The Ritz-Carlton Montreal is undergoing a bigtime makeover (to the tune of $100 million) and the historic hotel is auctioning off contents of the old rooms.
Now before anyone gets too excited with visions of beautiful antique pieces dancing in their heads, allow us to clarify: that stuff isn't going anywhere.
While a good portion of the old decor will be put on the auction block, the Canadian Press reports "the real antiques and art objects will be integrated into the new decor."
O Canada! The Waldorf-Astoria Collection, by Hilton Hotels, announced today their first hotel in Canada--The Waldorf=Astoria Hotel & Residences Montreal.
With 32 floors, 250 hotel rooms, 76 residences (that are sure to cost a fortune), ballroom space, "signature" restaurants, bars, a spa, and a fitness center, the Waldorf will make sure its presence is felt in "Our Home and Native Land!"
Hey, stupid Americans: the French-Canadian folks are so sick of you traipsing around Montreal with your silly English language (and worthless U.S. dollars and ugly Abercrombie outfits) that they are offering to teach you how to speak French.
No, seriously:
A pair of Montreal hotels have partnered with Berlitz Canada to offer French lessons to guests. Hotel Nelligan and Le Place d'Armes Hotel & Suites - part of the Antonopoulos Group of boutique hotels and restaurants - are offering a package that includes five nights' accommodation and 18 hours of private French lessons designed for tourists.
Yeah, what's up now, Aloft Montreal? Let's see you give us a nice bed to sleep in AND teach us French. Yeah, we thought so.
The package starts at $3,494 CAD for two people; reservations can be made here.
While the Aloft in Lexington, Massachusetts has been hyped since the beginning of time as the very first Aloft hotel to open come August 1st, sneaky Canada has gone and opened the Aloft Montreal, making it the first Aloft to open anywhere in the real world and not just Second Life.
Developed and owned by the joint venture between Silver Hotel Group and Northampton Group Inc., the 136-room aloft Montreal Airport will offer a variety of intuitive technologies, atmospheric public spaces, and a whole array of appealing guest amenities. Created for today's traveler, aloft hotels are modern, fresh and fun, with loft-inspired design and free-flowing energy.
Our anger at Aloft aside (WTF? Why did you hype Aloft Lexington for YEARS then open first in Canada?!?), we found rooms tonight at Aloft Montreal and what we first found wasn't cheap. $229 CAD ($224 US) for an internet rate which is to be fully pre-paid and no cancellations excepted. Another WTF!?
Then we checked again five minutes later and the prices had been sorted out to $189 a night for the internet rate and $199 for the Best Available Rate. The Corporate rate was listed as $229. Whatever. Our suggestion? Don't trust this website on its first day open. Call the hotel to book.
Don'tcha just love Montreal? Above or below ground, there's never a lack of great food, cold beer, and lively nightlife. And if your French isn't up to parlez vous, no worries, English is the second language.
One of our favorite times to visit is late June/early July during the annual Montreal Jazz Festival, which takes over the city like one huge block party for the masses. This is a time when the world's leading international artists ascend on Montreal, performing day and night for 250,000 of their fans.
Catch a few sets on the live stages set up on the streets and in the parks. Purchase a ticket for one of headliners at an indoor concert venue. Or hit one of the clubs after midnight when the musicians meet up with each other to jam into the wee hours of the morning.
On the recommendation of friends, this year we're foregoing hotel points and checking into Le Petit Prince Bed & Breakfast for our stay.
There's just a few days left in 2007, plenty o' time for you to get your New Years Eve plans going. If you haven't decided where you wanna be, check out some New Years Travel plans over at Jaunted. You can also check out our New Years Eve Hotels Map where we have listed a few places to stay in cities around the world (Moscow anyone?)
Should you want to venture up North to Canada, The Place d'Armes Hotel & Suites in historic Old Montreal is holding a roaring '20s New Year's Eve party called The Moonlight Serenade. (Last year's party was Casablance-themed.) The party will feature a 10-piece Big Band Orchestra and a 5-course dinner with champagne toast and open bar. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres start at 6:30 pm and tickets cost $200 CDN per person (taxes included.)
The hotel is also offering an accommodations package which includes tickets to the Moonlight Serenade, two nights in a room or suite, continental breakfast each morning, and wine and cheese cocktail each evening. The package starts at $697 CDN.
They range from Manolo-wearing fashionista "Susan", to Euro-chic "Pierre", a Parisian designer. Rounding out the roster is "Mike", a hard-working and hard-playing New York doctor; Londoner and party-boy musician "Billy"; and "Dede", the resident method-actress diva.
If your answer is yes, then you're the kind of guest who will find a happy home in the soon-to-be-transformed Opus Hotel Montreal. (To us, this sounds a lot like some other people we know--Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, etc.)
The re-design of the old Hotel Godin has a pretty unique concept: these five fictional characters are the five "muses" who will inspire the design and vision for the Opus Hotel of the future.
Of course, while the Opus Hotel is hoping that their five character design method is going to appeal to a whole lot of customers, they're also frank enough to admit that it might not appeal to everyone. This whole not-keeping-everybody-happy theme seems to be drifting around a lot these days: think Stephen Brandman's comments on bloggers not being their customers.
While we aren't sure if we are more Euro-chic like Pierre or method-actress like Dede, we'd like to think we could fit into the Opus, but begrudgingly like the fact that they won't try to bow to absolutely everyone's desires and become a standard hotel that just anybody could check in to.
The planned transformation at the Opus will last about six months, culminating perhaps with the opening of the Opus Bar and Vodka Bar--possibly in April 2008. The five characters will apparently be inspiring the vivid color schemes and individual fabric touches in the different kinds of rooms, as well as providing the basis and inspiration for a collection of black and white photography.
Let's wait and see if decorating your hotel based on the personalities of five people who don't even exist works out.
The people behind the Opus Hotel in Vancouver have just announced a new property, The Opus Montreal which is now open. (Note: It was formerly the Hotel Godin.) And to celebrate the opening, the hotel is offering 10 percent off hotel rooms that are booked through the website, along with complimentary parking.
We found a standard type room, which is called Privilege and is about 325-350 square feet, for $224 for tonight. You can also choose from the Junior Suites, Executive Suites, Diplomatic Suites and the Presidential Suite which is a two-story penthouse with killer views (pictured above.)
The rooms have very modern minimalist design and it seems as if no expense was spare on the bathrooms. Most rooms have either a deep soaking tub or a glass walled 'rain shower' or both. As far as high-tech amenities, all rooms at the hotel feature 27-inch LCD TVs, high-speed internet and a work desk with ergonomic chair. There's also 24-hour room service and your cats and dogs are allowed for a fee.
Later this month, the hotel will unveil its lounge which is described as:
The Yabu-Pushelberg design includes dramatic glowing light-strip paneling, a stylish mezzanine, steel sculptures by artist Scott Eunson and a 30 foot Cardosa marble bar.
Certain to appeal to seasoned travelers and discerning local clientele alike, its heated outdoor terrace will be a three-season venue while the indoor space will be a sought-after year round destination.
Additionally, the hotel plans to open its 9000 square foot restaurant fronting Sherbrooke Street. But the concept and identity are "under tight wraps" (i.e. still no plans) so you'll have to wait until spring 2008 to see what comes of this space.
For a super duper fancy flashy press release on Opus Montreal, click here.
