In luxury news, we can all use a respite, right? The Blue Jays’ 5-4 loss to the Dodgers in the World Series sent a lot of people in these parts into a deep emotional tailspin that’s going to take some time to recover from.
To literally lose the World Series by a toe (Dodgers’ catcher Will Hill lifting then putting back down the tip of his left foot on a home plate on a throw by Miguel Rojas as the Jays’ Isiah Kiner-Falefa slid home with the game tied in the 9th, a run that would have won the Jays the game and their first World Series title in 32 years) was tough to take.
Luxury News in Toronto
Hotel Promotions
What about a three-day staycation? A quick scan around the city gives us three options (and I’ve experienced these myself, so you know I am not full of it, taking a free night in exchange for editorial mention).
Hotel X. Located down by the lake, Hotel X just opened Contrast Zone, a new sauna and bath lounge situated in the 10XTO athletic club. The lounge was created in collaboration with wellness companies Kala and Coldture. Sauna and ice bath lounges are exploding in popularity, great for circulation and stress relief, reducing pain, helping with injury repair. Plus you’ll sleep better. $558 per night including taxes for a Friday and Saturday night in mid November.
Bisha. Located right on Blue Jays Way, south of King St., Bisha is all about cool vibe, with the rooftop and restaurant bar KŌST on the 44th floor – featuring some of the best views of the city you’ll find anywhere. So there’s no reason to leave the property, and that’s what we are getting at with a staycation. Everything is right there for you. No reason to leave the property for dinner. $450 per night including taxes for a Friday and Saturday night in mid November.
Le Germain Hotel Toronto Maple Leaf Square. Steps from Scotiabank Arena, on the southeast corner of Bremner Ave. and York St., again, everything is on the property. The service is fantastic. The rooms are plush, beds are luxurious. We did the Breakfast Package – spacious room, King bed, one healthy breakfast per person, WiFi access for me, and access to the gym, with a full selection of modern cardio machines and free weights. Checkout anytime with at no additional cost. $341 per night including taxes for a Friday and Saturday night in mid November.
Hotel Le Germain Maple Leaf Square, Image by Mark Keast
Bisha Hotel
Fall Luxury Real Estate Market in the Greater Toronto Area
I own a 1,150 square foot loft in the Toy Factory Lofts in Liberty Village, so I follow any news impacting real estate values in the downtown core down to minute detail.
Two things caught my attention. One, the news last week the Bank of Canada was cutting rates another quarter point, bringing the benchmark interest rate to 2.25%, while also indicating that might be it in terms of rate cuts for the short term, as the country wades through structural hits from U.S. tariffs. Those of us with variable rates will take any good piece of news we can get after watching the market sit in the toilet for the past two years.
The other was a comment made to me by Jason Mercer, chief market analyst with the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, saying the storm clouds in the luxury real estate market are clearing up, with people in the market cautiously optimistic for the Fall and Winter months. Interest rate cuts may not impact people buying properties over $5 million to $10 million, but it certainly does for people between $2 million and $5 million, even those who have been sitting one level below that, wanting to move up into the luxury bracket to take advantage of the fact there’s been a dearth of buyers these past two years.
There should be some upward push in real estate values as buying picks up, and there are some great opportunities for investors ready to move up to the luxury property level.
Liberty Village, image by Mark Keast
Luxury News in Canada
Democratizing Private Jet Travel
A few years I wrote on Jettly, a web and single app private jet charter platform, for those folks who wanted better access to private jet travel, but who weren’t among the super rich, in a better spot to own one outright. Jettly’s operations are in New York, Nice, France, London, England, and Toronto.
“We’ve democratized the space and have been changing the way people fly worldwide,” founder and CEO Justin Crabbe told us then. The people who run Jettly say their service is the Expedia of private jet aviation. You can go online and select your aircraft type, the date of your departure and destination, whether or not you need a pickup, and they take care of the rest.
Crabbe says Jettly fills an inventory void. More than 40 per cent of all private jet flights are empty legs, he adds. Jettly books customers into those empty legs. So they are bringing efficiency to it, he says, and savings to consumers in part because brokers are taken out of the equation. Go onto their site and you can get quotes for executive jets, helicopters, light jets, turbo props, long-range jets, even ultra-long range aircraft.
Model: Theresa Longo
Luxury News Around the World
Las Vegas is Fine
According to Bill Hornbuckle, president and chief executive officer of MGM Resorts, Las Vegas is fine, despite months of hand-wringing and self-analysis and industry-wide consternation about downturns in travel to the Strip. Those concerns have been justified, especially when looking at a decrease in Canadians travelling to Las Vegas, as I wrote about here.
MGM had less-than-ideal third quarter returns (net revenue from their nine casino hotels on the Strip down seven per cent, year-over-year in Q3, at USD $2 billion), but Hornbuckle is positive about Q4 returns, as the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports here.
“We see signs of stabilization as the luxury market segment continues exhibiting strength, groups and conventions are returning, all MGM Grand guest rooms will be upgraded and back online, and F1 (Las Vegas Grand Prix) ticketing pre-sales, particularly for the Bellagio Fountain Club, are pacing higher versus the prior year, all of which puts us on a solid footing as we approach 2026,” he said during an earnings call.
As I wrote after travelling there in August, staying five nights at Caesars Palace, I saw signs of recovery first hand, talking to people on the ground there, knowing that things would change soon, in part with the help of the NHL and NFL seasons getting going.
Las Vegas Strip, image by Mark Keast
Barkley and H. Moser & Cie Announce Partnership
I am a Buffalo Bills fan, but what’s not to love about Philadelphia Eagles’ running back Saquon Barkley, a three time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, signed as an official Friend of the Brand, H. Moser & Cie announced last week. Barkley, preparing for the Met Gala, was looking for a unique timepiece to complement his look.
After meeting Edouard Meyland, CEO of H. Moser & Cie, and Bertrand Meyland, CEO of MELB Luxe Subsidiaries, Barkley decided he wanted to move the partnership along. He said he loved the craftmanship and precision behind every watch.
“From the moment I discovered H. Moser & Cie., I could see the craftsmanship and dedication behind every watch. Their minimalist design is powerful; their movements are innovative yet effortless to appreciate. Meeting Edouard and Bertrand made it clear that this is a brand driven by people who care deeply about their craft, their legacy, and their community. I’m proud to join that family,” Barkley said in a statement.
Saquon is seen wearing the H. Moser Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon Spiced Acqua ($99,600 USD).
H. Moser Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon Spiced Acqua, Barkley images from H. Moser & Cie.
I am a 50-something Torontonian who loves everything about my city. It’s been my home, my playground, for my entire life. I went to school here. I met my wife here. I own real estate here. I love writing about the transformation of my city on the world stage, which hasn’t been anything short of dramatic. That continues on, as I write this. I write on the real estate scene. I write on travel and fashion. I like following the world of luxury watches.
But I love writing about cars – check that, luxury cars, a level of superior, engineering sophistication, high performance and style, that transports you not just from one destination to another but also out of whatever you are going through on a particular day, whatever mood you are in, all to another head space. It’s complete and total exhilaration, head to toe.
Check out my stories, and email me direct at mkeast@regardingluxury.com
