Eating It Too

In the current issue of Meetings & Conventions magazine a Baltimore baker was featured. The "Vincent Van Gough of dough" was lauded for his creativity in being able to create customized cakes for any occasion - or any event theme or company logo for that matter.

Hey - I know someone like that! Jade Lyn here in Toronto makes *amazing* cakes that taste as great as they look. My current fave is the Louis Vuitton Purse Cake pictured above.

Let me know if you'd like to talk to Jade about a cake for your next meeting or event.

Shhhhhh....Bisha

Quietly ascending on the corner of Blue Jays Way and King (next to the SOHO Metropolitan Hotel and kitty-corner from the Hyatt), is private residences-slash-boutique hotel which will go by the name of "Bisha". Slated to be the first in an international chain of such properties, the Toronto version will consist of about 81 hotel guestrooms and 340 luxury condo units. On the ground floor there will be a 24 hour cafe and lobby bar, both with outdoor patios (of course!), and the 7000 sq.ft. restaurant and lounge area on the 41st floor will be open to the public and available for buy-outs.

Their decadant sales prospectus is aimed at condo buyers and has a sexy "Hide and Seek" theme. Certainly some of the hotel details are yet to be revealed: number of room categories and meeting space capacities - although meeting space *is* indicated on the floor plans.

Scheduled to start welcoming guests April 2014.
http://www.bisha.com/

Talking Pointes

Notes from a recent trip to ARIZONA where I had an opportunity to see the two Pointe Hilton resorts...

Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak
Comprised of three main buildings: the cinnamon-coloured Convention Centre, and two mustard-hued guestroom blocks housing a total of 430 one-room suites, the Point Hilton Squaw Peak completed over $20 million dollars in renovations last year resulting in improvements to the lobby, all guestrooms, all meeting space, the River Ranch (water park) and the truly fabulous Tocasierra Spa and Fitness Centre (where I took advantage of both a Zumba class and the $15 "margaritas and manicures" promotion.)

Also part of the multi-million dollar facelift: the newly-opened Rico's American Grill joins the ranch-themed Hole-in-the-Wall restaurant, poolside cantinas and in-room dining to give guests several food and beverage options on-site

The property's prime meeting space is conveniently concentrated in the Convention Centre, with two ballrooms on the main floor (9,760 and 8,318 sq.ft, respectively), and breakouts stacked on top, with outdoor terraces available for meals and/or breaks. Guest accommodations also include 133 one- and two-bedroom luxury Casitas.

Pointe Hilton Tapatio
Minutes away, built on the so-called cliffs at Tapatio (don't worry, the hotel offers shuttle service to guestrooms), is this sister property - and like all sisters, they share a similar DNA, but assert their own style, and spend their allowances differently.

Tapatio's $25 million "allowance" went towards exterior painting, a new lobby, improvements to all guestrooms and meeting space, remodelling of the on-site 18-hole golf course, and the creation of a brand new 12,200 sq.ft. ballroom (in addition to the existing 16,000 sq.ft. Grande Ballroom). Its two signature food & beverage outlets, Pointe N Tyme and Different Pointe of View, were also completely renovated - the latter still enjoying a spectacular view of the valley while offering fine dining in a relaxed, upscale setting.

http://www.pointehilton.com/

The Regina Monologues

I found the experience of flying into Regina fascinating. At first all you see is the seemingly endless prairies, dotted with bright yellow canola fields. Then you come upon something that looks exactly - and I mean *exactly* - like the city map provided by the Regina Regional Opportunities Commission (http://www.reginaroc.com/). You can take in the entire city below you at a single glance. At its heart is the 2300-acre Wascana Park (bigger than New York's Central Park and Vancouver's Stanley Park put together) with its imported greenery and man-made lakes. You can also make out the Delta Hotel, Regina's tallest building, and then cutting a straight-edge through the city right to the horizon, the trans-Canada highway.

Regina feels like the most Canadian city I've ever been to, after Ottawa. Yes, being greeted at the airport by two Mounties in their red serge jackets, balloon paints, tall boots and stetsons might have something to do with it. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police "Depot" is located here, where every Mountie in Canada trains for at least six months. This is also home to the Canadian Football League's most spirited fans; going to a Saskatchewan Roughrider game was a little like Halloween, Mardi Gras, and the Olympics all rolled into one afternoon!

During our visit we learned about an exciting downtown revitalization project centred on historic Victoria Square, and we sampled some of the city's culinary delights including the Copper Kettle's famous pizza, and food and brewskie pairings at Beer Brothers.

