travel the fairmont, san francisco, usa the fairmont ... · pdf filegolf malaysia april 2016...

GOLF MALAYSIA APRIL 2016 64 65 GOLF MALAYSIA APRIL 2016

Travel The Fairmont, San Francisco, USA

One distinction of the Fairmont: every sitting president, since Truman, has stayed at The Fairmont during his term in office. Fairmont’s expert staff, state-of-the-art meeting facilities, and event venues make The Fairmont San Francisco the perfect place for conferences and events ranging from a Board of Directors Meeting to the Grandest of Galas. In addition to its 592 guest rooms and suites this luxury San Francisco hotel offers fine dining with three outstanding restaurants and lounges, as well as 55,000 square feet of function space.

With a panoramic view of the City and the Bay from high atop Nob Hill, Fairmont presents an unmatched blend of accommodations, meeting spaces and superb services, a five-star recipe for success.

San FranciscoThe Fairmont Unforgettable

Since 1907By Jon Bogart

he Fairmont San Francisco is one of most renowned

hotels in a city that has no shortage of luxury properties.

The Fairmont is simply a cut above the rest. This splendid

property is a wonder to behold as it occupies an entire city

block at the very top of Nob Hill. Its masonry alone would

be impossible to duplicate in today’s world. Kind of like

the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, this is a building that is

as timeless in its elegance, as it is rock solid. As you reach

the top of Nob Hill a lineup of the flags of nations greets

locals, US citizens and international visitors. The flags are a

reminder that The Fairmont has hosted the most important

meetings and events in San Francisco. In 1945, delegates

from 40 countries around the World met in the Garden

Room to draft the Charter for the United Nations. Today the

Diplomat Club is the official home to the Consular Corp. of

San Francisco.

As you reach the top of Nob Hill a lineup of the flags

of nations greets locals, US citizens and international visitors. The flags are a reminder that The Fairmont

has hosted the most important meetings and events in San Francisco.

Centrally located, this luxury hotel is a short cable car trip from Downtown, Financial District, Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf. In fact, Fairmont San Francisco hotel is the only place in San Francisco where each of the three City’s cable car lines meet.

The DNA of The Fairmont runs deep into the identity of San Francisco. After all, what other property can say that it had a long running television show in which it was the star. It was at the Fairmont where James Brolin and Connie Sellecca took care of business in the series, appropriately named “Hotel”.

With all background information in place, it was a dream assignment to visit this Grand Dame and report on the hustle and bustle of five days at The Fairmont. Teaming with an associate, we decided

T



to avoid the airport nerves and take the train. Amtrak runs the Coast Starlight, a daily train that is billed as the “it” train for relaxing travel. The trip takes ten hours and features a special Parlor Car where first-class passengers can hang out, enjoy overstuffed swivel chairs and stay connected during the entire journey. They have WiFi.

Actually, the Coast Starlight beats flying. It takes almost an entire day to travel to San Francisco, to land some thirty miles away at SFO, and then take the bus into the City. With Amtrak: personal and logical security, no baggage fees, wide, comfortable seats, and meals that are included in the price of a first-class ticket. We arrived at Jack London Square, overnighted on the waterfront and caught the Ferry into San Francisco the next morning. We were in the City by the dawn’s early light, had time to take in the Ferry Building and strolled along the Embarcadero. We arrived at and were greeted by the front desk manager who told us our room was ready, and she would be happy to give us a personal mini-tour. We were escorted to a deluxe

room with a view of Fisherman’s Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge from the nineteenth floor ... WOW!

Arrival at the Fairmont is impressive. The lobby is grand by any description. Huge marble pillars go floor to ceiling, grand staircases abound. The service desk is marble and very long. One cannot

help but be bubbling over, and there just happens to be a Moet & Chandon signature champagne bar in the lobby where splits, bottles and magnums are available. It was the holiday season and it was a visual treat to see a Christmas tree made up of Moet & Chandon bottles and gold champagne glasses.

