Tips about Toronto » business travel

Direct Flights From LAX and SFO to YYZ

contact — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 05:59:21 +0000

Los Angelinos and San Franciscans, rejoice! Starting June 23, 2010, Virgin America is offering direct flights out of San Francisco and Los Angeles to and from Toronto, marking the airline’s first international destination. For an unbeatable fare, you’ll get power outlets at every seat, in-flight internet, mood-lit cabins, custom designed leather seating, and Red™ — the touch-screen personal entertainment system featuring live TV, movies, music, video games and more. [via thrillist]

See the flight schedule and fees

Frommer’s Toronto 2009

contact — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:03:14 +0000

Pre-order Frommer’s Toronto 2009 and get a price guarantee before the price goes up.

Order now and if the Amazon.com price decreases between your order time and the end of the day of the release date, you’ll receive the lowest price.

That is a deal, isn’t it?

Order Frommer’s Toronto 2009 now

Obese People Win Right to Two Seats in Planes

contact — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:16:44 +0000

From cheapflights:

“A Canadian court has ruled that obese people have the right to two seats on airlines.

The Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal by WestJet (Web site: www.westjet.com) and Air Canada on a decision by the Canadian Transportation Agency that people who are obese deserve to have two seats for one fare.

Currently, the policy exists on other types of public transportation such as buses, ferries and trains.

The policy for airlines will come into effect in January 2009.”

Upcoming Apple Related Seminars in Toronto

contact — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:07:35 +0000

September 22 – Introduction to Mobile Me – Learn about Apple’s new Mobile Me service and what it can do for you in this fun demonstration. Location: Computer Systems Centre Store, Main Floor, 275 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1S2 – more info

September 22 – Affordable power for the busiest printing environment – Learn about what Xerox printers can do in your Mac or mixed enviroment office. Location: Computer Systems Centre Store, Main Floor, 275 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1S2 – more info

September 23 – Introduction to the Wacom Tablet Family on the Mac – Come in and learn about important differences between the various models of Wacom tablets available for your Mac. Location: Computer Systems Centre Store, Main Floor, 275 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1S2 – more info

September 23 – Colour Calibration for Mac Graphic Artists – Learn how to calibrate your display for accurate colour reproduction. Location: Computer Systems Centre Store, Main Floor, 275 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1S2 – more info

September 24 – Your Media On Your TV – Learn about how to enjoy your multimedia content in your living room! We’ll discuss the Apple TV and how it can bring you into the digital age. Location: Computer Systems Centre Store, Main Floor, 275 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1S2 – more info

September 24 – Intro to Music Production and Recording on a Mac – Learn how to set up your very own digital audio workstation as we run through the basics of recording and producing music with a Macintosh. Location: BeamEcho formerly, CPUsed, Sales Floor, 26a Cumberland Street, Toronto, Ontario M4W 1J5 – more info

September 24 – Introduction to Logic Express – for those curious about audio recording on the Mac and is ready for a step up from Garage Band. Location: Computer Systems Centre Store, Main Floor, 275 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1S2 – more info

September 25 – iPod + iTunes Workshop – for anyone interested in learning how to convert existing audio and video into high quality iTunes and iPod experiences. Location: BeamEcho formerly, CPUsed, Sales Floor, 26a Cumberland Street, Toronto, Ontario M4W 1J5 – more info

September 25 – Managing Your Money on Your Mac With Money Works – for people wanting to learn to use their Mac to help them manage their finances. Location: Computer Systems Centre Store, Main Floor, 275 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1S2 – more info

Bankrupt: Zoom Airlines

contact — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:10:35 +0000

From gadling:

“The only thing worse than seeing an airline go out of business, is watching it unfold while you are at the airport waiting to get on one of their flights. That is the unfortunate situation many passengers of Canadian airline Zoom found themselves in yesterday.

Zoom took off in May 2002 and was founded by 2 brothers who wanted to introduce low cost international travel to Canada with a fleet of 5 Boeing aircraft. The airline flew various routes from Canada to the United States, The UK, France and Italy.

