Sneak peek at new Shangri-la Hotel Toronto and Bosk restaurant. Nice!

Elegant but not over the top.

The new Shangri-la Hotel at University and Adelaide unofficially-sort of-kind of opened on Friday, Aug. 31. The hotel rooms are currently not open for public booking but some TIFF folks are spending the night and Bosk, the sleek ground-floor restaurant, is open for breakfast and lunch.

The Bar, located between Bosk and the airy, swish lobby (see photo), will be mostly open during the next couple weeks as long as TIFF folks don't completely take over.

I had a chance to try Bosk for lunch on Friday and it was lovely. My appetizer of fresh, moist dungeness crab was topped with pork crackling and surrounded by green apple juice/sauce and almond milk. I would've liked a bit more zip with the dish to be honest, although one doesn't want to overwhelm dungeness crab.

For the main I had Shanghainese pancakes stuffed with tender, flavourful beef brisket and shrimp XO and topped with chewy garlic. It was surrounded by gently spicy bowls of pickled mushrooms, a garlic sauce and some spicy onions/chives.

Outstanding.

The menu also includes a tasty green salad with cultured whey at the bottom; like getting a bowl of ice cream with your greens. Very innovative and fun. But Shangri-la is known for little twists like that. The bread I was served at lunch, for example, came with a citrus aioli. Not my cup of Darjeeling, but a nice twist.

The room has lots of light wood and plenty of light, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto University Ave. and Adelaide. There's a small outdoor seating area on University that should be fun, if a tad noisy during lunch hours.

Menu items feature exotic touches such as pink asparagus and lots of Asian touches, as befits a hotel like the Shangri-La.

In the lobby, which also has enormous panes of glass showing off University Ave. (and thank you for that), there are a dozen or so comfortable, sleek couches with pillows etched in Chinese characters and bright colours of pink, green and pale blue. There also are enormous Chinese calligraphy works and a wall of intricate, dark wood that provides a nice balance to the room.

It's Asian, for sure. But gently so, with plenty of light wood and bright, pink orchids and a real sense of style and class that I quite liked. I can't compare it all the lobbies in town, but I like it more than most.

The lobby also has a lovely, blonde wood Fazioli piano with the words from Joni Mitchell's "My Old Man" etched inside. A nice Canadian touch, for sure. 

I didn't get to the rooms or much else on the property but I liked what I saw. And tasted. Definitely a spot worth checking out once they get up and running.

Charly, the bartender at The Bar, made me a lovely, non-alcoholic drink called Dr. John's Fruithouse, with cranberry juice, fresh lime, ginger ale and mixed berries. Light and not too sweet.

His real name, by the way, is Serhan Kusaksizoglu (see below).  He was lead barman at the legendary Schumann's Bar in Munich, so he knows a thing or two about drinks. I get the feeling he wouldn't call himself a mixologist, either, although he's in the process of making a batch of Manhattan's that will be served out of a small, wooden cask that sits on the bar and he has a huge supply of bitters and other fancy stuff out on display.

They distill their own drinking water on site and make their own sparkling water, so that cuts down on waste and bottles, which is nice. I'm also told you can, wait for it, open your own window in your room. What a concept!

The spa and pool sound like killers, and the rooms no doubt will be top notch. I'll report back later on that, I hope.

I also did a brief check of the washrooms on the third floor. WOW! Huge sheets of what's called Bookmatch Onyx Marble; huge, wavy lines of light and dark brown in a creme-coloured marble background. It's worth walking in just to see the washroom walls.

It's going to be fascinating to watch how this all plays out, with the Trump two blocks away at Bay and Adelaide, the Ritz-Carlton just around the corner on Wellington and the new Four Seasons due to open in about five weeks in Yorkville.

Killeen said she suspects folks will want to shop around.

"It's like new cars; people test drive something and find what they're most comfortable with."

 

Myrtle Beach promotion for early fall ... Time to think about Whistler ski season!

Myrtle Beach is a hugely popular spot for Canadians, and with good reason.

