and spa. SLS Harbour Beach Residences is slated to open in Q2.
In addition, Accor will be opening its third and fourth Novotel properties in Mexico this year: Novotel Mexico City Toreo in spring and Novotel Insurgentes WTC – Mexico City late in the year. The former is located in Naucalpan de Juarez neighborhood, offering 168 rooms and Heliana, showcasing Mediterranean flavors. The latter will be adjacent to the World Trade Center Mexico City. The property will have 106 rooms and open-kitchen restaurants.
Hotel Renovations
Here’s a look at the “biggest and brightest” renovation projects set to be unveiled in 2021:
Fairmont Olympic, Seattle – This 96-year-old landmark is evolving for a new era as it is currently undergoing a “grand-scale” renovation. The completed project will showcase a fully transformed lobby experience for guests and locals, a new culinary flagship and modern bar. The renovation extends to all key event spaces, as well. Spanish design studio Lázaro Rosa-Violán created the vision and interior design for The Olympic Hotel’s renovation. While it doesn’t have a specific completion date, guests can expect the new look to debut this year.
Fairmont Chateau Whistler – In January, Fairmont Chateau Whistler unveiled its new look after an eight-month, $14.2 million renovation and expansion. Designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates in San Francisco, the renovations include a dramatically expanded 3,300-square-foot Gold Floor Lounge and an extended collection of 96 guestrooms and suites. In addition to the culinary offerings curated by executive chef Isabel Chung, the lounge now has an innovative beverage program that showcases two signature cocktails: A Gold Lounge Martini and an exclusive barrel-aged French Canadian Old Fashioned. Local Whistler distiller Montis has also crafted a chocolate blend liquor specially for the Fairmont Gold Lounge. (Note: Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, this hotel is not currently open to international travelers.)
Fairmont Washington D.C. – The 413-room luxury hotel located adjacent to historic Georgetown, recently completed a $2 million renovation and rejuvenation of its 30,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Inspiration for the design was the hotel’s “botanically filled” courtyard. A secret garden theme was woven into the spaces, an unexpected escape that is engaging and relaxing for all seasons. This was completed in January.
Fairmont San Jose – Located in the tech and innovation hub, Fairmont San Jose will lift the curtain on a $10 million dollar renovation project this spring, which includes upgrades to the lobby space and the launch of a new lounge bar and dining experience named Arca. Further paying tribute to the city’s Spanish roots, the name Arca is an iteration of the Spanish word arco meaning arches—a nod to the architectural design by Rockwell.
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