Accor is expanding the footprint of the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts brand in the UK and Ireland, announcing the signing of a management deal to operate historic Carton House outside Dublin.

It was time for an update on Vancouver, and the best place to start was its iconic hotel, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. What a trophy it must have been when the four-floor building, with 60 bedrooms, was finished in 1887 (that building was replaced in 1912, and it, in turn, was to be demolished to give way to today’s towering 17-floor ‘castle in the city’, officially opened by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939).

Accor and UK hotel owner-operator, Arora Group, have announced the signing of a prestigious luxury hotel, Fairmont Windsor Park. Located adjacent to Windsor Great Park and Savill Gardens, the Windsor property is located on the former site of the 140-room Savill Court Hotel and Spa, which was previously owned and operated by Arora Group. The hotel is currently undergoing a multi-million-pound redevelopment and is set to open in the second half of 2020.

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel has introduced a new level of dedicated service and comfort, revealing its new Signature Collection. Guests staying in the luxury Canadian hotel’s Royal Suite, Gallery Suite or any of its five newly renovated Signature Suites will have access to elevated amenities, including in-suite flowers and butler inspired dining option, along with VIP Concierge Team service.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has opened a new address in the heart of one of the most spectacular locations in Rio de Janeiro – Copacabana Beach.

Accor’s Co-Deputy CEO and head of the company’s luxury brands, Chris Cahill, beams when talking about luxury. To bring them up to date, some of the heritage Fairmont hotels have seen astronomical spend, which should result in double-digit increased rate but double-double customer satisfaction. I went to see two of Fairmont’s heritage ‘railway hotels’.

Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, Canada will celebrate its 90th anniversary this year and mark the occasion with a majestic transformation, honouring the icon’s timeless grandeur while elevating it into a new era of luxury. In the final and most exciting phase of a multi-year renovation, the highly-anticipated reveal will include transformed arrival and check-in experience, newly imagined dining venues, contemporary event and meeting spaces, and a completely redefined Fairmont Gold, presenting the finest luxury hotel offerings and services in the city. The grand renovation will be completed summer 2019, in time for the hotel’s official anniversary celebration.

With the trend for experiential travel continuing to make tracks, luxury travellers – or ‘Luxplorers’ – are adopting a ‘carpe diem’ mindset, pursuing adventures that allow them to traverse the world in style. Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi has launched safari-style Tented Jungle Villas, offering an authentic experience in the heart of the resort’s inland jungle to unleash the explorer in every traveller.