Golden Re-Birth

This 299-room hotel on Montreal's Golden Square mile enjoyed a former life as a Four Seasons and was rather overdue for major renovations. $20-million later the Omni Mont-Royal has unveiled completely refurbished guestrooms, meeting space, and wonderful new lobby bar, Alice.

To me the decor has a slightly retro feel, like a 1960's Mad Men set, but of course with current luxury-hotel must-haves such as Italian marble bathrooms, 42-inch LCD flat screen TVs, and fully-equipped fitness centre.

I had always thought - mistakenly! - the Golden Square Mile was some kind of marketing construct, not unlike Chicago's shopping mecca, the Magnificent Mile.  Not true!  Located at the base of Mount Royal, the neighbourhood dates back to the 1930's.  Today its residents include The Ritz-Carlton Montreal, the Sofitel, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, chic boutiques, art galleries, and the bars and restaurants of famous Crescent Street.

Spa-ntaneous Bliss!

Week #3 of my Frankencold with no relief in sight. I needed some serious pampering, and found it at the new Four Seasons Hotel Spa.

And by "new" I mean the hotel itself had only been open for 12 days, but considering that the "old" Four Seasons at 21 Avenue Road didn't even have a spa - guests were directed across the street to Stillwater in the Park Hyatt - this is an entirely "new" amenity available to Four Seasons Toronto guests - and to the general public, like myself.

Taking the elevator up to the 9th floor I was greeted by name (love that!) and escorted to my locker. Yes, it was my first time to the Spa so a short  familiarisation tour of the facilities was in order.  The indoor "relaxation pool" is flanked by a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows leading to an outdoor terrace.  There's a cosy lounge with comfy chairs, soft lighting, and glossy magazines where I would chill out after my massage, but my first stop, after undressing and donning a thick robe, was the pre-treatment room.  Reclining in one of the organically curved chaises longues I sipped tea while completing the short medical history to let my therapist know of any concerns or conditions she should be aware of.

The treatment room - one of 17 - is possibly the largest I've ever seen, and although my eyes would be closed for the 60 minutes of blissful rubbing, I appreciated that it wasn't all white and antiseptic.  I also appreciated the toweling off of oil from my hands and feet, and the delightful temple bell that gently signified the end of my deep tissue massage. 

I should mention that when I made my appointment I was given several options, including whether I had a preference for a male or female massage therapist.  I also gave feedback during the treatment as to how much pressure I wanted or was comfortable with.

And speaking of pressure, the sinus congestion that had caused me such grief was no match for the *amazing* eucalyptus steam room.

Pink Champagne and George Clooney

I had the most amazing lunch couple of weeks ago at Maison Boulud in the recented re-opened Ritz-Carlton Montreal. Our waiter, who bore an uncanny resemblance to actor George Cooney, encouraged us to order off the menu and share dishes. Everything was beautifully prepared and presented. We at the most leisurely pace imaginable, savouring each course and sipping pink champagne.

Maison Boulud is one of internationally-renowned Chef Daniel Boulud's 15 restaurants worldwide (Cafe Boulud just opened in the new Four Seasons Hotel Toronto). We sat at a table on a covered veranda overlooking the garden, but the restaurant offers such an interesting variety of intimate and varied dining areas; on a return visit you could feel you were at another restaurant entirely.

Re-opened after four years and $200 million in renovations the hotel itself is even more impressive, and has already achieved Five Diamond status - in the same amount of time (four months) as did her sister property, the Ritz-Carlton Toronto.  The guestroom inventory has shrunk (to 129 from 229) making for roomier rooms, and the iconic Oval Ballroom, lovingly restored by artisans who hand-painted the finishes to exacting detail, remains the jewel in her meeting space.

 

Funny thing happened....

...on my way to a doctor's appointment.

I had a little time to kill so I thought I'd wander through the lobby of the new Four Seasons Toronto.  I entered from Yorkville Avenue, where the driveway circles around a huge, red fountain.  It's a bit of a maze inside, with very high ceilings, and the space broken up into small, intimate areas.  There's an art piece depicting a dandelion gone to seed suspended over the front desk. (The dandelion motif is repeated in other artwork throughout the hotel, along with other 'natural' images).

I didn't get far before getting "made" by one of the hotel sales managers. He spotted me, and offered to show me the event space - cool!

We went up to the 3rd floor to see Aria, the 6,776 sq.ft. ballroom with amazing 21 ft. high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides. There are breakout rooms on that floor, and on the 6th floor, where the baby ballroom, Vinci (3,249 sq.ft.) is located.

