by Anne Dimon
It was way back in May of 2005 in an article for the Financial Post Weekend titled Never Let Them See You Sweat, that I wrote about Westin Hotels & Resorts having invested more than $10 million into their state-of-the-art facilities branded WestinWORKOUT. Westin is certainly considered one of the hotel brand leaders in the wellness hospitality space.
In fact, on a recent visit to the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto, Kahlil Robles, Marketing Coordinator told me that “wellness has always been part of the hotel brand.” He pointed out that under the pillars of Move Well, Work Well, Feel Well, Eat Well, Play Well and Sleep Well, Westin Wellness is a philosophy that guides Westin’s amenities, services and experiences.
Opened in 1975, the sprawling two-tower hotel located on the edge of Lake Ontario, just a few minutes’ drive from downtown Toronto, houses 977 rooms. All 500 rooms in the South Tower were recently renovated to reflect modern standards and décor. Eight one-bedroom suites complete with living and dining spaces were also part of the renovation.
The thirty plus level towers are connected by both the lobby and conference levels and the 5thfloor, home of most of the hotel’s wellness amenities. According to Robles, the 5th is positioned as the “wellness floor” and, he says it has one of the few indoor hotel pools in downtown Toronto.
At $20 (Canadian) per hour-long session, guided water aerobics, offered once a week, is a recent addition to their offerings. In partnership with the coaching service Wellago, the hotel additionally offers complimentary yoga and fitness classes several times a week. Guests can also use the yoga studio at their own pace and convenience, plus there’s a Lulu Lemon Studio offering a virtual yoga coach. There’s also a well-equipped gym.
Also considered to be the Family Floor, the 5th is where guests will find the outdoor terrace with its lounge chairs, a tennis court, a pickleball court and a basketball net. The roof top garden is where herbs and vegetables are grown in partnership with The Bowery Project, a Toronto-based non-profit organization designed to create opportunities for urban agriculture.
Executive Sous Chef, Rhian Rodriques tells me the terrace is also home to a bee apiary from where honey is harvested to use in the restaurants, plus some is bottled for client giveaways. He points out that the hotel kitchen sources food grown by local sustainable suppliers and the menu changes to reflect the season. He says beef, chicken and pork are mostly from Ontario suppliers, and fish comes from both East and West Canadian coasts. As per the increasingly popular Mediterranean Diet, he says “We’ve seen women and younger men move away from red meat to more fish and chicken.” He points out that the kitchen staff also incorporate healthy cooking methods, ensure that there are healthy items on menus, offer smaller portions if requested, and can cater to various healthy culinary preferences.
The 5th floor is also home to the intimate Damara Spa housing five treatment rooms (including two for couples) plus an intimate mani/pedi area with a small deck overlooking the lake. It offers a full menu of services and treatments including the 60-minute full-body Tranquility Massage which I enjoyed at the magical hands of therapist Iryna. The following day I once again had the pleasure of another treatment at the spa. This time, and once again with therapist Iryna, I enjoyed a Collagen Mask Facial which focused on anti-aging. Iryna explains that the 90-minute treatment first includes a chemical peel will brighten the skin and boost the natural collagen. Then comes the tinfoil covered collagen mask and while it does its job, I again experience the magic massage hands of Iryna on feet and scalp.
In addition to the wellness-focused offerings within the hotel there is BikeWestin offering complimentary or rental e-bikes during the warmer seasons, and RunWestin, which provides mapped walking and running routes from the hotel. Here at the Westin Harbour Castle, guided runs and walks begin early June, are typically scheduled Tuesday to Thursday, and are complimentary to hotel guests.
Beyond the hotel facilities and situated on the 38th floor of the South Tower is independently-owned and operated Don Alfonzo 1890 restaurant. The name is a tribute to the family’s culinary history, and the brand itself dates back to the 60s in San Agatha, Italy. General Manager, Justin Madol tells me San Agatha was “one of the epicenters of where the Mediterranean Diet originated.” He also points out that Don Alfonzo 1890 is the only Micheline Star restaurant in a Toronto hotel.
With a view of Lake Ontario on one side of the restaurant and the Toronto city skyline on the other, you can order one of several multi-course, set-price menus including a nine-course vegetarian menu. Food is tasty, beautifully presented and elegantly served. The high-end restaurant is also in the high-price category, but certainly worth adding to your culinary bucket list.
If you are wellness-minded and plan to travel to Canada’s largest city any time soon for business or pleasure, be sure to keep the Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto on your radar.
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