Francis Desjardins has been named Regional Vice President for the Pacific Northwest and General Manager of Fairmont Pacific Rim, taking charge of five luxury hotels in the region. His new role includes oversight of Fairmont Empress, Fairmont Waterfront, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, and Fairmont Vancouver Airport, in addition to the Pacific Rim property.
Desjardins arrives with 28 years of experience at Fairmont, most recently serving as General Manager of Fairmont Taghazout Bay in Morocco since 2019. There, he led the resort’s launch and its establishment in the regional hospitality market. Before that, his career spanned senior roles across North America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, including property openings and guest experience management.
His previous appointments included General Manager of Fairmont Ajman, Director of Operations at Fairmont The Palm and Fairmont Baku Flame Towers, and Director of Rooms at Fairmont Singapore. His leadership style focuses on team development, collaboration, and community engagement—approaches he will now apply to the Pacific Northwest portfolio.
In his new position, Desjardins will oversee a collection of hotels that collectively shape Vancouver’s luxury hospitality scene. Fairmont Pacific Rim, the flagship property, holds Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond ratings and opened in 2010. Under his direction, the hotel will continue refining its service, operations, and local partnerships while maintaining its market position.
Desjardins returns to Canada after two decades abroad, relocating with his family from Morocco. His priority will be to develop collaboration among the five properties, leveraging their individual strengths, and deepening Fairmont’s ties with the communities they serve.
In his new regional role, Desjardins takes up the appointment as the region’s hospitality and tourism sector continues to evolve. According to the company, his leadership approach emphasises team development, collaboration and building relationships with colleagues, guests and local communities. He also has a focus on developing future hospitality leaders.