I also got to see one of the gorgeous guestrooms, all taupe with mustard accents, an inviting curved sofa in the corner, and an even more inviting stand-alone stone bathtub - apparently a nod to the decor in the new Spa, which I'll see (and experience!) next week!!

Sucks to be Sick

There's no good time for a bad cold, but feeling lousy when you're away from home is especially awful. It does make you appreciate a nice hotel room, though. 

Let me count the ways the Delta Centre-Ville made my recent stay as comfortable as possible - while I was suffering from a stupid bug.

1. An easy-to-use thermastat allowed me to raise the temperature of the room to a cosy 25C. Quickly. Good for my chills.

2. A great bed: pillow-top mattress, crisp linens and puffy comforter. Bliss.

3. Excellent black-out drapes for day-time napping.

4. The room was also incredibly quiet, so I could really get the rest I needed.

5. An uncomplicated coffee maker, used to make pots and pots of hot tea. Jasmine Green Tea was my favourite.

6. A totally awesome desk/work space for when I did drag myself out of bed. I love that it wasn't cluttered with hotel propaganda; the room service menus and guest services guide were neatly propped up on a ledge. There was excellent task lighting, access to no less than seven electrical outlets, and all manner of computer cables, neatly retracted....

7. Oh - and getting onto the internet was easy! Yes, Delta does have the fastest connection.

8. When it was time to get cleaned up, I had a really, really long, hot shower. It was heaven. I liked the hand-held shower head and bar to hold onto, in case I was feeling dizzy.

9. High quality June Jacobs body lotion is always a nice treat.

10. Large bathroom with lots of counter space so I could spread out with all my drugs and paraphanalia.

11. Club Lounge advantages: I've never understood that "starve a cold, feed a fever" thing, and was so grateful that I'd booked myself a room on one of the Club Floors. Going to the Lounge, with its awesome, almost panoramic view of the city, got me out of my room to enjoy a substantial breakfast each morning - providing me with much-needed nourishment when I wasn't up to actually leaving the hotel. With my reduced appetite the complimentary hors d'oeuvres during the 'cinq a sept' hours were enough serve as dinner.

12. Delta Privilege advantages: I was too tired to go to the business centre to get a couple of documents printed so I emailed them to the Front Desk. There was no charge for them to print them for me. (I remember a few years ago receiving an extremely lengthy fax at the Delta Barrington - and the same thing - there was no charge). Also, late check-out was easily arranged so that I can stay in my lovely room right up until the time I had to go to the aiport and fly home.

New Gateway

Formerly the Sheraton Fallsview, the newly-flagged Marriott Gateway on the Falls joins the Marriott Niagara Falls Fallsview & Spa as the two hotels closest to one of the most famous  natural wonders of the world: Niagara Falls.  The views from the majority of its 407 guestrooms are spectacular, and the new property gives Marriott as a brand a capacity to host much larger meetings and events.

In addition to its 23 meeting rooms/40,000 sq, ft. of function space, the Marriott Gateway is also the closest hotel to the brand new Scotiabank Convention Centre - providing an additional 288,000 sq.ft.

With the re-flagging comes a host of brand standards and features, such as the Marriott Revive bed, and Great Room lobby concept that encourages guests to interact over a cocktail or Starbucks coffee, take care of business with free Wi-Fi, or just chill and enjoy the contemporary, casual ambience.

Not Just for Cowboys

Spacious lobby bar ideal for delegates to unwind and network.
Nary a cowboy in sight!

The Fairmont Dallas *feels* like a Fairmont Hotel. There's thick, plush carpeting in the wide guestroom hallways graced with tasteful prints of Grecian urns. The guestroom doors are an unexpectedly bright shade of coral, but otherwise the decor is sedate, classic, and luxe: warm earth colours, plenty of wood, guilt-edged mirrors, and granite surfaces. Walk-in closets are reminiscent of the original railway hotels and resorts across Canada which had large closets to store steamer trunks for guests staying "the season".

I consult the hotel directory and learn that the building was originally designed as a kind of self-contained resort or country club.  It opened as a hotel in 1969 as the first luxury hotel in the great state of Texas, and has enjoyed a storied three decades built on the visits by celebrities, entertainers, Presidents, and foreign dignataries.

The pool and terrace provide an urban oasis, framed by award-
winning architecture, available for private functions.

