Toronto Travel Guide
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Langham's 'Eaton' Brand To Make North American Debut In Toronto
Now that we've gotten over our initial excitement about Langham's takeover of the Setai Fifth Avenue this month, there's even more Langham-related news to whet our appetite. This time, in Canada.
The brand has decided to take over the Delta Chelsea in Toronto, which, at 1,590 rooms, is Canada's largest hotel.
As of July 1, the hotel will officially be known as Eaton Chelsea, thus becoming the first Eaton hotel to open in North America. (For those of you unfamiliar with the name, Eaton is an offshoot brand under the Langham umbrella, with several properties throughout Asia, including Eaton Hong Kong and Eaton Smart New Delhi Airport.)
Langham's parent company has owned the Delta Chelsea Eaton Chelsea for nearly two decades, but has finally decided to take over management duties as well. This is most likely due to Langham's steadily growing presence in the US, with The Langham Chicago one of the most anticipated openings of 2013 (and not just because of the free WiFi!).
Similar in many ways to Langham, Eaton is known for its "smart, modern and uncomplicated interiors and an enthusiastic 'can do' service culture," as explained by Eaton Chelsea Regional VP Josef Ebner. The hotel itself will undergo major renovations to the exterior, lobby, Market Garden restaurant, and meeting facilities.
One of its main attractions is the "Corkscrew," downtown Toronto's only indoor waterslide.
Rates from $131/night.
[Photo: Eaton Chelsea]
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Where Will MGM Build Its First Canadian Casino?
One of the corporate giants largely responsible for the growth of the gambling and gaming industry in the U.S. is now knocking on our northern neighbor's door.
MGM Resorts is making progress in its bid to build its first hotel and casino in Canada. MGM chairman and chief executive officer Jim Murren (in photo) stated on TV earlier this week that the project has a 50-50 chance of being approved by the city of Toronto. “If it doesn’t happen here there will be one somewhere in Ontario,” he said during a press conference. “Our preference and the OLG’s preference is to be in Toronto.”
It's said that the city of Toronto and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. are mulling it over, though The Star reports that the decision won't come for about a year. Apparently there's been some lobbying going on behind-the-scenes, but that shouldn't surprise anyone.
It is interesting to us that some large stakeholders in Vegas -- MGM and Wynn, for example -- are investing in other cities as opposed to re-investing in Vegas.
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It's Classic Over Carefree for Anthony Bourdain in "The Layover" Toronto
Anthony Bourdain is back for another season of “The Layover”, and we like it because he names the hotels in the cities where he'll be spending his precious time. We figure, he won't be laying his salt-and-pepper head just anywhere, after all, he's big time now.
So, for entertainment and a dose of travel value, we’ll give you some details on the properties he picks, just in case you find yourself looking for a place to stay in a city that’s sanctioned by this travel personality/chef.
Layover Hotel Episode 5:The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto: This advice from Bourdain: "If you're traveling for work and want to stick your accounting department with unpaid bills for your swank accommodation, you should probably stay at the excellent Ritz-Carlton." He goes on to big up their comfortable beds and ability to get "a good steak" on the premises. Top praise for this hotel located in the middle of the city's financial district that also commands top rates beginning at 545 CAD ($543) in the dead of winter.
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Fantasy Friday: The Hazelton Hotel's $199K Bespoke Holiday Shopping Package
Yep, it's just about time for some Fantasy Friday dreaming!
This is a package made-in-heaven for shopaholics, so warm up that American Express Black card and be prepared to give it a workout.
The Hazelton Hotel in Toronto’s tony Yorkville neighborhood is offering a Bespoke Holiday Season Shopping Package, starting at a mere $199,000. (Oh wait... that’s Canadian so the price is actually $200,725 US, but, really, at this level what’s an extra grand or two?)
For this sky-high figure, you get some time high in the sky aboard the private jet that will whisk you from your home to Toronto. There you’ll be picked up in a luxury sedan and taken to The Hazelton to get settled into your behemoth 1860 sq ft Bellair Suite (the dressing room alone, outfitted in zebrawood, is 80 sq ft, so there’s plenty of room to try on your new purchases). This one-bedroom suite also has an 800 sq ft windowed seating area, a media center with a wireless touch screen remote media controller, piped sound throughout the living area, two plasma TV's and a separate dining area capable of seating up to ten. There are two bathrooms – the ensuite is done entirely in galaxy green granite and has heated floors, a deep soaker tub and separate rainfall shower, as well as the requisite TV in the mirror.
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First Look At The Shangri-La Toronto
You know you’re not in Kansas anymore as soon as you walk into the newly-opened Shangri-La Toronto. In fact, it's easy to believe you've entered the East thanks to the hotel's subtle little touches. For instance, when we checked in and handed over our Visa card, it was handed back with both hands and a slight bow of the head -- very customary in Asia. Then there are, of course, the more obvious things: decor, artwork and staff outfits.