A few hotel highlights:

The Regina Inn Hotel & Conference Centre
Offering 235 spacious guestrooms (all with complimentary internet access and free local calls), this venerable downtown Regina hotel has been welcoming guests in 1967. Its 20,000 square feet of meeting space divides across three floors, with four ballrooms and eight meeting rooms. http://www.reginainn.com/

The Delta Regina
Already mentioned as the tallest building in the city, the Delta also has the largest ballroom (14,580 square feet) which has been recently renovated. (We loved the bold carpet choice!) With only 274 guestrooms they often partner with the neigbouring Wingate Hotel for overflow accommodation. The Delta is also attached by pedway to Casino Regina which has a tiered Show Room with stage that can be used for tradeshows or other functions. www.deltahotels.com/

Hotel Saskatchewan Radisson Plaza
Ideally located overlooking the soon-to-be-redeveloped Victoria Square, this historic hotel ws built in 1927. It boasts a (truly!) Royal Suite and old-fashioned working barber shop as well as 13 elegant function rooms Guestrooms offer complimentary internet and Radisson-standard Sleep Number beds. http://www.radisson.com/

Your comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome!

Julie

Julie Epplett, CMP
Global Account Manager
ConferenceDirect®

San Diego Dreamin'

This month's Enroute magazine celebrates San Diego, California (http://enroute.aircanada.com/en/issues/view/sun-and-games), in particular the many attractions of interest to the young - or the young of heart: Legoland, the famous San Diego Zoo, and the new Childrens Museum, just to name a few. It also mentions the venerable Hotel Del Coronado - which reminded me of my own visit to the "Del" just last year.

From the Archives (April 16, 2009):

HILTON SAN DIEGO BAYFRONT
This was our host hotel for ConferenceDirect's Annual Partner meeting – a brand new property (opened within the last year) towering 30-stories over the adjacent San Diego Convention Centre and San Diego Bay. The waterfront location is celebrated throughout the property with touches of blue in the décor, and the meeting space is organized on levels called “Indigo”, “Sapphire”. “Aqua”, and “Cobalt”. Guestrooms enjoy either bay or city views, Hilton’s Serenity Collection beds and linens, plasma televisions with HDTV, both wired and wireless internet service, and large work desk with ergonomic chair. Women travellers will appreciate the spacious vanity in the bathrooms with proper lighting. The gym is smallish, but the bayside boardwalk directly outside the hotel makes for an excellent walking or jogging path, and San Diego’s famed “idyllic climate” means that outdoor exercise is nearly almost an option.

FOUR SEASONS RESORT AVIARA
Located near Carlsbad, about a half hour up the coast from San Diego, this oasis of luxury overlooks 200 rolling acres – much of it a wetlands sanctuary for native birds and flowering plants – and the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. As a sanctuary for two-legged creatures it offers a disproportionately generous amount of eclectic function space, an Arnold Palmer golf course, choice of swimming pools (one “Quiet” and one for families), tennis courts, fitness facilities, and a sublime spa. Guestrooms all have private balconies or ground-floor terraces, again taking advantage of the Southern California climate. All the Four Seasons markers are in evidence, along with the promise of exceptional service.

HOTEL DEL CORONADO
Located across San Diego Bay in the seaside city of Coronado, the “Del”, was built in 1888 and is designated a National Historic Landmark. Its prestigious guestlist reads like a “Who’s Who” of politicians, diplomats, and visiting Royalty (was it here that Edward VIII met Coronado divorcee Wallis Simpson?). It was famously one of the locations used in the film “Some Like it Hot” with Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon and continues to welcome such high-profile celebrities as Brad Pitt and Madonna. A walk through the resort’s public areas brought us to the jaw-dropping Crown Room, whose Crown-shaped chandeliers (I discovered later) were designed by Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum.

* * *

P.S. At last week's IncentiveWorks I dropped by the San Diego booth and congratulated the Convention and Visitors Bureau representative for once again garnering ConferenceDirect's "CVB of the Year" award. They do an outstanding job partnering with us and ensuring our clients get the support they need to bring successful meetings to that beautiful city. Let me know if you need any information on the destination and/or its many hotel options.

Julie

Julie Epplett, CMP
Global Account Manager
ConferenceDirect®

Thompson T-Dot

There's been a great deal of press lately about the stylish new Thompson Toronto, including a small scandal surrounding celebrity chef Scott Content's Huffington Post blog being "condescending" towards Toronto's restaurant scene. Oh well.

I wrote about the Thompson in my January 28th, 2010 enewsletter: "Twenty-Ten - So Far, So Good?" (reprinted below)

How are those New Year’s Resolutions holding up? I’ve been on a bit of an “Out With The Old, In With The New” kick, but when it comes to hotels I embrace both the old, traditional “Grande Dames”, as well as the newest and most trendy offerings.

