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.

For more information or to book a stay at Fairmont Empress, visit www.fairmontempress.com

ATLANTA (July 6, 2026) – IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, celebrates its continued growth in Canada across a portfolio that now includes more than 200 open hotels, a major milestone that underscores the company’s ongoing momentum within key global markets.

The broadening of IHG’s Canadian portfolio comes as the nation expects a strong 2026 for tourism, with Destination Canada forecasting visitor spending to increase by 6 percent year-over-year and reach more than $140B in value. This includes a resurgence in domestic travel across urban, suburban and secondary markets.

Jolyon Bulley, Chief Executive Officer, Americas for IHG, said: “Reaching 200 open IHG hotels in Canada is a testament to the strength of our brands, the dedication of our teams and the trust our owners place in us. With a balance of major metropolitan cities and scenic natural landscapes, Canada offers a stay for every traveler and occasion. We remain focused on capitalizing on this building demand and delivering the right brands in the right places that meet evolving guest needs.”

Looking ahead, IHG will further expand its presence across key Canadian markets with nearly 40 hotels in the development pipeline. Six additional hotels planned to open this year include Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites properties in Barrie, Aurora East, Pembroke and Woodstock. These openings will build on the seven new hotels that arrived in Canada in 2025, including a Crowne Plaza in Toronto and four Staybridge Suites properties.

IHG’s growth in Canada additionally includes the introduction of several of its new and emerging brands. voco hotels – IHG’s fastest-growing premium brand globally – recently signed its first Canadian hotels in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Niagara Falls. IHG also is capitalizing on growing regional demand for high-quality midscale conversions, with the Garner brand set to make its Canadian debut in 2027 with three planned southern Alberta hotels in Red Deer, Medicine Hat and near Calgary International Airport.

To learn more and book a stay, visit ihg.com

Vancouver, B.C. – July 2, 2026 – As Vancouver’s 2026 cruise season reaches its peak, Fairmont Waterfront is highlighting the completion of the first phase of its full-scale property renovation, which delivered 96 redesigned guest rooms alongside enhanced services tailored to the growing number of travelers extending their stay in the city before and after cruising.

According to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the 2026 cruise season is expected to welcome approximately 1.4 million passengers and nearly 360 ship calls, surpassing previous records and solidifying Vancouver's place among North America's top cruise ports.

The season, which runs from February 26 to October 13, is already seeing strong demand, with a growing portion of travelers choosing to extend their stay in Vancouver before or after their sailing. Recent data from the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority shows that 76% of cruise passengers spent time in Vancouver as part of their journey in 2025, rising to almost nine-in-ten (88%) among international visitors – reinforcing the city's growing appeal as more than simply a cruise gateway.

Located directly across from Canada Place Cruise Terminal, Fairmont Waterfront offers guests the ability to walk from the hotel to embarkation within minutes. To support cruise travelers specifically, the hotel offers complimentary luggage transfer, allowing guests to leave tagged luggage in their room for direct delivery to their cruise ship before departure.

"Cruise travel continues to be one of the most important drivers of visitation to Vancouver, and we're seeing growing demand from guests who want to spend additional time exploring the city before or after their voyage,” said Randall Williams, General Manager, Fairmont Waterfront. “Our role is to help improve that journey, whether that's through our location just steps from Canada Place, our direct luggage transfer service, or by offering a newly renovated guest room designed for today's traveler.”

As more cruise passengers choose to incorporate Vancouver into their travel plans, Fairmont Waterfront has seen bookings tied to its Connect With Your Cruise Ship package increase by 150% year-on-year, as more travelers seek accommodation that combines proximity to Canada Place with services designed to simplify the cruise journey.

The first phase of the property’s multi-year renovation plan has recently been completed, introducing 96 newly designed guest rooms. Further renovation work will resume in fall 2026 and will include: additional guest room transformations, Fairmont Gold, the pool area, hotel lobby and ARC Restaurant + Bar.

Guests extending their stay can also experience a range of culinary, wellness and sustainability-focused programming, including the rooftop Garden Dinner Series, rooftop bee tours and seasonal wellness activities.

With cruise visitation continuing to grow and more travelers choosing to spend additional time in the city, Fairmont Waterfront is ideally positioned to welcome guests at the start and end of their cruise journey, connecting them with the very best of Vancouver.

For more information about Fairmont Waterfront's cruise offerings, or to book a stay, visit www.fairmont-waterfront.com

Victoria, BC – Huntingdon Hotel & Suites is proud to announce the completion of the extensive restoration of Belleville House, a beautifully preserved heritage inn located at 327 Belleville Street in the heart of Victoria's Inner Harbour.

Following nearly ten months of careful restoration, Belleville House is now welcoming guests, adding eight distinctive boutique guest rooms to Victoria's downtown accommodation offering while preserving one of the city's historic residential landmarks.

Originally built in 1877 as the private residence of Alexander Blair Gray, Belleville House has stood as a quiet witness to nearly 150 years of Victoria's history. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1841, Gray immigrated to British Columbia during the Cariboo Gold Rush before establishing himself as a successful merchant and later serving as Justice of the Peace in the growing colonial capital. His grand residence quickly became one of Victoria's most admired homes, reflecting the optimism and prosperity of the era.

Today, that same spirit has been carefully preserved.

Throughout the restoration, the project focused on maintaining the property's historic character while thoughtfully modernizing the guest experience. Original architectural features were restored wherever possible, the historic gardens revitalized, and the home's timeless elegance carefully preserved for future generations.

One of the most exciting discoveries during construction came when the team uncovered the home's original stained-glass dome, hidden for decades. The feature has now been fully restored and once again serves as one of Belleville House's most distinctive architectural centrepieces.

"Our vision from the beginning was never simply to renovate a building" said Erin Cassels, the property’s General Manager, “it was to respectfully restore an important piece of Victoria's history. Every decision was made with the goal of preserving the craftsmanship, charm and heritage that make this property so special while creating a memorable boutique experience for today's travelers."

The restoration also extended beyond the building itself, with careful attention given to the property's mature landscaping, historic gardens and exterior character, ensuring Belleville House continues to complement the surrounding heritage streetscape of Victoria's Inner Harbour.

"As stewards of several heritage properties, we recognize the responsibility that comes with preserving these buildings for future generations," added Cassels. "Projects like Belleville House help celebrate Victoria's rich architectural history while supporting our city's growing tourism economy and providing visitors with a truly unique place to stay."

The restoration was completed in partnership with several outstanding local trades whose craftsmanship helped bring the historic property back to life, including Western Design Build, whose expertise guided the restoration throughout the project, and Capital Heights Painting, whose meticulous exterior restoration preserved the home's historic beauty and architectural character. “Working on Belleville House in our design+build capacity has been a rare privilege because every aspect holds a piece of the building's story. Discovering hidden heritage details from 1877, like the gold-leaf dome, original deeply detailed architectural trim, and wood-burnings fireplaces, has been incredibly rewarding. The challenge has been just as significant: carefully weaving 150 years of history together with today’s building standards, technology and the needs of a modern hotel. Heritage projects ask us to become both detective and problem solver, balancing preservation with performance. That's the work we love. When a historic building begins to reveal its original character while being thoughtfully prepared for another century of use, you know you've done a true service to the heritage fabric of the city, by carrying the stories forward." , said Ann Squire-Ferguson, owner of Western Design Build.

Belleville House is now accepting reservations and joins Huntingdon Hotel & Suites and Pendray Inn & Tea House as part of the Huntingdon Hotel hospitality collection, offering guests an intimate heritage stay just steps from Victoria's Inner Harbour, the Legislature, museums, restaurants and waterfront attractions.