You don’t need to be royalty to stay at a castle. Ottawa’s own castle, the majestic Fairmont Chateau Laurier, will have you feeling like you’ve stepped into a fairytale. The hotel won the prestigious 2022 CAA/AAA Four Diamond Award, distinguishing itself as one of the top seven percent of hotels and restaurants reviewed in North America and the Caribbean.
Fairmont Chateau Laurier is one of only two hotels to win in Ottawa. To view the complete list of 2022 winners, visit aaa.com/diamonds.
To celebrate this incredible achievement, Jeff Walker, president and CEO of CAA North & East Ontario, met with members of the hotel’s leadership team, Genevieve Dumas (general manager), Lori Wagner (director of sales and marketing), David De Bernardi (executive chef) and Greg Voge (director of food and beverage).
What makes the hotel special?
Genevieve Dumas: Our mission is to turn moments into memories and make them special for everyone who walks into the hotel. So many people come for a weekend, but many come to celebrate special occasions, like getting married. We’re always welcoming and making them feel special and making sure they leave with just happy memories.
Lori Wagner: Right from the time they walk in the front door and see the smiling faces of our staff, they feel welcome in this beautiful castle in downtown Ottawa. Every single person you speak to that’s been in the hotel has some memory or tie back to the hotel, whether it was a prom and graduation, a wedding, or a conference.
How is the dining experience unique?
David De Bernardi: I’m very blessed being in the region; that’s underrated. There are local farmers, so we have honey that we raise across the streets. My staff is very fortunate to have all that. We aim to give dinners something a little different that they’re not expecting.
Are people excited to return to the hotel?
Greg Voge: People have been excited to come back so much faster than we expected. And it’s just great to see from our side, as the industry has been a difficult couple of years. But we’re happy everyone’s excited to return to the restaurants and the hotel. As Fairmont is a brand that people know, a trusted place, it was one of the first hotels that people returned to because they knew we would handle it properly.
The interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.