Gambler, bootlegger or masquerader? Whatever your vice, OPUS Hotels invites you to ring in the New Year with all the good cheer and optimism of a champagne-soaked cheerleader.

One Hundred Days
Vancouver’s hit pop-up restaurant won’t be around next New Year’s Eve, so enjoy it while you can. Get a head start with the early seating from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. and enjoy a three-course meal and NYE cocktail for just $35. Or raise the stakes with a High Roller ticket for $150 from 9:00 p.m. to  midnight, including canapés, champagne and dessert bar, and an open bar (degree of restraint required: limit two bevies at a time). After midnight it’s $20 at the door.

For more info email Kristin Pavich or call 604.694.2121

KOKO Restaurant + Bar
Inhibitions—and prohibition—will be released as KOKO Montreal is transformed into a 1920s speakeasy, with bootlegged booze, hooch-sipping flappers and dice-throwing dandies. Come by for cocktails at 7:30 p.m., followed by a five-course dinner at 8:30 p.m. for $95 per person. Or skip dinner and go straight to the drinks for $45. Bottle service available starting at 11:00 p.m.

For more info email Jessica Rosval at call 514.657.5656.

SUCO Lounge
Who is that masked man? Celebrate the New Year with elegance and intrigue at SUCO Montreal’s masquerade gala, with a buffet of modern cuisine, open wine bar and dancing for $100. Or join the celebration only for $40.

Let our elevator be your designated driver. Inquire about special overnight rates and packages.

As an ESL student said to me, “Wishing you a preposterous New Year!” I think he meant prosperous, but the sentiment fits. Have fun, and be responsible.

Note: Taxes and service charge extra. Premium alcohols not included. Debbie Downers not invited. Click here for details.

Back in 2001, while OPUS Vancouver was under construction, we used to sneak away from the cramped opening offices to see how the hotel was evolving, and were always surprised and excited by what we saw. That surprise and excitement continues to this day, thanks in part to the talents of Robert Bailey, OPUS Hotels’ interior designer. On the heels of the launch of the hotel’s refreshed suites and “pop-up” restaurant One Hundred Days, I thought it was high time we heard from the source.

Tell us about the fresh new look of the suites at OPUS Vancouver.
My intention was to build on the success of the original décor schemes, and turn up the volume. We kept the saturated colour, brightening and updating it. I have always loved the work of decorators from the 70’s like David Hicks.  Their use of colour and pattern was so pervasive; it actually expands space rather than breaking it up. With this thesis in mind we kept the palette very monochromatic, but mixed numerous patterns for an eclectic (more residential) effect.  Although the rooms are timely, the play of pattern and saturated colour brings warmth and a sense of history.

High drama: one of the newly refreshed penthouse suites at OPUS

Tell us about the redesign of Elixir, now One Hundred Days.
Owner John deC Evans came to us with the intent to create a pop-up restaurant to bridge the end of Elixir and the launch of a new restaurant concept next year. We had no time and no budget. Most pop-ups are in abandoned or unoccupied space, so we stripped the space back and neutralized it, painting the ceilings and floors black, the walls white. Then we commissioned graffiti artist Vince Dumoulin to treat the surfaces with disregard for boundaries, both physical and mental. The furniture was replaced with folding chairs, picnic tables and trouble lights hung randomly. The feeling is that of a ‘temporary art happening’, something akin to Andy Warhol’s Factory. It took six days to re-open, but the concept is liquid, so changes will continue throughout its run. I also wanted the name to confirm the message of impermanence, and was inspired by the idea of a countdown, hence the name.

You also designed the interiors of Koko Restaurant + Bar at OPUS Montreal, where a life-size Moooi horse greets patrons at the door. What inspired you?
The inspiration for Koko really started with the original art nouveau building. That in combination with an OPUS attitude and the extraordinary city of Montreal created permission for our design. I had a long out-of-print book of art nouveau illustrator Aubrey Beardsley’s prints; these exotic, dark and sexy works seemed to embody the mood we were looking to evoke. There are two primary spaces, one vast, vertical and airy (day); the second smaller and horizontal (night). With this foundation, the design and black and white palette took shape quite organically. It is a space that I hope arouses a sense of fantasy and possibility.

What were some of the challenges of introducing OPUS Hotel’s design to Montreal after the property was purchased in 2007?
The original property as purchased was quite sober and paired down. The OPUS brand is more about luxury and richness, with a nod to joy. In terms of room offerings, our first task was to bring the signature room colours into play; we also added new artwork that better suited the OPUS perspective.   This will continue as new furniture and lighting are addressed in the future. With the opening of Koko, the hotel has become a destination and that personality is becoming its visage.

What do you think about the next generation of boutique hotels, the so-called “lifestyle hotels” like Andaz, Indigo and Aloft?
I feel that in a saturated market, it’s a way to set your brand apart. Boutique is a term that in many ways has lost real meaning, with chains identifying themselves as boutique based on the use of ‘modern’ furniture and punchy colour schemes. ‘Lifestyle’ is an attempt to enhance the property’s perception and navigate the boutique category. In hospitality there is a term ‘room product’, which I do not like. For me there has to be meaning and that meaning is explained through guest experience. In any category the guest should feel special, and cared for. The best of the style hotels provide much more than interesting interiors; they embrace you.     

