Where to stay when you leave.
2/18/2008 at 9:40 AM
Tags: Thompson Hotels, Toronto Hotels, Hotel Hype, Hotel News, Stephen Brandman
Listen up, Canadians: Thompson Hotels co-owner Stephen Brandman says "We think of Toronto as a great extension of cities where we already have hotels, in New York and Los Angeles."
Sure, we might be taking him a little bit out of context, but that's what the Thompson Hotel Toronto really is: a test case for expanding the brand outside of the US.
Due to open in the summer of 2009, the Canadian expansion of the Thompson brand will be a 102-room hotel paired with a 340-unit residential project, all with some fairly spectacular features. A few of these include:
floor-to-ceiling windows, 42-inch plasma TVs, private 40-seat screening rooms ... an outdoor skating rink with an ice-side lounge, and on the roof, an infinity outdoor pool and bar, with unobstructed views of Lake Ontario, Fort York and the CN Tower.
We just checked the climate figures for Toronto, since we weren't too sure that roof-top infinity pool will get that much use--and summer temperatures tend to hit a maximum of 80 degrees so we're still not convinced that it's worth it.
We're happier with the outdoor skating rink, though, since the average maximum temp in winter is below freezing. Weather aside, we are keen to see how the first non-US Thompson turns out, and of course, whether or not it can open on time.
Related Stories:
How Many Five-Star Hotels Can This City Carry? [Globe & Mail]
Thompson Hotels Break Ground in Toronto
Worst Hotel Hype: Six Columbus
by amandak
9/11/2006 at 1:22 PM
Tags: Celeb Scoop, Toronto Film Festival, Toronto Hotels
The Toronto Film Festival has caused Hollywood's hottest celebs to head to the North and rile up the paparazzi from Maple Leaf Land.
Photographers had to hold back heart attacks during Brad Pitt's conference at the Sutton Place Hotel. His star quality pushed those Northerner's to a new level of frenzy as Canada's National Post reported:
This is a real movie star we're talking about here. Rat-a-tat-a-tatta go the camera shutters every time the maler half of Brangelina makes the slightest move. It gets to the point where Henri Behar, the Toronto International Film Festival's stalwart press conference moderator, tells the photographers to "please calm down."
Penelope Cruz was at the Intercontinental Hotel while Matt Damon talked at the Fairmont Royal Park Hotel. But it was the Drake Hotel that had the Hollywood stars putting their moves on as Wyclef started out a hot concert that turned into potentially the most glamorous housekeeping act in hotel history.
Spotting a janitor with a Haitian bandana mopping up the floors, Wyclef began to converse with the man in Creole. He then -- in what I believe was done out of true sincerity as there were no cameras around -- traded his mic for the man's broom and began to help clean up.
The Haitian man took the microphone and began to shout out about Haiti, with pride beaming through his voice. The janitor seemed deeply touched by the act as Wyclef, who recently performed in front of millions at the VMA's, cleaned up before a meager crowd of shocked revelers.
Related Stories:
· Wyclef rocks out with Sam Jackson, Lance Bass [CTV.ca]
· Making a Pitt Stop [Canada.com]
by Courtney
8/09/2006 at 9:29 AM
Tags: Celeb Scoop, Toronto Hotels, Toronto Film Festival
Page Six reports today that the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto will be the sight of former president Bill Clinton's 60th birthday bash on September 9 even though his actual bday is next week.
The September bash coincides with the Toronto film festival which has some peeved that Clinton will "steal the thunder" with his high-profile party.
The main Toronto event is a Sept. 9 gala at the Fairmont Royal York spearheaded by Vancouver money man Frank Giustra. "This is the high-Celsius ticket," National Post columnist Shinan Govani told Page Six. "Billy Crystal doing the jokes, Sarah McLachlan providing the tears, Chelsea Clinton planting the tribute." Tim McGraw and Lenny Kravitz will also perform.
When we do our review of places to stay during the Toronto Film Festival we will probably leave this one off the list. You can't have any fun with all those dang Secret Service men around.
Related Stories:
· Fairmont Royal York reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Toronto Film Festival Hotels [HotelChatter]
by juliana
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