I made my first-ever trip down that way last October and had a great time. The beach went on forever, the golf was outstanding and the food was excellent. There also were some hidden treasures, including the gorgeous Brookgreen Gardens and the fun "village" of Murrells Inlet, with its fun restaurants and bars along the water. I loved Caledonia Golf And Fish Club for golf; just awesome course with great conditions and a lovely clubhouse where you can sit out and watch folks play over the water to a tough 18th green. Tons of fun, with or without a mint julep.

 

 

To get more folks to come down and check it out, the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is telling folks 60 best-kept secrets of The Grand Strand during its 60 Miles in 60 Days campaign. The "secrets" are broken down into suggested itineraries, including "Classic Grand Strand," "Foodie Finds," "The Historic and the Haunted" and "Wildlife Wonders."

“Myrtle Beach is quite simply America’s favorite beach destination; nonetheless so many of our repeat visitors haven’t yet explored all that our 60 miles have to offer,” said Scott Schult, Executive Vice President of Marketing for the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The 60 Miles in 60 Days campaign not only helps inform the traveler, it showcases what sets us apart: our 60 miles of coastline and literally endless entertainment options.” 

The campaign will also include a pin-to-win contest on Pinterest, where interested vacationers can create a pin board titled “Myrtle Beach Dream Vacation,” pinning at least eight attractions from the 60 secrets to their board and adding the hashtag #MYRDreamVacation to each. By submitting their completed board’s URL to Visit Myrtle Beach via Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/mymyrtlebeach), participants will be automatically entered to win a 3-night, 4-day trip, complete with accommodations, a restaurant gift card and admission to choice attractions in Myrtle Beach, with one Grand Prize winner receiving admission to at least eight of their pinned secrets. A winner will be chosen each Friday of the 60 Days campaign, with the Grand Prize winner selected at the close of the campaign.

The Pinterest campaign starts Sept. 1, I'm told. 

In addition to Pinterest, the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau will promote the campaign via television and online banner advertising, targeted media relations, a dedicated blogger campaign, and by revealing a secret each day via Facebook and encouraging fans to submit their own secret each Friday, during the destination’s “Photo Friday” contest. So check it out.

Porter Airlines is set to start its Myrtle Beach service up again on Sept. 13; just as things start to cool down a bit in Canada.

WHISTLER ON THE HORIZON

Yeah, it's hard to think about snow when it's 29 degrees here in the Big Smoke. But pretty soon those leaves will be changing colours and they'll be getting their first snowfall out in Whistler.

Whistler Blackcomb this week announced that early bird season passes are now on sale. Available through Oct. 8, an unlimited adult season pass is available for $1,489; a savings of more than $300. An unlimited senior's pass is $799, while youth passes (13-18) are $675 and children's passes (7-12) are $415.

Last winter, Whistler Blackcomb tallied a total accumulation of 1,389 centimeters or 45.6 feet of snow. While those numbers seem high, they are actually just above the annual average delivered to Whistler Blackcomb each year. Over the past ten years Whistler Blackcomb has received an average of 1,192 centimeters or 39.1 feet.

Whistler Blackcomb’s official opening day for this ski season is November 22, 2012. Here are some details from a press release they sent out this week:

“Following on the heels of last year’s exceptional season, this winter we are looking forward to continuing to show guests why we’re a great skiing and riding destination,” said Dave Brownlie, Whistler Blackcomb’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “Last season we achieved the highest customer satisfaction score in the Canadian ski industry, affirming our reputation for delivering an incredible guest experience. This season we will continue to improve our guest experience by introducing a new “Family Certified” program, developing new Snow School programs, and unveiling the new Wonder Routes.”

The Wonder Routes
Whistler Blackcomb offers the most skiable terrain in North America with: 8,171 acres, 200+ runs, 16 alpine bowls, and three glaciers. With so much terrain to explore, some guests aren’t sure where to start. The Wonder Routes are a network of tours, trails, waypoints and stops that were created to help guests navigate the mountain and discover Whistler Blackcomb’s most wonder-filled places. There are six routes and each showcase a unique aspect to the mountains:

• Top of the World Route – features views from Whistler Blackcomb’s highest four peaks.
• The Steeps Sampler – highlights the steepest ski/snowboard runs on both mountains.
• Size Matters Route – showcases the longest runs on Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain.
• The Gold Medal Route – features points of interest from the 2010 Winter Olympics.
• Family Certified Route – highlights family-friendly areas and points of interest.
• The Powder Stashes Route – guides guests through powder snow areas.