Located in the Arts District (the hotel has its own artist-in-residence), anchored by the nearby Dallas Museum of Art, and within walking distance of West End restaurants the Fairmont Dallas is an outstanding conference hotel. It offers 545 guestrooms and over 70,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, with two Grand Ballrooms, stacked: the almost 18,000 Regency Ballroom and the more that 13,000 sq. ft. International Ballroom.

The nearby Perot Museum of Nature and Science (set to open January 2013) will be also be available for group functions for up to 2,300 people

Small Group ALTernative

The new ALT Hotel at Toronto Pearson Airport joins ALT Hotels in Montreal and Quebec in offering "no frills chic" service at a single price - any room, any time - wireless interenet always included.

ALT Hotels, with properties in Montreal and Quebec (and openings soon in Winnipeg and Halifax), is part of Groupe Germain Hospitality which also operates Le Germain Hotels. These include Hotel Le Germain Toronto and Hotel Le Germain Maple Leaf Square. Both brands offer exceptional design features with limited services, or as they say "service light".

Whereas breakfast is included with your stay at Le Germain, you may purchase a wide range of hot and cold meals and snacks any time of the day or night from ALTcetera Eatery - to be enjoyed in the stylish and comfortable lobby, or in the privacy of your own room. Yes, alcoholic beverages are available, and you can get a pretty mean Americano should you so desire.  

The ALT Toronto offers 153 guestrooms and 6000 sq.ft. of function space comprised of 11 meeting rooms and "creative lounges" - with floor-to-ceiling windows, 55" television screens, and colourful names such as Rose, Fuscia, Cyan and Indigo.

I love the proximity of this hotel to the airport, too. No waiting around for a shuttle, simply take the Link train; the picture above was taken from the train stop. There's 'alt' signage inside Terminal 3 to direct you.

For more info go to:  http://pearson.althotels.ca/

Time is Money

If you're holding a meeting over several days in a hotel it's typical to ask for a "24-hour hold" so that whatever set-up you have stays in place overnight. From the hotel's point of view, that's often a missed opportunity if they can they can re-sell that space for an evening event and make more revenue.

A colleague told me a story recently where a hotel (which will remain nameless) wanted to charge her client $10,000 to keep their meeting room on a 24-hour hold. She was able to negotiate the charge away - of course! - but it's something to watch out for.

Thoughtfully Sourced. Carefully Prepared

That's the new Hyatt green initiative regarding food and beverages served in its more than 490 hotels and resorts worldwide. Driven by the farm-to-table movement, where the focus is on locally-sourced ingredients at their freshest and most desirable, this "philosophy" also supports small-farm economies and reduces the carbon foot-print of transporting food items over long distances.

At a dinner last night at the Hyatt Regency Toronto, Chef Chad Goudie introduced our delicious dinner comprised almost entirely from the bounty of Ontario's harvests. He was practically giddy talking about how wonderful it is for chefs to have free rein in the kitchen to create menus this way. 

Happy chefs make for happy guests, I think.

Oh - and I swore I wasn't going to eat dessert this week but the fresh Niagara peaches in a balsamic reduction served with a small scoop of Chapman's vanilla ice cream was irresistable!

Spamalot

Spam Spam Spam Spam
Spam Spam Spam Spam

Whenever I hear the word “spam” that Monty Python refrain starts running through my head - and I’ve been hearing it a lot lately, particularly as it refers to sending Requests for Proposals out to way too many hotels at a time, otherwise known as “RFP Spam”.

It’s a pretty hot topic. Now that the RFP process has become automated to the point that a planner can – with no more than a few clicks – send a request out to dozens of hotels at a time, the hotels are feeling inundated. The process of assessing which requests will fit, and which are most advantageous to the hotel’s bottom line, is getting bogged down under the sheer volume.

A recent article in the trade publication M&C referred to a panel discussion where “there was a general implication that the proliferation of e-RFPs was driven in part by inexperienced planners – that contacting so many properties for bids indicates a lack of focus”.

Obviously it’s vital to understand the needs of your group or program before thoroughly researching the options. ConferenceDirect has a pretty cool tool in its proprietary facility database. I can go into any hotel listing and not only review all necessary specifications, I can see which of my ~300 colleagues worldwide have booked that particular property and at what rate, when, and for how many rooms. Taking that a step further, I can reach out to a ConferenceDirect associate who may have more experience with that hotel than I do to get an unbiased “review” of everything from working with the sales office to the level of service during the delivery of the program.

