World City Guide

Hotels

Hotel prices are subject to a provincial sales tax, levied at 5% on accommodation, as well as a federal goods and services tax of 7%. The 12% total tax is usually added to the bill at the end. Tipping is expected in Toronto and porters are usually given a C$5 note for their efforts.

The prices quoted below are the are the lowest standard rates for a double room, excluding tax and excluding breakfast, unless otherwise specified.

Business

Cambridge Suites
Located in the heart of the Financial District, this all-suites hotel is designed with the business traveller in mind. The experienced staff can handle all kinds of business occasions, from state-of-the-art presentations to informal breakfast meetings. The exterior of the hotel is a typically North American 20 floors of green glass, while the 231 guest rooms range from 51sq-metre (550sq-feet) apartment-style units to deluxe duplexes, usually decorated in muted browns and creams. All rooms have work areas that are comfortable, well designed and feature two two-line telephones and a fax machine. The penthouse suites have Jacuzzis, while all guests have complimentary use of the fitness club and racquetball facilities at the nearby Adelaide Club.

15 Richmond Street East, Financial District
Tel: (416) 368 1990 or (800) 463 1990. Fax: (416) 601 3751.
E-mail: reservations@tor.cambridgesuites.ns.ca
Website: www.cambridgesuiteshotel.com
Price: From C$250 (including breakfast).

Crowne Plaza Toronto Centre
This modern high-rise is ideal for business travellers. Located next door to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and a short walk from the heart of the Financial District, the hotel has 15 meeting rooms, as well as a ballroom, boardroom and several smaller hospitality suites. The staff’s experience in all varieties of meetings and conferences mean that any business occasion should run smoothly. Following a recent C$20 million refurbishment, the 586 guest rooms are newly appointed with luxurious materials, including comfortable beds and down duvets, made locally, as well as a coffee/tea maker, two telephone lines, high-speed Internet access and complimentary newspaper delivery. In the 90 rooms on the Club Level floors, guests can also expect a complimentary limousine service within downtown Toronto, first-hour complimentary use of the new Club Boardroom, a daily buffet breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres with an honour bar. The Victoria Spa offers a full range of spa services, while the indoor pool and fitness centre are available to all guests.

225 Front Street West, Financial District
Tel: (416) 597 1400 or (800) 422 7969. Fax: (416) 597 8106.
E-mail: reservations@torontocentre.crowneplaza.com
Website: www.torontocentre.crowneplaza.com
Price: From C$249.

Metropolitan Hotel
Located in the north end of the Financial District and a short walk from the Eaton Centre (Toronto’s largest downtown shopping mall), this independently owned modern hotel – with majestic lobby ceilings and suites that are contemporary in design – caters to the business traveller. For example, there is complimentary limousine service to guests’ first morning appointment and a fully staffed business centre. In addition to the standard features of telephones with modem and fax points, the guest rooms and meeting rooms have wired Ethernet broadband access (wireless connectivity is available in the lobby and restaurants). There is complimentary use of the fitness centre and the heated indoor swimming pool, as well as facilities such as express video check-out, in-room dining, same-day dry cleaning and non-smoking floors.

108 Chestnut Street, Financial District
Tel: (416) 977 5000 or (800) 668 6600. Fax: (416) 977 9513.
E-mail: reservations@metropolitan.com
Website: www.metropolitan.com
Price: From C$280.

The Sutton Place Hotel Toronto
Located midtown, next to the sprawling green campus of the University of Toronto and Queen’s Park, the concrete and glass exterior of The Sutton Place Hotel may not take one’s breath away but once inside the European styling is luxurious, with antiques and paintings throughout. Although it is the hotel of choice for film celebrities during the Toronto International Film Festival, it also serves the business traveller very well. There are ten individually designed meeting rooms and three breathtaking ballrooms – of which, the newly renovated rooftop ballroom, Stop 33, offers a superb view of the city – and a professional staff is on hand to facilitate any type of event. The suites are spacious – some with full kitchens – and all have a large work desk, two-line telephone with voice-mail, fax/modem point, bathrobes and complimentary daily newspaper delivery.

955 Bay Street, Midtown
Tel: (416) 924 9221 or (800) 268 3790. Fax: (416) 924 1778.
E-mail: info_toronto@suttonplace.com
Website: www.suttonplace.com
Price: From C$179.

Luxury

Four Seasons Hotel Toronto
The Four Seasons chain was founded and started by Canadian Issy Sharp and, although this hotel is not the original, it is more often than not the one celebrities and well-heeled visitors choose when visiting the city. Located in Yorkville, a chi-chi district littered with boutiques and cafés, the hotel is well known for its service and comfort. Features include corner rooms with balconies, marble bathrooms and family perks, such as child-size bathrobes and bedtime milk and cookies, as well as time-savers such as complimentary overnight shoeshine and on-hour pressing. In addition to the standard business amenities, including a 24-hour business centre, the hotel provides courtesy limousine service to the downtown core on weekdays. Of course, the hotel has not neglected the basics for relaxing either – there is an indoor/outdoor pool, a 24-hour health club (bar, the newly with whirlpool and sauna) and spa services. The chic Avenue bar and lounge and the award-winning restaurant, Truffles (see Restaurants), are city landmarks.

