Fox Settling in as Fairmont Hotels’ President

TORONTO—Jennifer Fox is preparing for a whirlwind tour of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts properties as she embarks on her tenure as the brand’s president.

Fox, the former COO of managed operations for continental Europe at InterContinental Hotels Group, moved to Toronto from London two weeks ago for her new job. She will have stops at properties in Asia, including China, and the Middle East between now and the end of January to become familiar with her new company.

Jennifer Fox Newly appointed president of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

“It’s been a great first two weeks,” she said, adding she is spending time getting to know the people and the company and its strategy.

As a brand president, Fox reports to Chris Cahill, COO of Fairmont Raffles Hotels International. Cahill had been occupying the position of Fairmont brand president prior to Fox’s arrival. He said the positions of COO and brand president are two separate jobs that require two individuals.

“This is not a major restructuring,” Cahill said. “This is just a continuation of our strategy.”

Europe and the Middle East are two areas Fox sees as being ripe for development. “Now’s the time to really take advantage of the brand” and build it globally, she said during a telephone interview on Friday.

Fairmont fan
When asked what pulled her to the new post after 10 years at IHG, Fox said she’s always been a fan of Fairmont.

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“It’s a brand I’ve always admired and I’ve always loved,” she said. “For the last 10 years, I’ve always kept an eye on it … I think the brand is poised for greatness.”

Fox’s addition “gives us a tremendous set of skills,” Cahill said.

“She brings a level of experience that’s not easy to find,” he said. ‘I’m absolutely delighted.”

Development plans
Fox declined to provide color surrounding a detailed development plan, and said she would have a better idea as to concrete development plans following her Fairmont tour.

“It’s a little early to be specific,” she said.

Cahill, however, did put some numbers to Fairmont’s short-term development plan.

Fairmont counts a portfolio of 60 hotels, with 10 in the pipeline. Five hotels will be added next year in Baku, Azerbaijan; Kiev, Ukraine; Dubai; Manila; and Jaipur, India.

“A lot of the growth opportunities right now are in developing markets,” he said of locations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.