There’s something about a truly great hotel that wraps you up in a warm hug and lets you know you’re with a good friend. I can’t quite explain it, but Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer has long had that effect on me. When I step inside, it’s like I’m in a quiet, familiar sanctuary. The hotel being located in the heart of the city’s entertainment district, there are busy streets all around, as well as buzzing clubs and restaurants. But the tension and cacophony of downtown life disappears when you stroll through the front door and walk into the airy Read more
cocktails
Sustainable, stylish and supremely tasty. I was lucky enough to spend a night at the 1 Hotel Toronto a week or so ago, and it was even better than I remembered it. The experience begins the minute you step into the warm, woodsy lobby of the hotel, which features more than 3,000 plants that provide a fresh, green relief from the bustling city. I find most North American hotels are somewhat lacking in the service department. But the greeting we got from the hotel valet and the front desk staff was as inviting and hospitable as you’d find in a Read more
Having the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series is causing a large spike in demand for Toronto hotels. Air Canada launches new flights from Billy Bishop/Toronto Island Airport, including direct flights to New York City/La Guardia. And San Francisco opens a new “Martini Trail.” BLUE JAYS SPARK TORONTO TRAVEL SPIKE As the Toronto Blue Jays gear up for their long-awaited World Series return tomorrow (Fri, Oct 24), Toronto is seeing the impact not just on the field, but in travel demand as well. New data from Booking.com (the official accommodation partner of Major League Baseball in the U.S.) shows Read more
BARBADOS – I’m dining at the elegant, glitzy Oro restaurant on the ninth floor of the 02 Beach Club and Spa in Barbados, trading business talk with Jacqui McDermott, Sales and Marketing Manager for O2 and Ocean Hotels Group Barbados. It’s a relatively new property, only two years old, and a lot of advisors aren’t yet familiar with what they offer. “02 Beach Club and Spa is aimed at people who don’t want to compromise,” McDermott tells me. “They’re looking for a little elegance. They want a five- star property but they like the convenience of an all-inclusive property. They Read more
I had some wonderful visits in the U.S. and Canada this year, including a monumental train trip from Colorado to Utah, a wonderful six days in Prince Edward Island and great stays in Los Angeles, southwest Ontario, southern Florida and northern California. I also got to visit one of my fave islands, Molokai, and spent four nice but sobering days on Maui to see how they’re recovering from the devastating and still unfathomable wildfires. It wasn’t all pretty, but I had many a remarkable experience and more than a few great meals along the way. Thanks to everyone who helped Read more
