I hope you are enjoying the last days of the summer vacation here in Toronto and outside. As you must know by now, The Cosmopolitan Hotel is ideally situated on a quiet street in the central hub of Toronto. But just like our zen-environment, you don’t need to join the hustle and bustle outside the hotel’s doors if you don’t want to!
Here are some suggestions on how you can enjoy this area of the city, without having to become city slickers.

It’s a beautiful summer day in Toronto, perfect for taking a walk. But where can visitors go for a leisurely, urban stroll? The neighbourhood of St. Lawrence is an ideal destination for those who want to check out a slice of Toronto’s history and culture. One of the city’s oldest and most vibrant communities, the St. Lawrence district offers architectural gems, friendly people and lots of great options to for drinks and good eats.

Start off your stroll at the lively St. Lawrence Market (92 Front St. East at Jarvis). On Saturdays, the north market opens up to farmers and local food producers who all sell their goods under one roof. Be sure to make it here before noon—by then, the fresh eggs, locally-grown veggies and artisanal cheeses begin to run out. Cross Front Street to the south market and revel in a centuries-old building that offers everything from fresh pasta, wild salmon and—everywhere you turn—any kind of pork product you could possibly want. Don’t forget to check out the basement level, where you can pick up fresh-baked bread and locally made tofu.

Shopping in hand, head out the rear door of the market and walk eastward down the Esplanade. Though this modest stretch of residential living may not look like much at first glance, it’s actually one of Toronto’s most important feats of urban planning. Beginning in the 1970s, politicians and planners—including the much-loved Jane Jacobs—began to envision building a mixed-use neighborhood that provided subsidized and market-value housing. By the early 1990s, the stretch of the Esplanade from Jarvis to Berkeley streets was dotted by condos and co-ops, cafes and schools, and was widely hailed as an urban success story.




At the end of the Esplanade, make note of the Berkeley Street Theatre, where you can return later that evening for a show. Walk across the park, or maybe sit down on a bench to enjoy that brioche you picked up at the market. A bit further down, cross Parliament Street and enter the Distillery District, an area newly revitalized with some development cash and an entrepreneurial spirit. Built on the site of a former whiskey-producing business, the Distillery District maintains many historic features that give an amazing insight into Toronto’s origins. You can stroll around the cobble-stoned streets and poke your head into the shops and studios of no less than 18 different artists and galleries. There is lots of shopping to be had (especially if you’re in the market for fine chocolate, yoga gear or high-end stereo systems). Or you can sit outside Balzac’s café and just people watch.

History buffs mustn’t neglect to scoot just a stone’s throw south of King Down Trinity Street (one block east of Parliament) to see the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse, built in 1848. This is Toronto’s first free school, a living history museum and one of the oldest, continually-operating buildings in the city.

You can then walk westbound along King Street, and do some window shopping in one of the many furniture and antique stores that line the street. Stop at Jarvis and marvel at the beauty of St. Lawrence Hall (157 King. St. E.), a grand building that dates back to 1850. Pop inside to find historical displays relating to the neighborhood. You can’t help but notice the grandeur of the place (no wonder it serves as a film set and a venue for weddings!). Stroll south on Jarvis, back towards St. Lawrence Market, where you began your stroll. If you’re lucky enough to be there on a Sunday, have a poke around the antiques market that sets up on the north side of Front Street. It’s full of all kinds of treasures just waiting to be discovered—a little bit like the city of Toronto itself.

The Cosmopolitan Hotel’s lifestyle specialists can certainly help plan out your free time! We have maps, brochures and plenty of suggestions to make your leisure time a one of a kind, fun and a learning experience.

David

Dear guests and friends,

Health specialists around the world have been saying for years, that a nutritious breakfast is essential to living a healthy lifestyle and more particularly they say that breakfast should be the “king of meals” as it will give you the “power” to make it through the work day with energy and enthusiasm. Since we, in Skyline Hotels Group, are good listeners, we took that to heart.

