Suelyn Bloye - DelSuites

Downtown Toronto Condos, Entertainment, Lifestyle talk

Plan Your Perfect Toronto Valentine’s Staycation

February 1, 2022

Toronto Valentine's staycation photo by Lisa Fotios from Pexels.

It’s been a hard winter—both in terms of the windchill and the COVID-19 situation. It’s not the easiest time to set up a romantic Valentine’s Day gesture, but it’s a good time to show the special people in your life how much you care.

Whether Valentine’s Day is a chance to spoil yourself or set up a romantic treat, here’s some of your best options for a Toronto Valentine’s staycation that feels like a real escape.

You don’t need to go far for your Valentine’s getaway

If staring at the same familiar walls doesn’t make you feel romantic—well, you’re not exactly alone. But it’s not too hard to find a change of scene and feel loved while keeping things COVID-safe.

Toronto’s famously a city of neighbourhoods—which means we never have to go far to find a whole new landscape. If you’re a downtown-dweller, the winter hiking trails at Mimico Creek and the Humber River can get you outside into nature, not far from Parc Nuvo. And if you’ve been aching for a little city action, the lake views and city lights downtown can set up a weekend of nice meals, great Instagram shots, and adventure.

Wherever you land, a DelSuites booking comes with soft sheets, fluffy towels, and warm, luxurious furniture that’s great for cuddling up together. Take a luxuriant hot bath in our deep soaker or Jacuzzi bathtubs, or enjoy sweeping balcony views of Toronto’s city lights.

A romantic dinner delivered to your door

Pandemic restrictions don’t have to mean missing an incredible Valentine’s dinner—or a catered breakfast. Toronto’s local dining scene has been getting creative with the limits of home delivery for two years—and they’re going all-out for Valentine’s.

High-end wine bar Grey Gardens offers full five-course meals for pickup a short walk from The Livmore. A stay at Qwest puts you down the block from Momofuku Toronto, which offers both takeout, delivery, and meal kits if you want to whip something up yourself—with a little help. Toronto chocolatier Soma is offering virtual tastings of both spirits and chocolate kits.

Even local specialty stores are offering serious options for Valentine’s Day. Local sustainable fish store Hooked is lining up three-course dinner specials–as well as oysters, caviar, and more. And for breakfast, the all-online Matchmaker Coffee can set up offering a DIY tasting tour of Canadian coffees—complete with flavour notes.

Our fully-equipped kitchens mean you can set the mood with fine plates, not takeout containers, or whip up a last-minute surprise dessert if you’re in the mood. Pack a few candlesticks and your best playlist, and you’re a restaurant built for two.

Do your Toronto Valentine’s staycation your way

Romance is personal—literally. For some people, it’s flowers, gifts, and fanfare; for some, it’s chocolate cake and Shark Week. And that means a little gesture, if it makes you feel heard and loved, can go a long way.

If your ideal Valentine’s weekend is keeping it low-key: our full premium cable packages and cozy couches let you curl up together for a movie night. If it’s big, bold, and classic, our building concierges can take delivery of as much chocolate and flowers as you need.

You can also book our buildings’ convenient—and romantic—amenities. Go for an evening swim at Ten York, enjoy the spa-grade saunas at Element and Republic, or take in the panoramic city view at The Livmore.

Whatever’s on your mind, our Guest Services team can help you put it together. With a little ingenuity, all you’ll have to do is open the door.

Get cozy in the city

We’re happy to set up your romantic getaway—whether it’s with friends, spoiling yourself, or with a special someone. Contact us by phone at (416) 370-3504, email at info@delsuites.com, or use our live chat to find out how we can make your Valentine’s Day extra romantic.

Business Travel, Energy Conservation, Toronto Family Travel, Vacation Travel

Your Big Fat Green Vacation: Travel Sustainably with DelSuites

January 25, 2022

Travel sustainably photo by Scott Evans on Unsplash.

After a year of fires, floods, and hurricanes, how to travel sustainably in our networked world is a bigger question than ever.

But as travel restrictions lift and all those trips COVID put off become possible, the question is: how? Without spending cash on carbon offsets, how do we balance the travel we love—or have to make to keep business running—with doing what’s right for our climate?