 

 

 

 

WiFi finally coming to Canadian skies? ... Flight attendant quits after 63 years

Can it be true? Is Canada about to enter the modern age of airplane travel?

An item in the Chicago Tribune yesterday said Canadian regulators have cleared in-flight Wi-Fi provider Gogo to build a network of wireless systems on Canadian airplanes.

It sounds like it's likely on some of Gogo's partners for Canada-U.S. flights. Those include United and Delta. It's not so clear what will happen with Air Canada.

Today's National Post notes that Gogo "has had a limited partnership with Air Canada since 2009 to provide Internet service on two aircraft flying between Canada and California."

The Post said Gogo's plan "is to concentrate initially on existing Canadian routes operated by its U.S. and Canadian partners, including Delta Air Lines, Virgin, American United Airlines, and others. Those with knowledge of the situation say Gogo hopes to add Canadian partners, and possibly expand its deal with Air Canada.

"Whether it's on a commercial or business aircraft, passengers travelling in Canada can soon experience the same technology that has a proven track record of performance and reliability in the U.S.," said Michael Small, Gogo's chief executive.

Not so fast, I think. I asked Air Canada again today and got the same response as always. Spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said the company is "still evaluating the technology, which is changing very quickly, to ensure we make the best choice."

Fitzpatrick said a top Air Canada official recently stated that the Wi-Fi is a "medium-term project." Which means, to me, that we better not count on it any time remotely soon.

Honestly, I can't understand what the problem is. It seems crazy the technology can work on planes all over but we still don't have it here.

WestJet today sounded a more optimistic tone to my way of thinking. In an email, spokesperson Jennifer Sanford saidthe airline is reviewing technology and other in-flight entertainment issues.

"We have looked at a number of options from a number of providers. I suspect an announcement before the end of the year, although the solution won’t be onboard until 2013," she said. "As technology continues to evolve at an impressive rate, it’s about selecting an inflight solution with long-term value for our guests and for our airline."

At least WestJet is offering the promise of some kind of announcement, which is good.

Part of me is happy about no Wi-Fi in the Canadian skies, to be honest. About the only place I see movies or read a book for more than a half hour at a time these days is on a plane. I'd hate to be tied to my Blackberry at 30,000 feet....

Gogo currently provides Internet access to passengers across the U.S. for a fee, ranging from US$1.95 for 15 minutes to upward of US$20 on cross-country flights, the Post story said.

So we'll see how this plays out. If and when it ever arrives in Canadian skies, I have no doubt we'll pay more for some reason. Labour prices? Just to generally piss us off? Both of the above?

UNITED GUY WIMPS OUT AFTER 63 YEARS IN THE AIR

Congrats to Ron Akana, a Hawaii native who has landed in the Guinness Book of World Records after 63 years as a United flight attendant.

That's a lot of bags of peanuts and pretzels to hand out, folks. Even if he only gave out 100 a day, that would potentially 500 a week. Multiply by even 40 weeks of work and that's 20,000 a year. Multiplied by 63 years that's more than 1.2 million bags.

Akana finished his career, to no one's surprise, as the longest-serving flight attendant for any U.S. carrier. He plans to retire to his current home in Colorado but spend a lot of time travelling.

 

New Orleans prepares for worst ... Vermont tourism upset by cheap Quebecers

Boy, you gotta feel for the folks down in The Big Easy. I mean, how crazy is it that Tropical Storm Isaac is bearing down on New Orleans and could hit on the anniversary of Katrina?

So far, it doesn't look like Isaac is that bad. But that's the thing about hurricanes; they change. It was thought the storm would hit Tampa. It stayed out to sea and instead is hurtling towards Louisiana.

