Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Fairmont's physical workplace is rated as above-average. The majority of Fairmont's full- and part-time employees work at some of the world's most spectacular places. From the Canadian Rockies to the Caribbean, each Fairmont property is unique in its setting and employee amenities. Depending on the location, employees enjoy subsidized accommodations, complimentary meals at employee restaurants (with menus for special diets), Internet access and employee quiet rooms. At some resorts, employees can take advantage of health club and golf memberships, ski passes and organized recreational activities. Fairmont's head office is located in downtown Toronto, just steps from its landmark Royal York Hotel. The location is close to public transit, commuter rail and the city's underground walking network. The head office features an employee lounge (with music and television); free snacks (including candy on Friday); kitchen area; free coffee, tea and hot chocolate; concierge services available; secure bicycle parking; subway and GO Transit access; nearby highway access.

Fairmont's work atmosphere is rated as above-average. While uniform and professional business attire vary with the position and hotel location, employees at the head office enjoy business casual dress; casual dress Fridays; can listen to music while working; organized social events. At the head office, a company-subsidized social committee organizes a variety of social events throughout the year, including a summer picnic, a winter holiday party (with a separate children's Christmas party) and celebrations to mark individual and company milestones throughout the year. Each year, Fairmont sponsors a unique hockey tournament (called The Toronto Cup), which brings together employee teams from across Canada for a weekend tournament. At hotel properties worldwide, employees stay informed about new developments and can provide feedback through quarterly communications meetings; a company newsletter; corporate intranet site; traditional suggestion box; email suggestion box.

Fairmont's financial benefits are rated as very good. To keep salaries competitive the company participates in outside salary surveys every 12 months. Individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months. Fairmont also provides new employee referral bonuses (to $500 for some positions); year-end bonuses (to $36,300); defined contribution pension plan with employer contribution (up to 3.2% of salary); life & disability insurance; discounts on home computers; discounted car leases; discounted rates (for family and friends) at hotel properties across Canada and around the world; discounted green fees (to 50%) at golf resort properties.

Fairmont's health and family benefits are rated as very good. Fairmont's health benefits plan is managed by Great-West Life. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. Employees who work 28 hours per week receive coverage. The waiting period for new employees is 90 days. Employees receive full family coverage on the health benefits plan. The basic plan includes routine dental; restorative dental; orthodontics; eyecare ($250 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. Fairmont's family-friendly benefits include; maternity top-up payments (to 70% of salary for 15 weeks). (Depending on their employee group, maternity top-up may range up to 100%). Head office employees with young children can register and take advantage of employee-paid emergency back-up daycare services when needed. Additional benefits include; flexible working hours; telecommuting.

Fairmont's vacation and personal time-off are rated as below-average. New employees receive 2 weeks of vacation allowance after their first year. Vacation increases after 3 years on the job. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 6 weeks of vacation each year. Employees can schedule 1 personal day off each year, as needed. Employees receive 5 paid sick days every year. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence.

Fairmont's employee engagement program is rated as above-average. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months. Managers receive training in how to conduct effective performance reviews. Performance feedback is also solicited from co-workers and other managers familiar with each employee's work. As part of the review process employees can provide confidential feedback on their manager's performance. As part of its review program, Fairmont operates an extensive leadership training program for managers. The company recognizes exceptional employee performance through several awards, including sales, health and safety, environmental, and generous service awards. At each of Fairmont's hotels, "Employees of the Month" are chosen via employee and customer feedback. From these winners, each hotel selects an "Employee of the Year", who receives free accommodations for two at any Fairmont property in the world. Fairmont sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 12 months); Fairmont hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 12 months).

Fairmont's training and skills development program is rated as exceptional. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (The employer subsidizes up to 100% of tuition). Employees may also receive tuition subsidies for courses unrelated to their current position. (The employer subsidizes up to 100% of non-related tuition). The company also provides subsidies for professional accreditations; in-house apprenticeship and skilled trades internships; in-house training programs; online training programs; formal mentoring program; career planning services; new employee orientation program; management training; summer work experience program. Fairmont works closely with hospitality industry associations and educational institutions (including the British Columbia Institute of Technology, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Humber College, Sheridan College and Cornell University in the United States) to develop customized training programs for employees.

Fairmont's community involvement program is rated as exceptional. Fairmont actively supports a variety of local, national and international charitable initiatives. Employees take part in the selection of charitable groups assisted each year. Fairmont a unique charitable donations program. Through the company's enlightened "Adopt-a-Shelter" initiative, each hotel donates linens, lamps, furniture and other unused items to local women's shelters across North America. The company has also joined forces with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to provide luxury hotel accommodations around the world to sick children and their families. Through a similar program (called Fairmont Room at the Inn), the company also provides complimentary rooms at city centre properties for families visiting hospitalized loved ones during key holiday periods.

As the world's first "green" hotel operator, the scope and duration of Fairmont's recycling and conservation efforts is remarkable. The company's environmental program focuses on waste management, energy and water conservation and the use of earth-friendly products. At some properties, over 80% of items that were previously thrown away as garbage (from food to furniture) is now recycled or reused. The company's ambitious (and profitable) program has succeeded largely because of employee involvement and commitment. Fairmont's employee-run recycling program has been so successful that each hotel now has its own "Green Team", which meets monthly and includes employees from all departments. The company's extensive "Green Partnership Guide" is distributed to hotel management schools and even other hotel chains around the world.

The program's success has led to other environmental initiatives, including the development of organic gardens and nature trails at resort locations and support for clean air initiatives and habitat protection. Fairmont's golf courses are part of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary system and hotel properties worldwide operate separate programs to raise awareness and protect endangered species in areas where they operate. These programs raise funds for the conservation of beluga whales in the St. Lawrence River, right whales off the coast of New Brunswick, grizzly bears and wolves in Alberta, sea turtles in Acapulco and bluebirds in Bermuda.