The halls are lined with artifacts and photos that showcase Fairmont’s history. Scenes of San Francisco, as it was, and framed memorabilia hang in the long hallways that seem to go on forever. We headed out to the street and jumped on a cable car down Powell Street to Union Square. The square is the hub of

The first hotel to bear the Fairmont name is located in the city of San Francisco. The nearly completed structure survived the earthquake of 1906. However, it was heavily damaged by subsequent fires. The hotel was renovated under the eye of architect Julia Morgan (note the connection to the Hearst Castle) and opened in 1907. It was later acquired by Benjamin Swig in 1945.

Starting in the 1960s, Fairmont began developing a small chain of luxury hotels in major cities across the United States: San Francisco, New Orleans, Boston, New York, Chicago, Dallas and San Jose. The Fairmont was a chain of seven properties in the U.S. when it was purchased by Canadian Pacific Hotels & Resorts in 1999.

In 2004, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. paid US$70 million to take full control of the management company that ran its properties. The new hotel management company was owned by Fairmont, Maritz Wolff and Kingdom Hotels from Saudi Arabia. Kingdom disposed of its stake in 2002, leaving Maritz Wolff as the remaining partner.

In early 2006, a bidding war erupted involving investor Carl Icahn, who lost his bid as Fairmont agreed to be sold for US$3.9 billion to Icahn’s rivals. As a result of that purchase, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts was merged with Raffles Hotels and Resorts and Swissôtel to form Fairmont Raffles Hotels International. In April 2010, a group of investors purchased a portion of Raffles Holdings International in a deal worth about US$847 million.

downtown San Francisco and is home to flagship stores of the world’s most famous brands. It is so convenient to be able to walk out of the Fairmont and hop on the Internationally famous Cable Cars as the primary means of transportation because, as noted earlier, all three of the Cable Car lines pass by the Fairmont. And that really is a San Francisco Treat.

The history of the Fairmont is Fascinating.

The first hotel to bear the Fairmont name is located in the city of San Francisco. The nearly completed structure survived the earthquake of 1906. However, it was heavily damaged by subsequent fires. The hotel was renovated under the eye of architect Julia Morgan (note the connection to the Hearst Castle) and opened in 1907. It was later acquired by Benjamin Swig in 1945.

The Lobby at The Fairmont.

The Fairmont San Francisco occuipes an entire city block. The Rooftop Garden view.

Crown Room

Golden Gate Bridge



In December 2015, Accor, headquartered in Paris and operator of the Sofitel chain, purchased Fairmont Hotel & Resorts along with Raffles and Swissôtel in a US$2.9 billion deal. During these periods of ownership change the Fairmont has been renovated and upgraded to the level she is at today. Fresh, inviting and alluring, pampering her visitors as only she knows how to do. The employees at the Fairmont are proud to be affiliated and make that very obvious in their display of Joie de Vivre.

The StayOur time at The Fairmont was one-

of-a-kind. The regal, patrician spirit is evident everywhere, and is captivating from the minute one sets foot on the property. Our visit was in the middle of the Holiday Season, so the ambiance was further enhanced by seasonal “wonderland” decor. We actually walked through the Gingerbread House to get into the restaurant and lounge. Children were delighted by their own Santa’s Workshop area and the lobby embodied the festiveness of ”Deck the Halls”. The ballroom and Tonga Room are booked early by corporations and private parties

and they were filled nightly. Thus, we were not able to visit or enjoy the Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar.

Amidst the regality of the Fairmont is a Polynesian paradise that entertains its guests with tropical drinks and fine Polynesian dining. Every so often it rains ... and thunders, but, no worries, no need for an umbrella. This is part of an exotic show filled with special effects, walkways and lots of bamboo, that surprisingly, evoke the feeling of a Disneyland

attraction.For that extra bit of happiness,

be sure to come during “happy hour” known to be the best in San Francisco. Tropical drinks, with umbrellas, are served and the menu is chock full of the tastes of the tropics. This signature destination at the Fairmont has been delighting guests since 1945 and is a “must stop” at the top of Nob Hill. Hop off the Cable Car and visit the Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar.

Penthouse Suite Balcony.

Penthouse Suite

Living Room.

