Fancy hotel rooms don’t necessarily equate with luxury. A new Vrbo/Harris poll of some 1,700 travellers from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia finds that travellers place greater value on the consistent delivery of the fundamentals. In an increasingly competitive market, mastering the basics can be more important to travellers than offering additional amenities or elaborate in-home experiences. The poll asked for travel opinions for people who have stayed in a vacation rental and found that 86% would pay more for a place to stay that had a higher-quality listing. Respondents made it overwhelmingly clear that quality is not Read more
luxury hotels
TORONTO – Urban sophistication in the heart of downtown Toronto. And fully Canadian, to boot. The SoHo Hotel Toronto is an elegant but approachable place to stay in the city’s entertainment district; a hotel that feels very European but has rooms the size a North American visitor truly appreciates. Not only that, Ian Thorley, director of sales and marketing, told me it’s one of the few Canadian owned and managed hotels in Toronto. In these days of “elbows up” social posts, that’s definitely a plus. Rooms (there are 89 rooms and suites) feature blonde, Canadian maple and are decorated in shades Read more
A pair of luxury hotels in Toronto and New York City are the newest properties to receive the AAA Diamond Program’s highest designation. The Hazelton Hotel in Toronto and Waldorf Astoria in New York City have earned AAA Five Diamonds for their stunning surroundings, thoughtful amenities, and unparalleled service, the Canadian Automobile Association and the American Automobile Association announced. I haven’t been to the recently renovated Waldorf in Manhattan, but I’ve stayed at the Hazelton Hotel in Toronto’s trendy Yorkville district a couple of times, and dined there on several occasions. It’s an elegant property that definitely worthy of Five-Diamond Read more
A record 28.2 million visitors came to Toronto in 2025, generating a record $9.1 billion in spending. Destination Toronto figures released today (Jan. 28) show overnight visits rose two per cent over last year despite a softening U.S. market. Large entertainment events such as concerts and sporting events like the Toronto Blue Jays helped the city set its new record, officials said. The $9.1 billion in direct spending exceeded the previous year’s record by four per cent, reinforcing tourism’s role as one of the city’s most important export sectors. Toronto is the most visited city in Canada. Domestic visitation remained Read more
Hilton Hotels is constantly adding new properties, and fixing up existing ones. Here are some highlights for the next few months. The debut of Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand in Japan and Costa Rica, with Waldorf Astoria Osaka and Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique opening in April A new all-inclusive resort inspired by the Taino culture, Zemi Miches Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton, will open in June in the Dominican Republic Hilton’s first luxury hotel in the heart of Paris will arrive with Sax Paris, LXR Hotels & Resorts this spring I’m also excited about Read more