Under the leadership of our great Executive Chef, Derek Kennedy, we have recently improved our breakfast offerings at the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Our regular guests are thrilled and our new guests feel it is great value as they enter our restaurant. We welcome you to join us daily in our “Eight” restaurant for a buffet style breakfast. We offer fruits, various kinds of cheeses, healthy bread and bagels, muffins and pastries, cereals, luxurious smoked salmon, devilled eggs and more! We are now also offering delicious made-to-order omelettes, freshly made waffles and French toast, all made on the spot by the chef. Yum! We offer variety of juice, coffees and teas. What a way to start the day! We look forward to giving you a great start to your day.

See you all at breakfast!

David

Deloitte's October 2007 Travel survey found that in the past twelve months, 83% of respondents say they used the Internet to research and/or purchase travel primarily because they found it easier and more convenient or felt that they got better prices. According to other publications, by 2010 50(!)% of the travelers will book their hotel stay via internet.

We, of course, offer rooms over the internet – that’s the way to go these days! We can showcase our rooms and offer the best deals or packages and even last minute discounted rates (which rarely happens thank God!). You can book via our website www.cosmotoronto.com. Check it out!

This is the reason that we have recently contracted an e-marketing company to design and program for us a completely new web site, that will take us directly to the next era technology. I promise it would be slick, attractive and very friendly! Wait and see…..

At the Cosmopolitan we also know that technology is important to our guests. This is why we have wireless internet in all of our guestrooms, meeting rooms, lobby, spa and restaurant. Most of our rooms also have two phones, one is mobile. This way you can multi-task and conduct business from your room with efficiency.

So book a room and try us out, if you already stayed with us come again and let us know in advance how we can make your stay even better than the last one!

Another advice to you, my guests, and you may already know about this, now you can do all sorts of searches from your cell phone and get the results back in seconds via a text message. For example, try to text “weather 05403″ and get the latest forecast for the city you visit.

All you have to do is set up a new contact for Google in your mobile phone. You do this by entering “Google” in your address book and then lock in this mobile number 466-453. Let’s say you want to know the sushi restaurants in the Hollywood: text “sushi restaurants 90210″ then send the text message to “Google” in your address book. But if you would like to try fine food and best selection of wine, don’t Goggle; Eight Wine Bar www.eightwinebar.com is located at the lobby of the cosmopolitan.

Need to look up a word, text “define __word_” and get back the definition.

From your computer go here and you’ll see all the commands you can use. You can even test them out in the box they give you.

Try it!

See you soon.

David

Another travel trend for 2008 is safety and security. According to a global survey conducted by Synovate, 17% of air travelers across the globe said that the new security requirements will actually deter them from traveling by plane for leisure, and 10% said the measures would deter them from traveling by plane for business.

We are seeing many more travelers coming in by train and by car from neighboring provinces and states. Toronto’s main train station is only about a 7 minute walk to our welcoming hotel. For drivers, we offer valet parking service 24 hours a day.

We take security seriously at the Cosmopolitan and we have taken one extra step. Our elevators run on a key card system. Upon check in, your room key will be given to you. The key will only allow you to access your floor. This way, not only is your floor quieter, due to reduced unnecessary traffic – but you can also feel safer. We have in room safes in all of our rooms also for your valuables. Our lifestyle specialists are at your service in the hotel 24 hours a day. So should you require assistance with anything, we are at your service.

Thank you to our devoted Director of Operations Sabine J. Smith,

Info source: www.travelindustrywire.com

It is with great pride that I announce that the Cosmopolitan Hotel Toronto has just been named to be amongst the top 1% of hotels worldwide, that are promoted through Expedia.  This is a great honour, as there are over 80,000 hotels to contend with.  What an achievment! Expedia, Inc. is the world¹s leading online travel company, empowering business and leisure travelers with the tools and information they need to easily research, plan, book and experience travel.  The Cosmopolitan hotel has taken great strides over the three years since it opened its doors.  We have many repeat guests whom we know and who know us.  It's like a family.  We strive to make each of our guests feel comfortable.  Our hotel does not promote a great stay, we deliver a great experience.  This is what keeps our guests coming back and telling their friends and family about our jewel in the heart of the city.
It's the little details that count and that set us apart.  We have had so many guest fill out comment cards.  What they recognize the most, is our friendly staff.  Personally, I have never worked with such a wonderful team!

Without their dedication and passion, we would have never won this award!

Our staff are sincere and truly want to make everyone's stay the best it can be. We look forward to welcoming you to our hotel, whether it be for the first time, or for the twentieth.