TORONTO — The Sheraton Gateway in Toronto International Airport is showing off its new look as it heads into the last stages of its $30 million makeover.

The 484-room property – the only hotel directly connected to Toronto Pearson Airport – has been a mainstay since 1991. After 30 years, and hundreds of thousands of guests, it was time for a refresh, say hotel execs. The property was purchased in November 2019 by Knightstone Capital Management.

The bar at Sheraton Gateway

Jennifer Kazlauskis, Sheraton Gateway’s Director of Sales & Marketing, says the hotel’s transformation “is nothing short of a metamorphosis.”

She adds: “Our loyal guests who’ve recently returned are blown away. You can see it on their faces as they walk in. They can’t believe they’ve stepped across the terminal and into the same hotel. The difference is night and day.”

The Sheraton Gateway’s lobby has been re-imagined as a holistic, wide open space, well-lit lobby and with high ceilings and ample room for social distancing.

King suite at Sheraton Gateway

Meanwhile the light-filled guest rooms – all still featuring coveted floor-to-ceiling windows with city or runway views – have nearly 400 square feet of space and platform beds (1 King or 2 Queens, 55” TVs, a height adjustable table that transitions to a standing desk, and a bench running beneath the TV for additional seating and storage.

The Sheraton Club Lounge, open 24/7, is an exclusive space for Marriott Bonvoy Elite members and Sheraton Club level guests offering updated food and beverage offerings, access to complimentary amenities, enhanced connectivity, all in an upgraded private environment conveniently located off of the lobby.

For dining, Sheraton Gateway’s & More is billed as part cocktail bar, part coffee bar serving favourite Starbucks drinks, part grab-and-go market.

The hotel also has more than 18,000 square feet of flexible, updated meeting spaces, a fully-equipped fitness centre, indoor heated swimming pool and whirlpool. There’s also a dedicated Peloton studio in the works that will house a pair of bikes available to guests 24/7.

Sheraton Hotels are following Marriott International’s Commitment to Clean protocols, created in partnership with leading experts in food and water safety, hygiene and infection prevention, and hotel operations. These protocols include mandated mask wearing for all associates within the hotel, and the use of disinfectants recommended by the CDC in the country/region where the hotel operates and the WHO to sanitize surfaces in the hotels.

The hotel is now welcoming guests to experience its renovated rooms and common areas. Rates start at $229.

“Our new home reflects our shared values for community and connection and prioritizes cleanliness and convenience without sacrificing style,” says Sheraton Gateway’s GM, Douglas Brennan. “And while it seems like everything has changed, our exemplary service remains. For three decades, guest reviews consistently called out the attentive service they received here. As we mark this milestone, we’re more ready than ever to carry on that tradition as we help guests navigate the new realities of travel.”