Hotelier Receives Global Recognition for Saving Iconic Alberta Lodge

EDMONTON – Garrett Turta, the general manager of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, has been honored with the Hotelier of the Year award from Historic Hotels Worldwide for his decisive actions during last year’s devastating wildfire in Alberta. His leadership not only protected the iconic lodge but also demonstrated resilience amid a crisis that threatened the surrounding community.

The award is considered one of the most prestigious recognitions in the hospitality industry. Turta expressed his surprise and gratitude upon receiving the accolade. “When they called me, my jaw dropped,” he remarked. “It’s a nice recognition. To celebrate this with my team for all the hard work we went through last year, it really means a lot.”

In late July 2024, the lodge complex, which includes the main building and several cabins near a picturesque lake, faced imminent danger from a wildfire. As the flames approached, Turta made the critical decision to activate the irrigation system to protect the property. At the time, approximately 2,500 guests and staff had already evacuated due to the advancing wildfire.

“We left the lodge at around 1:30 in the morning… we spent all night getting people out,” Turta recalled in a phone interview. “Turning on the sprinklers was the last thing we did. As we drove away, I could see the sprinklers. I just thought, ‘Oh, God, I hope this works’ over and over again.” Fortunately, his strategy proved effective. The wildfire breached the southern boundary of the 280-hectare resort, damaging several staff homes, including Turta’s, but largely sparing the lodge itself.

According to Turta, firefighters noted that the activated sprinklers created a vapor barrier that helped to fend off the flames. He drew inspiration from homeowners who successfully used sprinklers during the 2016 wildfire that devastated parts of Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Turta, age 54, hails from Saskatchewan and credits his father, a hotel owner, for inspiring his career in hospitality. He has worked in various hotels across Canada and even spent time in Scotland before joining the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in 2022. The lodge, which opened in 1922, has attracted a host of celebrities and dignitaries over the decades, including Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth II. Just months before the wildfire, the lodge hosted Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston, and it served as a filming location for the reality series The Bachelor in 2024.

The wildfire severely impacted the town of Jasper, burning one-third of homes and businesses and forcing 25,000 residents and visitors to evacuate. An estimated 2,000 people were displaced. The fire was ignited by lightning and intensified by strong winds. Following the fire’s breach of the resort, former Bachelor contestant Joey Graziadei expressed his support for the lodge’s staff on social media, a gesture that Turta found uplifting.

Turta is committed to recovery efforts, noting that over 100 staff members lost their homes across 60 units. “But we’re all getting through this together,” he said. The lodge successfully reopened in October 2024, with mental health professionals available to support the approximately 850 workers upon their return. Renovations are underway, including plans to rebuild the homes lost by staff.

Reflecting on the challenges faced, Turta shared, “When you lose your home, you can never, ever get back memories that came from family, loved ones, and cards and things like that. But at the same time, everyone kind of pulled together and was there for one another during the wildfire. It’s a new memory, a special moment and something that I’ll never forget in my life.”

This story highlights not only the resilience of individuals like Turta but also the collaborative spirit of a community facing adversity.