Fairmont Empress Named #1 Canadian City Hotel in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards for Second Consecutive Year!
VICTORIA, BC (July 7, 2026) – Fairmont Empress has been crowned once again as #1 City Hotel in Canada in the 2026 World’s Best Awards by Travel + Leisure®, marking the second consecutive year the magnificent property has earned the top city hotel honour.
The Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards recognize the leading hotels, operators, destinations, and travel experiences worldwide, as voted by readers in the magazine’s annual survey. Today, the results confirm travelers’ strong appreciation for excellence across a variety of criteria, including rooms, facilities, location, service, and restaurants, thereby reinforcing the awards as a definitive benchmark for top-tier standards in the travel and hospitality industry.
Since 1908, Fairmont Empress—often referred to as “Canada’s Castle on the Coast”—has remained the crown jewel of the City of Victoria. As a National Historic Site with a distinguished past, architectural grandeur, impressive gardens, refined accommodations, and the iconic Tea at the Empress, the hotel continues to charm local and international guests. Recent accolades further reinforce the hotel’s status as a leader in global hospitality and as a premier destination in Canada.
“It is an honour to be recognized as the #1 City Hotel in Canada by Travel + Leisure readers for a second consecutive year. It is incredibly rewarding to have our valued guests return time and time again, and to vote for us as their hotel of choice once more,” said Dan McGowan, General Manager of Fairmont Empress. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our staff and our visionary owner, Nat Bosa, whose passion and continual investment ensure Fairmont Empress remains a source of pride for our community and a world-class experience for international travelers. We are deeply grateful to our loyal guests, our supporters, our team, and Mr. Bosa for making this recognition possible.”
In the past year, the hotel has welcomed a new chapter for its dining experiences. The Bengal has reopened as the hotel’s breakfast room, bringing renewed energy to one of Victoria’s most storied spaces. In addition, the hotel’s restaurant and bar has undergone a transformation, with a brand-new look and feel for Q at the Empress—creating an even more elevated setting for Pacific Northwest-inspired dining and signature cocktails.
A pivotal chapter in the hotel’s legacy began in 2014, when Nat Bosa acquired the property. With a grand vision, Bosa spearheaded the remarkable $60+ million ‘Return of the Queen’ renovation, meticulously revitalizing the hotel in 2017 by retaining its heritage while introducing contemporary design and amenities. His ongoing investment in Fairmont Empress was further exemplified by the launch of the new Fairmont Gold experience, which includes 88 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites, an exclusive lounge over 5,000 square feet with sweeping harbour views, and a host of elevated amenities designed to provide guests with exceptional comfort and sophistication. Additional planned capital investments demonstrate his commitment to making Fairmont Empress a top luxury hotel in the world and a source of pride for the local community.
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Media enquiries and further information:
Lisa McPhail
Director of Public Relations
Fairmont Empress
T: 778 679 5049
E: [email protected]
About Fairmont Empress
Recognized as the #1 Canadian City Hotel in Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards and honoured as a top 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.
About Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is renowned for the international luxury hospitality brand’s unrivalled portfolio of over 90 extraordinary hotels where grand moments of life, heartfelt pleasures and personal milestones are celebrated and remembered long after any visit. From grand hotels to urban retreats, since 1907 Fairmont has created magnificent, meaningful and unforgettable hotels, rich with character and deeply connected to the history, culture and community of its destinations – renowned addresses such as The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont Tokyo, Fairmont Golden Prague, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada, Fairmont Doha and Fairmont The Palm in Dubai. Fairmont hotels are the social epicenters of their cities—iconic gathering places where people, culture, and ideas converge. Famous for its engaging service, awe-inspiring public spaces, locally inspired cuisine, and iconic bars and lounges, Fairmont also takes great pride in its pioneering approach to hospitality and leadership in sustainability and responsible tourism practices. Fairmont is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group counting over 5,800 properties throughout more than 110 countries, and a participating brand in ALL Accor, a booking platform and loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences.
*From August 2026 Travel + Leisure®, © 2026 Travel + Leisure Holdco, LLC, a subsidiary of Wyndham Destinations, Inc. Travel + Leisure is published by TI Inc. Affluent Media Group, a Dotdash Meredith Inc. d/b/a People Inc. Company, which is not affiliated with Wyndham Destinations, Inc. or its subsidiaries. Travel + Leisure® is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Holdco, LLC, a subsidiary of Wyndham Destinations, Inc. and is used under limited license. All rights reserved; used under license. Fairmont Empress is not affiliated with Wyndham Destination, Inc. or its subsidiaries.