MONTREAL – For a minute I thought I was in the wrong hotel. I was supposed to be checking into the Renaissance Hotel downtown. But when I opened the doors I was looking at a large grey and charcoal sofa dotted with orange pillows and a brilliant yellow table. Hanging from an overhead beam was a swing done up with a seat in multiple colour stripes. Over in the corner was a sleek metallic bookcase fronted by 1960’s-styled grey chairs with more rainbow pillows. Behind that was a wall covered with a series of colourful and evocative photos; Nelson Mandela, Read more
Canada
Disclosure: This is a sponsored blog post however all opinions are my own. ST. JACOB’S, ONTARIO – The sleep campaign is smart and funny. The lobby at was sleek and sophisticated. And my room was well appointed, with striking colours, nice amenities and tons of space. I didn’t have a clear image of the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in mind when I rolled into St. Jacobs, a community on the edge of Waterloo, Ontario. But I didn’t expect this level of sophistication. Or this kind of fun, cheeky attitude. Walking into the lobby I found a spacious seating area Read more
FAIRMONT LE CHATEAU MONTEBELLO, QUEBEC – An airy, woodsy lobby like no other. A graceful spot along one of Canada’s loveliest rivers. And impossibly vibrant fall colours. I haven’t heard as much about the Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello as I have other Fairmont properties, but it’s as lovely a property as I’ve seen. The drive in from Montreal was an easy 90 minutes, passing Mirabel Airport and the town of Lachute and then passing through lovely, low hills with views of sleepy towns backed by the broad Ottawa River. The latter part is a lovely drive, particularly if you get Read more
Cool new hotels and attractions from coast to coast. A big 150th birthday bash for Canada. And a 375th birthday for Montreal. I just wrapped up two days of intense meetings with tourism folks from across Canada at the Go Media 2016 session in Montreal, put on by Destination Canada. I came away with some good ideas for stories and a half-ton of information about this great country of ours. Here are some of the highlights… ANNIVERSARIES Canada’s 150th will be a big deal, naturally, across the country in 2017. Ottawa will be doing a great deal of the partying, Read more
I’ve never counted the threads on the sheets in a hotel room. I don’t know Egyptian cotton from French linen. And I can’t say I know the difference between goose down duvets and a Walmart special. But when I laid my head on the pillow during a recent stay at Millhollow B & B in Meaford I was immediately struck by the sweetest scent. It was pure heaven; fresh and crisp and clean and oh-so-soothing. I had a great night’s sleep and woke up the next morning to have breakfast with my hosts, Milan and Paula Stepan. “What do you Read more
