24left

I booked a 1 night stay at the end of December 2021.

The reservation was for a Superior Room 1 King Bed. Very nice to have been upgraded at check-in to an Executive Room with 1 King Bed and Sofa (I didn't check to see if it was a sofa bed) on the 12th floor (renovated).

I received a couple of emails in advance advising of the protocols for the Now Times as well as the limited facilities. For e.g. the restaurant is only open on the weekend. Perhaps they are not busy enough during the week or don't have the staff to open even for breakfast. I didn't ask.

At check-in, there was some pandemic paperwork to complete plus an odd temperature check of my wrist.

I was advised that the welcome drink was my choice of a bottle/can of water juice, soda from the cooler fridge next to the check-in desk.

It seems the fitness facilities were open but you could only use them for 1 hour and it was there where you had to show your government vaccine passport.

I noticed a microwave on a table in the lobby and asked about it. The answer was "due to Covid, they were removed from the rooms".

Most of the staff I met were pleasant. One person in particular stood out. IIRC, his name was Adeel and he was just excellent. He was at the front desk when I checked in. He explained the usual and also offered to show me a few things as well as items in the room. He explained that a number of the top floors (8-12 or similar) were renovated.

I will also note that I had asked for a couple of extra items including a duvet, foam pillows and extra towels. All items were in the room on arrival which was nice. The room and bathroom were spotless.

In addition to the room, Adeel also showed me the entry to the mall where there was some retail, food court restaurants (take-out only), pharmacy, bank etc. There is also a connection via the mall to the North York subway state and the Empress Walk retail mall on the other side of Yonge Street, where there was more retail including another pharmacy, large grocery retailer and other.

I thought the short stay was nice, the room features and amenities were fine, and the location was convenient.

If one has to be in the North York part of Toronto or with easy access to major businesses in the area and highway 401, I'd certainly recommend it.

****

When I entered the room, it was like a flashback to my rooms at the Novotel TPE*

Bright and plenty of space.







I like this unit. Functional and lots of space. This room also had a bathrobe, slippers, iron and ironing board plus extra blanket and sheet in the closet.





This folding always reminds me of my first trip to Japan a lifetime ago.





View from the room





The lobby area



Cute



Front desk / Check-in



Given the time of year....

I liked the decorations. Adds a cheerfulness.








In the mall




*FOR COMPARISON REFERENCE

Novotel TPE 2019

I had 2 stays that year but never posted the photos. I found it really interesting to see the Novotel North York renovated rooms now have what I assume is a more common look.



Among the differences of course, TPE had awesome planeporn. ✈️



I do miss the welcome amenities.



On another stay.

restlessinRNO

24left - Thank you for your hotel report. It is very convenient, with direct access to the North York Centre TTC subway station. (Yonge-University line.)

Pre-Covid I used to stay at the Novotel Taipei Taoyuan Airport. Sadly, no longer possible now. Great view of the runways. Is that a complimentary bottle of red wine I see on the table, I wonder?

24left

@restlessinRNO

These were the welcome amenities from the 2 stays.





We took the wine to the lounge to enjoy the view



On the second stay a few months later







Loved he views






I knew some cargo pilots were staying at the Novotel TPE - at least last year, and I saw some photos of the extremely strict lock-down stay they experienced each time they flew in. I read on a pilot forum that China Airlines owns the hotel and is now blocked off for airline crews only. Also someone sent me this link recently https://www.marketscreener.com/quote...nati-37253440/

Note to Mods: I'm replying here as the thread I found for the Novotel TPE is a few years old. Feel free to move/merge.
.

restlessinRNO

24left - Lovely photos, of times past. I note you are ALL Platinum. I’m Gold, primarily from many stays at the Novotel TPE, so never received complimentary bottle of wine, but did get lounge access, which was appreciated. Lounge had great views of the airport. ✈️