The Fairmont Winnipeg

The staff were responsive, professional, and clearly cared about guest satisfaction. The location downtown is excellent, with restaurants, the waterfront, and The Forks all within walking distance. As an Accor member, I appreciated being able to check in early after travelling. I stayed four nights in Room 1111 for business, and the room was clean, with a sunny city view. Useful amenities included a bathrobe, coffee maker, kettle, safe, and drink cooler. I also liked the wooden key card, which felt more upscale and environmentally friendly than plastic. Service was a bright spot throughout. When I said the cooler wasn't cold enough for my needs, the front desk explained it was mainly for drinks and arranged a real refrigerator, which arrived in about 10 minutes. They also found me a better chair after I mentioned the desk chair was too soft and low for laptop work. After I shared feedback, they brought two complimentary bottles of water and a small tube of toothpaste. The valet service was attentive and professional, and the shower had excellent water pressure. The bathroom came with shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, cotton pads, a shower cap, a shoe mitt, hand soap, and bar soap. The rose-scented products smelled wonderful. There were some inconveniences, though. The hotel feels dated in places, which may partly reflect my preference for modern hotels. The bathroom had a standard tub and shower curtain, and the ceiling ventilation grille didn't seem to work. I couldn't find a switch for it. Some pink staining around the tub drain wiped away easily with a Lysol wipe, so that spot may have been missed during cleaning. Two closely spaced hooks behind the door weren't enough for hanging several things. The blackout curtain was a little damaged, didn't fully close, and left light coming in underneath. I sleep with an eye mask, so it didn't bother me much, but someone who needs a completely dark room might notice. The air-conditioning fan was noisy; a technician showed me how to slow it down, and earplugs kept it from waking me. In the last few days, I also heard a high-pitched plumbing noise when I used the shower, and some bathroom paint was peeling. One elevator button panel had too little contrast to see easily. I noticed other guests hesitate, and had trouble with it myself. I enjoyed my stay and would gladly return for the service and downtown location. The cleanliness and amenities were good too. The hotel is expected to be renovated, and I think the updates will address many of the things I noticed.

I was at the hotel for a week, and the service across the board impressed me. The food and attention in the restaurant were amazing, and the front desk staff were helpful and friendly. What made the stay especially enjoyable, though, was room service. Darwin is so polite and kind, always welcoming me with a lovely smile and a sweet good morning. He made my day. Everyone on the 17th floor commented on how well he looked after us.

The cocktail lounge was nice. I didn't use the restaurant, pool, or gym. Rooms and common areas are being updated, and my room had a couple of small problems, including a leaking tap and worn furniture. Darwin, the housekeeper, took exceptional care of things. He was friendly and thoughtful, kept the room clean and stocked, and noticed when I was running low on toothpaste, so he left a little travel tube.

The room was comfortable and clean, the staff were great, and we had a nice stay. The hotel restaurant was great too, with a very good breakfast. The elevator to the 17th floor failed twice, so I had to take the stairs to the 10th and 16th floors to use one that worked. On checkout day, the 17th-floor elevator was working, so I didn't have to carry my suitcases down. The shower leaked, but it wasn't a big deal. I told the front desk about it. I'd stay again. The deposit was frustrating. I was charged twice, and at first only one of the deposits had come back, leaving me out $100. The Fairmont was the first hotel I stayed at in Winnipeg, but the last to return a deposit. When I checked on May 22, $100 was still pending. The charge was removed by May 25, which brought my rating back up to 7, but it should have been removed at checkout instead of after I got home.