There’s Room At The Westins

This time last year, The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto and The Westin Ottawa were full of travellers on vacation.

This year, the lobbies are quiet, there’s a minimal amount of splashing and laughter in the swimming pool and very few, if any, friends are sharing a good conversation during their dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

And if you stay at either property now, you’ll notice multiple decals encouraging social distancing, and you might not recognize your favourite staff member behind the mask.

Guests will also notice some non-essential items in their guestroom have been removed for their safety.

Rest assured, all high touch surfaces are disinfected with increased frequency and EPA-approved products, and the property you’re staying at might even use the electrostatic sprayers to clean your room.

However, with the beautiful weather, you can also see more guests staying at hotels now.

Peter Gillis, general manager at The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto was thrilled to see this trend: “We are seeing guests from different provinces visiting us in addition to Ontario locals who are enjoying their well-deserved staycation.”

Guests staying at the hotel can explore Toronto’s waterfront parks and trails around the hotel by bike or foot. Or they can the Toronto Islands – just a ferry ride away from the property.

As well, there’s a Van Gogh drive-in exhibition 5 minutes away from the hotel and a drive-in events hub at the Ontario place, with movies, concerts and other entertainment.

Guests can also take a stroll to see the renowned Nathan Phillips Square, Distillery and Financial districts, all of which are populated with patios, take-out dining and shopping.

For those considering a trip to the nation’s Capital, Ross Meredith, general manager of The Westin Ottawa observes: “Ottawa is also welcoming an increased number of visitors this summer, and we have the best location for them with the city’s best shopping and dining options just steps away.”

Visitors can enjoy views of the Rideau Canal, stroll along its recreational paths, and experience the colourful eateries within the ByWard Market or indulge in shopping at the vibrant CF Rideau Centre that the hotel is connected to.

As well, the property has a bikeWESTIN program that takes guests one pedal further, enabling them to explore the city like a local on BMW bikes and visit Ottawa’s many iconic attractions like Parliament Hill and the national museums.