All that intel helps to narrow the search to the most suitable venues, but when I’m looking to place a more, let’s say “challenging” piece of business I naturally have to throw the net a little wider. As my colleague Deborah Borak says in that same article: “I can’t send RFPs to six hotels and have five of them not have availability”. We live for giving our clients choices.

Save the Spam for John Cleese and the boys.

"I danced inside a chandelier!"

That's how I updated my Facebook status so that my all of my 'Friends' would know what a wonderful time I was having in Las Vegas.

No, I was not "swinging from a chandelier"; I was swing *dancing* in the Chandelier Bar in the lobby of the Cosmopolitan Hotel - a shiny new member of  Marriott's Autograph Collection, offering 555 guestrooms (many with private terraces) and over 100,000 sq.ft. of meeting space.

Beyond "The Strip"

View of Las Vegas "Strip" from the Green Valley Ranch pool

Okay, I'll admit it: up until a couple of weeks ago I was a "Vegas Virgin". 

Sure I *know* the Bellagio, the Four Seasons, the Wynn, the Venetian, Caesars Palace....all properties I've researched and booked on behalf of clients. However, I've never actually *been* to the gambling and partying mecca famous for bad decisions and over-the-top hotels.

After full two days and one night on The Strip, though, I was done - and grateful that the event I was attending that weekend was taking place at the Green Valley Ranch, a Five Star, Four Diamond resort in Henderson - with a beautifully appointed 40,000 sq.ft. Conference Centre.

Yes, there's gaming, but you don't have to wade your way through slot machines to get to your guest elevator, and with "only" 495 guestrooms and 80 suites GVR is, by Vegas standards, practically a boutique hotel.

I particularly loved the pool area, which the event organizers used to full advantage by taking over an entire row of cabanas and hosting a private pool party, and where - as a reformed sun-worshipper - I discovered a number of shady options.

Spa Nostalgia

Years ago when I was working at the Four Seasons Yorkville I treated myself to a weekend at the beautiful Four Seasons Las Colinas near Dallas, Texas (lounge pictured above).  It was my first - and come to think of it - only Spa Vacation I've ever taken. 

I experienced several treatments, including a wrap that had me lying in a dark room like a mummy.  The spa menu included all kinds of delicious and healthy selections, though I found it hard to fit in eating between the aquafit and Pilates classes, and working out in the the gym. I still remember an attendant coming up to me when I was on the exercise bike, bringing me a bottle of cold water and a towel. (Four Seasons service!)

All this came back to me when I read today that the *new* Four Seasons Toronto is opening October 5th with a 30,000 sq.ft. Spa - the largest of any Four Seasons Property in the world!

I think I'm going to have to book myself in for a treatment - or a weekend!!

Does Size Matter?

Well, sometimes, yes – like when you’re trying to shoe-horn your meeting set-up into a space that “on paper” seemed to work, but in reality leaves your attendees feeling like sardines. Or when a small group gets lost in an oversized box of a room. It’s all about getting the right fit.

How do Toronto’s newest luxury offerings measure up?

The Ritz-Carlton Toronto
Located on Wellington - Toronto’s new “south core”. Canadian-themed F&B outlets: TOCA (TOronto CAnada) features a “Cheese Cave”, and DEQ – with its coveted outdoor space – has been a hot spot since it opened last year.
267 guestrooms
23,000 sq.ft. of meeting space
Largest meeting room: Ritz-Carlton Ballroom - 7,400 sq.ft.

2nd Largest meeting room: Wellington Ballroom - 3,053 sq.ft.

Trump Hotel Toronto

Bay Street, Baby – on the corner of Adelaide. Food & Beverage outlets stay on message: Stock Restaurant & Bar on the 31st floor (with semi-private dining space) and SUITS Lobby Lounge. Welcomed its first official guests mid-April this year with much fanfare.

261 guestrooms

Largest meeting room: Grand Ballroom – 3,744 sq.ft.
2nd Largest meeting room: Grand Salon – 3,168 sq.ft.

Four Seasons Toronto
Migrating just a few blocks from its venerable Yorkville located at Avenue Rd. and Bloor to Bay and Yorkville Ave., the *new* Four Seasons Toronto is accepting group business from October onwards. Chef Daniel Boulud will oversee the cuisine in his eponymous restaurant/café and “dbar”.
259 guestrooms
14,300 sq.ft. of meeting space
Largest meeting room: Aria – 6,776 sq.ft.
2nd Largest meeting room: Vinci – 3,249 sq.ft.

