Engineering the Guest Experience at Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere

After three years of transformation, one of Cheshire’s best-known hotels has entered an entirely new era. Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere has officially unveiled the results of an extraordinary £90 million redevelopment, transforming the historic resort into a new luxury hospitality destination in the heart of Cheshire.

From 116 beautifully designed bedrooms and suites to a reimagined spa, a new club lounge and terrace, transformed ballroom and the highly anticipated Gordon Ramsay at The Mere restaurant, the scale of the development is significant.

But behind the interiors, architecture and guest spaces sits another important part of the transformation: the technology that helps the building work.

And that’s where Intecho comes in…

Smart technology behind the guest experience

At Intecho, we’re proud to have played a role in the transformation of Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, delivering integrated smart building technology designed to support the operation of the resort and enhance the experience of the people using it.

In modern luxury hospitality, technology needs to do far more than simply control individual systems. Lighting, automation and wider building technologies need to work together, responding to the different ways spaces are used throughout the day.

A hotel of this scale is a constantly changing environment. Bedrooms, restaurants, bars, spa facilities and large event spaces all have very different operational requirements.

The ballroom alone can welcome up to 1,000 guests or be divided into smaller event spaces, while restaurants and hospitality areas transition from daytime service to evening dining, and the technology supporting these spaces needs to be equally adaptable.

Creating intelligent, responsive spaces

One of the biggest changes we’re seeing across the hospitality sector is a move away from standalone technology. Instead, buildings are becoming more connected.

Intelligent lighting control and building automation allow spaces to respond to how they are being used, creating the right environment while also giving operational teams greater control over the building.

In a luxury hotel, this technology should never dominate the guest experience. In fact, the best smart building technology is often the technology guests never notice. The lighting simply feels right. Spaces transition naturally throughout the day. Controls are intuitive and the environment feels comfortable.

Behind the scenes, however, a carefully designed system is working to make that experience possible.

Technology that supports hospitality

For us, smart buildings have always been about people! The purpose of integrating technology isn’t to add complexity, it’s to make buildings easier to operate and better to experience. In hospitality, that means considering both sides of the building.

For guests, technology should help create comfortable, intuitive and memorable environments.

For hotel teams, intelligent controls can provide greater visibility and control, helping different areas of a complex building operate more effectively. At Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, the scale and diversity of the resort make this particularly important.

From bedrooms and spa facilities to restaurants, terraces and large event spaces, each area has its own identity and purpose. The technology behind the building needs to support those differences while remaining part of one considered approach.

A new era for a Cheshire landmark

The transformation of The Mere is about much more than a refurbishment. The hotel has almost doubled in size and has been completely reimagined for a new generation of guests, bringing together hospitality, dining, wellbeing, golf and events within one destination.

As a Cheshire-based business, it’s particularly exciting for Intecho to have been involved in a project of this scale so close to home. The finished spaces are now being revealed, and the doors are opening to guests.

Much of our work will remain behind the scenes. And that’s exactly where good smart building technology should be! Quietly connecting systems, supporting operations and helping incredible spaces work as beautifully as they look.

From luxury hospitality to complex commercial environments, Intecho designs smart building technology around the way spaces are used. If you’re planning your next project, talk to our team to discover how intelligent, integrated technology can bring your vision to life.

About Fairmont Hotels & Resorts  

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is renowned for the international luxury hospitality brand’s unrivalled portfolio of over 90 extraordinary hotels where grand moments of life, heartfelt pleasures and personal milestones are celebrated and remembered long after any visit. From grand hotels to urban retreats, since 1907 Fairmont has created magnificent, meaningful and unforgettable hotels, rich with character and deeply connected to the history, culture and community of its destinations – renowned addresses such as The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont Tokyo, Fairmont Golden Prague, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada, Fairmont Doha and Fairmont The Palm in Dubai.  Fairmont hotels are the social epicenters of their cities—iconic gathering places where people, culture, and ideas converge. Famous for its engaging service, awe-inspiring public spaces, locally inspired cuisine, and iconic bars and lounges, Fairmont also takes great pride in its pioneering approach to hospitality and leadership in sustainability and responsible tourism practices. Fairmont is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group counting over 5,800 properties throughout more than 110 countries, and a participating brand in ALL Accor, a booking platform and loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences. fairmont.com | all.com | group.accor.com