If you had to guess how many times the online game Angry Birds  is played every month, what number would you guess? Well when I asked my 82 year old Dad, he said,  “What the beep is Angry Birds?”  My 12 year old daughter on the other hand, when asked, guessed 2 million,  which was significantly closer than my Dad’s response… The real answer is 23.4 million, per a recent blog at gameindustry.com.  Crazy when you think about it.  Then I started to wonder how much OPUS Vancouver contributes to that monthly number, now that we have an iPad in every one of our hotel guest rooms.   We loaded great listening music, fun apps and interesting books so as to mirror the iPad you have at home.  The best part, there’s a mobile stick inside which allows our guests to take the iPads off property and stay online.   We wanted to ensure any guest addicted to Angry Birds can continue to play anywhere at anytime, when staying at OPUS.

We’ve all dreamed of being upgraded to first class on our overseas flight, or whisked up to the penthouse when we arrive to check into our regular room.  The reality is that most of the time our dreams are crushed and we spend our flights sitting snuggled up to the stranger on our left and entertaining the baby on our right.

This month, we’re all about making that long awaited dream come true for our guests.  We’re offering our opulently designed penthouse suite at an unheard of $399 rate.  To celebrate the occasion we’re even giving one loyal friend an indulgent and complimentary night in our notoriously chic suite! Yes, unbelievable, perhaps even crazy, but we know once someone gets a taste of our suites, they will come back for more, or so my Director of Sales reassures me…

So you may be wondering what it would normally cost to experience the Penthouse Suite at OPUS?    Well normally the answer would be thousands and thousands of dollars, in my “General Manager” dreams…, but the real figure is actually $1,200 /night.    

Help us spread the word about our $399 May Penthouse Perfection offer and you’ll be entered to win a night for yourself!

 CONTEST ENTRY

Enter one of the following two ways:

 1. TWITTER: Tweet the following (1 chance to win):

- I entered to win a luxe #Yaletown Penthouse stay from @OPUSHotel Vancouver http://bit.ly/IxBNJS RT to Enter! 

 2. BLOG: Leave a comment on this post (1 chance to win):
- Why would you like to win a spring fling in the OPUS Vancouver Penthouse? 

 Contest ends May 17, 2012

PS: Can’t wait to play in our Penthouse? For May 2012 only, enjoy penthouse perfection for only $399 at OPUS Vancouver. Book today

To celebrate the huge success of our beloved Vancouver Canucks this season, we are giving away a signed Alex Burrows jersey!

If When the Canucks make it past the first playoff round, we will give away another amazing prize package each time Vancouver eliminates a team. Expect the prizes to get even MORE fabulous as each round continues!

Enter to win 2 ways:

1. Leave a comment on our blog, telling us who your favorite Vancouver Canucks player is.

2. Tweet the following: “I entered to win a signed Vancouver #Canucks jersey from @OPUShotel

http://bit.ly/IZEu41 RT to enter!”

We will draw a winner at random on Thursday, April 19th.

Want Canucks perks without the contest?  We’ll give you an Alex Burrows signed puck!  Check out details here: http://bit.ly/IYAQLv

10 kilometers, that was the required distance to drag my body along to cross the finish line, so I could say that I completed the annual Vancouver Sun Run.   Yes, it wasn’t a marathon, but when you’re 45 years old,  running and finishing a 10 km run feels a lot different than when you did it back in your 20′s or 30′s.   What spurred me on was the great energy from the other 50,000 runners gathered this past Sunday; and especially from our very own Team OPUS Vancouver runners.   From our Chief Engineer who clocked in a fantastic  time of 45 minutes, to our Housekeeping Supervisor who came in at 66 minutes, everyone did an amazing job and should feel very proud.   The only downside was that my own 14 year old son, who joined in on the Sun Run on his own,  actually beat his Dad by 3 minutes.    I guess my ego will eventually recover, along with my aching thigh muscles, sore knees, tender back…

Yes, Mothers Day is  just around the corner.  Sunday May 13 , the big day where we collectively recognize and celebrate just how important and special our Moms are.  With that in mind, here is an idea that some restaurants in Vancouver are doing that may interest you.  Select restaurants, including our very own  Cento Notti,  are collecting anywhere from 10% to 35% of their  sales on Mothers Day, to be donated to BC Children s Hospital.  With 90 cents of every dollar raised going directly to fund specialized medical equipment for infants and kids, you can’t help but feel good (and not just because your wolfing down a scrumptious eggs benedict, paired with a spicy Caesar….)  If you want to learn more click on the link below, regardless, make sure you take the time to call or see your Mom and thank her for putting up with you all of these years!

http://www.bcchildrens.ca

Ok, let's go there, as we all do when we hear the term "Friends with Benefits"... we think of the naughty context of  this saying, right? Well, at least I do.  Guess what, there is more to it than just that.  Yes, there are lots of other examples of why there are benefits to being friends with someone.   For example I have friend who owns a yacht, which is great.  I get to go out and cruise in the summer time, but I don't have to pay for the maintenance and costs associated with owning a boat.   At OPUS Vancouver, we're like that friend who owns the yacht, we want to give you "perks" for being our friend.   All you need to do is simply go to our Facebook page (  “OPUS Friends with Benefits” ) and like us, that's it.   I can't tell you what the perks are for being our friend.   It's  more fun to tease  and makes it a bit more interesting.    Suffice to say,  we will be a good friend  and we will always be there whenever you need us.