We will try our hardest not to get too gushy, but the simple fact is--we loved this hotel, and here are seven reasons (and loads of pictures) explaining why:
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Four Seasons Toronto Opens Today In Big Way
Continuing on the Four Seasons theme, the new Four Seasons Toronto opens to the public today at 3pm. The live ribbon cutting, shown on Facebook today, marks the hotel’s flagship position.
The Four Seasons company was born in downtown Toronto in 1961 as a motor hotel, and its first Toronto hotel opened in 1978. Now it’s relocated from that old building to fresh new digs.
located in Toronto’s popular Yorkville center, The 259-room property, will come even more alive this evening with the Café Boulud opening. We hope that in addition to the various media promos Chef Daniel Boulud’s done for the hotel, he will actually be in the FS kitchen for opening night.
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Momofuku Pork Buns Have Arrived At Shangri-La Toronto
If you've kept up at all with the opening of the new Shangri-La Toronto, then you already know that one of the hotel's biggest attractions is a three-story dining concept containing four separate restaurants by Momofuku founder David Chang. This is awesome news for two reasons: first, those mind-blowingly delicious pork buns. Seriously, wow.
Second, despite the wild success of Momofuku's eight New York locations, the brand has so far only expanded into Sydney, Australia. No LA, no London, no Chicago, no Miami—at least not for now. Whether the Momofuku empire will eventually spread into those other major cities remains to be seen.
But for now, it's all about Toronto.
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Hotel Hazelton Adds A $99,900 Bed (Flying Naked Woman Not Included)
It's Toronto International Film Festival time, and all the celebs are shacking up in Toronto's finest hotels (like Trump Toronto, which opened in January). One place that's getting a bit of attention, though, is the Hazelton Hotel, for installing a $99,900 bed called the Vividus.
As you can see from the picture above, the Vividus is so comfortable you begin to defy gravity and hover ecstatically over the sheets, thereby negating the purpose of a bed at all. But for a company that's been supplying mattresses to the Swedish Royal Court for 50 years, utility is far less of a concern than frilliness. It's all about the luxury, baby.
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No Iron and a 'Weak' Minibar for The Smooth Operator at The Hazelton Hotel
Welcome to another hotel dispatch from our newest special contributor, The Smooth Operator. We can't divulge his identity but we can tell you he's spends about 70 percent of his time on the road, staying in all the hot hotels and checking out their restaurants and bars to see if the social scene is up to snuff. If you're deciding whether or not to take a chance on that hip boutique hotel in the city, read The Smooth Operator for his opinion first. (Or send us an email and we'll have him answer it for you!)
During my last stay at the Hazelton Hotel in Toronto, I was put in room 323. An expanded suite with extensive square footage, the room was impressive but the layout didn’t work and the room felt like a long hallway – not comfortable at all.
The closet units, however, are exceptional – definitely more than enough hangers (which has proven challenging in premium hotels lately) and great space / design overall. The closet was larger than some rooms I’ve stayed in this year, but shockingly, no iron or ironing board available for the premium clients who stay there.
After three requests over two days I finally had someone from housekeeping provide an iron. (Ed. Note: We guess the iron is not a totally useless amenity for our S.O.)
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Toronto’s Shangri-La Hotel Still Set to Open in Late August
Shangri-La Toronto Lobby
Oooohhhh. The word is that the Shangri-La Toronto is still scheduled to open later this month. They're playing it coy, however, as we see that bookings can’t yet be made on their site.
We've managed to get a hold of some renderings of the hotel and it looks like it’s going to be a beauty: very light, spacious and open.
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The Great Canadian Hotel Bar Hop: SUITS Lounge at the Trump Hotel Toronto
This is not so much a bar hop as a bar marathon that runs (get it?) the entire length of Canada. If you have the stamina, so do we.
The Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto is a splendiferous hotel, dramatically designed in black, white and grey with shots of glass throughout that make it shine.
The hotel's SUITS Lobby Lounge (yes, they really named it that) mimics this same opulence perfectly, but with an added touch of gold, gold everywhere.
This luxurious lounge attracts local financial district sophisticates in the early evening who are then replaced by hotel guests and other locals coming in for the 7:00 p.m. on shift. Regardless of the time, all lounge-lovers at SUITS enjoy the cocktail concoctions perfected by the master mixologists, who serve classic drinks made modern, or classic drinks that will always be modern.
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Exactly What Does the Art Concierge at The Hazelton Hotel Do?
[Photo: The Hazelton Hotel / Cynthia Chapman artist]
The Hazelton Hotel in Toronto has an impressive contemporary art collection. So impressive, in fact, that the hotel was receiving inquiries from guests about it. Now what to do if you’re a hotel that prides itself on exceptional service and wants to fulfill a guest’s quest for art knowledge? You hire an art expert to satisfy the need.
The hotel’s art concierge is available through live chat to not only answer any questions you may have about the hotel’s extensive art collection, but to also offer insight into the many art dealers and galleries found in the Yorkville region where The Hazelton is located.
If you’re truly art hungry, you can meet the art concierge in person via an appointment to find out, say, what a particular artist was thinking when he or she painted the particular piece that’s hanging in your room, or to get the inside scoop on the happenings in the art world in one of Canada’s cultural centers.
