READY FOR TAKEOFF: Sheraton Gateway’s extensive renovations make for impressive airport stay

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Not everyone is interested in travelling during a pandemic, but what if we told you there was a good reason to visit the airport and it didn’t involve getting on a plane?

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The newly transformed Sheraton Gateway hotel is that reason.

While an overnight getaway at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, without a follow-up destination, might sound a bit curious to some, we can say with conviction that our recent one-night stay at the hotel, sans follow-up destination, was far more enjoyable than we ever thought imaginable.

A facelift can do wonders — and the Sheraton Gateway’s recent improvements succeed in adding substantial appeal for guests of all walks. The hotel upgrades are part of a global transformation by the established brand that includes three Canadian Sheraton properties and 22 throughout the world receiving extensive renovations. The Sheraton Gateway is the first in Canada to roll out the new look and feel.

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The hotel’s makeover comes in at a tidy $30 million and features a top-to-bottom overhaul of the 484-room property that holds the distinction of being Pearson’s only hotel directly connected to the airport (it’s literally attached to Terminal 3).

We arrived for our pre-lockdown stay and after wrestling for a parking spot — it wouldn’t be an airport experience without parking woes — we took the escalator up to the sprawling, bright and modern new lobby. The common space was immediately warm and inviting. Also housed in the lobby were two soundproof booths, a neat new feature in a time where communication forms have never been more varied and mobile.

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Aside from the ergonomic in-room rising table in our club king room (these premium rooms are located on the top three floors and are available to any Marriott Bonvoy members or non-members for a surcharge), what stood out was the fantastic runway view where we were able to watch planes load up and prepare to taxi out. Amazingly, we weren’t distracted — or kept awake past bedtime — by any goings-on below us outside. We didn’t hear a peep.

Awesome locally inspired artwork is displayed throughout the premises. The push towards all things local has perhaps never been greater, so it was nice to see the hotel embracing this through art.

But what struck me most when traipsing around the hotel was the abundance of electronic-device charging outlets. There were outlets everywhere. In the room. In the lobby. In the restaurant areas. Rejoice! That is certainly not always the case at every hotel, so it was refreshing to see they didn’t skimp on the details.

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Hotel dining options can often encourage guests to return or deter them from coming back, and after experiencing the new menu at the Sheraton Gateway’s &More restaurant, my wife and I decided we’d likely come back to the hotel soon, even if only to eat here again.

We enjoyed a cooked-to-perfection steak and incredible braised shortribs for our mains, which might have been upstaged by the choose-your-own-adventure custom gin and tonic cocktails we started our evening with. We dined in the well-laid-out Sheraton Club Lounge, available to Marriott Bonvoy members and yet another option that lends to the hotel’s emphasis on choice. Bonvoy members also receive complimentary breakfast, and later, appetizers in the members-only lounge.

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Given its location, the Sheraton Gateway will largely appeal to out-of-town travellers faced with layovers or early morning departures, but it’s a viable stay-and-play alternative to the glitz and glam of downtown, too, and centrally located for GTAers seeking a cost-effective family-friendly option. The UP Express is easily accessible from the hotel, making it simple to get to from the downtown core.

The only area that remains untouched in the relaunch is the pool and fitness area, though the fitness fanatics can note a new Peloton room is expected to open in February.

NEED TO KNOW

— Sheraton Gateway Hotel is the first Canadian property to be renovated as part of the Sheraton’s plan to transform 22 of its properties globally between 2021-23.

— The reimagination includes 467 newly renovated rooms and 17 suites, new lobby, refreshed meeting and dining spaces, and club lounge.

— Find out more at Marriott.com/YYZGS , Terminal 3, Pearson International Airport, 905-672-7000.

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