UNIQUELY STYLISH AND ALWAYS FRESH / UNIQUE, CHIC ET NOVATEUR

Smile (or scowl), you’re on camera

A recent story on CBC Television about the public restrooms at OPUS has ignited a firestorm of controversy that could only take place in the age of social media. Last week, Elisabeth Everett reported that while celebrating her sister’s birthday in OPUS Bar she was shocked to discover that men could observe her via video monitors mounted over the urinals in the restroom.

To date, over 300 comments have been posted to the CBC’s website. Many express anger and outrage, mostly related to the mistaken belief that the cameras point into the bathroom. Others get the setup but still feel it’s an invasion of privacy. Some wonder what the big deal is.

At OPUS, we lean toward the latter. The cameras have been there since 2002, part of the lounge’s playful “see and be seen” theme, and until now have elicited little more than bemused smiles. Three cameras feed into monitors mounted over the urinals in the men’s room and over the vanity in the ladies’ room. The system is closed-circuit, the footage not recorded or broadcast. The 5-inch monitors emit a grainy, bird’s eye view of the lounge – certainly not optimum conditions for leering at patrons. A far more alluring view is offered by the floor-to-ceiling windows in OPUS Bar.

Since many reacted with such vitriol, we thought it prudent to respond. But while scrolling through the comments on the CBC site, it occurred to me that everything that can be said has been said, and with far more eloquence and humor than I ever could. So rather than subject you to corporate mumbo jumbo, I’ll let the commenters speak for themselves.

The controversy was fueled by the CBC’s ambiguous headline: “Vancouver bar’s urinal TVs raise concern”. Urinal TVs? That does sound creepy. No wonder CWaddell2 wrote, “Sleazy and disgusting, again humans slide back further down the scale of de-evolution … Someone get me off the planet!” Take us with you, CWaddell2. Meanwhile, Sediba remarked, “it should really be a human right to expect complete privacy when eliminating bodily waste.” Ya think, Sebida? Gastoned wasn’t quite so riveted, writing, “Cmon CBC, report on real things that matter.”

To add fuel to the fire, the CBC consulted Richard Rosenberg, president of the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association, who graced them with this gem of a pull-quote: “I think there’s a crime involved here.” A crime … really? Not according to Measwell: “First off,” he wrote, “when interviewing an expert … make sure they are an expert … I happen to know this is NOT against ANY law here … This is 2010 and most bars have cameras in them.” Damn, we were hoping that our general manager being hauled away in handcuffs might garner international headlines.

Still, that wasn’t enough to placate Lickmytoad. “Legal or not this sets a new standard for sleaze,” he wrote. In turn, Jamrobin took a jab at him and others: “… it’s actually probably YOU that’s a little creepy for thinking like that!” Fortunately, Icepick came to the rescue as the voice of reason: “I think the premise here is that the guy’s can scout out the chicks with the biggest boobs while they are releaving themselves. And the ladies can cruise for the guys with the most money.” Thanks for clearing things up, Icepick.

You can always rely on a conspiracy theorist to weigh in, and SuKnew did not disappoint. “I understand there is an employee who oversees the area as well,” he said. Cue eerie music. Meanwhile, Tapilot brought up a point we hadn’t considered: “Stupid bar owners. The object should be to get patrons rapidly out of the washrooms and back to buying more drinks.” Note to OPUS Bar manager.

If OPUS really had wanted to stir things up, we would have installed microphones in addition to cameras. As it stands now, all you can do is squint at the screen and wonder if your friends are talking about you. OMFriday came up with an even more creative suggestion: “How about adding a video device to the urinals that would measure a man’s equipment and display the results, perhaps as a bar graph on a monitor in the lounge?” Note to maintenance: get quote.

As for the woman who so dutifully called us out to the CBC as peepshow-playing pervs, ChillinginMB has some advice, “Okay Elisabeth, you’ve had your so-called 15 minutes of fame, now it’s time for you to get a life.”

Yes, OPUS likes to be a bit edgy, and for that we offer no apologies. We try not to take ourselves too seriously here, but we do take our guests seriously. If you are offended by the cameras, we are sincerely sorry, as that is not our intention. For those who sprang to our defense, we salute you. Whichever camp you belong to, we admire impassioned and outspoken people. Your feedback and suggestions are always welcome – if not always heeded.

In closing, we can’t help but echo the sentiment of Orderoftheblack: “i find it amusing anyone even cares.”

Is the role of the hotel concierge going obsolete?

I can see dignified concierges everywhere clutching their golden keys and gasping in indignation at the title of this post. But hear me out. 

