Last August, I traveled to Vegas for Virtuoso’s Travel Week, and met 4000 fellow travel advisors and suppliers from around the world. I had the pleasure of dining at the Shangri-La table during the hotelier dinner during the week. I enjoyed learning more about the fabulous Shangri-La hotels around the world, and the new Shangri-La in Vancouver during that evening.
So, when the new Shangri-La Toronto opened, I knew I had to check it out in person.
Last weekend, I had the chance, and it certainly lived up to my expectations and more.
What a fabulous oasis right inside the Toronto city core!
First up, I received a glorious welcome from the hotel’s management. (As a Virtuoso partner, I always work to ensure such welcomes are arranged for my clients. It’s such a treat to have the favour extended to me.) A wonderful note, macaroons, and tea! 
And, of course, I loved the ipad in the room, and how you could interact with the hotel staff to make reservations, ask questions, or even learn more about Toronto.
Everything in the hotel room is wired with the latest technology – such is the pleasure of being a brand new hotel. (It opened in August 2012.) The tvs in the bathroom mirrors are especially cool.
The whole bathroom set up is fabulous. A terrific set up for pampering.
In fact, the whole room is just a wonderful retreat.
It is somewhat jarring to look out the window from your hotel room, and realize that you are in the midst of the downtown office complexes and entertainment buildings – but that is the glory of the location too. You’re near everything when you walk out the doors, but when you walk inside, you can escape the bustle and walk into tranquility.
Here is the location of the hotel – so you can see it truly is in the heart of Toronto. http://www.shangri-la.com/toronto/shangrila/about/map-directions/
The bedroom itself is a peaceful set up of dark wood, and calming creams. Just lovely.
And it has the regular accoutrements needed by folks travelling and in need of refreshment.
Of course, if you feel like continuing the relaxation, you can visit the spa, or maybe go to the lobby for a drink and live music.
For those that want more activity, the health club offers plenty of treadmills and other machinery to get you working (and hot and cold moist towels in a heater or fridge – at the ready for you! fantastic!)
But of course, the most wonderful thing about the Shangri-La Toronto? The pool!
I don’t know what was better – the pool itself…. with it’s neat chandelier lights and cascading water….
the fabulous red lounge chairs with the Toronto centre core as a backdrop ….
the sauna….
Harish bringing us hot towels while we were in the pool…
or the hot tub area ….
Wait a sec – did I mention the 6 private cabanas that surround the indoor pool? Each equipped with their own tv?
Harish brings you water and hot towels to wipe your face there too – as well as bath towels, a selection of magazines to read, and adult and kid size slippers for you!
Ah, take me away again – to the Shangri-La!