FAIRMONT CHATEAU MONTEBELLO
A visit to the “largest log cabin in the world” just before Christmas afforded the experience of seeing the venerable Fairmont Chateau Montebello decked out in her finest festive “bling”. There were lights, candles and garlands everywhere, and the huge Christmas tree in the lobby was dwarfed only by the four-sided stone fireplace which is both the heart, hearth, of this historic property. How historic? The Chateau land dates back to a 17th century siegneurial estate - something I vaguely remember learning about in Grade Five Social Studies – and its 65,000 acres houses not only the hotel, but a private nature reserve and a collection of five-star chalets. The resort itself offers a little over 200 guestrooms and a wide range of activities, including curling (a first for me!). Its new conference centre – with 5000 square feet of meeting space - blends seamlessly with the existing facilities. www.fairmont.com/montebello

THOMPSON TORONTO – OPENING SPRING 2010
A new luxury boutique hotel is coming to Toronto! The Thompson Toronto will open its doors at 550 Wellington St. West with 102 guestrooms, a 3000+ square foot ballroom, boardroom for 25 people, and a variety of dining and entertainment options: from upscale Italian and Sushi restaurants to a 24-hour diner and stylish lobby bar (can’t wait to see the hand-painted, three dimensional mural of Toronto's skyline!). The hotel’s 16th floor will feature a rooftop pool, cabanas, and year-round lounge with fireplace and bar. There are currently nine hotels in the prestigious Thompson collection, including the Roosevelt in Los Angeles and 60 Thompson in New York; this will be the group’s first location outside the U.S. http://www.thompsonhotels.com/

***Update: The Thompson Toronto started welcoming guests in June, and the much-anticipated Scarpetta is *almost* open (there was snag with the liquor licence last weekend)***

LOOK UP, WAY UP….
With the opening of the Buri Khalifa in Dubai earlier this month, Toronto’s own CN Tower was forced to relinquish its 31-year old claim to being the world’s tallest free-standing structure. Nevermind. The Tower still offers some unique event facilities, including 360 Restaurant (with its award-winning wine “cellar” – located at 351 meters/1151 ft.), the more casual and versatile Horizons on the Look Out Level – also with spectacular views - as well as meeting rooms and the 144-seat Maple Leaf Cinema at ground level. http://www.cntower.ca/

***Update: I actually visited the tower this week with a friend from out-of-town. What fun to play tourist and take pictures of ourselves on the glass floor! We saw Porter flights taking off from the newly expanded Island Airport, and the redesigned AGO looks pretty cool from that vantage point.***

Julie Epplett, CMP
Global Account Manager
ConferenceDirect®

Patio, Patio

"To patio" is practically a verb in Toronto during our all-too-brief summer, and despite the recent heat wave sidewalks, terraces, rooftops, and courtyards remain resolutely packed with Torontonians exercising their unalienable right to eat, drink, and be merry en plein air.

I asked a few discerning friends to join me on a tour of Yorkville hotel patios, starting with the historic Windsor Arms: Toronto's first boutique hotel whose discreet charms have been celebrated in a couple of Atom Egoyen's films (most recently Chloe). Two distinct patios wrap around the hotel along St. Thomas and Sultan Streets: one is an extension of their restaurant, twenty-two, and the other features comfortable rattan chairs and a front-row view of the hotel's arrivals and departures. I challenged our server/bartender to bring me a non-alcoholic "mocktail" and received a muddled-fruit concoction which was as refreshing as it was pretty. Along with drinks we ordered an Asian-inspired lobster salad, one of the many appetizers offered at half-price until 6:30 p.m. daily.

At the InterContinental Yorkville's SkyLounge we were a bit disappointed not to find seating on the designer sofas - some of which were marked as "reserved" for wedding parties arriving later. This is a funky and casual outdoor room situated in the hotel's sheltered inner courtyard. A deejay spun Latin club-style music, and our server was friendly and knowledgeable about the wine list - even offering small tasting portions to assist with the decision-making process. (Though we couldn't help noticing that the same glass of wine here was $3 more than at the Windsor Arms). We ordered from the extensive tapas menu: grilled asparagus and bruschetta. Yummy!

Our next stop was the venerable Roof Lounge on the 18th floor of the Park Hyatt - but alas, all the outdoor tables were taken - and inside, too, was pretty much filled to capacity. At The Hazelton Hotel we were turned away from the insanely-popular One which was fully reserved for tables of diners - no chance for a casual drink or appetizer here.

Would love to hear your experiences or recommendations. On my hit-list for later this summer are the patios at The Old Mill Inn and Spa and the always hip Drake Hotel. In the meantime, though, I’m off to Regina to experience what that city has to offer convention groups. Watch for that report soon.

Until next time!

Julie

Julie Epplett, CMP
Global Account Manager
ConferenceDirect®