Shangri-La Hotel Toronto

The baby of the bunch - the Asian luxury chain’s second property in Canada (a sister for the lovely Shangri-La Vancouver) due to auspiciously open on August 7th.

202 guestrooms

12,000 sq, ft. of meeting space

Largest meeting room: Queen’s Park Ballroom - 3,670 sq. ft.

2nd Largest meeting room: Museum - 1,722 sq.ft.

Recent Hard Hat Tour of the Shangri-La Toronto

"May I have your.......?"

Last week, staying up way too late to watch the season finale of Mad Men I caught the tail end of AMC’s show The Pitch. In the tense final minutes of the show, two advertising agencies were in hot competition to win the Autograph account.

The Autograph Collection of hotels is a new and unique Marriott brand – truly an “evolving ensemble” of one-of-a-kind properties – some historic and/or iconic – others new and edgy. The collection includes city hotels of all sizes and capacities, as well as large convention resorts, and exclusive retreats. Each hotel is, as one of the agencies pitches: “as unique as an autograph”.

Their creative was strikingly beautiful – but the other agency ended up winning the business with their bold, totally-outside-the-box approach – so unlike any hotel advertising I've ever seen – and soooo unlike anything Marriott has ever done.

For awhile you can see a preview of The Pitch on the Autograph hotels website: http://www.autographhotels.com/

I’m looking forward to my own first Autograph experience next week - staying at the famed Algonquin Hotel.

Faster, Higher, Stronger

Okay - just "faster" - but this is GREAT news!!

Delta Hotels is the gold medal winner when it comes to faster internet service in hotels across Canada - up to 20 times faster than your internet at home, making uploading content-heavy presentations or Skyping family or colleagues an easy sprint to the finish line.

Internet XL is currently available in 17 Delta Hotels and Resorts, and is currently *free*.

Don't Stop The Dance!

The venerable King Eddy is again taking a new dance partner.

After seven years under Starwood stewardship as Le Meridien King Edward Hotel Toronto, the 109-year old “grande dame” will – on July 17th – take back her maiden name, and follow the lead of one of her owner-partners, Skyline Hotels & Resorts.

For guests and groups booked into the hotel it should be pretty much business as usual, and the current condominium development and renovation plans remain unchanged.

Whew! Yours truly has been patiently waiting for the reopening of the Crystal Ballroom every since I heard about The King Edward Hotel’s “secret” roof-top ballroom.

Skyline also manages Deerhurst and Horseshoe resorts, and the Cosmopolitan and Pantages boutique hotels

The End of An Era

It seems such a cliché to say “if these walls could talk”, but certainly The Sutton Place Hotel Toronto would have borne witness to some pretty juicy stories in its 45-year history.

It seems The Sutton Place name has always been linked with the famous as well as the infamous, starting with an unsuccessful mob hit just months after it opened in 1967. The incident literally put the hotel on the map – with newspaper articles describing the brand new property as “posh” and “swanky”. In the three years I worked there we were still the host hotel for the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, now known as simply as “TIFF”. I have my own personal “star stories” including a chance encounter with none other than Madonna!

Last week I attended a farewell function for the staff, past and present – in anticipation of the hotel’s closure on June 15th. It was a classy and surprisingly moving trip down memory lane which included messages from various celebrities who fondly remember The Sutton Place as their home away from home while in Toronto.

But it was the testimonials of the long-time employees that really choked me up. Many, many with over 25 years of service spoke with such deep pride about taking care of the thousands of guests who walked through those doors at 955 Bay Street.

That’s why they call it the hospitality industry.

Tragically Hip

Club-style line-up, complete with bouncer, outside The Drake Hotel



It's Saturday night, and the line-up up of expectant and slightly inebriated party-goers stretches down the block. I was there to attend a Prince tribute in the Drake's designated event space, the Underground, but the main floor Dining Room was standing/dancing/drinking-shots room only, and I imagine the Sky Yard (a second floor outdoor patio overlooking Queen Street) was equally packed, considering the fine weather.

May-be not what some of the hotel guests staying there expected.

The scene certainly lends validity to concerns of residents in Prince Edward County, where Drake owner Jeff Stober is opening a remodelled and renovated century old inn: The Drake Devonshire. 

Bottom line for someone in my position is to know my client's expectations, the demographics of the group, and the goals and objectives of their meeting - as well as the overall "culture" of a prospective hotel, beyond its guestroom amenties and meeting room specs.

