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Star attraction

Fairmont undergoes makeover to woo A-listers

By: Geoff Kirbyson

Posted: 03/21/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

The Fairmont Winnipeg is about to add some glitz and glamour to its luxury suites in the hopes of enticing A-list actors and entertainers to sign its guest book.

The hotel at Portage and Main has begun gutting its eighth, ninth, 10th and 20th floors, part of a $3-million renovation due to be unveiled in May.

A Fairmont Who's Who The Fairmont Winnipeg is hoping to attract the Hollywood set to its soon-to-be upgraded luxury suites, but the downtown hotel is no stranger to high rollers. Here's a list of A-listers who have stayed there over the last 14 years: 1996 -- U2 1998 -- The Backstreet Boys, The Rolling Stones 2002 -- James Brown, Midnight Oil 2003 -- Def Leppard, The Irish Rovers 2004 -- Aerosmith, k.d. lang and cast members from the movie Shall We Dance, including Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci and Anita Gillette 2005 -- Mötley Crüe, Billy Idol, Hilary Duff, Avril Lavigne and cast members of The Assassination of Jesse James, including Brad Pitt, Sam Sheppard, Mary-Louise Parker, Casey Affleck, Sam Rockwell and Ted Levine 2006 -- Guns N' Roses, The Dixie Chicks 2007 -- Chubby Checker, Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake, Weird Al Yankovic, Air Supply, Ozzy Osbourne, Crowded House 2008 -- John Mellencamp, Foo Fighters, Iron Maiden, Oasis 2009 -- New Kids On The Block, AC/DC, KISS, Dane Cook, The Offspring, Green Day, Tommy Hunter 2010 -- Steve Earle, Colin James

Jacques Lavergne, director of sales and marketing at the Fairmont, said both the 1,000-square-foot Royal suite and the 800-square-foot Crown suite will each undergo a $100,000 makeover.

"They have a bit of a Victorian style to them with floral patterns on the curtain and bedspreads. We're getting away from that and modernizing them so they're more in tune with our lobby... a lot of clean lines and more contemporary art," he said, noting the baby grand piano in the Royal will remain.

Lavergne said having the facilities to cater to major stars can often mean the difference between landing a celebrity booking, which usually includes a sizable entourage, and losing it to another property.

"Entertainment is a huge component to who stays in those rooms. If you have that luxury suite that can attract a band to the hotel, that's often the deal-maker," he said.

Lavergne said the Royal should be able to fetch up to $2,000 per night while the Crown won't be far behind at $1,500.

On the flip side, being able to accommodate high rollers in the fashion to which they are accustomed also helps the city land big-ticket film and television deals.

Manitoba Film and Music CEO Carole Vivier said the last 18 months were "pretty tough" for the industry but she's optimistic it's turning the corner.

She said she's hoping to get the green light soon to continue production of three television series in Winnipeg, Frantic Films' Todd & the Book of Pure Evil for the Space network, Less Than Kind for HBO Canada and Cashing In for APTN.

"Having three series in Manitoba is pretty significant for us," she said.

Vivier said two feature-length films will be shot here this year, too; they just haven't been announced by their production companies yet.

She said having high-end hotel rooms in town is a "big deal" in her world.

"When you're bringing in high-end casts, directors and producers, they're used to top-of-the-line accommodation, which they're able to get in other cities," she said.

Lavergne said it's not just out-of-town celebrities who rent luxury suites.

There are plenty of Winnipeggers looking to celebrate a major event, such as a wedding or an anniversary and are willing to pay top dollar.

"You'd be surprised how many local people are looking to pay that rate for a special occasion.

"We underestimate the number of people in this city who have that kind of spending money. There is definitely demand in the leisure market," he said.

geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 21, 2010 A10

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