A beloved fixture of the Winnipeg Fairmont is hanging up his hat after 45 years. The hotel’s lobby ambassador Jim Woo will retire at the end of February.
“I almost cried but then again, it’s just that the time has come and I have to do it. It was a tough decision,” Woo said.
A Chinese immigrant, Woo started working at what is now the Fairmont Winnipeg back when it was the Winnipeg Inn. He was hired to help get the business ready to open. That included hauling furniture up flights of stairs and ironing bedding.
“I told my friend, I’ll be here for six months, maybe a year, two years at most. And here I am. I’m still here after 45 years. Unbelievable,” Woo said.
Woo‘s been the man opening doors, hailing cabs and carrying luggage from when the Winnipeg Inn transformed into the Westin Winnipeg to its current Fairmont ownership. He’s served the biggest stars to come through Winnipeg, from Justin Bieber to the Queen.
“The way I look at it, I treat everybody the same anyway. If they’re nice to you, they’ll be just as welcome as anybody else,” he said.
That endearing attitude has made Woo a beloved fixture at the Fairmont. Since news of his retirement, management has been flooded with emails wishing Woo well, and sharing memories of the Fairmont’s recognizable gatekeeper.
“Jim is one of a kind,” explained the Fairmont’s general manager Drew Fisher. “Jim is an ambassador to this hotel, and he means so much to our team. He means so much to our guests, and we’re definitely going to be sad to see him go.”
Woo said he’s retiring to spend more time with his family and to travel. But when Woo punches out for the last time, it won’t be goodbye, only see you soon.
“I’m going to come back to the hotel every so often. From time to time, I’ll be here.”