Google, for its part, is helping out with a crisis map that shows where the storm might make landfall. Again, the operative word is might.

U.S. President Barack Obama today said he has declared a disaster for Louisiana as the storm gets closer. He also called on Gulf coast residents to take official warnings "seriously."

Katrina slammed into an unprepared New Orleans in 2005 on Aug. 29.

It appears virtually all flights are cancelled today into Louis Armstrong MSY airport, so stay tuned to the news for more information. And keep your fingers crossed for New Orleans and Louisiana....

CHEAP QUEBECERS LEAVE VERMONT SEEING RED

Pretty funny (and not so funny at the same time) situation in Burlington, Vermont, where restaurants are again crying over folks from Canada who don't leave enough - or any - tips.

Lesley Taylor in today's Star tells the story of how restaurateurs are at odds about how to handle the situation. Some business people have instituted an extra "tax" to make up for visiting cheapskates. Others say it's discriminatory in the extreme and bad business.

Ken’s Pizza in Burlington, Vt., takes the unambiguous approach to prodding stingy Quebec customers to tip: “Tipping is not just something you do in a canoe,” the menu reads.

A tricky situation, for sure. I'm all for encouraging folks to leave good tips in hotels and restaurants. I wrote a column about it a year or so ago and chastised folks who don't leave a couple bucks for the hotel maid.

I got quite a lot of mail on that one. Most folks agreed, but a few people out there still get angry about tipping and feel there are too many folks hanging around with their hands out. Which is certainly the case.

I think the maid at a hotel deserves a tip, but not so much the bellman who runs to the door to open it for me as I walk out in the morning....

There's a story on The Star's website today about tipping so have a look and let me know what you think: jbyers@thestar.ca

 

 

 

Chinese tourists flocking to Sheratons and Westin hotels

Everyone is chasing the Chinese.

Every day, it seems, I get a google alert from somewhere in the world where some tourism official stands up at an Elks Club meeting or Chamber of Commerce rubber chicken lunch and proclaims "I have seen the future of tourism and it is China."

Of course, not EVERYONE is going to get an increase in tourism from China. It seems Toronto has done fairly well, partly because we're close to Niagara Falls and partly due to our immigration patterns and perhaps also partly because we're close to New York City.

I suspect folks in Winnipeg and Philadelphia and Denver will have a slightly tougher go than us in grabbing what is surely going to be an immense future market.

Actually, it might not be as hard to get Chinese tourists as some cities might think. According to a study on Chinese hotel booking habits, maybe the easiest thing to do is to change all your hotels into a Sheraton or a Westin; both part of the Starwood chain.

CNN says a report by a Swiss-based luxury market research firm - based on an analysis of 170 million Internet searches between January and March - shows that those two brands are at the top of the heap for Chinese tourists.

Here's the full top 10:

1. Sheraton

2. Hilton

3. Shangri-La

4. InterContinental

5. Westin

6. Four Seasons

7. The Peninsula

8. Kempinski

9. Nikko

10. Ritz-Carlton

I'm surprised that the Ritz is that far down the list as, from what I've seen, well-to-do Chinese consumers often love the real luxury brands. Then again, the report says findings confirm what many folks in the west already suspected, which is that brands who got into China early have the greatest loyalty.

"As the saying goes 'the early bird catches the worm,' and in this case it is true," the report says. "Sheraton was the first western hotel brand to begin operations in China in 1985 [after the economic opening-up], and today it is the most searched-for hotel."

BROOOOOOOCCCCCEEEE!!

On a personal note, I just gotta say that Bruce Springsteen's show at the Rogers Centre Friday night was utterly spectacular. Easily the best I can remember seeing, and I've been to at least six of his shows over the years. He was animated and having a wonderful time and the crowd was eating it up on a perfect summer's night with the roof open and the CN Tower flashing lights and a real festival atmosphere.

According to his website, Bruce came off the stage after his 3 hour, 42 minute marathon and told his band mates it was the best Toronto crowd he'd ever had.

He's playing in Hamilton and Ottawa in October, and any fan who hasn't booked a ticket yet ought to give their head a shake.

