With the opening of the TIFF Bell Lightbox, numerous festival events have made the move downtown. But for many stars, Yorkville remains the favourite place to crash after a big premiere, get some beauty sleep, or take the party to the hotel lobby.
As is festival tradition, some of the biggest names stay at the Hazelton Hotel. And while the hotel’s general manager David Mounteer would never book and tell, he did say big players in a movie premiering Thursday – ahem, U2 – were among the guests that made the hotel fill up well in advance of the festival (tweets excitedly declaring Bono was spotted eating at One, Hazelton’s restaurant, all but confirm it).
“What you have to realize about this hotel is that it was built for TIFF,” says Mounteer. “Everything about this hotel was designed with the idea that we could be the place to host the stars from around the world – music, film – in style.”
A room at the Hazelton Hotel/Wendy Gillis
Mounteer took the Star on a tour of one of Toronto’s hottest TIFF hotels. Here are just a few of the perks guests can expect:
Three types of hotel arrivals: public, semi-public, and private. Thanks to a side driveway that opens onto the street, allowing fans waiting outside a glimpse of who’s getting out the car. Stars can give a quick nod, wave and walk inside, or – as frequent guest Lady Gaga is known to do – stroll right down and say hello. For anyone not quite ready for their close-up, there’s a separate, indoor access point. And yes – the hotel lobby is frequently transformed into the hot spot for an after party, complete with a bar and security staff.
A spa (perfumed with its own signature scent), a gym (with personal trainers), and a heated elevator from the spa changing room to a saltwater pool (so there’s no shock to the system leaving the shower for a swim). The pool closes at night, but stars sometimes call front desk in the middle of the night and request to have a quick dip. Mounteer said his wife recently watched a gossip show that said a high-profile couple had broken up. “And I said ‘That’s not true, because last night at 2 o’clock in the morning, they were in our pool.’”
A private screening room: “This is the place to watch movies in style,” said Mounteer, thanks to plush couches, unique order-in flavours of popcorn, and the only private 35-millimeter film player in the country. Recently, a film director staying in the hotel called in a favour and the hotel screened a showing of Rise of the Planet of the Apes before it was released.
The Hazelton's private screening room/Wendy Gillis
Massive bedrooms, complete with a separate dressing area and loads of closet space. Guests can close blinds and lights with switches right by the bed, and select a specific type of pillow via a pillow menu. To ensure no toes get cold getting out of the shower, the bathroom floors are heated.
And as a special perk throughout TIFF, stars will receive a personalized spread of gifts on their bed, including a fitted Rado watch, a Hudson’s Bay blanket, Thomas Sabo jewellery and Bulgari perfume.
--Wendy Gillis
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