Barbara Augustin
May 2026
★★★★★
Pleasant Stay in a Great Location Despite Some Signs of Age
I recently stayed in Room 1111 at the Fairmont Winnipeg for a four-night business trip. Overall, I enjoyed my stay and appreciated many aspects of the hotel. While there were a few inconveniences, they did not prevent me from having a positive experience. I should mention that I tend to prefer more modern hotels, so some of my comments may reflect that personal preference.
The hotel's location is excellent. It is within walking distance of many restaurants, the waterfront, and The Forks, making it a great base for exploring Winnipeg. As an Accor member, I was able to benefit from an early check-in, which was very much appreciated after my travels.
My room offered a beautiful, sunny view of the city and was very clean throughout my stay. I appreciated the amenities provided, including a bathrobe, coffee maker, kettle, safe, and drink cooler. One unique touch I appreciated was the wooden room key card, which felt more upscale and environmentally friendly than the traditional plastic cards.
The bathroom was stocked with shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, cotton pads, a shower cap, a shoe mitt, hand soap, and bar soap. The rose-scented products smelled absolutely wonderful and added a nice touch of luxury. The shower had excellent water pressure, and the valet service was attentive and professional. After I shared some feedback with the hotel, they also provided two complimentary bottles of water and a small tube of toothpaste, which was a thoughtful gesture.
What impressed me most was the responsiveness of the staff. When I mentioned that the in-room cooler was not cold enough for my needs, the front desk explained that it was intended mainly for beverages and arranged for a real refrigerator. It arrived within about 10 minutes. Likewise, when I explained that the desk chair was too soft and too low for comfortable laptop work, they offered me a more suitable chair.
That said, the hotel does show its age in certain areas. The décor feels somewhat dated, which is not necessarily a problem, but I personally prefer a more modern style. The bathroom had a standard bathtub with a shower curtain. There was a ventilation grille on the ceiling, but it did not appear to be functioning, and I could not find any switch to turn it on. I also noticed some pink staining around the bathtub drain that came off easily when I cleaned it with a Lysol wipe, suggesting that area may have been overlooked during cleaning. There were only two closely spaced hooks behind the bathroom door, which made it difficult to hang multiple items.
The blackout curtain was slightly damaged and did not close completely, allowing some light into the room. The curtain was also not long enough to fully block light from underneath. This did not affect me too much because I sleep with an eye mask, but those who need complete darkness may notice it.
The air conditioning fan was somewhat noisy, although a technician kindly showed me how to reduce the fan speed. Fortunately, I had earplugs with me, which prevented the noise from waking me up throughout the night. During the last few days of my stay, I also noticed a high-pitched plumbing noise when using the shower. Additionally, some paint was peeling in areas of the bathroom. One of the elevator button panels lacked sufficient contrast, making it difficult to see; I noticed several guests hesitating before pressing the buttons, and I experienced the same issue myself.
Overall, I had a pleasant stay and found the staff to be responsive, professional, and genuinely interested in guest satisfaction. The excellent location, cleanliness, service, and amenities outweighed the drawbacks. I understand the hotel is expected to undergo renovations in the future, and I think those updates will address many of the issues I encountered. I would gladly stay here again, especially given the outstanding service and prime downtown location.
