Victoria’s Fairmont Empress named Canada’s top city hotel for second year

Victoria’s Fairmont Empress named Canada’s top city hotel for second year

Published 12:30 pm Wednesday, July 8, 2026

The Fairmont Empress earns top honour for the second consecutive year. (Nishadini Fonseka/ Victoria News)

The Fairmont Empress has once again been named Canada’s top city hotel, earning the No. 1 spot in Travel + Leisure‘s 2026 World’s Best Awards for the second consecutive year.

The Victoria landmark received a reader score of 96.08, placing it ahead of Vancouver’s Rosewood Hotel Georgia, which scored 95.62, and Québec City’s Auberge Saint-Antoine at 95.13.

The annual awards are based on reader surveys that evaluate hotels on criteria including rooms, facilities, location, service and dining.

“It is an honour to be recognized as the No. 1 city hotel in Canada by Travel + Leisure readers for a second consecutive year,” Fairmont Empress general manager Dan McGowan said. “It is incredibly rewarding to have our valued guests return time and time again, and to vote for us as their hotel of choice once more.”

McGowan credited the hotel’s staff, loyal guests and owner Nat Bosa for the recognition, saying continued investment in the historic property has helped maintain its reputation as a world-class destination.

Built in 1908, the 431-room Fairmont Empress overlooks Victoria’s Inner Harbour and is known for its historic architecture and traditional afternoon tea service. The hotel is also a National Historic Site of Canada.

The recognition comes after several updates to the property over the past year, including the reopening of The Bengal as the hotel’s breakfast venue and the renovation of Q at the Empress restaurant and bar.

The hotel also continues to benefit from ongoing investments that began after Bosa acquired the property in 2014. A more than $60 million restoration, completed in 2017, modernized the landmark while preserving its heritage features. More recent enhancements include the Fairmont Gold experience, featuring 88 luxury guest rooms and suites and an exclusive guest lounge overlooking the harbour.

The Fairmont Empress has frequently appeared among Canada’s top hotels in international travel rankings and remains one of Victoria’s best-known tourism destinations.