 

 

100% New Zealand campaign looking good ... Wanna buy a Greek island?

Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) is making a significant international push for new international visitors.

They're about to launch their newest "100% Pure New Zealand campaign," invoking the magic of Middle-earth just as a lot of folks (me included) look forward to the coming release of The Hobbit.

There's a new TV and movie commercial (available here on You Tube) that links the fantasy world of  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, to the (wonderful) reality of New Zealand.

According to the press release, the campaign targets all potential travellers to New Zealand portraying the country’s stunning scenery and unique activities and experiences, coupled with Middle-earth-themed narration.

Chief Executive Kevin Bowler says the campaign aims to leverage off interest generated in New Zealand by its starring role as Middle-earth in the Peter Jackson-directed trilogies based on The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit.

“Millions of people have seen The Lord of the Rings trilogy and we expect millions more to watch The Hobbit trilogy, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures(MGM).

“Our objective is to show people that while New Zealand stars as the fantasy world of Middle-earth, what people see in the cinema is actually a real place just waiting to be explored. 

“Not only that but you can have some amazing adventures and experiences within movie-like landscapes.

I didn't get to a lot of the places used to make The Lord of the Rings when I was in New Zealand a couple years ago, but I did manage to see quite a lot: the cosmopolitan and pretty city of Auckland, the marvellous, South Pacific-like Bay of Islands region in the north, laid-back Waiheke Island near Auckland, the fabulous wineries near Hastings and in central Otago, the art deco buildings of Napier, the rugged mountains and lakes near Queenstown and more.

I absolutely loved the place. It was quiet and laid back but fun and irreverent at the same time, with awesome food and wine and spectacular scenery at every turn. I felt like I was in my native California but back in the 1950's or something, before freeways and smog and all that urban nonsense.

Yeah, it's not cheap to get there. But right now the New Zealand dollar is trading at 80 cents Canadian. So everything you buy in New Zealand dollars is basically 20 per cent off.

I checked Expedia this morning and found the lovely Langham hotel in Auckland - nice rooms and a cool bar - had rooms for a weekend in October at $144 and up. The Sofitel down by the harbour had rooms for less than $200.

I'VE ALWAYS FANCIED SANTORINI, MYSELF ...

I don't think they'll actually put anything on the auction block, but it's interesting to hear Greek authorities talk about using some of their islands as ways to reduce the country's crushing debt.

The headlines in the paper today made it sound like entire islands could be sold off to the highest bidder as a way to make money. I've always wanted to visit Santorini, but I suspect it's a bit beyond my budget.

Actually, if truth be told I've only had a chance to visit two islands in Greece. I did a trip in, oh, 1989 or so to Paros and absolutely loved it. It's one of the quieter islands in the Cyclades, with those famous white buildings and deep blue painted roofs and doors and bright pink bougainvillea splashed all around. There are great beaches, many with naked women as I recall, and terrific, harbourside cafes where you can sit for hours under the bright Mediterannean sun.

The only other one I've been to is Hydra, and that was just for a few hours the day after the Athens Olympics ended in 2004. It was a lot of fun, with some nice, pebbly beaches and fun cafes and donkeys ferrying goods to and fro. I had some fabulous Greek yogurt with my late, great buddy Randy Starkman and with current Star columnist Dave Feschuk, and then dined on the freshest calamari steak I've ever had.

 

 

Prince Harry antics boost interest in Vegas visits ... New Jaunt Golf site

The Queen is not amused.

Las Vegas is delighted.

In case you somehow missed the news, the Internet is awash with stories and the odd photo of Prince Harry cavorting naked in a Las Vegas hotel room.

Travelmole.com reports that the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is rather pleased.

"Las Vegas is excited that Prince Harry continues to visit the destination for his stateside getaways," said Courtney Fitzgerald of the LVCVA. "Las Vegas is about adult freedom and that means different things to different people.  It's important for friends to know what activities can be shared publicly and what activities are protected by the code of 'What Happens in Vegas; Stays in Vegas.'" 

