Fairmont

Hotel set for $190 million renovation

Fairmont Southampton revamp is due for completion in the fall of 2023, three years after it closed its doors

It might look and feel very different, but one thing is for sure when Bermuda’s crown jewel hotel reopens next year, the wow factor will still be there.

This will be the first major gut-out in its 50-year history.

It means a complete revamp for some of the hotel’s much-loved features, including the popular Jasmine Lounge, glamorous Windows on the Sound restaurant and magnificent Gold Floor, while the use of lighter, brighter colours will help create a fresh and modern vibe throughout the building.

A fly-through video released in March 2022 by owners Westend Properties, offers a snapshot of the upgrades guests can look forward to.

From the moment people walk through the front door, they will know it’s no longer business as usual at the grand old hotel.

The reception area is undergoing a makeover, with the introduction of sparkling individual stations, shiny white tables, safari-style bamboo fans and sleek Art Deco.

For many years, the Jasmine Lounge has been a destination in itself – a place to watch live bands perform, grab a light meal away from the hustle and bustle of town or unwind with a glass of wine before an evening sampling the Fairmont’s classy restaurants.

Now, people will be able to enjoy all that against a backdrop of tropical paradise, with paintings of palm trees and Bermuda artwork behind the bar and throughout the lounge. Hardwood flooring replaces the carpets, the tables are

taller, the colours are whiter and brighter with a sprinkling of bamboo rattan. The menu is under wraps, but the appearance of a sushi bar in the background of the video will be welcome news for many.

It adds up to a whole new ambience — the quaint old man’s club has given way to the elegant cocktail bar of the 21st century.

The vast and imposing Windows on the Sound restaurant has long been renowned for its spectacular views of the ocean, while its sumptuous brunch buffets have been enjoyed by visitors as well as Bermudian families for years.

The fly-through video suggests copious use of plants, including palm trees in giant stone pots, will give the restaurant an outdoorsy freshness; excessive use of whites, greens and light wood create a natural setting to complement those deep blues in the background. The removal of the banquettes and introduction of movable tables should also add some flexibility when it comes to hosting events.

Green is also the colour of choice in the Pre-Function Area and Ballroom, where plants are tied in with the décor, including a leaf-patterned carpet, to add an air of relaxation to those formal occasions.

The Duplex Suite, meanwhile, is invigorated with splashes of white, green, and blue amid some displays of modern artwork. Although it doesn’t lose its sense of fanciness, the furniture comes with soft angles that lend themselves to a familyfriendly aura.

Up at the top of the building, the Gold Floor will add a touch of cheeriness to its regal tones without losing any of its ability to take your breath away.

Much lighter wood, plenty of white and the removal of heavy pink dramatically lifts the mood, while tables are closer together to make it easier for guests to socialise. A trip to the sixth floor may now seem less like a visit to the queen’s palace, and more of a chance to connect with your friends in a vibrant setting.

Miami-based Gencom, the managing partner of Westend Properties, bought the hotel in 2019, and has previously announced that almost half of the renovation investment would be spent upgrading the nearly 600 rooms.

Karim Alibhai, the founder, and principal of Gencom, told The Royal Gazette that $90 million would go towards improving rooms, with new bathrooms, flooring, furnishings, and balconies.

Mr. Alibhai said $30 million would go on public areas, including expanded meeting space; more than $25 million on a beach club and surrounding amenities, including an additional pool; and $50 million on infrastructure.

Westend Properties has also revealed that a “reimagined” Beach Club will feature new indoor and outdoor event

spaces, the Ocean Club will be converted into an events venue, and an outdoor events lawn will be constructed, adding 17,500 sq. ft. of event space to the existing 41,000 sq. ft.

The hotel, of course, has held a special place in Bermuda’s hearts since it opened under the name The Southampton Princess on August 17, 1972, as the brainchild of American shipping magnate Daniel Ludwig.

It was described in a Royal Gazette leader that day as “one of the world’s most attractive resorts – the epitome of all that is desired in an island of such character, distinction and tradition”.

The Gazette’s editor wrote: “It occupies a site from which such magnificent views can be obtained, and the building elevation is of such splendour that it commands attraction. The amenities it offers are such that probably nowhere in the world can they be bettered.

“In short, the Southampton Princess is of the very best. And that is what Bermuda must have. Nothing short of the best is good enough when it is a question of meeting the requirements of an industry which is our very lifeline.”

Fifty years on, the hotel can count numerous global dignitaries, including royal family members, US presidents and British prime ministers, among its former guests.

Its name changed to Fairmont Southampton after being taken over by Canadian Pacific Hotels in 1998, but its importance within the island’s tourism industry is unwavering – boasting a quarter of Bermuda’s total guest rooms and responsible for nearly a third of air arrivals to the island before its temporary closure.

Wedding parties, honeymooners, conference visitors, tourists keen for a luxurious break and residents will all be eagerly awaiting to enjoy the transformation.