Technology has placed a world of resources at the fingertips of travelers. Mobile applications allow us to walk out of our hotel, point our phone into the street, and find local restaurants and entertainment, peruse reviews, consult maps and make reservations. In a PhoCusWright survey last year, 67% of travelers reported having used a mobile device to find local services. Almost daily, hotels and travel companies are releasing mobile apps and mobile-compatible websites packed with information normally dispensed by the capable hotel concierge.

Where does that leave the concierge? Parking cars? Slinging drinks in the lounge?

Let’s hope not. As a traveler, I love having the services of a concierge. But I’ve noticed an alarming trend of late: the empty concierge desk. During the economic downturn, hotel managers were forced to find ways to cut costs, and many set their sights on the concierge. There he sat, primly at his desk, occupying prime lobby real estate and yet taking in no revenue. Compared to the back-breaking work of housekeeping and the frenetic work of the kitchen, the role of the concierge seemed a bit frivolous in such lean times. Out came the schedule, and concierge hours were slashed. In some hotels, a permanent “Off Duty” sign was placed on the desk. (more…)

Arabian Nights: OPUS Bar’s 8th Annual Street Party

On Friday, July 30 OPUS kicked off a very festive long weekend in Vancouver with the 8th Annual OPUS Bar Street Party, themed “Arabian Nights”. In addition to following through with the hotel’s annual commitment to getting VIPs and regulars liquored up with sponsored cocktails, OPUS continued its five-year, $50,000 commitment to UNICEF when owner John deC. Evans presented a cheque for $10,0000.

To get sweeping footage of the event, I had planned to suspend GM Nicholas Gandossi by rope from the rooftop Cirque-du-Soleil-style, but when he caught wind of my plans he “forgot” to bring his camera. So I had to improvise from the ground with my pocket camera. Blame the videography on the Hendrick’s-infused cucumber cocktails (yum).

For party pics and buzz visit OPUS on Facebook.

The Yin and Yang of Yaletown

Having lived and worked in Yaletown for over a decade, I’ve grown so attached to the lifestyle here that whenever I’m obliged to leave, I feel a nosebleed coming on. Fortunately, my neighbourhood has it all, and rarely do I have to venture beyond. For guests of OPUS, I thought I’d share a few of my summertime faves.

About Yaletown

Yaletown’s origins date back to the late 1800s, when the Roundhouse station was built as the turnaround point for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Today, former warehouses have been converted into chic loft-style residences, boutiques, office space and restaurants. The distinctive red brick walls and exposed beams have been beautifully preserved, and the raised docks and cantilevered awnings have become pedestrian walkways and patio shelters. Surrounding the heritage core are glass residential towers and the False Creek inlet.

Yaletown is a place of contrasts. One of Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhoods, it’s also one of its newest. The lifestyle here is ultra-urban, with a decidedly resort feel. It’s a place for hedonism and healthful living, for superficial whims and quiet reflection. It’s hyper-caffeinated, yet laid back. And it’s safe, clean and modest, yet noisy, chaotic and a tad pretentious. In essence, it’s a mass of contradictions living in relative harmony. Which is probably why we get along so well.

Eating & Drinking

In recent years, chain restaurants have taken over Yaletown; for a truly authentic experience, try the independents. In summertime the patios are teeming; take a walk along Hamilton or Mainland streets and choose one that grabs you, then don the shades and watch the fashionable people and their fashionable dogs parade by. (more…)

About that item you left in your room

A recent story about a hotel housekeeper in Miami who found in $6,000 in cash in a guestroom got me to thinking about items guests leave behind. As travelers, we’ve all experienced that sensation upon arriving at the airport that our luggage feels pleasantly lighter – only to realize we left half our belongings in the closet of our hotel room.

Curious, I decided to pay a visit to OPUS hotel’s housekeeping department to see what was kicking around Lost and Found. There I found boxes and boxes of guest belongings. Most of it looked like junk abandoned by guests, but hotels undertake too many frantic dumpster dives to make assumptions about what guests may or may not deem as valuable.

While I was perusing the log book, a group of housekeeping staff filed in after their shift, and one of them deposited an item on the desk before me.

“A bra?” I asked, staring. It was one big bra.

“Happens all the time,” said Alejandro, one of the housemen.

“Usually it’s men’s underwear,” said Mila, making a face. (more…)

The Pros and Cons of a Hotel Blog: A Retrospective

In a recent article about social media for hotels, I argued that it doesn’t make sense for most hotels to start a blog. Blogs are time-consuming and challenging to maintain, often starting in a flurry of enthusiasm and then fading over time. An abandoned blog is like frayed carpet in a hotel lobby: it speaks of apathy and neglect and can be off-putting when stumbled upon.

