37 HOTEL ROOMS. 37 ARTISTS.

While on a business trip in Toronto, my client gave me a rather small hotel budget of $150 to $175/night. If you’ve ever been to Toronto, you know that the only way you can get a hotel room at that rate is to stay at the hotels/motels by the airport, right under the flight path of the planes.

Every trip, I would stay at different Toronto hotels hoping to find a place that I love- a hotel that is trendy, offers great service, cool ambiance, great value, and ideal for having clients over for  cocktails or coffee. I came across Gladstone Hotel through Travelocity and I was able to get a room for $150/night. For the price, the accommodations turned out to be fantastic.

Room 301: The Skygazer Room

The Gladstone Hotel was built in 1889 and named after Gladstone Avenue, next to the hotel. It was designed by local architect G.M. Miller in the Romanesque revival style. The Gladstone Hotel is the oldest continuously operating hotel in Toronto. The Gladstone is a fine example of a Victorian Hotel with beautiful plaster moldings in the grand hallways.

What makes the hotel unique is there is art space or gallery on every floor and each room has been designed by a Canadian artist.  It offers 37 one-of-a-kind hotel rooms from the winning artists. I stayed at room 301, otherwise known as “The Skygazer Room.” The room, decorated in all white furniture, sheets, curtains and accessories, has a meditative or pure ambiance created by the 3D wall treatment of specialized plaster relics shaped like parts of a robot. Yes, the rooms are quite small, but its character makes up for it.

 

Aside from the unique art hotel rooms, Gladstone Hotel has over 70 art exhibitions a year, 3 dedicated gallery spaces and 1 full-time Director of Exhibitions. Art is on display in all corners of the hotel which are open to the public like gallery spaces. The lobby and the lobby bar and restaurant are filled with interesting and cool guests. It has that music or art industry type scene, without being the least bit pretentious.

Since each room represents a different artist’s vision, no two stays will be the same! I can’t wait to visit again and discover other artworks.

Common Area is ideal for having guests over

Each floor has a gallery

Gallery and reception area on the 3rd floor

If you’re an art lover, you would love exploring each floor.

The bar on the first floor has so much character.

 

The restaurant is buzzing at night!

You have to take the elevator – it is quite an experience.
You can learn more about this hotel at: http://www.gladstonehotel.com