TORONTO — IHG rolled out the green carpet to celebrate the grand opening of its new premiere hotel, the Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre yesterday, April 6.According to the company, the new hotel is Canada’s largest Holiday Inn with 513 rooms spread across 23 floors with 9,000 square feet of multi-functional event space.The grand opening marks the completion of the hotel’s $20-million renovation project.

Select media received a behind-the-scenes guided tour of the new property, led by Gopal Rao, regional vice-president, Sales and Marketing, IHG Canada. Following the tour, the fortunate journos were treated to an exclusive and unique tasting menu featuring the global bistro cuisine of chef Christopher Moreland (formerly of White Oaks Conference Resort & Spa), executive chef of the hotel’s new restaurant, The Carlton. An adapted tasting menu for the night, started with a trio of appetizers: a tomato salad with goat cheese soufflé, a delicate black cod fish with

braised bok choy and a truffled beef carpaccio. A duo of mains followed, featuring two different lamb treatments and a Digby scallop with celeriac purée. But, judging by the table, it was the duo of desserts that drove the flavour home. Treats included a lemon tart, served with a coconut and cilantro ice cream and “The Cookie Monster,” a homemade cookies and cream milkshake with two freshly baked cookies on the side.    

In another unique twist, guests arriving for the event were quick to note neighbouring businesses had decaled their doors green to welcome the new hotel to the community. And, in appreciation for the effort, Holiday Inn presented a $10,000 donation to the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Association.

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