newTIFF stars to be showered with swag
CBC News
Posted: Dec 31, 1969 7:00 PM GMT
Last Updated: Sep 7, 2011 2:27 PM ET
Celebrities such as George Clooney will be attending TIFF 2011. As usual at the film festival, the stars will be given thousands of dollars worth of swag at parties and receptions, as companies jockey to have famous faces use their brands in public. (Evan Agostini/Associated Press)
Related
Whether it is a $1,200 bottle of rare vintage-dated Krug or a delicate assortment of movie-themed miniature desserts, it is only the best for the rich and famous in the lead-up to the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.
Toronto's most opulent hotels are spiffing up service and prepping thousands of dollars worth of swag bags before TIFF opens Thursday.
At the city's newest luxury hotel, the Ritz-Carlton, that means ordering in nearly 400 pounds of extra meat and cheese for Thursday's opening gala cocktail reception.
As if the 5,000 bottles of champagne in house may not be enough, an additional 2,000 have been ordered in to ensure Ritz-Carlton patrons enjoy the constant flow of bubbly.
The hotel's wine director, Taylor Thompson, boasts of the 1990 vintage-dated Krug that will be made available.
'Everything's a yes'
"Arguably the best vintage ever for champagne," Thompson says. "This is a champagne that's over 20 years old, that drinks like it's fresh as a daisy."
That comes with a price tag of $1,200. Those with deeper pockets may wish to shell out for a $1,500 bottle of Cristal Rose champagne, while a relatively economical $650 gets you a special bottle of Armand de Brignac's "Ace of Spades" Brut.
As for which celebrities will be ordering these bottles, General manager Tim Terceira is keeping mum.
"One of the things all our guests really appreciate and enjoy is their privacy and security," he says, adding that staff are prepared for any manner of requests.
"As long as it's legal, moral and ethical, everything's a yes."
Meanwhile, pastry chefs and kitchen staff are busy crafting nine varieties of miniature desserts, including mini TIFF film reels made entirely of sugar, as part of a chocolate presentation guests receive when checking in to the Ritz-Carlton.
Stars to be showered with swag
An extra 1,000 pounds of chocolate has been brought in for chefs currently working overtime to use in the creation of their sweets.
Among the other treats are the baskets of high-end goodies that will be given out at the yet-to-be-opened Shangri-La hotel. The giveaways will include everything from jewelry to hair-care products, books and designer water.
"A Nescafé coffee maker, MoRoCo chocolates had given us coffee beans and gift cards, Mac has given us a makeup gift bag," recited Kristen Duern, the Shangri-La's sales executive.
Dozens of marketing companies are expected to shower the famous with swag, on the off chance a celebrity might be seen sporting their product.
Jumol Royes, with Jsquared Public Relations, said getting the freebies into celebrities' hands will require little effort from the stars themselves.
"We actually hand-deliver gift bags to hotels where stars stay, so instead of asking stars to come to us, we know they're super busy during TIFF," Royes said. "We come to them."
Share Tools
Latest Toronto News Headlines
- Brampton man charged in wife's slaying
- Peel Regional Police have charged a man with second-degree murder after his wife was found dead in a Brampton home Monday morning. more »
- Driver dies after vehicle struck by tire on Highway 400
- A male driver has died from injuries he sustained in an accident involving a flying tire on Highway 400 on Monday morning. more »
- Toronto could set heat record on Monday
- The heat and humidity are descending on Toronto, with Environment Canada issuing a special weather statement, advising people to take care as the temperature soars to near 33 C. more »
- Toronto archbishop opposes gay-straight alliance bill
- The Archbishop of Toronto spoke out against the Ontario government's plan to introduce anti-bullying legislation that would allow anti-homophobic clubs to be called 'gay-straight alliances.' more »
Top News Headlines
- B.C. police shooting video sparks calls for new probe
- Amateur video of the shooting of a mentally ill Vancouver man five years ago has prompted calls for B.C.'s police complaint commissioner and the Criminal Justice Branch to take another look at the case. more »
- 'Engine shutdown' forced Air Canada jet to land
- A Japan-bound Air Canada Boeing 777 jet had to make an emergency landing at Toronto's Pearson airport on Monday, after one of its engines failed. more »
- CP Rail union, Tories battle over collective bargaining
- The federal Conservatives defended their plan to force striking Canadian Pacific Railway employees back to work as a way to keep the economy on track, while the union representing 4,800 workers said their collective bargaining rights are under attack. more »
- Bullyproof: One classroom confession
- Chadia became physically scarred after incessant teasing. Her story is one of 150 gathered in a video confessional booth at a Quebec school. more »
- 'Engine shutdown' forced Air Canada jet to land
- Canadian Everest climber's body recovered
- Driver dies after vehicle struck by tire on Highway 400
- Brampton man charged in wife's slaying
- Toronto could set heat record on Monday
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford 'not even dieting anymore'
- Man hits car driven by nun, has iPhone stolen
- Toronto archbishop opposes gay-straight alliance bill
- Truck dangles on overpass after 401 crash in Ajax

