A 360-degree view of the lobby of The Fairmont Royal York Hotel shot with the new Yellowbird technology by Toronto’s Zazz Media. To check out the 360 viewing just click, pull, drag and drop your mouse in any direction while the video is playing.

Yellowbird was started by Marc Groothelm and Rafaël Redczus, two Dutch innovators. The camera used to capture the 360-degree view uses six cleverly divided lenses and a surround sound microphone system. The technology is similar to what Google uses in Street View.

The Fairmont Royal York, in partnership with the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), will premiere “TIFF AND THE CITY” — a blockbuster of a room package starring Gold Floor accommodation, breakfasts, film passes, swag bag, martinis and featuring CN Tower passes and a cameo by an On-Command guest room movie.

The one night package rate begins at $389 for accommodation over Sunday, Sept 13 through to Saturday September 19, 2009. The “TIFF AND THE CITY” package has now been released for sale to the public and is available for purchase now through to Monday, August 31, 2009, or until room inventory remains.

The “TIFF and the City” package offers guests the chance to play a leading role in a glamorous celebrity lifestyle, without the paparazzi. Upon arrival at the Fairmont Royal York, a guest’s individuality is welcomed and valued on the Gold Floor.  “TIFF and the City” patrons can unwind in the Gold Floor lounge and enjoy special privileges within an elegant residential setting.  A private concierge will present guests with their supporting “TIFF and the City” package inclusions. Items debuting in this package will be the two complimentary film passes, entitling each ticket holder up to five regular film screenings (shown from 8:30 am until 11:59 pm, excluding galas).

The package is priced from $389 CAD per night, exclusive of taxes and gratuities and is based upon double occupancy. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com.

“TIFF AND THE CITY” includes:

• One night’s accommodation in a Fairmont Gold Room
• Deluxe continental breakfast in the Fairmont Gold Lounge
• Evening hors d’oeuvres in The Fairmont Gold Lounge
• Two martinis in the Library Bar
• One in-room on-command movie
• Two Film passes (up to 5 regular screenings each)
• TIFF guest swag bag
• 2009 Program Book
• 2009 Official Film Schedule
• Two CN Tower Passes

The Toronto International Film Festival ranks among the most prestigious international film festivals in the world. For ten days, film lovers, filmmakers, industry professionals and media watch the best in new cinema from established masters and new talent. From September 10 to 19th, the 34th annual Toronto International Film Festival will present over 300 films.

She has substantial hips, copper highlights and bedroom eyes.

She is Toronto’s Grande Dame – The Fairmont Royal York Hotel – and she turns 80 on June 11, 2009.

Famous across the nation for her iconic silhouette, there are still a few surprises up her sleeve.

This year, she has decided to give a gift on her birthday and offer rates reminiscent of days past, by offering guests their second night’s stay (on all regular leisure rates) at a reduced commemorative Royal York 80th Anniversary Rate of $80 (excluding taxes) from June 4 through to June 11, 2009.

On June 11, 1929, Toronto’s Grande Dame officially opened under her maiden name as The Royal York and quickly set the hospitality standard of the day.

The magnificent hotel was born a Gemini, and it is no wonder that it grew to be a city within a city. It consisted of 28 floors of architectural splendor replete with the mechanical genius of 10 ornate passenger elevators. It had 1048 rooms, each with radios, private showers and bathtubs.

In her thirties, she put on a few extra rooms and now weighs in at a total of 1365 rooms. The original 1.5 acres of public rooms included a 12-bed hospital, 12,000-book library and a glass-enclosed roof garden. Her warm heart held the largest hotel kitchen in Canada with a bakery that could produce over 15,000 French rolls a day, a 66-ft.long switchboard manned by 35 telephone operators, its own bank and a golf course (now known as St. George Golf & Country).

Today, after welcoming more than 40 million guests, The Fairmont Royal York (her name by way of a 1999 corporate marriage with Fairmont) continues to epitomize gracious hospitality.

Over the years she has received a few nips and tucks to retain her classic figure, and many distinguished features remain thanks to several capital injections. The magnificent hand-painted ceilings, the Travertine pillars, ornate furnishings, crystal chandeliers and wall hangings are still some of her greatest assets.

To this very day, The Fairmont Royal York is no wallflower, as she will continue to rub shoulders with the legendary and famous, including celebrities, heads of state, and royalty well into her eightieth year.

The Fairmont’s Royal York 80th Anniversary Rate offer visitors the second consecutive night’s stay at a rate of $80 (excluding taxes) from June 4 through to June 11, 2009. This does not apply to negotiated rates or for reservations that have already been made. For reservations please refer to rate code 2U8ANN and call 1-800-441-1414 or visit http://www.fairmont.com/royalyork.

One of Toronto’s most remote collections of herb and flower beds are ready to be viewed by afternoon teetotallers.

Afternoon tea at EPIC Restaurant can once again be followed by a complimentary tour (weather permitting) of the hotel’s rooftop “herban” oasis at 2 PM and 4 PM each Saturday and Sunday.  Tea & Rooftop Garden Tours are offered at The Fairmont Royal York Hotel beginning Saturday, May 23, 2009 until September 6, 2009.

The herb garden and its neighbouring bee hives, situated 200 feet above ground and 14 stories high is normally closed to the public. This growing season marks its third year of public access to the garden, since its inception in 1997.

With a magnificent view of the CN Tower and the lakefront, the garden is starkly beautiful in contrast to its neighbouring office towers. The herb garden is the only one of its kind in Toronto and serves as an extension of the hotel’s environmental program. This unique garden provides the herbs and honey needed to flavour the dishes served in the hotel’s EPIC Restaurant.

Before the 30-minute rooftop tour, guests can enjoy a pot of tea and a variety of sweet and savory treats.

The teas available at EPIC are produced by The Metropolitan Tea Company Ltd., which is North America’s first member of the Ethical Tea Sourcing Partnership.

Metropolitan visits growers regularly to ensure employee well-being and environmental standards, practices highly respected by Fairmont. Teas available include the Kenmare Ceylon, Maple and Egyptian Chamomile. The tea menu is priced at $27.00 (exclusive of tax and gratuities) and features toasted crumpets with Grand Marnier butter; traditional finger sandwiches, including scones with Devonshire cream and jam; and a selection of pastries and English tea cakes.

Four afternoon garden tours are available each weekend. The meeting point for the half-hour herb garden tour is inside EPIC Restaurant at 2 PM and 4 PM, following the 12:30 p.m. tea service. The complimentary rooftop tours are reached by elevator and by climbing four flights of stairs. Tea and complimentary garden tours may be reserved by contacting EPIC Restaurant at (416) 860-6949 or by email at festive@fairmont.com

TasteTO.com talks sustainable seafood after visiting The Fairmont Royal York’s OceanWise event.