Fairmont is a luxury hotel chain owned by Accor
Fairmont Hotels and Resorts is a collection of luxury properties operated by Accor, a French hospitality company. Fairmont runs about 80 hotels across more than 40 countries, mostly in North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia-Pacific. The brand focuses on high-end accommodations, often in landmark locations — think historic castles, mountain resorts, and beachfront properties.
When you book a Fairmont hotel, you are paying for a full-service experience that typically includes a concierge desk, multiple on-site restaurants, spa facilities, and room service. Room rates vary widely depending on location and season, but Fairmont properties generally sit in the luxury tier, meaning nightly rates often exceed $300 and can reach $1,000 or more at flagship locations.
Fairmont is part of the larger Accor group, which also owns other hotel brands at different price points. This matters because your Accor loyalty account can earn points across multiple brands, not just Fairmont.
Key Takeaways
- Fairmont operates about 80 luxury hotels worldwide, mostly in high-end destinations like national parks, city centers, and resort areas.
- You earn and redeem points through the Accor loyalty program (called All, which replaced Le Club Accorhotels), not through a Fairmont-specific program.
- Points earned at any Accor brand hotel can be used toward free nights at any Accor property, including Fairmont.
- Fairmont offers elite status tiers within the Accor program that unlock benefits like room upgrades, late checkout, and lounge access.
- You can also earn points through credit cards, dining, and partnerships with airlines and car rental companies.
How to earn points at Fairmont hotels
Every time you stay at a Fairmont hotel, you earn points through your Accor All account. The base earning rate is typically 10 points per dollar spent on your room, though the exact rate can vary by property and promotion. If you have elite status in the Accor program, you earn bonus points on top of the base rate — for example, a Gold member might earn 20% extra points per stay.
You can also earn points without staying at a hotel. Fairmont properties have restaurants, spas, and other amenities open to the public. Dining at a Fairmont restaurant or booking a spa treatment earns points if you provide your Accor All membership number. The earning rate for these purchases is lower than room stays — typically around 1 point per dollar — but it still adds up if you visit frequently.
Outside of direct hotel activity, you can earn Accor points through co-branded credit cards, airline partnerships, car rental companies, and shopping portals. A Fairmont-branded credit card, if available through your bank, would earn bonus points on Fairmont stays and potentially on all purchases.
What you can do with Fairmont points
The most straightforward use of Accor points is to redeem them for free nights at Fairmont or any other Accor property. The point cost depends on the hotel's category — a modest Accor property might cost 15,000 points for a free night, while a flagship Fairmont resort could cost 50,000 points or more. Accor publishes a chart showing which hotels fall into which point categories, so you can see the cost before you book.
You can also use points to upgrade your room category, extend a stay, or pay for dining and spa services at Fairmont properties. Some properties allow you to "top up" a partial point balance with cash if you are short of the full redemption amount.
Points can also be transferred to airline partners, though the conversion rate is typically unfavorable — you usually lose value when you convert hotel points to airline miles. Most travelers find that redeeming points directly for hotel nights offers better value.
Fairmont elite status and what it includes
The Accor All program has five elite tiers: Member, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. You reach each tier by earning a certain number of nights or points in a calendar year. For example, Silver status typically requires 10 nights, Gold requires 25 nights, and Platinum requires 50 nights. The exact thresholds can change year to year.
At each tier, you unlock benefits that explore to all your Accor stays, including Fairmont. These benefits usually include room upgrades (when available), late checkout, complimentary breakfast or dining credits, lounge access at properties that have lounges, and bonus points on every stay. A Platinum member, for instance, might earn 50% bonus points on all stays, plus may provide room upgrades and late checkout until 4 p.m.
Elite status is valuable if you stay at Accor properties regularly, because the upgrades and bonus points compound over time. If you stay only once or twice a year, the benefits may not justify the effort to chase status.
How to book a Fairmont hotel and use your points
You can book a Fairmont hotel directly through the Accor website, through the Accor mobile app, or by calling the Fairmont reservations line. Booking through the Accor channels ensures your points are credited to your account. If you book through a third-party site like Expedia or Booking.com, you may not earn points, so it is worth checking the terms before you complete the reservation.
To redeem points for a free night, log into your Accor All account, search for your desired Fairmont property and dates, and filter the results to show only point redemptions. The system will show you the point cost and available room types. You can then complete the redemption just as you would a cash booking. Most redemptions are confirmed when ready, though some properties may require a phone call to finalize.
If you are redeeming points for a specific stay, book as far in advance as possible. Point redemptions are subject to availability, and popular properties can run out of point inventory during peak seasons. Cash bookings have priority over point bookings at most hotels.
Fairmont credit cards and how they work
Some banks issue co-branded Fairmont or Accor credit cards that earn bonus points on Fairmont stays and sometimes on all purchases. The specific card terms depend on which bank issues it — there is no single "Fairmont card," but rather cards issued by different financial institutions that are branded with the Fairmont or Accor name.
A typical Fairmont credit card might offer 5 or 10 bonus points per dollar spent at Fairmont properties, plus 1 point per dollar on other purchases. You may also earn an annual bonus of free points just for holding the card. These cards usually carry an annual fee of $95 to $450, depending on the tier and issuer.
Whether a Fairmont credit card makes sense depends on how often you stay at Fairmont or other Accor properties. If you stay at least once or twice a year, the annual bonus points and earning rate can offset the annual fee. If you stay less frequently, the card may not be worth the cost.
Fairmont membership without paying for a hotel stay
You do not have to stay at a Fairmont or Accor hotel to join the Accor All loyalty program. You can register for free on the Accor website and start earning points when ready through dining, spa services, or other partnerships. This is useful if you live near a Fairmont property with a restaurant or spa and want to accumulate points toward a future stay.
You can also earn points through Accor's shopping portal, which gives you points when you purchase items from partner retailers. The earning rate is typically 1 to 5 points per dollar, depending on the retailer. These points accumulate in your account and can be redeemed for hotel stays just like points earned through hotel stays.
Free membership also gives you access to Accor's mobile app, where you can check your point balance, find nearby Accor properties, and manage your reservations. There is no cost to join or maintain a free account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Fairmont points expire?
Accor points expire if your account has no activity for 24 months. Activity includes staying at a hotel, earning points through a credit card, or redeeming points. If your account is inactive for 24 months, your points are deleted. You can reactivate an expired account by logging in and earning new points, but the old points will not return.
Can I transfer my Fairmont points to someone else?
Accor allows you to transfer points to another Accor All member's account, but there are restrictions and potential fees depending on the circumstances. The easiest way to share points is to book a hotel stay for someone else using your points — you can do this directly through the Accor website by providing their name and email address.
What is the difference between Fairmont and other Accor brands?
Fairmont is the luxury tier of Accor's portfolio. Other Accor brands include Sofitel (upscale), Novotel (upper-midscale), Ibis (budget), and several others. All brands use the same Accor All loyalty program, so points earned at an Ibis hotel can be redeemed at a Fairmont. The main difference is the level of service, amenities, and price point.
Can I book a Fairmont hotel with points if I have no elite status?
Yes. Elite status is not required to earn or redeem points. Any member of the free Accor All program can accumulate points and use them for hotel stays. Elite status straightforward gives you bonus points and additional perks like upgrades and late checkout.
How far in advance should I book a Fairmont hotel with points?
Book as far in advance as possible, ideally 60 to 90 days ahead. Point inventory at popular properties fills up quickly, especially during peak travel seasons. Booking early gives you the best selection of dates and room types. If your preferred dates are sold out for points, you may still be able to book with cash.