Fairmont Leaders Walk the Talk | Swap Business Suits for Toques, Aprons, and Uniforms

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts leaders across the Golden State swapped their business suits for toques, aprons, and uniforms earlier this month. Executive level hoteliers from five California Fairmont properties (Fairmont Newport Beach, Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, Fairmont San Jose, Fairmont San Francisco and the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa) left their desks and spent a shift “on the floor.”

The program aptly titled “Walk in Your Shoes” is the brain-child of Tom Klein, Regional Vice-President of Operations and General Manager of the Fairmont San Francisco. “This annual program provides property leaders with a better understanding and deeper appreciation of the work that our valued colleagues undertake each day in order to surpass the expectations of our guests. This popular initiative allows our executives who often get caught up in the daily hustle and bustle of leading, managing, scrambling, listening, negotiating, supervising, facilitating, and convincing to get back to hospitality basics,” shares Klein.

At the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa senior-level managers scrubbed, polished, greeted and sautéed last Thursday, November 18, 2010. General Manager, Kelley Cosgrove warmly welcomed guests to the legendary spa while Executive Chef Bruno Tison (Michelin star recipient) traded in his whisk for a hammer while working in the Resort Maintenance Department. Donna Shaffer, Director of Spa Operations tried her hand with spread sheets in the Accounting Department.

About Fairmont Hotels & Resorts | With over 60 distinctive hotels, including the iconic Fairmont San Francisco and Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai, and more in development, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality brand known for its warm and engaging service and culturally rich experiences. Located in coveted worldwide destinations, its unrivalled collection of classic hotels imbue a sense of heritage, sophistication, and social importance, and are often considered destinations in and of themselves. Fairmont is also committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership program. Fairmont is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, a leading global hotel company with 95 hotels under the Fairmont, Raffles, and Swissôtel brands. The company also manages Fairmont and Raffles branded residences, estates and luxury private residence club properties. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit .