Fairmont Royal York turns 90 and unveils their grand transformation

Landmark Toronto hotel celebrated with lobby reopening event joined by
Mayor of Toronto John Tory

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TORONTO, June 11, 2019 /CNW/ - Fairmont Royal York celebrated its 90th birthday today, surrounded by employees, guests, and members of the community. To commemorate the occasion, the iconic Toronto hotel also unveiled its transformed lobby, designed by Rockwell Group, and new lobby bar.

Hundreds of people crowded the famed lobby for the celebrations, which were inaugurated with entertainment from Big Smoke Brass Band. Present at the grand reveal were Mayor of Toronto, John Tory; Regional Vice President Accor Central Canada and General Manager, Fairmont Royal York, Edwin Frizzell; Project Lead for Royal York, Paul Campbell of ownership group, KingSett Capital; and Partner at Rockwell Group, Greg Keffer.

"Owning and overseeing the repositioning of the Fairmont Royal York, one of Canada's most iconic and enduring properties, is a responsibility we have treated with care, dedication and great respect," said Paul Campbell, Royal York project lead at KingSett Capital, Fairmont Royal York ownership group. "This is much more than just a hotel - it represents much of the history and soul of our great city." 

After the ribbon cutting, the hotel officially unveiled its new lobby and lobby lounge, CLOCKWORK Champagne & Cocktails, as well as REIGN Bar. An additional restaurant and bakery are set to open in the coming days as part of the hotel's complete signature dining experience, REIGN Restaurant + Bar + Bakery.

"A pivotal part of the Fairmont Royal York, CLOCKWORK will honour our legacy with a new statement timepiece," said Edwin Frizzell, regional vice president and general manager, Fairmont Royal York. "Our '90th Anniversary Clock' is dedicated to the people of the city of Toronto, as well as the past, present and future colleagues of Fairmont Royal York who have, for 90 years, been the beating "heart" of our hotel.."

Since opening on June 11^th, 1929, Fairmont Royal York has welcomed many heads of state and celebrities and has been host to many historical moments. To honour its past, the hotel commissioned author and historian Dr. Carolyn Harris to help create a self-guided history tour for guests to explore the hotel's public spaces and learn more about its storied past. Looking ahead to the future, the hotel is sponsoring Toronto of the Future – a unique exhibition running from June 25^th to July 1^st that highlights the real estate and infrastructure projects expected to shape the landscape of the city.

To capture the hotel's legacy and Golden Era roots, Frank Rea of Forget Me Not Flowers designed a stunning floral installation, The Celebration Cake, which will be on display in the hotel lobby for the month of June. In honour of 90 years, Fairmont Royal York also donated 90 room nights to Heritage Toronto, who will disperse them across the city for not-for-profits to raise funds to support their public heritage programming and the work of the over 100  community and volunteer organizations in Toronto.

"I am so thrilled to help celebrate Fairmont Royal York's 90th birthday as they unveil their transformation," said Mayor of Toronto John Tory. "The hotel is truly an icon here in the city of Toronto, and I am excited for it to continue welcoming guests from all over the world to the city for another 90 years."

In addition to the lobby and dining spaces, the hotel also recently launched an entirely new Fairmont Gold offering — its luxury "hotel within a hotel" experience — and will soon reveal updates to its world-renowned meeting and event spaces as part of the property's most extensive restoration project to date. The hotel will also soon reveal its new Legacy Suites, set to open later this summer.

For more information about Fairmont Royal York's transformation, please visit thefairmontroyalyork.com and for its complete dining experiences visit, thefairmontroyalyork.com/taste. Follow REIGN and CLOCKWORK on Instagram @REIGNToronto and @CLOCKWORKToronto and Facebook @CLOCKWORKRYH and @REIGNRYH  

ABOUT FAIRMONT ROYAL YORK

For nearly 90 years, Fairmont Royal York has stood proudly as a Toronto landmark, presiding over the block opposite Union Station – a love letter in stone to the heart of the city. It began its life as The Royal York, the tallest building in the British Commonwealth, soaring nearly 400 ft. and 28 storeys above the street level. A dominant feature on the skyline, the building contained 1,048 rooms, and included a concert hall, library, extensive bakery, radio station, ballrooms, restaurants, even a hospital. Little wonder it was called a city within a city – as it still is today. Today, this essential downtown landmark is in the midst of a grand/notable/magnificent transformation, reimagining its lobby experience, rooms, dining venues, event spaces, and Fairmont Gold – the property's exclusive boutique luxury experience. Another stunning chapter for Toronto's eternal, essential landmark is about to begin. See our future here.

ABOUT FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is where occasions are celebrated and history is made. Landmark hotels with unrivalled presence, authentic experiences and unforgettable moments have attracted visitors to Fairmont and its destinations since 1907. The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai are but a few of these iconic luxury hotels, forever linked to the special places where they reside. Famous for its engaging service, grand public spaces, locally inspired cuisine and celebrated bars and lounges, Fairmont promises a special brand of thoughtful luxury that will be remembered long after any visit. With a worldwide portfolio of more than 75 hotels, Fairmont also takes great pride in its deep community roots and leadership in sustainability. Fairmont is part of Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique and meaningful experiences in 4,800 hotels, resorts, and residences across 100 countries.
fairmont.com | group.accor.com

About Rockwell Group
Based in New York with a satellite office in Madrid, Rockwell Group is an interdisciplinary architecture and design firm that emphasizes innovation and thought leadership in every project.  Founded by David Rockwell, FAIA, and led by David and partners Shawn Sullivan and Greg Keffer, the 250-person firm merges theater, performance and architecture to create extraordinary experiences and built environments across the globe. Projects include Union Square Cafe (New York); Nobu restaurants and hotels worldwide; Warner Music Group (Los Angeles); W Hotels (New York, Nashville, Paris, Madrid, Suzhou, Singapore and Vieques); The Shed (Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Lead Architect and Rockwell Group, Collaborating Architect); the restoration of the Hayes Theater for Second Stage (New York); NeueHouse (New York and Hollywood); TED Theater (Vancouver); and set designs for She Loves Me, Kinky Boots, and the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park. Honors and recognition include 2016 Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Scenic Design for She Loves Me; the AIANY President's Award; the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award; and the Presidential Design Award. For more information, please visit www.rockwellgroup.com.

SOURCE Fairmont Royal York