ICONINK Announces City's Newest Dining Destinations at Bisha Hotel

ICONINK Announces City’s Newest Dining Destinations at Bisha Hotel Toronto New establishments to elevate culinary experiences at the luxury boutique property

Monday, August 28, 2017 (Toronto, ON) – ICONINK, Toronto’s leading hospitality company, is excited to announce its partnership to provide all of the food and beverage services for Bisha Hotel Toronto. The property will boast a luxurious lobby bar, a Baja- inspired rooftop restaurant, a 24-hour café, celebrity chef Akira Back’s first-ever namesake restaurant in Canada and an event space with breathtaking views on the forty-third floor.

With the exception of Akira Back, the culinary program will be led by executive chef Ben Heaton. Heaton has worked in reputable Michelin star restaurants throughout England and is currently overseeing Estia, Figo, Weslodge Toronto and Weslodge Dubai for ICONINK.

Located on the 44th floor rooftop, KŌST (pronounced ‘coast’) will offer cuisine inspired by the Baja peninsula, bringing together the bright, fresh and lively flavours of the Californian and Mexican coastlines. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, guests of the dining space will enjoy unparalleled panoramic views of downtown Toronto at any time of day. The breakfast and lunch menus offer healthy options such as the Coconut Arroz Bowl, Quinoa Ranchero Bowl or Adobo Chicken Bowl, as well as signature salads and sandwiches. For dinner, the menu focuses on fresh and light appetizers such as ceviche, tiradito and tartare. Salads such as Charred Corn and Chickpea, as well as Peach and Arugula, highlight the seasonal availability of local markets. A variety of house-marinated meats and seafood are grilled to perfection and offered half or whole for diners to share.

“Finding harmony between the hotel and its food and beverage offerings was critical,” says Charles Khabouth, Executive Chairman, ICONINK. “As we explored ideas and concepts, we kept the core values of the luxury boutique experience central to all our decisions, in an effort to create unique and memorable moments regardless of where you are in the hotel.”

The Lobby Bar embodies the decadence and sophistication of the quintessential hotel bar. At its core, the bar is classically rooted but finds balance through modern touches, and is paired with a commitment to impeccable food and service. Guests will experience a meticulously curated wine and cocktail list along with a lunch and dinner menu that offers crave-worthy classics.

Also located on the ground floor is French Made, the hotel’s Parisian-inspired café, where freshly baked pastries, handmade gourmet sandwiches, salads and custom roasted coffee will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Bisha Toronto will also offer a dedicated event space serving culinary driven cuisine that steers away from traditional banquet-style offerings. Perched atop the 43rd floor, the venue offers a unique glimpse of the Toronto skyline and waterfront, creating the perfect environment for both social and business events.

Also joining the culinary offering at Bisha Toronto will be Akira Back, the first-ever Canadian namesake restaurant led by celebrity chef Akira Back. Announced earlier this year, Back is known for his signature style of blending Japanese cuisine with Korean ingredients and flavours.

“Creating exceptional dining experiences was extremely important to us,” says Hanif Harji, CEO, ICONINK. “We wanted to introduce thoughtful and relevant concepts that stayed true to the heart of Charles’ vision for the hotel, but still satisfied a gap in the Toronto market”.

The hotel and its culinary outlets are designed by award-winning firm Studio Munge, whose vision for Bisha Toronto was guided by a passion for great design. A reimagined island paradise, KŌST diners will be drawn to the interlocked marbles in shades of tropical peach, ivory and green at the bar, muted apricot velvet barstools and woven ivory banquettes. On the main floor, Lobby Bar will be cloaked in rich, midnight textures and will include custom furnishings including an Onice Verde Onyx bar complete with an emerald green leather bar front. Guests of French Made will be drawn to the masculine matte black details of the space, contrasted with a sensual high-gloss jet black counter, and both punctuated with deep blue accents.

“Our goal was to create individual spaces that reflected upon Bisha Toronto as a luxury boutique hotel, yet to give each property a look, feel and identity of its own,” says Alessandro Munge, Principal, Studio Munge. “Our use of various colours and materials throughout the hotel will elevate the guest experience to ensure they have the best, most exclusive experience possible.”

KŌST, Lobby Bar and French Made are scheduled to open in the heart of the entertainment district early-September 2017 at 80 Blue Jays Way. Akira Back will open to the public October 2017.

Connect with KŌST online: Website: kosttoronto.com Facebook: facebook.com/KostToronto Twitter: @KostToronto Instagram: @KostToronto

Connect with French Made online: Website: frenchmadetoronto.com Facebook: facebook.com/FrenchMadeToronto Twitter: @FrenchMadeTO Instagram: @frenchmadetoronto

Connect with Akira Back Toronto online: Website: akirabacktoronto.com Facebook: facebook.com/AkiraBackTO Twitter: @AkiraBackTO Instagram: @AkiraBackToronto

Connect with Bisha Hotel Toronto online: Website: bisha.com Facebook: facebook.com/BishaToronto Twitter: @Bisha Instagram: @BishaToronto LinkedIN: Bisha Hotel Toronto

-30-

MEDIA CONTACT: Fiona Bang PR Manager, INK Entertainment [email protected] 416.869.9444 x245

About Bisha Hotel Toronto Bisha Hotel Toronto is the combined vision of the principals of two multi-award-winning firms – prominent real estate developers, Sam Herzog and Mel Pearl of Lifetime Developments, and legendary hospitality czar and trend-setter, Charles Khabouth of INK Entertainment. The 44-storey flagship property in Toronto is designed by award-winning Wallman Architects, with daring interiors by renowned Studio Munge. Opening its flagship in Toronto this Summer 2017, the Bisha Hotel brand will offer the ultimate lifestyle destination in key cities around the world. For more information, please visit www.bishatoronto.com

About ICONINK ICONINK is a full service international hospitality group. ICONINK excels in the development and management of innovative concepts and progressive brands that revolutionize the hospitality industry. Led by renowned restauranteur Hanif Harji and visionary entertainment entrepreneur Charles Khabouth, ICONINK takes inspiration from global cuisine and culture, merging dynamic dining and design with insight and ingenuity. The group owns and operates top dining destinations around the world including: Weslodge (Toronto & Dubai), Byblos (Toronto & Miami), Morah Dubai, FIGO Toronto, Patria, MACHO Radio Bar, Estia, and The STORYS Building. Every concept is executed with ICONINK’s signature commitment to innovation and integrity in service and design. For more information, please visit www.iconink.ca

About INK Entertainment INK Entertainment is Canada's leading lifestyle and entertainment company. Operating since 1982, INK Entertainment has demonstrated an enviable ability to read the pulse of ever-changing cultural times and tastes, responding with a host of successful enterprises, including critically acclaimed global restaurant brands Byblos (Toronto, Miami & Dubai), Weslodge (Toronto & Dubai), FIGO, MACHO Radio Bar, Estia, La Société (Toronto & Montreal), and STORYS Building; Canada’s largest Dance Music Festival VELD Music Festival; and a number of trendy clubs, including REBEL, Uniun, CUBE, Cabana Pool Bar and Dragonfly Nightclub.

Headquartered in Toronto and helmed by visionary entrepreneur Charles Khabouth, INK Entertainment's innovative approach, fusing dining, lifestyle, entertainment and design has led the company to team up with several significant industry partners including Loews Hotels & Resorts and Lifetime Developments for Bisha Hotel & Residences, the newest private label hotel and residence brand to originate in Toronto since The Four Seasons in the 1960s. For more information, visit www.inkentertainment.com or connect with INK Entertainment on Facebook and Twitter.