Fairmont Hotels & Resorts names Emma Darby as Global Vice President Spa & Wellness  

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, one of Accor’s leading luxury brands, announces the appointment of Emma Darby as Global Vice President Spa & Wellness. In this role, Emma will assume overall responsibility for spa and wellness operations across Fairmont’s global portfolio of 92 properties. The diverse collection of luxury properties and flagship spas in iconic destinations worldwide, includes Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Canada, Fairmont Century Plaza, Los Angeles, Fairmont Mayakoba, Mexico, and Fairmont Riyadh, KSA, delivering a truly holistic wellness experience. 

An inspiring leader in the wellness space, Emma Darby brings over two decades of hospitality experience, having held senior roles at Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Group. Driven by a deep belief in the transformative power of wellness, an ethos that aligns closely with Fairmont’s commitment to making guests feel truly cared for, Emma has consistently delivered strategic growth, operational excellence, and elevated guest experiences. Most recently, as Chief Operating Officer at Resense Spas, she led a global portfolio of luxury spas, overseeing business expansion, spearheading new openings and renovations, and embedding a consistently high standard of holistic wellness across all touchpoints. 

“Wellness has always been a personal passion of mine, so I’m thrilled to join a brand like Fairmont that shares this commitment to health and wellbeing and continues to build on such a strong foundation,” said Emma Darby, Global Vice President Spa & Wellness, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “What really excites me is Fairmont’s unique position at the intersection of heritage, innovation, and personalization.  There’s a real opportunity to take wellness beyond the spa and weave it more holistically into the guest experience, through movement, nourishment, rest, and connection.”  

Sami Nasser, Global Chief Operating Officer Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, commented on the appointment, “Emma’s deep rooted industry knowledge and experience sets the tone for a dynamic new chapter in the wellness space for Fairmont on a global level. As a passionate leader, I am confident Emma will drive operational excellence and strategic growth, with a personalized, hands-on approach, which has been a defining characteristic throughout her unique career.” 

As Fairmont continues its significant global expansion with 29 new hotels in the pipeline, including the highly anticipated Fairmont Red Sea in Saudi Arabia and Fairmont Hanoi in Vietnam, the brand reinforces its commitment to exceptional, wellness-driven guest experiences around the world. Emma’s appointment brings leadership continuity and a unified wellness vision across the growing portfolio. Her priorities will center on deeply understanding the current wellness landscape across Fairmont properties, identifying opportunities to elevate the guest experience, and implementing strategies that drive both innovation and consistency. This approach is designed to strengthen the performance of the Fairmont portfolio, driving financial growth, and expanding leadership pathways in the long term. 

Her leadership philosophy is centered on clarity, collaboration, and a guest-first mindset. Emma believes in giving teams a strong sense of purpose, along with the tools and support they need to thrive. As a leader, Emma is values-driven – therefore building trust, encouraging innovation, and supporting both personal and professional growth. As Vice President, across Fairmont’s spa and wellness portfolio, Emma will champion integrity, inclusivity, and curiosity, building the foundation for a strong team structure throughout the business. 

The article Fairmont Hotels & Resorts names Emma Darby as Global Vice President Spa & Wellness   first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.