A second opening, a new continent
Rimrock Banff, Emblems Collection, opens its doors in the heart of Banff National Park, Alberta. Regarded as a local institution, the property has undergone a major transformation designed to reconnect it with its mountain setting. It marks the North American debut of Accor‘s luxury hotel collection.
Emblems Collection made its debut with Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, a historic estate in the English countryside, at the brand’s official launch in 2025. For its second opening worldwide, the collection has chosen another landmark building in keeping with its positioning: properties with a distinct personality and strong local roots.
Maud Bailly, CEO of Emblems Collection, describes Rimrock Banff as a magnificent expression of the Emblems philosophy: a historic property with a soul of its own, deeply connected to its destination and reimagined through thoughtful design and highly personalised service. She adds that its exceptional setting within Banff National Park and its historic ties to the Canadian Rockies made it the natural choice for the Collection’s first North American address, and that the opening marks a key milestone in the brand’s international development, bringing its art de vivre to a new continent.
THT Analysis – With two properties open, the brand remains at an early stage of its rollout. The upcoming openings, including the Citadelle Vauban on Belle-Île-en-Mer, expected in 2027, and the three properties announced in Italy, will show whether the pace of signings is sufficient to meet the target. In North America, the group has also just strengthened its organisation with the appointment of Kara Brill Randall as Chief Development Officer for its luxury brands.
A renovation that retains the original structure
Built into the mountainside and overlooking the town of Banff, the hotel sits within a UNESCO World Heritage-listed national park covering more than 6,500 sq km of protected wilderness. The project was conceived around a more intimate vision of mountain hospitality.
The original architectural structure has been retained, but the property has been entirely reimagined to reflect the Emblems identity. Its terraced architecture extends from the mountain towards the Bow Valley. Large picture windows, natural materials and framed views maintain a constant connection with the landscape.
David Garcelon, General Manager of Rimrock Banff, explains that over the decades the hotel has always been defined by its extraordinary setting. The transformation, he says, was guided by a simple philosophy: to create a hotel that feels at one with the landscape. Every design choice, every experience and every space has been conceived to deepen guests’ connection with Banff National Park, offering a luxury experience that could not exist anywhere else.
320 rooms facing the Rockies
The property has 320 rooms, including 57 suites, all designed around the panoramic views. Beds, lounge areas and contemplation spaces face the Canadian Rockies. The interiors draw on the colours and materials of the region: natural tones, warm woods, stone and textured fabrics.
The two-bedroom Infinity Suite opens onto a corner terrace of more than 117 sq m, equipped with a barrel sauna and a fire pit. The Wellness Studio suites feature fitness and recovery equipment, wellness-focused minibars, sleep-enhancing amenities and access to the Expeditions outdoor gear-lending programme.
Wellbeing as a core pillar
The Bathhouse spa, covering almost 900 sq m, offers Banff’s first luxury thermal experience. It combines indoor and outdoor areas with hot and vitality pools, a mountain-facing infinity pool, a salt sauna, an aromatic steam room and cold plunge pools. A suspended meditation room and the Aurora sensory room complete the offer.
The Bathhouse is complemented by the Active Centre, a 350 sq m space equipped by Technogym and Peloton, with climbing and bouldering walls, guided movement classes and recovery treatments.
The Expeditions Centre also offers more than 50 seasonal activities led by the Pathfinders, the hotel’s expert guides. The programme includes private hikes, forest bathing, alpine yoga, canyon ice walks, cultural encounters with Indigenous communities and excursions to the Athabasca Glacier.
Four food and beverage venues
The culinary offer is built around four venues. Parker’s Table, the signature restaurant, serves seasonal cuisine created with local farmers, fishers and foragers. Rimrock Social serves as the hotel’s central gathering place.
The Listening Room is dedicated to rare spirits and fine wines, served to the sound of vinyl records. Finally, Rimrock Market brings together specialty coffee, a delicatessen and an après-ski-inspired atmosphere.
Brand signatures with a local twist
Every Emblems hotel is built around a locally inspired Emblematic Ingredient, expressed through its cuisine, welcome rituals, treatments and artisanal touches. In Banff, the choice fell on alpine honey, sourced through a partnership with Highland Farm Honey, a family-run Alberta producer. It is served on arrival through the Alpine Honey Spritz welcome ritual.
The Travel Cake, the brand’s signature travel cake originally created with Korean pastry chef Yun Eunyoung, founder of Garuharu in Seoul, has been given a local interpretation. The Rimrock Banff version pairs a pine-needle biscuit with an alpine honey ganache.
In Banff, the Emblems Editions literary collection brings together writings by Indigenous peoples, pioneers and authors connected with the national park. The Master of the House, a figure found across the collection, takes the form here of the Master Pathfinder, who leads a team responsible for designing bespoke itineraries within the park.
A pipeline still to be built
Emblems Collection has set itself the goal of reaching 60 properties worldwide by 2032. The brand draws on the Accor platform, which claims 5,800 hotels in more than 110 countries, and the ALL Accor loyalty programme.
The Banff project was first announced in June 2025.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Accor brings Emblems Collection to North America
– Rimrock Banff opens in October 2026 in Banff National Park, Alberta
– Second Emblems Collection opening worldwide, after Lucknam Park (UK, 2025)
– 320 rooms including 57 suites, original structure retained after full transformation
– The Bathhouse spa (approx. 900 sq m) and 350 sq m Active Centre
– Four F&B outlets, led by signature restaurant Parker’s Table
– Brand target: 60 Emblems properties worldwide by 2032