At DelSuites, we’ve already taken care of the big things: situating our fully-furnished rentals in sustainably-designed, LEED-certified Tridel buildings which are pushing the limits on how eco-friendly a high-rise can be. And our fully paperless booking service also lets you book, bill, and plan your trip while keeping a few trees in the ground.

But if you want to max out your sustainability while you travel, here are a few easy ways you can make that Toronto trip a little greener—and have fun while you do it.

Ditch the plastic toiletries, and get some planet-friendly ones

Everyone always forgets the toothbrush—but it might not be a bad idea, this time. For no more than a few extra dollars, you can forget the toothbrush and pick up a biodegradable, planet-friendly bamboo brush for your stay.

Kensington Market health food store Essence of Life Organics has a whole selection of biodegradable, zero-waste kitchen, laundry, and bathroom products to sample for only a few dollars each—and they offer reliable next-day delivery. Schedule an order before you leave, and you’ll be happily picking up your zero-waste, plastic-free lemon-flavoured dental floss from the concierge on your way through your door.

If you’d like to give that bamboo toothbrush a longer shelf life—and use it for your next five trips, too!—Quebec-based OLA Bamboo also offers a case to take it home in.

Sustainabilify the souvenirs

It’s not a trip without a few treats for the people back home. But it’s easy to make those treats more sustainable, eco-friendly, and longer-lasting.

“Eco-conscious general store” Logan & Finley offers a wide selection of sustainable treats for friends and family back home, from clothes to sustainably sourced specialty chocolate and decadent bath soaks.

In the west end, the laid-back Roncesvalles neighbourhood’s Ecotique puts an emphasis on looking chic, with green accessories, Toronto-themed tea towels, and elegant lounging robes made from upcycled saris. They’re gifts so elegant the environmental impact is just gravy.

Clean up your caffeine

When we’re on the road, all those morning coffees add up. But there are a few cafés that’ll let you get your fix greener while you’re on the go in Toronto.

Low-waste café Poured Coffee is taking the indie coffeeshop entirely package-free: their beans are dropped off by roaster La Marzocco in reusable food-safe bins, their milk in glass bottles, and every cup served goes into a reusable mug or thermos—yours or theirs. Complete with locally sourced baked goods and neighbourhood art, it’s a low-waste haven for east end travelers.

On the west side of the city, regional coffee roaster Reunion Island Coffee Roasters is a certified B-corp focusing on sustainable coffee “from seed to cup”. Powered by renewable energy provider Bullfrog Power, they’ve made every part of their supply chain more sustainable, from compostable wood-pulp coffee bags to fair-trade beans. And if you have to get a few bags delivered, don’t worry; the packaging’s biodegradable too. Drink up!

Send it with pedal power

Have an important package to get across town by end of day? Need a prescription refilled, stat?

Send It Courier is one of Toronto’s all-cargo bicycle courier companies—this one worker-owned and operated, with an A-list client portfolio and reasonable rates (including the highly descriptive “Panic”).

Instead of a cab or a rideshare, hand your parcels—heavy or light!—off to one of those professional cyclists, and do business with no carbon footprint at all.

Love your new green bin

The city of Toronto’s Green Bin program is a citywide way to keep your organics out of landfill. And because DelSuites furnished rentals are residential spaces, your stay lets you access the program.

The rules for Green Bin use may look complicated at first glance, but they’re worth spending five minutes to get to know. The program takes in food waste, coffee and tea grounds, paper plates, tissues, and paper towels—and much, much more.

Instead of piling up garbage, your waste will be turned into compost for the city’s parks and gardens, and biogas to power renewable natural gas programs—a win-win for everyone.

Our smallest gestures count when we travel sustainably

No, your travel toothbrush isn’t going to save the world. But the small choices we make add up, and a few better habits can be enough to make a much-needed trip more sustainable in the long run.

For more sustainable travel planning, contact us at DelSuites by phone at (647) 370-3504 or email info@delsuites.com. We’ll help you make your next visit to Toronto green, clean, and easy.

Customer Service Experience, Downtown Toronto Condos, Toronto Condos

What’s Behind the Trophy? Deciphering The DelSuites Awards Shelf

January 18, 2022

What’s in an award? Sometimes, it’s hard to tell. With a dizzying amount of industry-specific awards handed out every year, sorting what it all means—and what it says about the trip you’re about to book—can take a little expert knowledge.

