DUBAI, U.A.E. — Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has appointed Emma Darby its global vice-president of Spa & Wellness. In this role, Darby will assume overall responsibility for spa and wellness operations across Fairmont’s global portfolio of 92 properties.
Darby brings more than two decades of hospitality experience, having held senior roles at Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Group. 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,” says Darby. “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.”
“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,” says Sami Nasser, Global Chief Operating Officer, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “As a passionate leader, I’m 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 global expansion with 29 new hotels in the pipeline, Darby’s appointment brings leadership continuity and a unified wellness vision across the growing portfolio. Her priorities will centre 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.
