Orders for “diet water” and a $1,600 hamburger. And a warning about naked guests accepting room service orders at their hotel room door. Hotels.com® has revealed its inaugural Room Service Report, which surveyed hotel partners around the world to uncover what’s considered “in” when it comes to in-room dining, from the most popular to the most unusual orders. It also touched on etiquette, and proper attire for folks answering the door when room service orders are delivered. Hint: clothing is preferred. Hotels revealed their most unusual guest requests including “diet” water, melted ice cream, blowfish and a raw fish caught Read more
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Two major hotel groups are reporting surging numbers, further proof that the travel recovery is very real. Ongoing strength in leisure travel and an acceleration in the recovery of group demand pushed Marriott International’s second-quarter performance to or above 2019 levels. Hilton also is reporting much stronger numbers than expected. Excluding its hotels in the Greater China region, Marriott’s global June revenue per available room (RevPAR in hotel parlance) came in at 1% above 2019 levels, Marriott CEO Tony Capuano said during the company’s second-quarter earnings call, according to Hotel News Now. Worldwide occupancy reached 71%, only 5 percentage points Read more
Ace Hotel Toronto — the brand’s inaugural home in Canada — opens its doors today. The 123-room ground-up project was designed by revered Toronto firm Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, led by Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe, recipients of numerous awards including the 2021 Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Gold Medal, the nation’s highest honour for architecture. Anchoring the building is Alder, a seasonal wood-fired restaurant from critically acclaimed chef Patrick Kriss, which will open for dinner service on August 9. Chef Patrick also helms the menus for The Lobby, as well as the hotel’s rooftop bar and lounge, Evangeline, opening later this Read more
Following the renovation of the 43rd-floor Club Lounge in October 2021, Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel has completed the latest phase of its extensive transformation. This summer, the hotel will welcome travellers and locals to its fully reimagined lobby level which includes two new food and beverage offerings, private collaboration Studios and soundproof Booths, upgraded porte cochère, and an outdoor pool garden. Marking the largest renovation of the hotel’s almost 50-year history, the modernized look exemplifies Sheraton’s new design as part of its global transformation journey, drawing on the brand’s roots as a community hub for locals and guests to create Read more
Canadian hotels are in the beginning of a “dramatic turnaround,” says Don Cleary, the president of Marriott Hotels Canada. I sat down with Cleary at the Ritz Carlton hotel in downtown Toronto today to talk about everything from the travel rebound to hotel renovations and labour shortages. We’re not back to early 2019 times just yet, but he says there’s definitely progress being made. “We’re beginning to see some encouraging signs,” Cleary said. “We are not out of the woods at all, but the last three to four weeks have been a dramatic turnaround. It’s like a light switch was Read more