My comments prompted a minor outcry, though notably not from hotel managers but from third-party web marketers, who were quick to point out the benefits of blogs to search engine optimization. Last year, a Hubspot survey reported that small businesses with a blog receive 55% more website traffic and 97% more inbound links than small businesses without a blog.

If anyone understands the value of a hotel blog, I do. It was four years ago this month that I started this blog as the General Manager’s Blog, a first in the industry. Our then-director of marketing, Katrina, came up with the idea, and I’m still mad at her. Nevertheless, I tackled my first posts with zeal, writing in a breezy style that suggested I had banged them out between check-ins. In fact, a great deal of effort went into making them sound effortless. (more…)

An Olympian Brings Inspiration

This weekend the sales teams of Opus Hotels in Montreal and Vancouver convened in Vancouver for the first national sales meeting, which I had the privilege of facilitating. It was a formidable group, ranging from grizzled veterans like Vancouver-based sales manager Phil Renaud and general manager Nicholas Gandossi to fresh-faced newbies like Montreal-based sales managers Marc Barmash and Yves Pouliot. Also present were John deC. Evans, Tom Johnston, and Katherine Evans from the ownership group.

Topics included the evolution of the Opus brand, from the opening of Opus Hotel Vancouver in 2002, then considered a risky and audacious undertaking, to the property being named one of the World’s Best 100 Hotels by readers of Condé Nast Traveler in 2005, and on to the opening of Opus Hotel Montreal in 2007. We also discussed the importance of our vibrant restaurant and lounge scene as a key differentiator to other hotels, of our vision of providing the best boutique experience, and of our corporate values of respect, empowerment and innovation. (more…)

If the shoe fits …

Guess which of these handsome devils is a doorman at Opus? Hint: look for a flash of pink.

Now even before you step through the doors of Opus Hotels you know you’re somewhere extraordinary. We’ve partnered with iconic shoe designer John Fluevog to outfit all male guest services employees in Vancouver and Montreal in the Porter Shoe, designed exclusively for Opus Hotels.

Says Fluevog, whose footwear fashions have been spotted everywhere from Madonna’s feet to high-fashion runways, “The Porter Shoe lets guests know that their stay and the service will be of the highest quality, but that it’s still alright to relax and have a wink of fun here and there.”

Put yourself in our shoes by ordering a pair via the in-room mini-bar menu at Opus Hotels or by entering to win a trip for two to Montreal or Vancouver complete with two pairs of Porter Shoes. A limited supply is coming soon to one of Fluevog Shoes’ ten stores in North America.

For more information visit Opus Hotels on Facebook.

Summer in Montreal: moi, j’adore

Montreal’s summer festival season is fast approaching, a time of year when the locals take their joie de vivre to the streets. The city’s enthusiasm for arts, music and spectacle makes for a spirited and enriching summer, with back-to-back events featuring live music, street performers, comedy, sports and cinema.

I experienced festival season in 2008, after I relocated from Vancouver as Opus Montreal’s temporary resident manager. It didn’t take long to realize that my tight-assed anglophone persona needed some adjustment. Shortly after arriving, I was entertaining a group of locals on the terrace of Koko Restaurant + Bar. It was a Tuesday night, and I was hoping for an early-morning workout before work the next day. Around midnight, our waiter swung by to offer more wine, and I declined, assuming my guests would agree it was the sensible thing to do. Pas du tout. I was unanimously overruled, and the party continued until the wee hours of the morning. (more…)

With glowing hearts: a post-Olympics wrap-up

The Olympics come to a city only once in a lifetime, and Vancouver was lucky to enjoy a perfect confluence of spring-like weather, an unexpected surge in patriotism and enough gold medals for Canada to break the world record.

About 250,000 people visited the city during the Games, and judging by the herds that streamed past Opus day and night, every one of them made it into Yaletown. The hotel was a hotbed of activity, enjoying a full house of awesome guests from Alberta to Australia.

The hotel kicked festivities off early with the Podium Party on February 9 co-hosted by Tourism Vancouver. Among the media personalities, celebrities and athletes in attendance were Olympic gold medal pairs figure skaters Jamie Salé and David Pelletier and gold medal rowers Jake Wetzel and Ben Rutledge. Making a rare appearance were the fictional characters that inspired Opus Hotel’s lifestyle décor schemes—Mike, Billy, Susan and Pierre—who performed slice-of-life scenes to showcase our stylish guestrooms. (In typical fashion, diva Dede was a no-show). 

Gold medalist Jake Wetzel tests bounciness of Opus beds with 24 Hours reporter Michael Schratter and virtual resident Billy

Gold medalist Jake Wetzel tests bounciness of Opus beds with 24 Hours reporter Michael Schratter and virtual resident Billy



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