Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is doubling down on its sustainability commitments for 2025, blending luxury hospitality with long-term environmental responsibility. With a legacy dating back to 1991—when it first released its ‘Green Partnership Guide’—the brand continues to evolve its strategy. Today, it is embedding sustainability into the guest experience under three strategic pillars: Eat, Stay, Explore.
Working alongside parent company Accor, Fairmont has made significant progress. As of 2025, all operational Fairmont properties are third-party eco-certified, a first for any Accor brand. This move highlights Fairmont’s intent to make responsible travel not just an option, but the standard.
Rethinking Stays: From Deep Lakes to Closed Loops
Fairmont Royal York in Toronto stands as a flagship for environmental engineering. The hotel underwent North America’s largest heritage energy retrofit. By tapping into Lake Ontario’s deep cooling system and installing electric heat pumps, the hotel cut its direct emissions by 80%. These innovations now meet Canada’s Zero Carbon Building Performance Standards.
Across its global portfolio, Fairmont is investing in cutting-edge tech to lower water and energy consumption. Numerous properties are now shifting to closed-loop systems—like on-site water bottling—reducing plastic waste significantly. Each initiative works toward shrinking the ecological impact of every stay.
Culinary Consciousness: Measuring What Matters
Fairmont’s culinary approach is equally innovative. Its chefs now use the FoodSteps platform to track the carbon, land, and water impact of every menu item. Dishes are rated A to E based on sustainability, which encourages lower-impact dining. Combined with AI-driven food waste tracking, kitchens are cutting inefficiencies and minimising discarded items. These tools help tackle Scope 3 emissions—one of the most elusive categories in hospitality sustainability.
Destination-Driven Impact: Global Initiatives in Action
Beyond the walls of its hotels, Fairmont remains deeply involved in community conservation efforts. In Hawai‘i, Fairmont Orchid partners with the ʻĀkoʻakoʻa Reef Restoration Program to educate guests on marine biodiversity. Visitors can soon take part in reef snorkelling experiences that support coral regeneration.
Meanwhile, in Singapore, Fairmont hosts the first urban aquaponics farm in hospitality, educating guests on sustainable food systems. In Scotland, Fairmont St Andrews sources 75% of its produce locally, supported by its in-house greenhouse and herb garden. These efforts not only reduce emissions from transportation but also connect guests to regional cultures and ecosystems.
Aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Fairmont’s properties in Riyadh and Makkah are contributing to national environmental goals. Additionally, the group is preparing to launch a Red Sea property that will carry the sustainability DNA further into the region.
By the end of 2024, Accor had 36% of its hotels eco-certified—a 330% jump over 2023. The group aims for 100% certification by 2026. Fairmont is also training conference leaders in each hotel to earn Sustainable Event Professional Certifications, supporting greener business events.
As sustainability becomes central to travel decisions, Fairmont continues to lead with purpose—redefining luxury as a force for positive global change.