Come Up To The Lab

The "Chocolate Lab" is a signature dessert station offered at the Trump Hotel Toronto, both in its 31st floor restaurant, Stock, and for private functions.

Elements can be customized, as they were last night for our ConferenceDirect Client Event, held in the private dining space overlooking Stock.

It's hard to believe the hotel has only been open 90 days!  We were warmly greeted by the General Manager, who shared with us his vision for the residential-style of service, differentiating Trump in a now-crowded luxury market.

This evening afforded my clients, and clients working with my other ConferenceDirect associates in Toronto, to mix an mingle, sample some of the Trump cuisine (including the Chocolate Lab treats!), and see the hotel meeting rooms and guestrooms for the first time.

ConferenceDirect's Executive Vice President and Chief Talent Officer, Brian Richey happened to be in town and joined us - thanking our customers for trusting us with their meeting planning needs ("Like the airlines, we know you have a choice") and acknowledging all of the ConferenceDirect associates for the work we do in providing a consistent level of service to our valued clients. 

Keeping Austin Weird

True to its civic slogan the city of Austin erected a statue of "outlaw country music" singer/songwriter (and notorious pot-smoker) Willie Nelson outside the hip W Hotel, Austin on April 20th.

Texas-born and 10-time Grammy winner Nelson has made Austin his home since 1971 and is credited with securing the city's reputation as the live music capital of the world. He appeared on the very first episode of Austin City Limits in 1974, which is broadcast from a studio now located adjacent to the W.

The April 20 date was apparently a complete coincidence, but then organizers took full advantage by scheduling the unveiling for 4:20 p.m.

Only in Austin.

Wikipedia weighs in on 420

Going Big in the Big Apple

Sometime between the time that the moratorium on skyscrapers was lifted - then re-imposed - "The Donald" managed to erect a 40+-story glass tower in the area of lower Manhattan South of Houston known as SoHo, thus affording guests of the Trump SoHo unobstructed views from their oversized suites with floor-to-ceiling windows.

The hotel offers 12,000 sq.ft. for meetings and events, and a Spa almost as large as all the function space put together. Their current "Spring into Value!" promotion for business booked *now* until the end of April, and travelling before the end of August, includes:

• 3% credit to Master on some charges
• 1/40 complimentary guestrooms
• 1/10 (!) upgrades to suite at group rate
• welcome amenity for all guests
• complimentary internet in all guestrooms
• 15% discount at The Spa
• $500 gift card for the planner

Please let me know if you'd like any additional information!

Springtime on the Roof

From the 18th floor of the Park Hyatt Toronto, General Manager (and Canadian Hotelier of the year in 2011) Paul Verciglio welcomed guests to his  elegant hotel with a reception featuring spring-inspired food stations and cut tulips everywhere. 

It was a beautiful, cloudless evening and the views of Bloor Street, the Royal Ontario Museum, and Queens Park - already quite green - were an inspiration.

Mr. Verciglio spoke eloquently about the changing supply of hotel rooms in Toronto, with the closure just this past weekend of its long-time neighbour and competitor across the street (and getting a nervous laugh about his staff sending over a cake to wish them well), and the Sutton Place - now officially closing its doors June 15th. He also acknowledged the recent and impending openings, and how they are driving his hotel to stay on top of its game.

Continuing what it does so well - great service and phenomenal food and beverage - will ensure Hyatt's place in the changing market...and the Roof!  With both Windows and Stop 33 gone, what other hotel function room in Toronto will afford such iconic views?

ConferenceDirect APM 2012 - Day 4

The day started with presentations over breakfast from some of ConferenceDirect's strategic partners:

• Hello! Florida - DMC services throughout Florida; amazing testimonials from ConferenceDirect colleagues!
• Freeman - long-time partner and supplier of show service; 25% discount on A/V to ConferenceDirect clients
• ExpoMeeting Apps - supplier of mobile meeting applications
• Hosts - DMC (Destination Managment Services) worldwide
• 73 Events - web design and registration solutions for small meetings
• DMC Network - trusted experts in every city (includng Altima Concept in Montreal)

The final general session included awarding ConferenceDirect's annual Impact award - to the supplier who went the extra mile for ConferenceDirect during the past year.  For the first time in my memory with the company it was given to our host hotel, the Peabody Orlando who certainly did a gracious job in hosting us.