With that in mind, we’re happy to explain the bottom line on the badges and honours DelSuites has collected—and what they mean when you spend the night in a DelSuites furnished apartment.

Consistency: The TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

TripAdvisor‘s one of the biggest travel platforms out there, letting you rate, book, and browse everything from accommodations and airlines to local attractions.

In a word, Certificates of Excellence mean consistency. Snagging a spot on this coveted list means keeping at least a 4 out of 5 rating—that’s at least 80% satisfaction—over the past year, with a minimum amount of reviews required. Only the top 10% of listed businesses manage to keep their quality and customer satisfaction that steady.

With seven consecutive years on the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence list, it means you know you’re likely to get a positive experience—and not run into sudden problems or confusion.

Sustainability: Corporate Housing Providers Association Best Green Progress Award

The Corporate Housing Providers Association is where corporate housing companies go to learn, network, advocate, regulate, and recognize excellence in the industry. It’s an international trade association that does the heavy lifting of making our industry better.

Its Best Green Progress award means a judging panel of cross-industry experts recognized we’ve not just made one-off green improvements, but made sustainability an ingrained part of how DelSuites does business. Because it emphasizes policies that put eco-friendliness at the centre, it means you can trust that a company’s thinking about the bigger picture—and constantly working to think up the next innovation.

Doing a lot with less: Consumer Choice Award

Market research firm Léger Marketing has handed out the Consumer Choice Award for almost 35 years to honour excellence in small- and medium-sized businesses. It’s based on a survey they conduct with consumers in 28 cities—now driven by AI—and highlights businesses that are getting huge results with smaller staff.

As a six-time winner, this means you know a stay with DelSuites is a stay where you can enjoy the personal, relationship-driven service of a smaller company without sacrificing efficiency or comfort.

Thinking globally: Americas Expatriate Management and Mobility Awards

The Americas Expatriate Management and Mobility Awards are given out by the Forum for Expatriate Management—a community for the everyone in the huge business of helping people immigrate, emigrate, and relocate for work.

The EMMAs judges look for businesses that meet expats’ unique requirements: translating a new country’s housing market for their guests, working across cultural differences, and being a bridge with landlords and service providers.

As a three-time nominee—and the only Canadian corporate housing provider to be nominated in those years—the EMMAs send a simple message: that DelSuites can handle the unique challenges international guests deal with when moving across borders for work, and do it with sensitivity, care, and a smile.

What our awards bring to the table

So, what’s the story those statues tell you? That no matter what country you’re travelling from—or whether you’re one traveller or a multinational company—you can count on personal, thoughtful customer service that’ll always live up to our high standards.

And that whether it’s innovative technology or bringing in sustainable practices in our sustainable buildings, we’re always finding the newest way to make your stay better.

We’re proud to have been recognized by our industry for the DelSuites commitment to excellence: the best compliments come from the people who know what it takes to deliver great work. But we’re even prouder to bring that excellence to our guests every day—and live up to the promises our awards shelf guarantees.

Corporate Housing, Customer Service Experience, Energy Conservation

DelSuites Gives Travellers the Tridel Advantage

January 11, 2022

At DelSuites, we believe travel and hospitality aren’t complete without community: being part of something bigger than ourselves.

Which is part of why we’re part of something bigger, too: a group of companies whose know-how stretches from pouring foundations to developing green technologies and plumping your pillows before you arrive.

As part of the Tridel Group, DelSuites offers Toronto furnished apartments exclusively in Tridel-constructed buildings—showcasing one of Canada’s most innovative, forward-thinking, and celebrated developers. And it’s not just for the name brand: It’s because staying with DelSuites means having the whole Tridel team treating you like part of our community.

Here are three reasons why DelSuites furnished rental units are located exclusively in Tridel-constructed buildings—and what it means to stay in a Tridel suite.

Built on generations of experience

DelSuites is one of the most established short-term housing providers in Canada, but we’re part of a much larger—and older—family.