One of the Boeing 757’s leased by Zoom was stranded in Glasgow and impounded when Zoom failed to pay the required air traffic control fee. Another 213 passengers were stuck in Halifax while volunteers attempted to find alternative ways to help them get to their final destination of Ottawa. Zoom naturally blames the loss of their airline on rising fuel costs and a general ecomonic downturn. They are they the 36th airline in the world to close this year according to a list posted on Wikipedia.

Sadly there really are no good tips on what to do when you are stuck at an airport after your airline goes bankrupt. All I can suggest is that you have the phone numbers for other airlines and hotel chains programmed in your phone, the quicker you get in touch with them for an alternative flight, or for a room where you can spend the night, the greater your chances are of getting home before anyone else. It is in times like this that you’ll also learn to appreciate the importance of paying for your tickets by credit card, which might help you get your money back. Don’t depend on the airline to provide you with information when things go sour, most of their staff will be the first to leave the building once they hear their employer is going under.”

Public Transportation

contact — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:46:48 +0000

Public Transportation in Toronto is one of the world class leaders in affordability and comfort. When traveling here on business or leisure, it makes the most sense to take the GO Trains or buses or ferries. Once within the metro area you will be impressed by the efficient combination of subway, bus, and streetcar to get you where you want to go. Need information on maps, routes and generally how to get from point A to point B? The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) routes are online, and you can also feel free to telephone them for further information. From traveling to and from the airport, to downloading and printing schedules and map routes, all you need to do is go online to the TTC website.

Check it out here

Shopping in Toronto: Yorkdale Mall

contact — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:38:36 +0000

A recent $60-million expansion accounted for an additional 40 new stores to Yorkdale, and the fashion centre now offers its shoppers an even more exciting array of retailers, including the Apple Store, H&M, Lululemon, Mango, Sephora and Zara. More than 180,000 square feet of shopping space was added in the redevelopment, and the new section features a soaring 60-foot-high glass atrium.

Go crazy shopping at more than 240 shops. I am a huge fan of H&M and so you’ll see me spend most of my time there, and the Apple Store too.

Yorkdale Mall
1 Yorkdale Road, Suite 500
Toronto, Ontario M6A 3A1
Canada
Hours
Monday – Friday: 10am – 9pm
Saturday: 9:30am – 9pm
Sunday: 11am – 6pm
Note: Monday August 4th, 2008 – Civic Day – The Mall is open 10am to 6pm.

Yorkdale Shopping Centre is closed:

Friday March – Good Friday
Sunday March/April – Easter Sunday
May – Victoria Day
July – Canada Day
September – Labour Day
October – Thanksgiving Day
December 25 – Christmas Day
January 1 – New Years Day

Canadians Don’t Back Out

contact — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:51:14 +0000

From the globeandmail:

This week, Collected Wisdom is driving to the supermarket in its luxury Globe and Mail company car — a 1978 AMC Gremlin. But do we reverse into that parking space or drive forward into it?

THE QUESTION: Mississauga’s Tom Landre wondered why so many people back their cars into parking spots in parking lots. “More than a few times, I have been walking through a parking lot and been startled by a vehicle that had backed in and was suddenly moving forward toward me. If they had pulled in forward, then I, as a pedestrian, would have two signals for their departure. First the brake lights would come on and then the reversing lights.”

THE ANSWER: Well, we received a huge number of responses on this on. Many thanks to all who wrote in, but unfortunately we have room for only a few of the replies.

“I always try to park so that I can drive forward out of the space rather than backing out,” writes Barbara Pettit of Fergus, Ont. “When backing out, with all the vans, trucks and SUVs on both sides, it’s almost impossible to see if it’s safe to back out. If you drive out, you can see, with much less of your vehicle sticking out into the driving lane, whether something is coming.”

As for pedestrians, she says, although they may not have as much visual information about when a vehicle is about to drive out of a space as they do when one is about to back out, the driver has a much better chance of seeing the pedestrian.

John Reid of Mississauga says driving front-first out of a parking spot is safer for pedestrians because eye contact can be easily made between driver and pedestrian to ensure that both are aware of each other.

David Sword of Willowdale, Ont., adds that backing into parking spaces is far safer than backing out because “you are backing into an empty and known space that is clear of pedestrian and vehicle traffic.”