We enjoyed a lively presentation from a representative of the Disney Institute - fitting both because we are in Orlando, and because the emphasis on customer service that Disney and ConferenceDirect shares.

Attending the APM each year is a bit like running a marathon, as Executive Vice President and Chief Talent Officer Brian Richey said in his closing remarks. We all seem to reach the finish line very tired - but inspired! - and that's what face-to-face meetings do best.

Final look at the Peabody's Grotto pool where we gathered on the Sunday before the conference started for some informal networking.
You can't do that at a webinar or teleconference :)

ConferenceDirect APM 2012 - Day 3

Bonjour!  Tourism Montreal hosted our breakfast this morning, which was followed by a variety of breakout sessions. I attended one that provided updates on the wide range of additional services being offered by ConferenceDirect to our clients, the most popular being full conference management, and housing and registration.

At the coffee break I joined in the Zumba team and pumped it up a bit!

Lunch was hosted by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Raffles, and Swisshotels. At the end of the meal they showed a couple of videos: on the magestic Faimont Hotel in Banff,  and one from Travel Alberta that blew everyone away.

The first part of the afternoon was spent meeting with hotel partners again, as well as other suppliers offering solutions to our client's meeting planning challenges. Then at a joint General Session of ConferenceDirect associates and our partners (~1000 people) the Canadian Tourism Commission presented a coast-to-coast snapshot of what's happening in the hospitality industry in Canada, including the recent or soon-come openings of four luxury hotels in Toronto: Ritz-Carlton, Trump, the *new* Four Seasons, and the Shangri-La.

InterContinental Hotels Group CEO Mike Fegley made a short presentation, and mentioned the launch of two new brands under the IHG umbrella: one that will offer a luxury experience to the Chinese traveller, and Even Hotels - for road warriors who want to maintain their healthy lifestyles while away from home.

IHG also sponsored a speaker from MMGY Global who gave a fascinating and entertaining talk: Emerging Lifestyles and Travel Trends - getting into the reasons behind some of the things we're seeing and making some very plausible predictions about what to expect.

The highlight afternoon, though, was the "fun nun" who spoke on behalf of Sisters of Charity and the work they're doing to protect children from being forced into prositition and sexual slavery.  It was a paticularly poignant message to that audience since much of the abuse takes place in hotels around the world.  She spoke about training programs for hotel staff to recognize the signs and what steps to take. ConferenceDirect and IHG made a generous joint donation to ECPAT USA (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking).

That evening Team Canada was hosted by Lina Farrell of the Sheraton Niagara Falls to dine at celebrity Chef Todd Eglish's bluezoo restaurant, (at the Swan and Dolphin) followed by a private boat ride on the Epcot Lagoon to watch the fireworks.

 Dessert was served aboard the boat - sweeet!!

ConferenceDirect APM 2012 - Day 2

Breakfast was hosted by Omni Hotels & Resorts, accompanied by a presentation highlighting some of their newer properties and renovation plans, including the $30 million going into the Hotel Omni Mont-Royal in Montreal. They unveiled a new mulit-year agreement incentive and reminded us again of their unique guest loyalty program - free to join, and avaialable to groups - that provides guests with complimentary morning coffee delivery.

Our General Session opened with a words of welcome from the Peabody, thanking ConferenceDirect for our support. ConferenceDirect CEO Brian Stevens provided company updates, and we learned about new standard contracts in place for our customers with MGM Resorts and Hilton worldwide (Europe, Middle East, Africa). There was a lively panel discussion on "Lead Spam".

VP Training and Development Jim Vandevender and Director of Operations Kini Akaka announce ehancements to our inhouse booking system.

We boarded Disney busses that took us to the Renaissance Orlando at Seaworld for lunch, hosted by Marriott Hotels, and learned about that brands's global growth (including the opening of a reservation call centre in China), their Autograph Collection (including the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas), and the acquisition of the AC brand in Spain, Italy, and Portugal.

Back to the Peabody we met with hotel suppliers all afternoon in a "reverse tradeshow". 

Canadian colleagues Mary Beth Holmes, Kelly Cyr.

 

Dinner was off-site, again, at the beautiful Waldorf Astoria Orlando, attached to the Hilton at Bonnet Creek, and the Peabody hosted an "Afterglow" in their popular Rocks bar.

ConferenceDirect APM 2012 - Day 1

Love this kind of personalised welcome amenity - what delegate wouldn't? 

