Fairmont Empress Earns Honour As One Of Western Canada’s Best Hotels In Condé Nast Traveler 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards

VICTORIA, BC (October 7, 2025) – Fairmont Empress has been recognized as the #2 Hotel in Western Canada in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. With its storied history, world-famous Afternoon Tea, and recent revitalization, including a newly reimagined Fairmont Gold experience, Fairmont Empress continues to impress travelers from around the globe. The hotel’s sustained rise in the Condé Nast Traveler rankings now underscores its reputation as one of Canada’s most celebrated properties.

“This recognition is a true honour and a reflection of the remarkable people who make Fairmont Empress what it is today,” said General Manager Dan McGowan. “Our passionate colleagues bring extraordinary moments to life for our guests every day, and the vision and continued investment of our ownership empower us to elevate the guest experience continuously. Being named among the very best in Western Canada is a shared achievement—one that celebrates the stalwart efforts of our entire team and the steadfast support of our owner.”

The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are among the most respected and longstanding recognitions in the travel industry, celebrating the world’s best hotels, resorts, destinations, and hospitality experiences as voted on by hundreds of thousands of readers worldwide. This year, more than 757,000 people casted votes to rate hotels on service, design, location, food and beverage, and overall guest experience.

About Fairmont Empress

Recognized as the #1 Canadian City Hotel in Travel + Leisure’s 2025 World’s Best Awards and honoured as the #2 Western Canadian Hotel in the 2025 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, Fairmont Empress is located in the heart of Victoria, BC overlooking the city’s sparkling Inner Harbour. The MICHELIN Key and Forbes-recommended hotel is a distinguished 4 Green Key property committed to sustainable practices—and is proud to be double Green Key certified, with its meeting space earning its own Green Key certification. The 1908 historic site offers 431 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, Fairmont Spa featuring signature West Coast experiences, and Q at the Empress, which serves Pacific Northwest cuisine accompanied by an award-winning wine list, all while being home to one of the world’s most iconic Afternoon Tea
experiences. Following a $60+ million restoration completed in 2017, the hotel has transformed into an elegant must-visit destination where modern luxury intertwines with timeless charm. In 2023, the property introduced a reimagined Fairmont Gold Experience. 88 Fairmont Gold rooms await to be guests’ home away from home, while a newly renovated lounge offers guests a cozy haven in the city and a private outdoor terrace peers over a perfectly manicured landscape. Historic Hotels Worldwide honours the property’s prestigious grounds as one of the Top 25 Most Magnificent Gardens in the World, making it the perfect starting point for exploring Vancouver Island’s stunning natural beauty.

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Media enquiries and further information:
Lisa McPhail
Director of Public Relations
Fairmont Empress
T: 778 679 5049
E: [email protected]