Virgin Holidays said inquiries for trips to Sin City had shot up 30% since news of Harry's antics broke. The company said it had sent a care package to the Wynn hotel for the Prince, which includes spare trunks, sunglasses and an energy drink, and I like their style.

In the interest of being a family blog and all, I've only shown you a modest shot of the Prince in some nice, red Hawaiian board shorts. Other images, which don't appear to show anything, really, are available on the web for the curious.

GOLF TOURISM ON THE GO

Jaunt.ca and SCOREGolf.com have teamed up to launch Jaunt Golf, which offers exclusive, hand-picked golf getaways. It's billed as "the most extensive, fully-packaged online travel destination for beginners, avid golfers, Bubba Watsons and Happy Gilmores alike."

The first round of getaways are available now, featuring nine different locations. Included are Niagara, Muskoka, British Columbia, Mexico, Arizona, Florida and more. 

"We know that Canadians are eager to attempt new and challenging golf courses, and combining the most notable links with luxurious hotels and travel bonuses is the ultimate vacation experience," said Jonathan Tafler, general manager of Jaunt.ca. "We're thrilled to partner with SCOREGolf and pair our travel offers with their trusted voice and niche expertise."

Jaunt.ca is owned by Torstar Digital, a division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. Just so you know.

 

WEST JET VACATIONS KUDOS

WestJet Vacations this week announced results of a study showing it has the highest customer satisfaction and loyalty among the six most widely used tour operators in Canada.

Conducted by Leger Marketing on behalf of WestJet Vacations, the survey was conducted across Canada in June and July. WestJet Vacations scored higher than the competition for overall satisfaction, likelihood to recommend and customer service. It was also was rated as the most trusted vacation company, WestJet officials said.

FOUR SEASONS GROWTH

In addition to adding the new Yorkville hotel on Oct. 5, Four Seasons is busy around the world. The Toronto-based chain spans five continents and 36 countries and there's plenty more on the way.

China is a large growth area, representing more than 20 per cent of projected openings for the next four years. A new hotel in Guangzhou opened last month, and more hotels are coming to Beijing and Shanghai in the coming weeks.

This fall, Four Seasons also will enter Sub-Saharan Africa with the opening of the first of three properties. Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Tanzania "will be a unique opportunity for the brand in an exciting new destination," officials said.

Located within Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, the landscape features "the largest concentration of plains animals in Africa and is acclaimed for the best game drives and abundant, year-round wildlife."

Sounds pretty good to me.

U.S. TRAVEL SKYROCKETING

TravelAgent.Com reports that U.S. Commerce Department data shows international visitors have spent an estimated $82.2 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related goods and services year to date. This is an increase of 11 percent when compared to the same period last year.

The new data confirms that the U.S. travel and tourism industry is on pace for another record-setting year and, if these trends to continue, international visitors could end up injecting more than $169 billion into the U.S. economy by year-end, the Commerce Department says.

The U.S. not long ago launched a new Brand USA campaign in the hopes of increasing visitor numbers. If the latest figures are any indication, it appears to be working.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Travel survey: Are we all business first, email-slaves who don't shower enough?

A fun study by Four Points Sheraton says that 55 per cent of business travelers take three or four devices with them when they hit the road.

They surveyed 6,000 biz types from all over the world and found that smartphones were the number one device (74 per cent), followed by tablets (65 per cent), music players (43 per cent), laptops (32 per cent) and cameras (30 per cent).

Interesting note here: Brazilian respondents (27 per cent) were the most likely to have five or more devices with them, while Germans (33 per cent) said they only take one or two.

Maybe we should move to Germany. While 60 per cent of respondents overall felt that traveling with technology makes their life easier, 14 per cent of Germans say it makes life harder.

Nearly seven in ten respondents (68 per cent) said they use their tablet more than their laptop. Interesting. My wife and I bought an iPad a couple months ago but I’ve maybe used it once. Guess I should download some travel apps and try it out on my next trip.

Another fun note in the study is that 54 per cent of respondents turn their smartphones on while the plane is taxiing to the gate after arrival, while a full 12 per cent never turn them off while they’re on the plane. The study didn’t say if they turned them to airplane mode, but I’d guess Alec Baldwin’s salary that a number of biz types continue to operate their smartphones even at 35,000 feet. And yet the planes continue to fly. Amazing.