21 Avenue Road, Yorkville
Tel: (416) 964 0411 or (800) 268 6282. Fax: (416) 964 2301.
E-mail: tfs.reservations@fourseasons.com
Website: www.fourseasons.com/toronto
Price: From C$285.

Le Royal Meridien King Edward
Known affectionately by locals as the ‘King Eddy’, this elegant century-old hotel was the choice for visiting royalty in the mid-1920s and has continued to draw distinguished guests ever since. Its opulent decor and impressive service have ensured the hotel’s reputation, which will be further enhanced by the Art & Tech rooms designed by Yabu Pushelberg (due for completion in early 2004). The hotel’s original 1903 façade alone is stunning. Located downtown, its locale is ideal for theatregoers, shoppers and businesspeople alike. Although not all rooms are spacious, they are well appointed, tastefully designed and have thoughtful perks, such as complimentary daily newspapers, bathrobes and 24-hour room service. Royal Club level rooms offer complimentary breakfast, cocktails and snacks. A new state-of-the-art business centre joins the list of guest facilities, which includes a 24-hour fitness centre and in-house spa.

37 King Street East, Financial District
Tel: (416) 863 9700 or (800) 543 4300. Fax: (416) 367 5515.
E-mail: reservations@lemeridien-kingedward.com
Website: www.lemeridien-kingedward.com
Price: From C$225.

Moderate

Delta Chelsea
Canada’s largest hotel, the glass-clad sky-high Delta Chelsea tries to cater for everybody in its 1590 guest rooms. For families, there are Nintendo games, a bottomless cookie jar (in the Family Fun suites only) and kids’ discounts at the Delta Chelsea’s restaurants. For business travellers, there is a dedicated floor with rooms equipped with cordless speaker telephones, faxes, well-stocked desks and back-friendly chairs. All rooms are en suite. Facilities include two pools – one with a water slide – and a fitness centre. Many rooms have been designed for travellers with disabilities and there is always staff on hand to assist with meeting planning or presentation. Weekend packages are often very economically priced.

33 Gerrard Street West, Downtown
Tel: (416) 595 1975 or (800) 268 1133. Fax: (416) 585 4375.
E-mail: reservations@deltachelsea.com
Website: www.deltachelsea.com
Price: From C$129.

The Strathcona
With cheaper rates off-peak (November to April), The Strathcona has long been a budget hotel, located as it is directly across from the city’s main railway hub, Union Station. Locals might smile when The Strathcona is mentioned, as it is rumoured to be a former flophouse, although they are probably not aware of the 1999 renovation, where the hotel improved its lobby and added some suites. The Strathcona is now aiming itself at the budget business traveller. It provides corporate rooms – with two telephones, modem points, complimentary morning newspaper and 24-hour fax service – and has added a basic meeting room. The guest rooms are small but efficient and the hotel is just steps away from the Queen’s Quay waterfront, theatres and great shopping. All rooms are en suite.

60 York Street, Theatre/Financial District
Tel: (416) 363 3321 or (800) 268 8304. Fax: (416) 363 4679.
E-mail: info@thestrathconahotel.com
Website: www.thestrathconahotel.com
Price: From C$109.

Other Recommendations

Park Hyatt Toronto
Formerly known as the Park Plaza, this hotel’s rooftop bar-lounge has made appearances in some Canadian novels, such as Margaret Atwood’s Cat’s Eye (1988). Purchased by Hyatt in 1999, over C$60 million was invested in refurbishment of the 65-year-old Art Deco building – including the addition of the Stillwater Spa. Along with its location in ritzy Yorkville, the hotel boasts typical business amenities of two-line telephones, plush bathrobes, in-room safe, complimentary shoeshine and complimentary Internet access available in each of the guest rooms.

4 Avenue Road, Yorkville
Tel: (416) 925 1234 or (800) 977 4197. Fax: (416) 924 4933.
Website: http://parktoronto.hyatt.com
Price: From C$299.

Windsor Arms
Built in 1927, the neo-Gothic Windsor Arms was purchased and returned to splendour in 1999. Rated by Condé Nast Traveller magazine as one of the world’s top boutique hotels, its rooms are second to none – sumptuous linen, butler pantries (an invention by the hotel’s owner, designed for those who need room service but do not want to see anybody), plush bathrobes, mood lighting, stereos and ample space. It is a hotel that film stars often frequent and booking one of the 28 rooms during the Toronto International Film Festival (during the first two weeks of September) is next to impossible. Dining downstairs includes the Courtyard Café and Club 22, which includes a walk-in humidor. There is also a full-service spa and adequate fitness room.

18 St Thomas Street, Yorkville
Tel: (416) 971 9666 or (877) 999 2767. Fax: (416) 921 9121.
E-mail: reserve@windsorarmshotel.com
Website: www.windsorarmshotel.com
Price: From C$295.