Once upon a time....

In 1902, Tessie and Virginia Fair decided to build the grandest and most luxurious hotel in San Francisco on the Nob Hill property they had inherited from their father, "Bonanza Jim" Fair. In 1907, the first Fairmont Hotel was opened.

Eighty years later, that tradition of the grandeur continued with the opening of the Fairmont San Jose.  As Silicon Valley boomed in the 1980's, the mayor of San Jose, Tom McEnery, saw a chance for his city to take a leadership role in the community. He decided to make downtown San Jose the capital of Silicon Valley. One thing it was missing was a grand hotel. He approached Fairmont Hotels to build a luxury hotel that would attract visitors for business, leisure, and group conventions. In 1987 that vision was realized with the opening of the Fairmont San Jose and it remains the jewel of the city's thriving downtown community today.

The timeless elegance Fairmont Hotels and Resorts are know for can be felt as soon as you enter the grand lobby. The Fairmont San Jose plays an integral role in the community, hosting presidents, dignitaries, celebrities, CEOs and noted scholars.

In February 2002, The Fairmont San Jose opened its second tower and welcomed the addition of 264 new rooms, bringing the total number of rooms to 805, including 74 suites. This addition to the San Jose skyline boasts 28,000 square feet of additional meeting space. Combine this with the original meeting and banquet space, and you have over 65,000 square feet of function rooms ready to host everything from exquisite receptions to multimedia presentations. 
 
More than 30 wineries in the valley attest to the year-round Mediterranean climate. The Monterey Peninsula's legendary golf courses, beaches and sightseeing venues are a short drive from The Fairmont San Jose. Attractions within walking distance include the San Jose Convention Center, Museum of Art, The Tech Museum of Innovation, live theater, symphony, opera and ballet. After all of this, guest can get away from it all and relax beside the palm trees that surround our fourth floor pool or workout in our fully equipped fitness center.

When you are staying in the "Safest Big City in America," the Fairmont San Jose offers you the impeccable quality and service you expect from a world class hotel.