Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver sparkles with prestigious Forbes Five-Star ranking

One of Only Four Canadian Hotels to Achieve this Recognition

Vancouver, BC - The 56th annual Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards' top picks for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas includes the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver as the proud recipient of the prestigious five star rating.

 

The Forbes five star rating is a coveted honour awarded to the best of the best; this year Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver is among only four Canadian hotels receiving the highly esteemed nod of approval.  Sending out undercover inspectors to stay at the selected hotels and grade them on points including service, atmosphere and amenities provides Forbes with an impartial ruling of the guest experience. 

 

The distinguishing aspect between four star and five star hotels as per Forbes is predominantly service, a quality that Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has always prided itself on.  To achieve five star status hotels must "provide a memorable experience through virtually flawless service and the finest of amenities and delivery of service that is intuitive, engaging and passionate, and eagerly goes beyond expectations."  

Quebec Travel News for April 2014

The 350th anniversary of the Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral

Notre-Dame de Québec is both the first cathedral built on the continent and the first Catholic parish established in the Americas north of the Spanish colonies. The celebration of this milestone will not only highlight different aspects of Québec City society (faith, history, families, heritage and culture), but will see an important legacy be bequeathed to future generations. In addition to the many activities organized in association with the 350th Jubilee, Notre-Dame de Québec will also have the honour of having the first Holy Door installed outside Europe. The faithful are encouraged to follow in the footsteps of the city’s founding residents and embark on a pilgrimage to pass through the Holy Door. The religious heritage across the Québec City region comprises over 130 churches, twenty convent chapels, two cathedrals and two basilicas. Each of these ancestral sites bears witness to the origins of the many immigrants who settled in what once was the colony of New France. notredamedequebec.org/en/

Contemporary Art at Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland

Questions of Travel (Fogo)
a two-night guest package
celebrating an art exhibition
by Silke Otto-Knapp

Fogo Island, Newfoundland -- Fogo Island Inn, a radical new cultural and ecological hub, sits on an Island off an Island, on one of the four corners of the Earth.

Fogo Island Gallery, a contemporary art gallery located inside the award-winning Inn, will host the opening of internationally renowned artist Silke Otto-Knapp’s exhibition: Questions of Travel (Fogo). Fogo Island Inn marks the occasion with a two-night guest package including gallery and studio tours, now through August 31, 2014.

Fogo Island Inn’s Questions of Travel guest package is designed specifically for art lovers and inspired by the work of this celebrated German artist. The package offers: an introduction to the Island and the Fogo Island Arts residency program; an intimate overview of the artist’s work, practice and collections; and a screening of Ingmar Bergman’s Persona (1966) at the Inn’s cinema. It also includes all meals in the Fogo Island Inn dining room, which was recently recognized among the top three “Best New Restaurants of Canada” by enRoute magazine.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts to bring iconic W brand to the Netherlands with unveiling of W Amsterdam in 2015

W HOTELS WORLDWIDE TO MAKE DUTCH DEBUT

AMSTERDAM – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) has announced it will debut its W Hotels brand in the Netherlands with the new W Amsterdam, scheduled to open in Autumn 2015. 

Owned by STAG Europe (Grafenau) BV, the hotel will be located on the prestigious Dam Square in the heart of Amsterdam, behind the Royal Palace and just steps from the city’s iconic canal district with its vibrant restaurants, bars and nightlife scene.

“We are proud to bring the W brand to Amsterdam as we continue to grow this contemporary, design-led lifestyle brand in primary markets throughout Europe and around the world,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East.

Tofino's iconic Sobo restaurant launches The Sobo Cookbook

 SHARING RECIPES AND STORIES FROM THE END OF THE CANADIAN ROAD

TOFINO, BRITISH COLUMBIA - From the award-winning destination restaurant at the end of the Canadian road, on May 12 SoBo will be launching its first collection of recipes celebrating the best in West Coast cuisine. With stunning full-color photography, the much-anticipated SoBo Cookbook is a beautiful tribute to the entrancing town of Tofino.

SoBo (Sophisticated Bohemian) started out in 2003 by Lisa and Artie Ahier as a purple food truck in the parking lot behind a surf shop, long before food trucks were cool. Despite its remoteness, it attracted rave reviews from guests from around the world.

In its first six months of operation, Air Canada’s enRoute magazine named it one of Canada’s top ten new restaurants. SoBo has since become a destination restaurant, moving from the truck into its current location today. Chef Lisa Ahier and her team are always on hand to offer a warm and friendly greeting to the many visitors that have made the pilgrimage to the West Coast of Vancouver Island just to taste her cooking.

The restaurant's menu celebrates locally-sourced, seasonally-inspired ingredients from family-owned producers. From blueberry farmers Cathy and Kerry McDonald in Port Alberni, to Lyle Young of Island Farmhouse Poultry in Cowichan Bay, the book not only connects readers with SoBo’s well-loved recipes, but also shares Lisa’s respect for this close circle of friends that have helped to make SoBo what it is today.

Still time to plan a long weekend escape at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Long weekends are made for a road trips. You don’t have to go far for a weekend escape, especially if you live in BC, Washington or Alberta.

We are extending our BC Residents rate so our neighbours can receive up to 25% off* stays at Fairmont Hotels in the Pacific Northwest. Come for some spring blossom spotting, a mountian hike or some patio lounging. Learn More

Select one of these participating hotels: Fairmont Empress Fairmont Waterfront Fairmont Olympic Fairmont Pacific Rim Fairmont Chateau Whistler Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Fairmont Vancouver Airport

Ski Banff Lake Louise Sunshine for Easter

Easter is coming up and all three resorts have activities planned.

Enjoy spring skiing with the Easter Bunny all weekend long at the Lake Louise Ski Resort, take part an Easter Egg Hunt and Breakfast Buffet at Mt. Norquay as they wrap up the season, or show up for Easter Skiers Church on the slopes of Sunshine Village followed by an Easter Egg Hunt.

Last Minute Easter Weekend Deals Enjoy fantastic spring skiing conditions this Easter weekend with these blackout free, ski and stay deals.

Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute is open for Easter

Kite stuck in a tree? One too many Easter eggs? Head on over to BUEI this holiday weekend ...

We are OPEN from 10am-5pm on Friday, April 18th and 10am-5pm on Sunday, April 20th. Last admission at 4pm.

 

We wish all of you a safe and happy holiday!

Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute  

40 Crow Lane, Hamilton, HM19

Phone: 441-292-7219 Or 294-0204 Web: www.buei.org ;

Bus Routes: 1, 2, 7, 8

2013 Certificate of Excellence Winner on Tripadvisor!