The Fairmont Château Laurier, Ottawa’s storied landmark, is embracing a new era under the leadership of its first-ever female General Manager, Geneviève Dumas.
Outside, you’ll know it by its limestone carapace, conical turrets, and bright copper roof. Inside, you’ll know it by its Roman columns, Tiffany windows…and its proudly female General Manager.
Geneviève Dumas is the feminal figurehead of the iconic Fairmont Château Laurier, the French Renaissance masterpiece that has brought grandeur to the city’s checkered core since it opened in 1912.
It was commissioned five years earlier by its original General Manager, Charles Melville Hays, who, tragically, was returning from England with the hotel’s original furniture on the ill-fated Titanic. His ghost is happy to know, no doubt, that the landmark he had hoped to spearhead has hosted, over its storied evolution, a veritable Who’s Who of heads of state, public figures, and assorted notables. Internationally renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh lived and worked in the 660,000 square-foot facility, Joni Mitchell wrote a handful of hits in one of its suites, and political decisions that have shaped our world have been brainstormed in its gilded drawing rooms.
“I love the hotel’s history,” says Dumas, who is now part of that heritage herself. “Being the first female General Manager in the Château Laurier’s 113-year history is an incredible honour. It represents the growing recognition of women as leaders in our industry, bringing unique perspectives and strengths to leadership roles. It’s a privilege to carry this legacy forward.” And a testament, she adds, to the tenacity and hard work that has marked her professional journey.
Dumas, a native of Laval, attended boarding school and CEGEP in Montreal. Her first ambition was to run a restaurant, a notion that inspired her to enroll in the well-respected Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ). “During my internships, however,” Dumas explains, “I discovered the dynamic world of hotels and never looked back.”
Geneviève Dumas became the first female General Manager of Fairmont Château Laurier in 2021, bringing decades of experience across Fairmont properties.
“It was a natural fit, blending my passion for hospitality with the complexity of hotel operations.”
After a brief but rewarding stint as an airline hostess, her career as a hotelier began in earnest. While working as the restaurant supervisor at the Fairmont in Mont Tremblant, a mentor aware of her career ambitions gave her a valuable piece of advice: work across all departments, pursue higher education, and excel in every role in which you find yourself. The determined Dumas made good on all of it, steeping herself in the industry, earning an MBA while raising a family, and distinguishing herself in Victoria and Montebello before being entrusted with one of the jewels of the Fairmont chain, Ottawa’s civically prized Chateau Laurier.
While Dumas’ current assignment may well be her dream job, it threatened, early on, to become a nightmare. 2021, when Dumas was first hired, was not an auspicious year for travel or social congregation. The COVID crisis was at its height, testing the ingenuity and fortitude of touristic gatekeepers. Then, there was its political aftermath: the controversial “trucker convoy,” which set up shop in the hotel’s shadow, disrupting patrons and other downtowners day and night for weeks on end.
“Those were enormous challenges,” Dumas remembers. “Yet through those difficulties, we accomplished major renovations: new ballrooms, a coffee shop, and the reimagined Zoe’s Lounge, which is now a warm, inviting space featuring an open kitchen and a stunning bar”—quite an achievement, and only the first round of a succession of adornments the visionary Dumas has up her sleeve. In the near future, the hotel will be adding exciting new boutiques and eateries, and many of the rooms will undergo dynamic renovations. In addition, area foodies will be happy to know that the highly successful Michelin Star Chefs Week, another Dumas initiative, will become an annual tradition, raising the bar for culinary excellence within the city.
Dumas was also an instrumental figure in the retrieval of the famous Karsh portrait of one-time guest Winston Churchill, subtly stolen till it was tracked down and returned by foreign authorities. “When the Churchill portrait went missing, I made it my mission to bring it home. Its return symbolizes our commitment to preserving and showcasing the rich history embedded in our walls. After all, the hotel’s history is central to its identity.”
Expounding on her professional home with palpable pride, Dumas adds, “Our hotel offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in history, enjoy exceptional dining, and relax in a luxurious setting. And, of course, to meet our beloved canine ambassador, Stewart—the King of the Castle!”
Stewart may be the King, but Geneviève Dumas is the undisputed Queen.
By Dan Lalande | Photography by nicolai Gregory