A room at the Fairmont.

Penthouse Suite Dining Room. Tower Suite Living Room. Laurel Court Restaurant & Bar.

Main Building Suite Living Room.

San Francisco weather can even make the thought of coffee sound appealing. The Fairmont presents Caffe Centro, a European-inspired coffee bar, featuring a drinks menu and light fare, which is a popular favorite. And its location within the Fairmont has an extra secret perk. Pssst ... visiting Caffe Centro is an indoor shortcut to the Powell/Mason/Hyde Cable Cars. They stop right on the corner of California and Powell and it negates having to navigate the steep incline between Mason and Powell (that seems like 45 degrees). Same for the return, if Caffe Centro is still open.

Dine on Gourmet Cuisine at Laurel Court located on the main floor, with its dedicated entrance off Mason Street. The lounge bar shares the area as the hub of action. With its high vaulted ceiling treatments and positioning of staircases and railings, the total space easily breaks into separate sections for nightlife, casual bistro ambiance and fine dining. The elegant venue is configured for breakfast buffets and splendid weekend brunches.

Penthouse Suite Billiards Room.

Main Bedroom

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oneself behind the wheel.We spent the balance of our

visit maximising the opportunities offered by our location, visiting many neighborhoods. We heard that the Farmer’s Market at the Ferry Building on Saturday is the ultimate foodie experience, and our expectations were exceeded. The Farmer’s Market offers the freshest of fresh produce, specialty cheeses, seafood, confections, plus made-to-order meals, both outdoors and indoors, wine and so much more. On Saturdays make sure to schedule a visit to the Farmers Market at the Ferry Building.

With so many heartfelt memorable moments made from the diverse and exciting times in this 7x7-mile city we can relate to how Tony Bennet feels when he sings ‘I Left my Heart in San Francisco’. “Thanks to Tony Bennett, people have been experiencing the magic of San Francisco for 50 years no matter where they are in the world,” said San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee in 2012. “The song reminds us of why we love

An interest in enjoying the ambiance and privacy of ones room accommodations can be further enhanced, because there are times where guests simply don’t want to leave their rooms. The Fairmont proudly offers a room-service experience that is, quite frankly, “over-the-top”. In-room dining at The Fairmont is equivalent to having a private restaurant. Gourmet fare is served by a friendly, uniformed server, who sets up next to the window with the panoramic view. Well ... it doesn’t get much better than that.

Fairmont’s strategic location makes it the ideal starting point for everything San Francisco. Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square Market Street, China Town, SOMA, Chestnut Street, Filmore, Hayes Valley, Noe Valley, the Castro, Haight-Ashbury, North Beach, the Financial District, Union Street, Moscone Center ... they are all “close by” just jump on the Cable Car and transfer to any of the numerous Muni busses that take you wherever you want to go. San Francisco is a public transport Mecca. No need to put

our City so much and when we are away, it calls us home. Mr. Bennett’s signature voice is celebrated around the world, and when he comes back to San Francisco, our hearts are surely lifted.”

Per Tony Bennett himself: “Performing ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’ in the Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel was one of the most fortunate moments of my career, and from that moment on I have been commissioned to sing this beautiful song about one of America’s greatest cities throughout the world. It is a thrill and an honor 50 years later to be recognised by the citizens of San Francisco.”

We are glad that we left our hearts at the Fairmont in San Francisco, which now has a Tony Bennett Suite. This magnificent property will be calling us to come home time and time again. In the end, it’s The Fairmont, where they have a wall hanging of Tony Bennett and a Heart, as you can hear the mellow refrain from the globally-famous words, musically playing in your head. “I Left My Heart ... in San Francisco”.

Amidst the regality of the Fairmont is a Polynesian paradise that entertains its guests with tropical drinks and fine Polynesian dining. Every so often it rains ... and thunders, but, no worries, no need for an umbrella.

GOLF MALAYSIA APRIL 2016

Tonga Room

Tropical drinks, offering a taste of the tropics.

Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar .

travel the fairmont, san francisco, usa the fairmont ... · pdf filegolf malaysia april 2016...

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