Goodbye Santa, hello Cupid! February 14th is just around the corner and the arrows are already starting to fly.  We see it every year, millions of couples panicking and stressing in search of the perfect way to express their devotion.   Some choose the boring and predictable “go-to” box of chocolates ….but come on!?  Then, there are those who go to the other extreme, like giving a Rolex, or a shiny new BMW.    Don’t get me wrong, I would personally be very happy to receive either (hint), but just feel it’s a tad out there.   So, what is the perfect answer?   This is where I plug my hotel….Well, OPUS Vancouver is here to the rescue!  This year we have hired CUPID, to assist the frantic and calmly assist individuals looking to plan an amazing romantic experience.   When you book our “Exclusively Yours” package,  CUPID takes care of everything.  He’ll frame your favorite photo and place it in your room with a personal hand written note from you all before you arrive.  Don’t worry CUPID is discreet, and keeps the romance real.   Happy Valentines day to all and remember in the end it’s the thought that truly counts.

Exclusively Yours Package starts at $295, and includes:

• Deluxe king guest room
• Sparkling wine welcome beverage at check-in
• 375ml bottle of Veuve Clicquot delivered to guest room
• Your choice of ½ dozen red roses or a fresh orchid
• Handwritten note and framed photo of your choice

Connect with Cupid Concierge year round:  cupid@opushotel.com

It’s done!  Our very own BC Lions are the 2011 Grey Cup Champions! For our friends south of the 49th parallel, the Grey Cup is the equivalent to the Super Bowl with a heavy dose of Canadian beer, spirit… For Vancouver, it meant a lot. It meant increased sales for restaurants and hotels, a chance for the city to shine, and for the local fans to celebrate. The energy and enthusiasm was clearly felt at OPUS Vancouver, as we benefited from being located within a 5 minute walk from the epicentre of the action, the newly refurbished BC Place Stadium. I loved every minute of the festivities, which thankfully did not include torching police cars or looting local stores. No instead, I was consumed with pride for being a Canadian, a Lions fan, a Vancouverite!

OPUS Hotels recognized as Best in the World by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine

It’s time to say “bye-bye” to big hotel chains and their long lobby lineups and “hello!” to the friendly service of boutique hotels. Readers of Condé Nast Traveler Magazine have done just that.

OPUS Hotels was recently recognized amongst the world’s hospitality elite as “Best in the World” and “Best in Business Travel” by readers of Condé Nast Traveler. In fact, OPUS Hotels was the only boutique brand included on the Best in Business Travel list which has us feeling very thankful considering that travelers have a lot of choices.

Year after year, OPUS Hotels is widely recognized as best of the best by esteemed outlets including Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Forbes Traveler. OPUS Hotels, for consecutive years, has even been included in the Presenters’ Gift Baskets at the Academy Awards.

As General Manager of OPUS Vancouver, I am extremely proud to share these achievements with our Team.

So what sets OPUS Hotels apart in a crowded market?

Without giving away all of OPUS’ fabulous secrets, here are the top 5 reasons savvy business travelers crave a dose of OPUS while on the road:

1. Complimentary Welcome Beverage
   After a long day of traveling and being assaulted by frisky airport security agents, it’s nice to unwind with a drink. That’s why OPUS Hotels offers every guest a refreshing welcome cocktail at check-in (something airport security could consider before those invasive pat-downs).
2. Residential Ambience
   Something to read other than the room service book? A custom music selection to rock out to in the shower? Rooms at OPUS Hotels are unlike any other. Inspired by five fictional guests, each room has its own personality, from modern and minimalist to artful and eclectic. Rooms are complete with a unique selection of artwork, books, magazines and music.
3. Luxury BMW Downtown Chauffeur Car Service
   Time is money. Jet-setting business guests don’t like to wait in taxi queues, nor do they care for chatty cabbies blasting foreign radio. That’s why OPUS Vancouver and Montreal offer all guests complimentary downtown drop-offs in the hotels’ luxurious BMWs. So whether guests are attending a button-down business meeting, or simply popping off for some late night Chinese – OPUS makes sure they arrive in style.  
4. Whimsical Service
   After a long day at the office, guests return to a sensory wonderland in their rooms. From freshly turned down bed linens and cool water carafes to relaxing mood music and retro candy bedtime treats, getting into bed with OPUS is an unforgettable experience.
5. Award Winning Bars & Restaurants
   The Zagat rated, award winning bars and restaurants at OPUS Hotels are sought-after destinations themselves. No visit to Vancouver is complete without meeting over drinks at OPUS Bar or enjoying a taste of La Dolce Vita at OPUS’ Cento Notti Pop-Up Restaurant. OPUS Montreal’s KOKO Restaurant + Bar is the city’s premier dining and nightlife hotspot, and was recently included on Condé Nast’s Hot List, Hot Nights List. Hint, hint – a perfect venue to entertain discerning business associates and clients.

This past Thursday, September 15, OPUS Bar was one of 80 venues across the world, to be selected and invited into an exclusive membership to, well party… I mean really party. The event tagged as The “Global Party”  and hosted by the hottest bars, clubs and lounges across the world, from Paris to London, to New York to LA.  Yes, a prestigious list to be included in for international cities. There were only 3 locations in Canada chosen, along with Vancouver there was Toronto and our friends up in Whistler. The evening was a showcase of everything luxury from the VIP Land Rovers used as Chauffuer Service, to the Perrier Jouët Penthouses to the Grey Goose lounge in OPUS Bar. I even pulled out my best “James Bond” black and white classic suit, as we all love to play dress-up sometimes.  The crowd was a great mix of the who’s who of Vancouver, from the media to Vancouver socialites to sports personalities like our beloved goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks, Roberto Luongo. The night went quickly for all, as the champagne flowed freely… and the delicious canapés were devoured by everyone, to provide that needed sustenance to continue well into the night .  Near the end of the evening, one of the guests at the event approached me and asked what the main “theme” or “purpose” of the event was.  After taking a long sip of my Grey Goose, which was perfectly chilled, I replied  “To Party!”