Asked what’s the first thing they do when on the road, 36 per cent said they check their smartphone. Nineteen per cent said they turn on a TV and 18 per cent said they take a shower. Checking Facebook was next at 12 per cent, followed by checking Twitter and calling home tied for fifth at at seven per cent each.

So, basically, what we have is a world of business-centric, me-first folks all around the world who get up in a strange city and check their emails and watch TV before they think of showering or calling their families. And to think some traditionalists out there decry the state of the planet.

FOUR SEASONS TORONTO JOINS THE FIVE-STAR WAR

Hoo and boy, as my friend Allan Ryan used to say.

We've already seen the opening of the Ritz-Carlton Toronto on Wellington, which the Canadian Automobile Association has dubbed one of only two five-diamond properties in the country (the other is the Four Seasons Whistler). And the new Trump Tower downtown, which I took a peek at the other day and found rather swish and stylish, if not my particular cup of Earl Grey.

Now we're a mere eight days from the unofficial opening of the new Shangri-La at University and Wellington. The sleek, Asian-themed (in part) hotel and condo project is opening Aug. 30, although it's mostly for TIFF-related stuff and probably won't be open for the likes of you and me until mid-September.

Still, the drawings make it look superb and the food options at the restaurant Bosk promise to tantalize, for sure. There's also supposed to be some amazing dim sum, which stands to reason for an Asian-based chain and would be a welcome addition to the area.

On top of all that comes word this week that the Four Seasons Yorkville (see photo left) is now taking reservations for stays beginning Oct. 5. I went online this morning and found the cheapest room was $545 for a two-night stay beginning Oct. 5. A one-room suite was listed at $635.

The website says food service at the hotel won't start until Oct. 6, so if you're hungry on the night of the 5th you can always try McDonald's on Bloor I guess.

As for your options on the 6th, the main attraction will be Cafe Boulud, operating under the name of Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud. I've never eaten at any of his places, but I hear mostly good things. The website says the restaurant "showcases the intersection of contemporary and classic French cuisine in this casual Toronto restaurant. Menus are guided by the most exceptional ingredients, the vibrant, global influences of Toronto, and the innovation and expertise of this Michelin-starred culinary great."

The website says the hotel also will have something called the dbar, with "the sophistication and glamour of Yorkville" and a menu with "cocktails and casual fare amid inviting contemporary design, or outdoors on the spacious seasonal terrace."

Fascinating, fun times in the Toronto hotel industry, for sure. And great for the city's tourism, too.

 

 

Brace yourselves - flying is getting even more uncomfortable these days ...

Hard to believe it could get worse, but flying is about to do just that.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the airport, a look around the world of aviation finds that airlines are now stampeding to REDUCE leg space on their planes.

For those who missed it, one of the first out of the gate was our very own WestJet, which recently announced it was creating a super economy section with higher fares and that to do so it would have to reduce leg room for the rest of us poor slobs.

JetBlue Airways, which the Boston Globe reports has “long boasted the most legroom in the industry,” announced earlier in August that it had taken an inch of legroom in the back 11 rows of its Embraer E 190 planes so it could give more space to folks buying more expensive tickets.

Now Southwest is reconfiguring some of its planes, adding six rows of seats so it can create rows with extra legroom for folks willing to pay for it. That apparently means about an inch less space for other folks.

The Globe tells the story of passenger Justin Klein, who’s 6-3 and recently found his knees crunched on a Southwest plane, and also found he wasn’t able to recline his seat as far.

A decade ago, the standard distance between seats on a plane was 32 inches. Now it’s 31 inches. It may not sound like much, but it makes a big difference in comfort on a flight, especially a long one.

I’ve never flown with them, but Spirit Airlines is said to have a pitch of just 28 inches on all its planes, which explains their lower prices.

Yeah, flying is so glamorous these days. Want a pillow? You’ll need a VISA card. Want a sandwich? Got ten bucks on ya? You want to take that Christmas present to Aunt Martha in Winnipeg? That’ll be $25 for the extra bag, sir.