Arrived late last night and checked-in to the Peabody Orlando - the host hotel for ConferenceDirect's Annual Partner Meeting, bringing together over 300 of our associates with 500+ hotel partners for a week of training, networking, and yes, some showing off by a few of the local properties as to what they can do for our clients and their groups coming to Orlando.

The Peabody was renovated and expanded a couple of years ago, and now offers over 300,000 square feet of function space - over 100 breakout configurations. Like all three Peabody properties - the original in Memphis, and the most-recent addition Little Rock, Arkansas - the hotel carries on the more than 60-year old tradition (started as a drunken prank) of the daily Duck March.

Tonight's Awards dinner, being hosted by Starwood Hotels and Resorts, is taking place at Walt Disney Worlds' Swan and Dolphin.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

The Sutton Place hotel, a bit of a Toronto institution with a long history of welcoming movie stars and hosting the Toronto International Film Festival, is being converted entirely to residences.

I say "entirely" because there have always been rental apartments, with some tenants residing there for decades. Back in the late 1990's I was the Apartment Manager, and we converted some of the units to be used for long-stay hotel guests, similar to the Grande Residence concept at the Sutton Place in Vancouver.

Much has changed since then - obviously.

Four Guests, One Hotel, One Desire

The 4 Star/4 Diamond boutique hotel Le St. Sulpice in Old Montreal is the location (and producer) of a short film which will pemiere May 24, 2012.

You can watch the trailer here

Le St. Sulpice offers 108 spacious and stylish guestroom suites, and can accommodate up up to 48 people classroom in the largest of its three function rooms.
http://www.lesaintsulpice.com/

Checking In and Never Leaving

I heard Christopher Heard interviewed on the CBC this morning. He makes some wonderful observations about hotels and his recent book includes stories of famous long-staying guests: Warren Beatty's decade at the Beverly Wilshire and Keannu Reaves calling the iconic Chateau Marmont home for more than 14 years. Definitely on my must read list!

New and Newer

It seems like just yesterday that the 377-room Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver opened its doors to visitors to the 2010 Winter Olympics. Bright and shiny and luxuriously modern - it's a bit suprising that a brand new hotel would be undergoing major renovations so soon.

Yet the configuration of the orginal meeting space (in particular two adjacent ballrooms - "hard walled") limited the size and scope of groups that could be accommodated. The solution: take down the wall and create one, large, more flexible space. 

The brand new Star Sapphire Ballroom measures 57.6 x 121.5 ft, providing 6,852 square feet of ballroom space, and 12,322 square feet of combined foyer and ballroom space.

Expectations Exceeded

I had the amazing good fortune to stay at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia during my recent stay in Vancouver.

The hotel opened mid-July of last year after a series of (not unusual) delays, and its much-anticipated "underground" club, Prohibition is yet to be unveiled.  Everything else is up and running - beautifully!  From the cosy 1927 Lobby Lounge to the fine dining restaurant Hawksworth - named for local chef made good, David Hawksworth -  to the saltwater lap pool, heated bathroom floors, and friendly, attentive service - my only regret was that I couldn't stay longer!

The Hotel Georgia's largest meeting room, the gorgeous 2,673 sq.ft. Spanish Ballroom accommodates 165 people classroom, or 200 in rounds.

Located across from the Vancouver Art Gallery on one side, and from the Four Seasons Vancouver and Pacific Centre Mall, the Hotel Georgia is just a short walk to the Vancouver City Centre train station where you can easily catch the Canada Line to YVR airport - or for a real indulgence, have the hotel's driver, Jim, take you where you need to go in the Bentley!

More IS More

Hyatt Hotels has made booking multi-year programs so easy, and soooo attractive!

Book two meetings or more before March 31, 2012 -  to be held by December 31, 2017 - and choose from the following great rewards:

• 100,000 Hyatt Gold Passport® bonus points per meeting and Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond status for two years (upgrade awarded to meeting planner upon signing contract for all meetings)
• 3% rebate off qualifying charges on your master bill including meeting facilities, guestrooms and catering
• Complimentary Internet access in paid guestrooms
• No attrition fees for up to 50% slippage
• One complimentary guestroom per 40 paid room nights
• Complimentary coffee break
• Audiovisual equipment and services discounts, where available
• Regency Club upgrades, where available
• Airport transfers, where available

Clients of ConferenceDirect can also take advantage of the pre-negotiated terms and conditions through our partnership with Hyatt Hotels.

Book two qualifying meetings, select two rewards. Book three qualifying meetings, select three rewards, and so on - so more really *is* more!