Local Tips from Fairmont Hotels
Enhance your trip with insider intel from Fairmont staff members to experience seasonal attractions like a local.
Culture-sharing
“The annual Cherry Blossom Festival in mid-April is organized by San Francisco’s Japanese community. More than 200,000 people sample Japanese food and culture—from traditional music to cosplay and anime contests. Check the dates a little closer to the time.” —Tom Wolfe
Chief Concierge at Fairmont San Francisco, Wolfe is renowned as the first concierge in the US, founding the North American chapter of Les Clefs d’Or, the international association of professional concierges
Night-shopping
“Open on the weekends and holidays from May to October, the Richmond Night Market is the largest in North America. It features a combination of live entertainment, games and more than 500 international—and unique—food items. Read up on the top visitor picks for advice on the best stalls to visit. Sundays and holiday Mondays tend to be the least crowded.” —Celia Bautista
Fairmont Gold Manager, Fairmont Vancouver Airport
Richmond Night Market
Bike-riding
“The Emirates’ city-wide cycling competition, Ride Ajman, is one I always look forward to every April. This past year, I took part in the 36-mile (58-kilometer) race, but I am training for a longer route in 2019. This event first started in 2016. It was the brainchild of our hotel and the Ajman Department of Tourism Development as a way of promoting sports in Ajman.” —Abdulrahman Hatem
Human Resources Officer, Fairmont Ajman
Ride Ajman
Snow-globing
“In January, the Bavarian Icefest in Leavenworth, just a short drive from Seattle, is set in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Every year, the village glows with half a million twinkling lights and delights with activities such as ice carving, snow sculpting and Icefest games.” —Andrew Hoge
Director of Celebrations, Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle
Bavarian Icefest
Film-going
“The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts organizes the Istanbul Film Festival, an all-time favorite of all cinephiles. In 2019, the festival will be held in April for two weeks. The venues are as spectacular as the films themselves, with screenings in old movie houses and high-tech cinemas. For anyone into movies, this is a ‘don’t-miss’ event thanks to the great selection of films, from cult to modern.” —SAMİ ÇANKAYA
Head Concierge, Fairmont Quasar Istanbul
Katil Marlina at the 2018 festival