Peter J. Ogloff of New Westminster, B.C., says it is much easier to back into a tight parking space than to drive forward into it because when you are in reverse, your turning circle centres on the rear wheels, making for a better turn.

Meanwhile, “if Mr. Landre needs signals from a vehicle that it is pulling out of a parking space,” writes Cecil Bush of Toronto, “there should still be the two signals he seeks — one when the running lights come on as the vehicle is put in gear, and the other when the driver uses the turn signals to indicate whether he is turning left or right — although, admittedly, the latter is now seldom done.”

The final word, perhaps for owners of 1978 Gremlins, comes from Duncan Boyce of Toronto: “If your battery dies and you need a boost, it can be very problematic for battery cables to reach your car if the engine is not at the front of the parking spot.”

HELP WANTED

“Now that the football season is well under way,” writes David Bryant of Regina, “I was wondering why, in a country that has been metric for decades, the Canadian game is measured in yards and not metres.” The field being 110 yards long is ready-made for a very tidy conversion to almost exactly 100 metres.

“I was reading a book that mentioned that bell-bottom pants were long associated with the Royal Navy,” says John Manuel of Golden, B.C. He wonders if there was a functional reason for this.

Canadian Border to Check iPods for Copyright Infringment

contact — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:36:53 +0000

“The federal government is secretly negotiating an agreement to revamp international copyright laws which could make the information on Canadian iPods, laptop computers or other personal electronic devices illegal and greatly increase the difficulty of travelling with such devices.”

Read about it here.

[via]

Seen in Toronto

contact — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:32:57 +0000

From woostercollective!

Air Canada Will Charge for Customer Service

contact — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 07:39:40 +0000

From the star:

“It was bound to happen eventually: Air Canada now wants you to pay extra for better customer service.

In an era of continued cost-cutting, the country’s largest airline yesterday rolled out a new service called “On My Way” that, for a fee, promises to help passengers cope with delays and cancellations beyond the airline’s control, including bad weather or airport traffic.

“This is something that many airlines used to do in-house,” said Rick Erickson, a Calgary-based airline consultant. “But since the advent of the low-cost carrier, everybody wants cheap fares.”

Air Canada said passengers who opt to pay an additional $25 one-way on short-haul flights and an extra $35 one-way on long-haul routes within North America will receive “speedy” access to “specially-trained” customer service agents who will help rebook flights on Air Canada or other airlines, as well as pay for hotel stays and meals, if necessary.

Air Canada said the program, which applies to any flight cancelled within 48 hours of the scheduled departure, goes beyond the industry practice of assisting customers affected by schedule changes deemed to be the airline’s fault, such as mechanical problems with aircraft, scheduling glitches or crew members failing to show up for flights.

But while Air Canada is touting the program as an industry-first, at least one observer said it was once common for big North American carriers to go out of their way to help inconvenienced or stranded customers – free…”

Article

Featured City: Toronto

contact — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:38:38 +0000

Make sure to head over to concierge where they’ve featured our favorite Canadian city of Toronto. Here’s what they say about Toronto in a nutshell:

“* It’s a chowhound’s paradise, with everything from Nigerian to Laotian, Moroccan to Azerbaijani food

* An architectural renaissance is transforming the skyline with additions by Daniel Libeskind and native son Frank Gehry

* Toronto has become one of the most ethnically diverse cities on the continent, with lively neighborhoods, festivals, and restaurants to match

* The Eaton Centre. It’s a big suburban-style mall with all the wrong kinds of shopping

* When to go to Toronto: May, June, September, October”

More here

The Metropolitan Hotel, Great for Business Travelers

contact — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:21:45 +0000

When you stay at The Metropolitan Hotel you’ll find yourself just a few convenient minutes from the Financial District.

The hotel boasts a 24-hour business center and in-room amenities such as large work space on desks, fax/modem hookups, and cordless two-line phones.

There are favorite restaurants among the business crowd here: Hemispheres and Lai Wah Heen will be ideal for your power lunches.

The Metropolitan Hotel
108 Chestnut Street
Toronto, ON M5G 1R3, Canada
(416) 977-5000