Vancouver

A few of our favorite places in Canada and the compelling reasons to go there.

Last week, as much of North America shivered under a blanket of snow, thoughts of spring seemed distant and remote. Fortunately, this was likely winter’s last blast and spring will soon make an appearance, bringing with it a pink and white welcome party in select cities.

Cherry blossom trees are native to Japan, but can also be found blooming in some lucky locales over the next few weeks. Blossom season is a clear sign winter is at a close, prompting festivals and celebrations around the world. This week, we’ve picked out eight cities where cherry blossoms form a spectacular backdrop, highlighting some of the events that come with them.

Gathering 800,000 properties in 33,000 cities across 192 countries, Airbnb’s growth has been staggering—add to that a recent valuation of $16 billion US dollars. This meteoric rise has sent ripples through the hospitality industry, and hotels are scrambling for a method to combat the noisy newcomer.

Anonymous hotel rooms just won’t cut the mustard anymore, ushered out for more personalized, residential-style experiences. This week, we highlight a number of hotels who have perfected this formula, prompting that all-important home-away-from-home feel.

The prohibition era between 1920 to 1933 wasn’t a golden age for fans of alcoholic beverages, with their sale, manufacture and transportation all rendered illegal in the United States. During that time, clandestine drinking establishments known as speakeasies sprouted at a phenomenal rate, and in 1925, there were anywhere between 30,000 and 100,000 operating in New York City alone. Laws were eventually repealed, bringing alcohol back into the mainstream, but the glamour of the speakeasy lives on in popular culture. A welcome trend of late has been the introduction of neo-speakeasies or vintage-inspired bars with an atmosphere and cocktail menu borrowed from the Roaring Twenties. Read on as we take a look at a few Kiwi Collection hotels where the speakeasy concept thrives.

It was once the case that hotels would attempt to dazzle with a list of in-room amenities as long as a guest’s arm. However, today’s increasingly savvy traveler expects a little more than lotions and potions underneath the bathroom vanity. This demand is being met in a plethora of ways, but perhaps the most welcome one is the rise of unique experiences that immerse guests in the local environment. Several Kiwi Collection hotels have crafted particularly noteworthy offerings, and we take a closer look at ten.

Once relegated to museums and private collections, art is more accessible than ever, thanks in part to the internet, and a movement toward exhibition in unusual places. Curiously, hotels have found themselves in the vanguard of this new direction, with an increasing number decorating their halls with bespoke pieces from masters of their craft. With this in mind, we’ve scoured our collection to share 11 hotels with impressive works and collections.