Tridel built its first houses in 1934, using everything founder Jack DelZotto knew about stonemasonry and bricklaying. Over the next three generations, the DelZottos built their family business into one of Canada’s biggest and most celebrated condominium developers—one that’s still family-owned and going strong 85 years later. And since that first house, Tridel has developed affiliate companies that have reached the top of their game in property management, rentals, realty brokerage, seniors’ housing, and developing the future of how we live.

It’s that long view on what makes a building home—every single aspect of how we live in condominiums—that’s made Tridel such a success. It’s a unique understanding of condominium as real community, transformed into in-house expertise through affiliated companies dedicated to supporting each other. With that powerhouse team managing every aspect of Tridel buildings, it’s clear why for almost a century, the Tridel name has meant reliability, excellence, and unmatched expertise.

It also means that DelSuites opens our doors to you with the support of every Tridel Group member at our backs. When you stay with DelSuites, a Guest Services call is your portal to everything from smooth, professional property management, 24-hour assistance, intimate knowledge of our neighbourhoods, and an exquisite, inside-out understanding of how our units and buildings work.

Being part of the Tridel alliance lets you have confidence in a stress-free, seamless stay—with hundreds of team members who’ve got your back.

Stay in Toronto’s most innovative suites

No company lasts over 85 years without changing it up a little—or a lot. That’s why a stay with DelSuites also gives you access to one of Tridel’s signature advantages: pushing the limits of what a condominium suite—or community—can be, in real-time.

DelSuites units are located in some of Tridel’s newest, most cutting-edge condominium communities. That’s more than a modern short-term rental; it’s a chance to spend your trip living on the cutting edge of emerging ways to live in our homes.

Sustainable heating and cooling systems pioneered at the uniquely eco-friendly Element let you keep the temperature where you like it without guilt. At Ten York, tech lovers can use built-in smart home technology for hands-free entry, a video buzzer, digital keyfobs, and unbeatably fast wireless internet.

Staying with DelSuites also gets you access to cutting-edge building amenities and extras. Our buildings feature amenities designed in response to what residents wanted and asked for: workout rooms, social spaces, and swimming pools.

Tridel buildings haven’t stopped pushing to discover what’s next. As a co-founder of Tower Labs at Toronto’s prestigious MaRS Discovery District, Tridel is breaking ground on technologies to make high-rise living greener, cleaner, and smarter. And as new innovations come online in Tridel’s current projects, DelSuites will be there to offer a taste of what’s next.

Eco-friendly travel—from the ground up

The future is green living—and staying with DelSuites means the future’s already here.

Tridel leads across Canada in building sustainable, eco-friendly condominiums—with the most LEED-certified buildings in the country and a Corporate Housing Providers Association Best Green Progress Award recognizing our commitment to living green.

With cutting-edge technology being rolled out with every project, you can be confident your DelSuites stay is green from the ground up—and you’re meeting your personal or company goals to do your part for our climate.

On paper, that means typical Tridel buildings use 34% less electricity, 57% less natural gas and 43% less potable water than your average high-rise. What that means for you?

When you walk through the door of your suite, you’ll breathe cleaner air, not feeling too warm or too cold, and using less water and power as you enjoy your normal day. And with a fully stocked kitchen, ensuite laundry facilities, and on-site recycling, you can pack lighter, wash more, and throw out less.

Tridel buildings are also carefully planned to offer green space, eco-friendly transit, and be a real part of a sustainable neighbourhood. At each of our locations, you’ll find Toronto’s famous parks and ravines at your door—or bikes, transit, and walkable, vibrant city life ready for the taking.

Built on an 85-year promise

DelSuites is committed to old-fashioned hospitality—with a modern, convenient twist. And as part of the Tridel Group, we know our welcome is backed up by a history of proven quality and a fierce appetite for doing things the better way.

That’s why all our luxury furnished apartments call Tridel buildings home—and why we’re proud to be part of the Tridel community.

Downtown Toronto Condos, Family Vacations in Toronto, Fitness and Health, Food & Recipes

Travelling with Dietary Restrictions: A Quick Guide

January 4, 2022

Dietary restrictions Photo by Lubo Minar on Unsplash.

How we eat is part of our everyday lives: what we eat, when, and where. But also what we don’t eat. And what we don’t eat shows up in whole new ways when we travel to a new place.

