Ritz-Carlton Montreal to Reopen on 28 May 2012

On Monday, 28 May 2012, the Ritz-Carlton, Montreal will reopen after an extensive $200 million restoration.

 Under the direction of Quebec architectural firm Provencher Roy + Associés, the building’s facade was preserved and restored, public spaces were renovated and upgraded, and the guestrooms were redesigned.

 The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal now has 98 rooms and 31 suites. The 4,700-square-foot Royal Suite is the largest hotel suite in Montreal.

 Montreal’s mayor, Gérald Tremblay, said, “The Ritz-Carlton is reclaiming its rightful place here in Montreal and among the guests who stay there. Since it opened in 1912, the hotel has been one of the most elegant addresses in our city and the jewel of the storied Golden Square Mile, close to high-end boutiques, galleries and museums. Our city has changed a great deal—for the better. The reopening of The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal makes a notable contribution to what makes our city different.”

The building’s façade was preserved and restored, as were the Lobby, the Palm Court, the Oval Room and the hotel’s famed garden. Many decorative details from 1912, such as marble fireplaces in some of the suites, reflect this masterful blend of old and new.

The guestrooms also feature high-tech amenities, such as thermostats that intuitively remember a guest’s temperature preferences upon check-in, and motion sensors that activate lights when guests enter a dark room.

The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal offers guests a wealth of amenities at their fingertips. The 10,000 square feet of meeting space are flexible and offer event planners the possibility of accommodating up to 300 people. Guests can dine at acclaimed chef Daniel Boulud’s restaurant, Maison Boulud, in the 130-seat dining room, the 46-seat year-round greenhouse, or on the new terrace on Sherbrooke Street. They can enjoy afternoon tea in the hotel’s gardens, work out at the gym or take a dip in the new indoor salt-water pool.

“We are extremely proud to reopen this emblem of the very best Montreal has to offer," said Andrew Torriani, president and general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal. “The hotel today is a showcase of modern luxury, but it has not lost the discreet charm of the past or the patina of history.”

To ease traffic woes, water taxis launched on Jhelum River in Kashmir

In an effort to reduce traffic congestion on the streets of Jammu and Kashmir and to attract tourists, the state government has launched a water taxi service on the Jhelum River.

The service is a joint effort of the state government and state Irrigation and Flood Control Department.

The first taxi service, having the capacity of eight persons, was flagged off by Kashmir Divisional Commissioner, Asgar Samoon, from Peerzoo to Chattabal Weir on Saturday.

Samoon said besides providing a cheap alternative transport facility, it would also attract tourists.

"It is an alternate form of transport because this water transport is cheaper. The Irrigation and Flood Control Department will monitor the services and issue the license. However, the state government has initiated the project but the connected departments like tourism and municipality are helping out. Two-three water boats are deployed and these will operate for 15-20 days till private players enter the field and tenders will be announced for them by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department.

The private parties will provide water transport to people. This facility is not just for tourists but actually for the locals, for their daily travelling, we would also be using these water boats from tomorrow for travelling to our offices," said Samoon.

The fare for the whole stretch has been fixed at Rs. 60, while charges from one bank to another would be Rs. 25 per passenger, he said.

The boarding and de-boarding operations would be carried out from the existing banks till a permanent infrastructure is established.

Happy with the new service, locals said this would generate employment opportunities in the city.

"This is a good step initiated by the government. This will reduce traffic congestion from the city streets and the river will also remain clean. The people living in Srinagar will realise the importance and benefits of water transport. This will also boost tourism and locals will get employment opportunity," said Reyaz Ahmed, a local.

Tourism is one of the biggest means of earning for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Kashmir of northern Jammu and Kashmir state was once a top Asian tourism destination, popular among honeymooners, skiers, trekkers and anglers, and attracting about a million tourists a year until 1989, when a simmering anger against New Delhi's rule burst into a violent rebellion. And the numbers of visitors shrunk to only a few thousand a year.

However, with peace being restored in the province, the influx of tourists has increased. (ANI)