Intel Hotel: Fairmont Vancouver gets a majestic update, but retains its past

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Pandemic Protocol: Certain events and establishments in British Columbia, such as restaurants, require proof of vaccination (gov.bc.ca). Fairmont hotels continue Accor everything safe hygiene’s norm.

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What’s old at the stately Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is new again, but thankfully not too new.

A four-year, $ 75 million renovation has shaken up this milestone with a radical update, but it has also preserved the hotel’s majesty and legacy.

The establishment known as the “castle of the city” has renovated its lobby, the Notch8 restaurant and the more than 500 rooms. The Fairmont Gold section was lavishly remodeled in the spirit and style of the 1939 royal visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

The hotel vibrates 365 days a year with an epic food and drink scene, including a social whirlwind of weddings and banquets and the crowning glory of the Fairmont, Notch8 restaurant and bar, all under the direction of Executive Chef David Baarschers. He is an alumnus of several Four Seasons, including those in Whistler, BC and London, as well as the illustrious Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, which boasts three Michelin stars.

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“We represent timeless, classic hospitality,” said General Manager Adam Laker. “We have added modern features, but we still have our royal bearing.”

Noble principles, those, and the hotel are also valued for the glories of a full-service establishment: a stunning indoor pool surrounded by a summer terrace, a double-staffed concierge desk, a business center, an Absolute Spa (operated independently) and two adorable canine ambassadors, Elly and Ella, who are available for hugs, but probably only if you hand out doggie treats.

Centrally located, the hotel is in the heart of shopping paradise. Dior and Louis Vuitton have boutiques on the ground floor, Tiffany and Hermès are across the street, and Nordstrom is two blocks away at CF Pacific Center. Adjacent to the hotel, the Vancouver Art Gallery presents Yoko Ono: Growing Freedom until May 1 ( vanartgallery.bc.ca ).

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Fairmont Gold: Do you know the expression “it’s like home”? Fairmont Gold is not. If you want to feel like a VIP, away from the fray and pampered to the max, Fairmont Gold is a real sanctuary. It’s a hotel within a hotel with thoughtful niceties, like a dedicated concierge, a selection of pillows, and free ironing.

But the ultimate in pampering and privacy is found in the Fairmont Gold Ballroom. It’s a rare privilege to just hang out in this formal lounge, where you can help yourself to a full breakfast, afternoon tea, evening hors d’oeuvres, soft drinks, and barista coffee. There is an honor bar for beer, wine and spirits.

Adèle Rankin of CHIL Interior Design was inspired by history and greatness when she overhauled the Fairmont Gold section. He highlighted precious architectural details in bronze, marble and carved plaster, and dressed the rooms richly in royal blue velvet with flashes of gold.

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Food and drink: Notch8 Restaurant and Bar is decorated in bold décor inspired by EDG Interior Architecture + Design trains. (The Vancouver hotel was once owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway.) There are old photographs of train trips and impressive bronze “doors” as room dividers. The term Notch8 refers to the maximum power gear of a locomotive.

Notch8 is lively all the time: for breakfast, lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, happy hour and the refined ritual of afternoon tea, an occasion celebrated at the hotel.

The culinary team focuses on ingredients from all over British Columbia. Special dishes include (for lunch) garlic prawns, roasted cod or bison carpaccio; (for weekend brunch) braised beef short ribs and eggs, a bowl of soba noodle soup or Crab Louis; (for dinner) risotto with ribs, pumpkin and wild mushrooms, or a delicate raw kampachi flavored with lime, coriander and serrano pepper.

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Fairmont Nation: The “city castle” is one of four Fairmonts in the Greater Vancouver area, the highest concentration of the brand.

Domestic and international travelers also frequent the trendy and trendy Fairmont Pacific Rim; the ecocentric Fairmont Waterfront; and Fairmont Vancouver Airport, a luxury and convenient connection to Richmond, directly on YVR. This Fairmont has been named by the Skytrax aviation bible as the number one airport hotel in North America for seven years.

If you go

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver: 604-684-3131, 866-540-4452, fairmont.com ; 900 W. Georgia St., Vancouver. Forbes Travel Guide four star hotel. Accor loyalty plan applies. Pets stay free. Fully accessible.

Price: Includes indoor pool, sauna, 24-hour gym. Rooms start at $ 349, suites at $ 549; Fairmont Gold is higher. A Family Affair package offers a 40% discount on a second room. The pet-friendly package offers a 10 percent discount, parking, late check-out, room upgrade, and dog benefits.

Notch8 Restaurant and Bar: 604-662-1900, notch8-dining.com .

Vancouver Tourism: 604-683-2000, destinationvancouver.com . British Columbia Tourism: hellobc.com .

Rochelle Lash’s Hotel Intel column will return in January.