In an industry often defined by sameness, Mandy Farmer has made standing out her signature.
President and CEO of Accent Inns, founder of Hotel Zed and ROAR restaurant in Tofino, Farmer has added two new feathers to her stylish cap. Farmer has been newly appointed as chair of the Hotel Association of Canada. As the second female to hold the title of the national association, she plans to approach her new role with the same commitment and vigour that she has been recognised for throughout the industry. “I’m stoked and fired up to work alongside our members and Board colleagues to support the industry’s growth, strong teams, and vibrant communities across Canada. Let’s go!!”
At the end of 2025, Farmer was named Business Leader of the Year by the Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce. It’s recognition of a local leader whose career has been defined by employee empowerment and the radical idea that hospitality should actually feel hospitable.
Under Farmer’s leadership since 2008, the family-owned Accent Inns brand has grown into a beloved B.C. institution with five properties located across the province known for their humour, heart and genuine care for guests and team members. Plus the complimentary rubber duckies guests are encouraged to take with them upon checkout add to the charm.
Farmer is also the visionary behind Hotel Zed, a colourful, cheeky, retro-chic hotel that began in Victoria and expanded to Kelowna and Tofino. From groovy hotel vans to hidden arcades and an onsite retro-fitted Airstream trailer, it’s a place where nostalgia meets playfulness and boredom is not on the itinerary.
Recognition for her brand has followed. Accent Inns was named Tourism Employer of the Year at the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) in 2024. Farmer herself received the RBC Women of Influence Entrepreneur of the Year in 2020, the TIAC Business of the Year in 2018 and was named Hotelier of the Year by Hotelier magazine in 2017.
Guided by a philosophy she calls “leading with love,” Farmer’s approach prioritizes inclusive spaces for guests and staff, creating workplaces where people can thrive and communities feel the ripple effects long after checkout.
