HOTEL REVIEW: THE ST REGIS TORONTO
The Basics
All hotel openings involve some drama, but the St Regis Toronto – the brand’s first property in Canada – comes with an epic backstory.
Born in 2012 as the Trump International Hotel and Tower, the mixed-use project endured wellpublicised problems, from flying glass building panels to political protests. After new owners deleted the Trump name last year, Marriott International took control, temporarily rechristened it the Adelaide, and undertook a swift, stealthy St. Regis rebrand.
The “new” St Regis opened in November. I was there in December and, surprisingly, Trump-era décor hadn’t been updated in most guest rooms; instead, Marriott splurged on an extravagantly modernist lobby, a $5 million (R72m) restaurant, and two splashy ultraluxury suites.
The Location
The hotel’s location, within the concrete canyons of the Financial District, makes up in convenience what it lacks in glamour. Attractions like St Lawrence Market, Scotiabank Arena, and Bell Lightbox – a cultural centre that is the home of the
Toronto International Film Festival – are less than 15 minutes away on foot. The Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport can take just a quarter-hour by taxi; five minutes gets you to Union Station, Toronto’s rail hub.you’ll need a car or public transit to reach more intriguing neighbourhoods.
The Room
My cheerless 22nd-floor superior king room boasted beige wallpaper, an armchair in chocolate-brown damask, and a TV on a functional-looking dresser of ash-grey veneer. There was no art on the walls; a monochromatic nature print above the headboard provided the sole decorative touch. Painted silver, a desk at the window offered some whimsy, until I noticed extensive peeling along its sides. An ihome docking clock radio sat on one nightstand. Panels on both sides of the bed allowed control of lighting and drapes. Cotton sateen Frette bed linens, crisp but soft, felt like heaven.