Fairmont Winnipeg to temporarily close for renovations

The Fairmont Hotel in downtown Winnipeg will close on July 1 for a significant renovation.

The Fairmont will be closing its doors this summer as the hotel is set to undergo an extensive renovation.

James Richardson & Sons Ltd. announced the hotel will be closed to all guests starting on July 1.

The renovation will see each of the 340 rooms remodelled, along with the Fairmont Gold Lounge, indoor pool, gym and sauna. The lobby bar and Velvet Glove restaurant will get a fresh look, as well.

“My grandfather’s generation built this hotel, then called the Winnipeg Inn, in 1970 and it has been a mainstay of the downtown skyline for 56 years. When we reacquired the property, we set out to build a hotel that Winnipeggers will be proud of. Our goal is to be world-class,” said Thor Richardson, the president of James Richardson & Sons Ltd., in a news release.

The Fairmont was originally built and owned by the Richardson family before they sold it in 2000. The family repurchased the hotel in 2024 and has been doing interior system upgrades over the last two years.

“As Winnipeg seeks to elevate its international profile in the ever-increasing competitive event and tourism markets, this revitalization of the Fairmont Winnipeg will serve as a pivotal asset and a strong statement for Winnipeg as a must-visit destination,” said Loren Remillard, the president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, in a news release.

The plan is to have the hotel reopened in the spring of 2027.