Unbelievable.

The Boston Globe story talks about how several U.S. airlines are charging extra for window or aisle seats. Which makes for fewer “regular” economy seats. Which makes it harder for families, for example, to find a row of “regular” economy seats together, by which I mean economy seats where they charge you $800 to fly to Los Angeles.

I mean, have you looked at prices lately? I’m considering a flight to Miami and it was going to be $550 on Air Canada. I was looking at maybe taking a flight to New Zealand and just from L.A. it was $1,800. Let alone the cost of getting to L.A.

UNLEASH YOUR INNER YODELER

Great story from Associated Press out of Vienna, saying that the country has inaugurated a new hiking path where participants are encouraged to let loose with a nice yodel.

At rest stops along the way, hikers can push a button and hear a recorded yodel in, wait for it, two-part harmony.

There are harmony yodelers? Really? Even for a country like Austria I find this hard to believe.

 

Canadians invited to sell our country to overseas tourists with new CTC project

This could be fun to watch.

The Canadian Tourism Commission today announced it's trying to lure more folks to our fair shores with something called the 35 Million Directors project. They're asking Canadians by the score to upload videos and images to a new website that they hope will inspire travellers from around the world to choose Canada (see Yukon photo below) for their holidays.

"Footage and photos must showcase Canadian travel experiences - from a favourite hike to a music festival, a sporting event to dining al fresco downtown," officials said. "‘Directors’ will want to capture moments that will whet the appetite of international travellers looking for unique and authentic examples of what is available across Canada."

There is, of course, a contest for the best entries and a random draw so even the worst of us gets a shot at something. The contest runs until September 16, 2012, when the CTC will then look at the story-line Canadians have created, select the best entries, and mix in the work of a few professional directors to create a grassroots video advertisement to inspire travellers from around the world to visit Canada.

“We’re out to create a story from the point of view of Canadians and what makes them proud about our great cities, our geography and nature, our cuisine, our culture, or perhaps the friendliness of a local festival,” said Michele McKenzie, CTC president and CEO. “We hope Canadians are out there this summer enjoying what our country offers whether on a trip or during a lunch break. Many are already capturing what moves them on phones and cameras and sharing with friends and family. We want to share these images big time with the world, and add a grassroots dimension to our marketing efforts in attracting more and more international visitors to Canada.”

It would've been nice to get this started a touch earlier in the year, as a lot of folks have already taken their Canadian summer vacations. Then again, maybe with 35 million invitees it's better to trim the field a bit!

PASSENGERS ASKED TO PAY FOR FUEL - WHAT'S NEXT?

When I first saw this headline, I thought it was one of those crazy, small airlines again. But, no, it appears that this time it was Air France asking passengers to chip in for gas.

Travelmole.com reports that Air France admits it had to ask passengers for fuel on a flight bound from Paris to Beirut that had to be diverted to Damascus, Syria. In the end, it turned out they didn't need the cash after all.

Air France released a statement to CNN saying that payments for fuel in Damascus can only be made in cash, which I guess I can see given what's happening in Syria these days. As it turned out, Air France apparently found some pop bottles or some cash hidden under some seats and was able to get the fuel they needed without hitting up the passengers.

Just remember that next time you want to complain about pricey Subway sandwiches on a flight to Calgary.

QANTAS BOSS TAKES A BIG HIT

You don't see THIS everyday. Travelmole.com reports that Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has agreed to wave goodbye to his bonus and pay rise this year after the airline suffered a sharp drop in profits.

He told the Australian Financial Review: "It's absolutely appropriate that when company returns go down, executive pay should go down as well.

"It has been an extremely tough year for Qantas shareholders and what we want to show is that my pay has to have a huge correlation with the profitability of the company."

The Australian airline has forecast a 90% fall in its profits for the financial year ending 30 June, blaming international operations, high fuel costs and the impact of strikes and labour disputes.

It is due to announce its full-year financial results on Wednesday of this week, Aug. 23.

Sounds tough, but I applaud Joyce's move.