Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/19029
SITE REVIEW THE WESTIN HARBOUR CASTLE – T0R0NTO 2010 TORONTO CARNIVAL: 29TH JULY – 1ST AUGUST 2010 Celebrating Black History During Toronto’s Cultural Event of the Year BY BRIENNE HERBERT To be in Toronto during the final week of July is to be a part of a party that unites the city and draws in many tourists from the states to marvel in awe.The Caribana Parade holds the title as North America’s largest Caribbean festival. Patterned after Trinidad Carnival, Caribana echoes the same vibrancy and excitement through its own interpretation, which was created in 1967 as a community heritage project. My visit to Toronto was thoroughly enhanced by the comforts of my stay at The Westin Harbour Castle www.westinharbourcastletoronto.com. Located on the shores of Lake Ontario in the heart of downtown Toronto, The Westin is within walking distance of the theater district and a wide variety of dinning experi- ences. The Westin caters to their guests from the moment of arrival. Starting with the complementary tray of chocolates and fruits left in my room, to the handwritten note from hotel management, no detail was left unattended to. The plush rooms are equipped with Wi-Fi and high-speed Internet access, flat screen televisions, climate control, and prompt 24-hour room service. Even during the chaos of the Caribana Parade, The Westin had an air of spacious- ness with over 70,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 977 rooms. The staff was just as knowledgeable and well trained to answer any questions from curious tourists as they were to reply promptly to 2am room service calls. For a small group of journalists attending the car- nival festivities this year, Tourism Toronto represen- tative Michele Simpson and her staff arranged an itinerary of events that allowed us to experience not only the Caribana festivities, but also Toronto’s rich culture in black history www.seetorontonow.com. We began with a tour through the Old Town of 16 Black Meetings & Tourism September/October 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com