Fairmont Empress Appoints Demian Fuentes As Food & Beverage Director

VICTORIA, BC (October 19, 2026) – Fairmont Empress is pleased to announce the appointment of Demian Fuentes as the Director of Food and Beverage. In this role, Fuentes will oversee the property’s food and beverage operations, lead strategic growth initiatives, and further enhance the guest experience across its culinary and hospitality offerings.

A strategic hospitality executive with more than two decades of international experience, Fuentes has held senior leadership positions with some of the world’s most recognized luxury hospitality and lifestyle dining groups. His career spans the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Australia, with experience in international expansion, financial optimization, and executive team development. He has extensive experience overseeing multi-unit portfolios, leading pre-openings, developing restaurant concepts, and strengthening financial performance.

“I’m thrilled to join Fairmont Empress and begin this new chapter on Canada’s West Coast. Victoria has a distinctive culinary identity, shaped by local producers, its coastal setting, and a vibrant community, and I’m excited to be part of that energy,” said Demian Fuentes. “My goal is to build on the property’s legacy while elevating our outlets through thoughtful cuisine, genuine hospitality, and experiences that reflect the character of this region.”

Fuentes will oversee Tea at the Empress, one of Victoria’s most iconic traditions, serving more than 250,000 cups of tea annually and welcoming generations of guests from around the world. Tea at the Empress is a defining part of Victoria’s identity and a cherished ritual for visitors and locals. Under Fuentes’s leadership, he will build on the tea experience’s legacy—preserving its timeless sense of occasion while introducing a fresh perspective with seasonal touches.

In addition, Fuentes will usher in the next chapter of Q at the Empress. Building on its evolution, he will guide Q at the Empress toward a more elevated and immersive experience with a stronger sense of place. The vision is to create a dining experience that feels distinctly connected to the coast, the seasons, and the region’s local gatherers and producers.

In his purview are The Bengal, the hotel’s breakfast room and one of Victoria’s largest private dining rooms, and DASH, the new grab-and-go coffee shop located in the south wing of the hotel.

Media enquiries and further information:

Lisa McPhail
Director of Public Relations
Fairmont Empress T: 778 679 5049
E: [email protected]