We are excited to announce that our urban chic hotel located in the centre of the city has partnered with the hottest car sharing service Zipcar. Now guests who check into Pantages Hotel Toronto can take advantage of this amazing promotion:

In an exclusive partnership, Pantages Hotel Toronto is putting guests in the driver’s seat with a complimentary one-year membership to Zipcar, the world’s largest car sharing company (a $85.00 value. Nearly unheard of in populated North American cities such as Toronto complete access to a car, for as little as one hour at a time.

Our Guests will have to apply online and membership is approved provided that you have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record. After that they can pick up their digital keycard to their Zipcar located at the hotel.

While membership is free for one year, guests will still have to pay Zipcar rates which start at $9.50 and include fuel, insurance and reserved parking spaces.

Zipcar is a proven, holistic transportation program that enhances mobility for business and personal travel resulting in tangible environmental change. Every Zipcar on the road replaces 15 cars! With locations all across North America and England this benefit is one you can take on the road!

We see Zipcar as the perfect match to our forward thinking hotel and in the know clientele. It was important to us to provide a Hybrid in order to reflect our hotel’s green image and social conscience. Offering alternative transportation as a guest amenity provides a sustainable green option while rewarding our guests.

So put yourself in the driver’s seat with this offer…It is just one other way you can take your experience at our dynamic hotel back to your home.

David

We love to Sip and Savour Ontario Wines! Recently our efforts were rewarded as The Pantages Hotel Martini Bar has won the 2008 VQA RESTAURANT AWARD GOLD AWARD OF EXCELLENCE.

This honour was bestowed on only a half dozen establishments within Toronto and we could not be more proud.

At Pantages Martini Bar and Lounge we present food and drink in a sophisticated yet fun atmosphere to deliver the ultimate culinary experience. Being in the centre of Toronto, we LOVE Ontario! A mix of over 100 cultures gives Ontario its dynamic flair. We are proud to showcase only fresh, high quality food grown and produced in Ontario. Local freshness allows us to concentrate on hormone and pesticide free products, cooked on premises and made to order.

VQA stands for Vintners Quality Alliance. When you see VQA on a label of Ontario Wine, you know you are purchasing a wine that has been produced with 100 per cent Ontario-grown grapes. The VQA label also means that it has been tested by an independent tasting panel. There are strict rules and regulations governing the use of VQA.

There are many scientific laboratory tests, quality checks and authenticity controls but in the end, if a wine has VQA on the Label, you can be certain it represents the essence of Ontario!

Location. Location. Location.

Wine-producing grapes only grow in two geographical belts around the globe – one just north of the equator, and one a little bit south of it. These are the only areas with the right mixture of sun, rain and temperature. Ontario's wine regions are right in the middle of the northern grape-growing belt – between 41° and 44° north.

You may find it hard to believe, but that puts southern Ontario just south of the famous Bordeaux Region in France, and parallel with northern California wine regions.

To grow the perfect grape you need a long, warm summer and a dry, sunny autumn. The grapes need to ripen slowly so they can develop a good balance between acids and sugars. A well-ripened grape produces wines with a nice mixture of sweetness and acidity.

Ontario is considered a "cool climate region" – which means at harvest time grapes are blessed with more concentrated flavours and balanced acidity which makes them wonderfully food friendly. That is why cooler climate wines typically have a livelier flavour than those from hotter climates.

The Ontario Wine Region also has a unique mesooclimate that protects and nurtures our vines throughout the coldest winters – it's called the "lake effect". Basically, Lakes Erie and Ontario act as "hot water bottles" moderating the climate by storing up heat during the summer months and releasing it in the winter to warm up the air temperature over the vineyards. This means our precious vines are protected from frosts in the spring and benefit from an extended growing season in the fall.

We have covered the Ontario region and have included what we believe are the top 36 wines. All are fantastic value and true hidden gems. All 36 are available are available by the glass, so feel free to take flight while enjoying one of the best designed bars in Toronto!

We truly hope you appreciate our great Award Winning Local Flavour!

I would like to thank the Director of Operation, Andrew Van Buskirk and our Director of Art, Food and Beverage, Michael Kaye.

See you at the bar!

David

It was amazing to see our Martini Bar this week with so many people enjoying the music, the great Martinis and the fabulous looking people.
The Martini Bar at the Pantages Hotel has opened the week with celebrating the start of Pride week. The event “PRIDE WITH LOVE” “LOVE IS PINK” was in association with Veuve Cliquot featuring its Rose Champagne in honor of unveiling Karim Rashid Love Seat designed exclusively for Veuve Cliquot Rose.

As guests were arriving into the Martini Bar they were offered a glass of Champagne and a selection of appetizers prepared by Chef Derek Kennedy. Michael Kaye our Creative Director of Food and Beverage hosted the evening with a guest list of over one hundred guests. As part of the event the Pantages Martini Bar has donated 10 percent of its sales to ACT (Aids Committee Toronto) and Jason from Control over Destiny was selling his exclusive design of Pride Jewellery with all proceeds going to ACT as well.

This event has defiantly opened the doors to a new home for many people to come enjoy great music, friendly staff and the best martinis in town.

I would personally like to thank all the guests who made this a great event for a great cause. I would also like to thank Michael Kaye our Creative Director of Food and Beverage for the party and great atmosphere.

popup=false]

Good Friends!

I am humbled this week in sharing with you the achievement of the Pantages Hotel Toronto Centre being awarded the 2008 Consumer’s Choice Award for Business Excellence.

What makes this award extra special is that it is not awarded by writers or an associations but it has been awarded to our hotel by YOU the consumers! We appreciate each and every guest and understand that in this economy value for price paid and exceptional service are simply expected. We take it for granted each and every day that you deserve nothing less and hope to surpass your every expectation and leave you fulfilled and with complete JOY!

I joined the Pantages Team at the prestigious Consumers’ Choice Gala, which will be broadcast soon on TV, in accepting our award. The event was led by Global T.V.’s Bill Coulter and 680 News Radio’s Gloria Martin and our team was honoured amongst Toronto’s foremost business leaders, politicians and ministers.

Of course in true Pantages style we didn’t let the award or the gala go to our heads and we always know how to balance work with play! It was a fun and fantastic evening to recognize the whole operational team of the Pantages Team led by Andrew Van Buskirk, Director of Operations (seen on stage with me accepting the award).

It was a proud moment and especially remarkable as it was the second year in a row the Pantages has won this award! They say the people have spoken!

To that we simply reply ~ Thank You….Again.

Our reputation at Pantages Suites Hotel & Spa is full of amazing stories about equality, respect, diversity, honour, love and acceptance! The time is fast approaching for the 28th Annual Pride Festival Celebration. Our hotel, along with the entire city of Toronto is transformed into a world filled with music, creativity, passion and PRIDE!

We are very excited that our good friend Enza Anderson will be honoured as this year’s Parade Grand Marshall. Come by Pantages Martini Bar and Lounge on Saturday May 31st and wish Enza all the best of luck during the “Gear Up to Saturday” hosted by the one and only Supermodel!

Last year members of the Pantages Suites Hotel and Spa proudly marched in the world’s best Pride Parade unified as one within the community, displaying the wonder and heritage of our culture shining within all the colours of the rainbow.

In the centre of it all, Pantages Suites Hotel & Spa is steps away from the village, parade and biggest parties of the celebration. Upscale yet relaxed and easy going, we welcome all in unified acceptance!

It’s about your Pride! Friends and families it’s about our time together!

Celebrate with us!