Vancouver Pride Parade

In 2018, Fairmont became the first Vancouver hotel to ever take part in the Vancouver Pride Parade. Our colleagues took to the streets, lead by Fairmont Pride Ambassador Kendall Gender.

Held annually in August, Vancouver’s Pride Parade brings together more than 400,000 people from all over to demonstrate the spirit and flair of Vancouver’s LGBTQSIA+ community, and the team from Fairmont is proud to be in attendance each year advocating for Love and Luxury For All. Fairmont is proud to be a Bronze Level Supporter of the Vancouver Pride Parade.

With our cheeky “Come Sleep With Us” slogan and eye-grabbing yellow shirts and float, our Heartists get loud and proud at Pride!

Come As You Are

At Fairmont Waterfront, we accept people from all walks of life. Whatever your race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation, you are welcome here, whether you’re a colleague or a guest.

We are proud to have a Regional Pride Committee as part of our Regional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Workgroup that meets regularly to discuss all things LGBTQIA2S+ at Fairmont Pacific Northwest Hotels, in addition to Women in Leadership, Race and Cultural Diversity, and Ability and Accessibility.

In 2022, we took our commitment to supporting colleagues in affirming their gender identity a step further by introducing a gender neutral change room, and adding $10,000 in gender affirmation treatments to our benefits.

Training and Education

Our colleagues attend regularly updated diversity and inclusion training to ensure that we’re always creating the most inclusive work place possible. In 2021, all colleagues in leadership roles undertook a training course on Inclusive Leadership which included information on pronouns, and their correct use, and complementary online training modules. We are currently working on refreshing this training for 2024 and beyond.

Information on the correct use of pronouns is sent to all of our colleagues, and we display our personal pronouns in all of our email communications, ensuring every colleague is addressed in their preferred way.

We also provide our colleagues with our Pride Playbook and Resource Guide, providing information on:

• Issues and adversity faced by members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community
• Community resources and crisis centers
• Correct terminologies and definitions
• Important LGBTQIA2S+ dates and annual events
• Our roadmap as an organisation in supporting the LGBTQIA2S+ community
• The importance of Pride month
• How colleagues can get involved in Pride at work

Certifications and Memberships

Proud Hospitality
Fairmont Waterfront offers the opportunity for our colleagues to complete Booking.com’s Proud Hospitality training, to ensure we are connecting with and delivering a better experience for our LGBTQIA2S+ guests. We have committed to building on what our colleagues have learned through this training, and as such have become a Travel Proud certified hotel through Booking.com.

IGLTA
In 2021, Fairmont Waterfront’s parent company, Accor, partnered with the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) as a Global Platinum Sponsor. IGLTA was founded in 1983 and is the world’s leading network of LGBTQ+ welcoming tourism businesses. They provide free travel resources and information while continuously working to promote equality and safety within LGBTQ+ tourism worldwide. IGLTA’s members include LGBTQ+ friendly accommodations, transport, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events and travel media located in over 80 countries. Together, Accor and IGLTA will work to ensure the hospitality industry is a safe and inclusive space for all, and will facilitate and drive equality within the travel sector.

Fairmont Waterfront officially became an IGLTA Accredited property in 2023, cementing our commitment to being an inclusive and welcoming property to all who stay with us.

Vancouver Pride Society

Thanks to our Pride Brunch, our colleague Pride Bake Sale, and Love Is Love stay package, we’re proud to report that as of 2022, we have donated $32,000 to the Vancouver Pride Society!

We intend to keep growing this figure year on year with the proceeds from our various Pride activities.

Love Is Love Package

If you’re looking to book a getaway that gives back, our Love Is Love package is for you!

Offering 10% off nightly accommodation, as compared to the fully flexible rate, a $10 donation to the Vancouver Pride Society, and with Chef’s Special Pride Amenity waiting for you on check in, this package is one of the key ways Fairmont Waterfront shows its support for the LGBTQIA2S+ community and one of our main ways of fundraising for the Vancouver Pride Society. Thanks to our Love Is Love stay package and other initiatives, we’re proud to report that as of 2022, Fairmont Waterfront has donated $32,000 to the Vancouver Pride Society!

Flying The Flag Proudly

At Fairmont Waterfront, our Pride Flag flies out the front of our hotel 365 days a year, not just during Pride celebrations – a small but meaningful symbol of our commitment to support our LGBTQIA2S+ community year round.