What are some of your favourite hotels and why?
Mondrian, South Beach. It’s all about the pool.
Haymarket, London. Like staying with an eccentric friend.
Hotel Palazzina Grassi, Venice. Magic.
Faena Hotel, Buenos Aires. Masculine meets feminine, and is One.
La Reserve, Paris. Like the city, it’s calm.
The Mercer, New York. The Mercer Kitchen (at street level) is my favourite room in the city.

Tell us about the restaurant that will replace One Hundred Days in the new year. What else is in store for the two properties?
Actually, we are just about to start design development for the new restaurant, so my lips are sealed. With respect to other changes for the two properties, there are always new projects on the horizon. OPUS ownership is dedicated to providing the best possible offerings to guests, so change really is a constant.

Visit Robert Bailey’s website and blog.

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.

Needless to say, I didn’t get a workout in that morning, nor on most mornings of my five-month stay. But I did have the time of my life. It’s impossible not to get swept up in the carnival-like atmosphere in Montreal during summertime. After a long, cold winter, Quebeckers have an abundance of pent-up energy to release, and the streets are flooded with diehard revelers.

Among the most popular festivals are Les FrancoFolies, the International Jazz Festival, la Fête nationale du Québec, the Just for Laughs comedy festival, Divers/Cité pride celebrations, and the World Film Festival. This year marks the return of the Formula One Grand Prix after a one-year hiatus, a single-day event as legendary for its parties as for its world-class racing. The event is expected to draw 100,000 visitors in June—and a whole lot of testosterone.

Staff at Opus talk about Grand Prix ’08 like war veterans exchanging battle stories. “Koko had opened a mere four weeks prior,” says Katherine Evans, Opus Hotels’ Vice President. “Between it and Suco Resto Lounge we served over 1,500 guests on Saturday night alone, with a line of hopefuls running down the street. The floor was so crowded it was a real challenge to service tables, and the kitchen got totally backed up. At one point a guest offered a hundred dollars for a steak. It was like a food auction.”

Opus proprietor John deC. Evans regarded the event as a great opportunity to showcase his newly-opened establishment to the many VIPs in attendance—and then quickly changed his mind. “At the height of the party, I received a call from security asking me to authorize entry for Member of Parliament and billionaire philanthropist Belinda Stronach,” he recalls. “I couldn’t say no, although I knew we were simply not equipped to service more clientele. When I couldn’t find a server or glasses, I offered them a magnum of champagne and straws. Initially, Ms. Stronach was horrified, but she soon relaxed, and she and her entourage had a great time.”

This June, Opus Hotel Montreal will once again be at the epicenter of Grand Prix festivities—but this time staff will be armed and ready. The hotel will be hosting a number of VIP guests and functions, including Film Fashion F1, featuring a live performance from Sam Roberts and appearances by Formula 1 drivers, the rock stars of the car racing world.

In November 2008, the summer festival season over, I was invited to a friends’ cottage in the country. Anticipating a quiet, introspective weekend, I packed pajamas and books. Silly me. After dinner, the living room was cleared and an all-night dance party ensued. Montrealers don’t tone down their joie de vivre in the wintertime, they just take it indoors.

Opus Montreal is located in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles. See a list of events here.

There’s one major reason why I’ve come to this place every day for six years, the same reason it’s so hard to leave: the staff. Never before have I worked with such a talented team of dedicated professionals. It’s been a privilege to work with them every day. I’ve learned so much and, most importantly, I’ve had a blast along the way.

I’m proud to be leaving Opus while it leads the boutique hotel market in service, financial performance and reputation. Opus Vancouver is once again named on of the World’s Best 500 Hotels in the January 2008 issue of Travel + Leisure magazine. How has a little independent hotel achieved such success? Great location, style, and quality, yes, but more than anything it’s all about the people.

Of course, it it weren’t for our guests none of us would be here. They have been fiercely loyal, inspiring and totally cool. The media has also played a critical part in our success. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting writers from around the world, and they’ve told glowing stories about Opus in every medium. Finally, we couldn’t have come this far without the resources, support and expertise provided by hotel ownership. With Opus Montreal now open, this success is now being duplicated in one of the world’s most vibrant cities—en français et à la Montréalaise.

What becomes of me? I plan to take a few months off to write.
Murder at the Universe, my first novel in the Five-Star Mystery Series featuring hotel-manager-turned-house-detective Trevor Lambert, is now in its second printing. Murder at Hotel Cinema hits the shelves in June 2008. Now I’m on to #3. So I’ll be at home plotting my next murder over champagne and caviar. After that, who knows. I might pursue my lifelong ambition to fold towels at Linens N’ Things.

What becomes of the GM Blog? It will carry on in infamy in Katrina’s capable hands. Should you wish to keep tabs on me, I plan to start my own blog on my website. There, no longer constrained by the conventions of being a hotel manager, I’ll be able to speak even more candidly. If you thought hookers and drag queens were risqué, stay tuned.

My departure opens up opportunities for my colleagues, including Nicholas Gandossi, who becomes general manager of Opus Vancouver, Jacques Fortier, who becomes general manager of Opus Montreal, and Katrina Carroll-Foster, who is now Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Opus Hotels. It gives me great peace of mind to know that these highly capable individuals will be carrying the torch into the future.

To my colleagues, guests, clients, suppliers, media and friends in Vancouver, Montreal and around the world, thank you for the privilege and the pleasure. It’s been a fantastic party, but it’s now time for me to go home and write about it.

I will miss you. All the best in 2008 and beyond. Au revoir et a bientôt.

Daniel Craig

Photo courtesy of Out Traveler