BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA (November 3, 2026) – Francis Desjardins has been appointed Regional Vice President, Pacific Northwest and General Manager of Fairmont Pacific Rim, leading one of Fairmont's most distinguished luxury hotel portfolios in North America. In his dual role, he will oversee Fairmont Pacific Rim, Fairmont Empress, Fairmont Waterfront, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, and Fairmont Vancouver Airport.
With more than 28 years of leadership experience with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Desjardins joins the Pacific Northwest region from Fairmont Taghazout Bay in Morocco, where he has served as General Manager since 2019, leading the successful opening and positioning of the luxury resort as a premier destination in the region.
Throughout his career, Desjardins has held senior leadership positions across Fairmont properties in North America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, building extensive expertise in luxury hotel operations, hotel openings and guest experience. His previous leadership roles include General Manager at Fairmont Ajman, Director of Operations at Fairmont The Palm and Fairmont Baku Flame Towers, and Director of Rooms at Fairmont Singapore.
Desjardins assumes leadership of Fairmont's Pacific Northwest portfolio at a time of continued growth and evolution for the region's hospitality and tourism sector. Widely recognized for his collaborative leadership style, commitment to developing future hospitality leaders and ability to build high-performing teams, Desjardins brings a global perspective and a relationship-driven approach to leadership, delivering exceptional guest experiences while cultivating meaningful connections with colleagues, guests and local communities.
As General Manager of Fairmont Pacific Rim, a Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond Rated property, he leads one of Canada’s most celebrated luxury hotels, a property that has helped define Vancouver’s place on the global hospitality map. Since opening on the city’s waterfront in 2010, Fairmont Pacific Rim has set a benchmark for the luxury landscape through its design, culinary and wellness offerings. Under Desjardins' leadership, the hotel will build on its reputation for innovation, exceptional service and meaningful community connections, further strengthening both the property's global profile and Vancouver's position as a leading luxury destination.
“It is an honour to join Fairmont Pacific Rim and lead Fairmont's Pacific Northwest portfolio,” says Francis Desjardins. “What stands out to me is the strength of this region, the calibre of its leadership teams and the individuality of each property. With such strong foundations already in place, I am excited to work alongside our talented colleagues to continue elevating the guest experience and building on Fairmont's legacy across the region.”
Originally from Montréal, Desjardins returns to Canada with his family following more than two decades of international hospitality leadership. He looks forward to partnering with teams across the Pacific Northwest to build on the unique strengths of each property, foster greater collaboration across the portfolio and further strengthen Fairmont's presence within the communities it serves.