I know the hotel industry is expecting 2011 to be a good year, but I’m still surprised to see how much expansion is taking place in luxury accommodations. Maybe there’s something to this “economic recovery” talk after all.

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On Wednesday February, 16, the newest addition to The Ritz-Carlton family opened its doors in Toronto, becoming the only Ritz-Carlton in Canada.

Naturally, The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto will provide guests with luxury befitting its name. Guests can expect beautiful views, elegant architecture and decor, and a full-service spa providing unique pampering experiences.

But what made this hotel opening really unique was the way it was shared with people all over the world through social media. Over 200 people watched on the dedicated Livestream Channel on Facebook as the ribbon was cut and the first official guest was handed the first official key. As one of those viewers, I can say that it was pretty neat to be able to participate remotely in this event from my home office in Central Florida and it definitely made me more likely to put the property on my “must-see” list.

If you missed the live stream, check out their Livestream channel soon for video of the event.

The Ritz-Carlton brand has been active on social media networks for some time. Individual properties, such as the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, have their own Facebook pages for guests and fans alike. The RitzCarlton twitter account is very active and actually interacts with other twitter users (and not just guests), something you don’t always see from hotel brands in social media.

Congratulations to The Ritz-Carlton, Tornoto!

Photo courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton

The Ravella at Lake Las Vegas (formerly The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas), opening on Feb 11, 2011 is offering an affiliate style social media promo.

You can contact them to get yourself a unique promo code and peddle it in your tweets and facebook posts. If people start booking using your code, it could earn you a free stay, breakfast, dinner and a free upgrade.

First thing to note is that anyone who books using your twitter/facebook code gets a 30 percent discount on room rates. Second, the more bookings you provide, the more free facilities you get during your free stay. Here’s the lowdown:-

The personal codes are valid until Feb 28, 2011, meaning you can’t peddle them after that.

Travel agents cannot participate. If you get a free stay, it has to be used before Dec 31, 2011 and will be subject to hotel availability. If you get a free dinner, you can’t spend more than $150 for two people. If you’re interested, get your own personal code by contacting the hotel on twitter @RavellaVegas.

For travelers interested in a romantic Las Vegas escape, this is the perfect place. It’s not a Ritz in name, but the location, facilities and services are all the same. Maybe even better, because… Read More »

Hotels all over the country are trying to woo couples into their guest rooms for the upcoming Valentine’s Day weekend.  But don’t expect deep discounts over Cupid’s holiday, especially at the hotels you really want to stay at for a special occasion.  You’ll still spend a pretty penny to spend the night at a nice hotel, but you and your sweetheart can get a lot more for your money if you take advantage of special Valentine’s Day amenities packages.

Instead of dropping prices, hotels are continuing with the “wow them with amenities” trend.  Some upscale properties aren’t expecting you to spend the night at all and instead offer guests a chance to experience the amenities without even checking in.

Here are some of our favorite Valentine’s Day hotel packages from around the country.

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