Fairmont Queen Elizabeth – the renovation project

As for the renovation project, a grand reopening is set for June 2017. All of the common areas and about 500 guest rooms will be ready for the celebrations marking the 375th anniversary of Montreal and the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. The remainder of the rooms will be completed by December 2017.

The main concourse will have a
modern design.

“This transformation will mark the hotel’s return as Montreal’s leading business destination and preferred venue for international events and global business conferences,” said Daniel Fournier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ivanhoé Cambridge. “We are extremely proud to invest in downtown Montreal, our economic, commercial and cultural heart. This project is an exceptional opportunity to innovate and to write a new chapter in the history of our great city.”

Kevin Frid, president of the luxury hotel brand’s parent company FRHI Hotels & Resorts, said: “Ivanhoé Cambridge is a trusted and committed partner and we look forward to working closely with them on this very exciting revitalization project. From royal visits and John and Yoko’s Bed-in to being a key meeting place during F1 celebrations, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth has a history unlike any other hotel in the city. We look forward to adding to the hotel’s remarkable legacy by restoring and renovating this landmark building for future generations to enjoy.”

A brand new terrace will take shape

After its transformation, the hotel will offer an innovative business campus developed by the creative teams at Sid Lee. This will include a set of interconnected and accessible public meeting and multifunctional spaces where businesspeople will be able to engage in creative, collaborative and innovative experiences.

The hotel will offer an array of impressive restaurants and bars, as well as an urban market that will be unique in downtown Montreal. Its new open spaces will host varied cultural and commercial events and activities featuring a variety of programming. Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth will continue to be, along with Place Ville Marie, the epicentre of Montreal’s underground city shared by more than 19 million people a year.

Artist’s conception of what the new Agora area will look like

Ivanhoé Cambridge and its partner Fairmont Hotels and Resorts chose to execute the work over as short a period of time as possible to minimize the impact on the hotel operations, its guests and the city. The closing will impact more than 600 employees, the vast majority of whom will be laid off temporarily for a period of about nine to 12 months. A small transition team, consisting of sales, marketing and essential services personnel, as well as outside catering services, will be maintained.

It is estimated that ultimately, the new concepts will lead to an increase in the total number of employees at the hotel. A comprehensive personalized support program has been implemented to ease the transition. Employees will have the opportunity to be relocated to other area hotels and establishments managed by the Fairmont brand. With the new experiences of all kinds to be introduced at the property, a major employee training program will be undertaken by Fairmont during the final months of the work.

To learn all about the renovation project see this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExYLgX3jk48