Regional Vice President, Eastern Canada
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
In March 2003, Richard Payette, General Manager, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, took over the position of Regional Vice President, Eastern Canada. Bringing over 25 years of hospitality experience to this position, Payette’s responsibilities include the regional role of overseeing the operations of Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, Fairmont Tremblant, Fairmont Le Château Montebello, Fairmont Kenauk at Château Montebello, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, Fairmont Château Laurier, The Fairmont Newfoundland and The Fairmont Algonquin.
Following studies at Loyola College and the Quebec Hotel & Tourism Institute in Montreal, Payette began his career at the Montreal Convention & Visitors Bureau in 1976. From 1978 until 1990, he held several progressive positions within the industry, including General Manager, Hôtel Plaza de la Chaudière, Hull, Quebec; Executive Assistant Manager, The Four Seasons, Ottawa and Executive Assistant Manager, The Four Seasons Inn on the Park, Toronto.
In 1990, he was appointed General Manager, Delta Montreal and in succession, while with Delta Hotels, Fairmont’s sister company, he held positions of Director of Operations, Quebec; Vice President, Operations, Quebec & Florida Regions; and Vice President Operations, Delta Hotels Corporate Office, Toronto. In 1997, Payette joined Intrawest Corp. as Senior Vice President Lodging before joining Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in 1998 as General Manager, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth.
Mr. Payette is also a member of the Marketing Committee of the Greater Montreal Hotel Association and a member of the National Marketing Committee of Tourism Quebec. He is a member of the Board of directors of Tourisme Montréal.