Fairmont Pacific Rim i- A New Generation of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

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. October 21, 2011

Vancouver, BC - October 20, 2011 - Great Vision. Graceful design. The Fairmont Pacific Rim is a new generation of hotel. Five years in the making, the intricacies of design shape this urban oasis nestled by the mountains and the sea to bring the Fairmont Pacific Rim to life. From the hotel's sculpted exterior to the interior design, every detail plays a role in the modern and sensual space.

With a View on Design : Designed by James Cheng, the architect whose green glass towers helped create the term “Vancouverism”, Fairmont Pacific Rim combines the best of Asia and the west coast in its plan and decor. Capitalizing on the waterfront location, he “sculpted” the hotel exterior to frame the hotel's vintage neighbor, the Marine Building, and create a landmark that changes throughout the day and season. Harbour mountain views are enjoyed by 70% of the 377 guestrooms, poolview rooms enjoy private balconies with outdoor fireplaces, many suites feature balconies, and the rooftop pool is flanked by palm trees. The interior design is a fusion of east and west with a minimalist approach for the finishings and furniture. White marble, warm walnut wood and opulent fabrics nod to the European design philosophy, while Asian influence is evident in the purity of materials and clean lines. Spaces are defined by the use of wood and stone, while lighting sculptures such as the 180'-long origami sculpture, softly blanket ceilings.

Haute Art : Art plays a leading role, beginning with the exterior of the building, and an artwork that consists of a running line of repeated text: Lying on top of a building the clouds looked no nearer than when I was lying on the street…

Internationally-acclaimed artist Liam Gillick's public artwork literally wraps two sides of the Fairmont Pacific Rim's façade causing pedestrians to stop and decipher the words. The one million dollar installation is the latest addition to the City of Vancouver's Public Art collection.

The other side of the building glistens silver in the sun from a “rice wall” and teases with an image of a rainforest that only comes into view from a distance. Inspired by the renowned Swiss architect firm, Herzog & de Meuron, of De Young Museum fame in San Francisco, the individual panels consist of a steel surface that is perforated, dented and dimpled to create an abstract pixelated rainforest.

The Scent of a Hotel : Witb scent being closely associated with memory, a special “bouquet” was selected for the Fairmont Pacific Rim. As the mission statement of the Fairmont Pacific Rim focuses on “turning moments into memories for our guests”, it was important to choose a scent reminiscent of their great experience at the hotel. The company, Aromasystems created the scent “Waterfall”. It is a clean neutral aroma with notes of jasmine to complement the marble floors and the Granville Island Flower shop located on the lobby level.

The scent is known to be comforting, calming, uplifting of the mind and sensual, and tends to be always associated with romance. The jasmine plant originates from India and its fragrance is associated with inner feelings and aspirations. Jasmine is a mood enhancer and aphrodisiac. It purifies the emotions and has been known to relieve melancholy. Jasmine provides strength in matters of spiritual love and money.

The jasmine scent is opulent and rich with a sweet fruity note. The powerful sensuality underscores the sweet, slightly fruity accord. The fruity note becomes more obvious as the oil is diluted. While it is very faint, it adds a very special elegance and evokes sun drenched blossoms.

Origami Sculpture : Origami is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. Joseph Wu, an origami master based in Vancouver, created a sculpture 180 feet long by 5 feet wide that soars across the lobby ceiling and is illuminated so it appears to be a light fixture. Trained as a scientist, Wu parlayed his childhood fascination with origami into a successful career and has earned international recognition from clients such as Volkswagen, Intel, the Nagano Olympics, and Stolichnaya Vodka. An origami celebrity, he has one of the most-visited origami sites (www.origami.as) in the world.

Fazioli, The Piano Man Commanding centre stage in the lobby sits a Fazioli piano. These “art case pianos” are handcrafted, one-of-a-kind, and made to measure. Paolo Fazioli, a concert pianist and mechanical engineer who was frustrated regarding the quality of instruments, decided to produce the world's best piano. Considered the most expensive piano in the world, it takes approximately three years and over 1,000 hours to build. In production since 1981, there are only 2,500 in existence worldwide. The hotel's piano cost $225,000 with the inlay designed to reflect the origami sculpture that floats across the lobby.

Fairmont Pacific Rim has been developed through the partnership of West bank and Peterson Group, two established real estate companies based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Westbank and Peterson Group are innovators both well known for building luxury residential buildings.

About Fairmont Hotels & Resorts :
With over 60 distinctive hotels, including the iconic Fairmont San Francisco and Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai, and more in development, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality brand known for its warm and engaging service and culturally rich experiences. Located in coveted worldwide destinations, its unrivalled collection of classic hotels imbue a sense of heritage, sophistication, and social importance, and are often considered destinations in and of themselves. Fairmont is also committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership program. Fairmont is owned by FRHI Holdings Limited, a leading global hotel company with 95 hotels under the Fairmont, Raffles, and Swissotel brands. The company also manages Fairmont and Raffles branded residences, estates and luxury private residence club properties. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com.