The Pollinator Bee Hotel on the rooftop of the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts could quite possibly be making a world-record for building five-star accommodations for the world’s tiniest “guests” with the creation of its Pollinator Bee Hotel. Opening its first location on the rooftop of Toronto’s Royal York hotel, this project is part of a larger collaboration with Burt’s Bees and their annual Wild for Bees campaign.
A lot of research has been done on the solitary bee population and its decline, with the loss and fragmentation of their habitat being the leading factor. With this in mind the team reached out to Sustainable.TO Architecture + Building and Pollinator Partnership Canada to mange the design and construction of the bee hotel.
The hotel itself is created out of nesting materials designed to replicate their natural nesting sites with things like fallen branches and soil. Even the design of the bee hotel was planned to reflect Toronto’s skyline.
The Pollinator Garden Celebration dish at EPIC Restaurant.
“Sustainability isn’t a buzz word here at Fairmont, it’s a core element of our operations,” said Jane Mackie, vice president, Fairmont Brand. Currently the Fairmont Royal York is home to six honeybee hives, 17 four-poster beds and planter pots with herbs like rosemary, mint and lavender, used in the hotel’s kitchen. The garden here has been in bloom for more than 15 years, making it the perfect location for the bee hotel.
To showcase the powers of the pollinator bees, Fairmont Royal York’s Executive Chef Collin Thorton and his team have created a Pollinator Menu for the month of June in EPIC Restaurant with dishes including the Pollinator Garden Celebration (pictured above), Lemon Balm Blossom Crusted Rainbow Trout and the “Buzz-tini” found at the Library Bar.
Burt’s Bees Limited Edition Hydrating Lip Balm with Coconut & Pear.
Can’t make it to the Fairmont Royal York? Another way to help support the initiative is with the purchase of Burt’s Bees new Hydrating Lip Balm with Coconut & Pear ($4.89), available now at burtsbees.ca, pollinatorpartnership.ca and the Fairmont Royal York’s hotel store, and nation-wide starting July 1. Plus during the month of June all of the proceeds from the sale of this lip balm will help to expand the Wild for Bees hotel initiative across Canada.
