The next luxe hotel to open was the Trump. The Donald himself came in to cut the ribbon, along with

So the biggest buzz in Toronto nowadays – besides the opening of the new Ripley's Aquarium, but that's not for another fairmont hotel new orleans year yet – is the proliferation of new luxury hotels that are sprouting up in Toronto like (very expensive) weeds…I'm not talking about the funky boutique hotels like the Gladstone, Thompson and Drake – though those are amazing places worth checking out (just go and hang out in the lobby and soak up the cool factor even if you can't afford to stay there).  No, I'm talking about monstrous, downtown, fairmont hotel new orleans brand name properties that are now gracing our City with their presence.
First out of the gate was the Ritz Carlton, which opened a year ago.  I'm not a big Ritz guy, but those who are tell me this one is different than others, well integrated into the downtown landscape and utilizing a lot of"local" flavour.  Part of that flavour is cheese – my jaw dropped when I saw the cheese room they have in the middle of their restaurant (photo).  I learned a new word the day I visited, too – they have an  "affineur" on staff – a person whose specialty is maturing and ripening cheese.  Great to throw around at your next cocktail party…actor, even if you can't afford to stay there).  No, I'm talking fairmont hotel new orleans about monstrous, downtown, brand name properties that are now gracing our City with their presence.
The next luxe hotel to open was the Trump.  The Donald himself came in to cut the ribbon, along with his kids.  The place is as glitzy as one would expect – I needed sunglasses to check out their bar (see photo).  A little overdone – bars of chocolate in each room look like gold bricks and are embossed with the Trump name – but I guess that's what you want if you're paying $500 a night…
Two more posh hotels are set to open over the next couple of months.  One is the Shangri-la, part of a chain based mainly in Asia.  Supposed to be spectacular.  But the real buzz is being saved for the new Four Seasons Hotel in Yorkville.  All eyes are on this one, as the old Four Seasons – now closed and being converted fairmont hotel new orleans into condos – was SUCH a landmark in Toronto. Every celebrity you can name has stayed there over the past 35 years.  And since the Four Seasons chain is headquartered in Toronto (along with the Fairmont and Delta chains – we do good hotels in this town!), the Yorkville was really the pride and joy of Isadore Sharp, the founder and president.  Needless to say, the new Hotel – set to open in October, I believe – is said to be magnificent – the jewel in the crown of the chain, a flagship and model for any future Four Seasons.  So save those pennies for the fall!
Talking about "jewels" also reminds me to mention that our diamond-looking museum fairmont hotel new orleans – the Royal Ontario Museum, with glass jutting out of it's new front entrance – is host to a 5-star exhibit until March Ultimate Dinosaurs: Giants from Gondwana. Almost as cool as the exhibit is the technology they are using both at the museum and in advertising, which makes the dinos come to life (check out the ad I am holding!).  You need a smart phone to fully enjoy it, but if you don't have one, apparently they have them there for you to use…and if you want to know what/where Gondwana is – you'll just have to come and visit!