Branching Out

The Fairmont Hotel brand is well-known in Canada: headquartered in Toronto, its roots are in Western Canada as the successor to the CP Hotels chain, with iconic B.C. properties that include Hotel Vancouver and Victoria’s Empress. But the chain itself takes its name from its flagship Fairmont San Francisco hotel in Nob Hill, completed in 1907. For over a century it was the only Fairmont property in the city, until Fairmont Heritage Place opened in Ghirardelli Square in 2008. Amid the less-than-stellar hotel options in the area, the five-star Fairmont property stands out: unobstructed views of the Bay from spacious outdoor terraces, fully equipped and furnished suites (with the option of personal shoppers to stock your kitchen prior to arrival), a Fairmont car service and much more. According to developer Kevin Morgan, 55 per cent of the units are fully sold, with the remaining residences functioning as hotel suites. One-tenth deeded ownership for a one-bedroom unit, which amounts to 35 days of use per year, starts at US $179,000; nightly stays are also available, starting at US $549/night. •