Travelling with dietary needs or restrictions can be difficult: Packing your own snacks, balancing medications, and hours of extra research on where you can enjoy a good meal without getting sick afterward—sometimes in another language. It’s an extra layer of work that can make it much harder to focus on your business travel, enjoy the neighbourhood, or just kick back and relax on that hard-earned vacation.

But whether it’s allergies, diabetes, food intolerances, religious and cultural diets, or just sticking with a lifestyle that makes you feel great, it’s possible to have the trip of a lifetime and still eat the way you need. When you’re visiting Toronto, DelSuites fully furnished short-term rentals is here to make travel with dietary restrictions not just possible, but the trip of your life.

The flexibility of a full condominium kitchen

When hotel rooms were a traveler’s first option, the advice for traveling with dietary needs was to find a room with a mini-fridge, pack lots of snacks, and do a lot of research.

But since flexible vacation rentals have become more common, we’re all exploring new ways to experience a destination, and the standard special diet travel advice has become much simpler: stay somewhere you have the option to cook. Even if new restaurants and nights out are the highlights of your trip, you’ll have cooking as a backup option—and can enjoy your trip without the stress of looking for your next meal.

Here’s where DelSuites fully furnished rentals step up: a chance to choose how you want to travel, eat, and play—without sacrificing comfort, convenience, or luxury.

Situated in residential buildings across Toronto’s diverse neighbourhoods, DelSuites short-term rentals are built for everyday living. That means all our suites have fully equipped—and full-sized—kitchens, putting modern appliances, pots, pans, cooking utensils, and a full set of dishes at your disposal. And if you have dietary needs where cross-contamination matters—celiac, kosher, halal, FODMAP, or a severe allergy—it means a private kitchen where there’s no need to stress about other travelers’ meals or a homeshare host’s preferences. You can bring in your favourites and relax with perfect confidence that you’ll be feeling great after dinner.

Eat the way you want

DelSuites’s convenient and dynamic services let you choose how you want to travel without stress—and let you change your mind once you’re here.

If you’d rather do your own cooking for one or every meal of the day, our booking concierges can help you prearrange a grocery order to be delivered on your arrival—and our buildings’ friendly staff will get it to your door. Toronto’s diverse, multicultural neighbourhoods mean you’ll have endless options to find essentials, whether it’s a favourite international snack, a holiday dish, or ingredients that are certified gluten-, dairy-, or nut-free. It’s a chance to skip border regulations about food and relax, knowing you’ll have a full fridge by suppertime.

If you’re used to carrying snacks, you’ll have the space and equipment to prep and store them for your day out—and stop relying on dry food or non-perishables. Or, with the city’s array of options, you’ll have a chance to discover new favourites.

And if you’re looking forward to trying Toronto’s dizzying array of restaurants—and leaving cooking at home for a while—our full-sized fridges will let you store extra helpings from your new favourite takeout place for those midnight leftovers snacks.

But best of all: If you change your mind and decide you’d rather eat in after all, you’ll have the flexibility to do it without fuss or consequences. And instead of thinking about meal planning, you’ll get to focus on the experience.

Enjoy one of Canada’s top dining cities—without breaking the budget

However you eat, Toronto’s an excellent city for food-lovers. It’s a multicultural, diverse, and curiosity-driven place to eat where you can find classic fine dining from top chefs on the same block as warm, generous Anishinaabe pow wow eats—and an enthusiastic lineup for both.

But everyone who eats a slightly different diet knows finding food that works can comes with a cost—paleo, keto, lactose-free, nut allergies, and celiac-safe foods can come with a serious price markup, and that cost can add up as you pile on restaurant meal after restaurant meal.

DelSuites helps you balance your travel budget by letting you save the costs on premium food and take care of easy meals on your own. With a chance to whip up a quick smoothie or omelette for breakfast, you can really savour your restaurant budget with a few high-end treats—instead of a lot of mid-range meals.

Eat, Play, Love

Most of all, everyone at DelSuites wants to make sure your experience in Toronto is a great one. Contact us at DelSuites by phone at (647) 370-3504 or email info@delsuites.com and we’ll help you set up diet-friendly accommodations—and make sure dinner’s on the table when you arrive.

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