TORONTO HOTEL BUSINESS. has learned that Metropolitan Hotels is building a high-end, 87-room boutique hotel in Toronto.
The property will join the existing 434-room Metropolitan Hotel, also in Toronto, as well as a 197-room sister hotel by the same name in Vancouver.
The new boutique hotel will be high-tech in its offerings, said Henry Wu, president of the hotel company. The existing properties in his portfolio already cater to the business traveler with high-speed Internet access in guestrooms and wireless Internet access in its public areas, including its restaurants.
The existing properties also offer unique web-based client services. For example, employees of select corporations have access to an Internet program that allows them to plan their visits to either hotel ahead of time. Through the program, these guests can schedule wake-up calls, request concierge services and order room service before their arrival at the hotel.
A separate meeting planners web program allows corporations to set up individual websites through the hotel to facilitate the meeting-registration process. The site, whose content is decided upon by meeting planners, stays live while the event is taking place at the hotel, enabling attendees to check the meeting s agenda on an on-going basis.
Wu, who is a computer engineer with degrees from MIT, said he plans on trying out other new technological amenities at the boutique hotel under construction. (2/20/01) Ruthanne Terrero