Suelyn Bloye - DelSuites

Business Travel, Corporate Housing, Lifestyle talk

Your Guide to Online Professional Development

June 23, 2020

online learning from short-term rentals in toronto

As Canada begins the deliberate process of reopening the economy, we’re left wondering whether key changes brought on by the pandemic will stick around for good. Will our new normal consist of online schooling, virtual doctor’s appointments, and working from home? Only time will tell.

What we know for sure is that things will never be the same, and even something as basic as short-term rentals in Toronto has been changed forever. And while the employment market has taken a hit, certain sectors have thrived under COVID-19, including areas within tech, supply chain manufacturing, logistics, and shipping. But what about everyone else?

For employers and employees alike, now is the time to learn new skills while sharpening your existing set. We’ve done the legwork and gathered the best resources for you to build your knowledge and gain a competitive advantage in the post-COVID marketplace—all for free.

It should be noted that the benefits of professional development extend well beyond the workplace—they empower you in your daily life. Learning improves your health and wellbeing, drives curiosity, and creates unexpected opportunities.

Let’s take a look at what free online learning resources are available to you while staying in a furnished suite in Toronto.

Professional Development Courses Offered by Canadian Universities

Canada’s leading universities are providing a wide variety of free online courses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participating institutions include:

University of Toronto. UofT is using Coursera to offer online courses across disciplines, including topics such as programming, introductory psychology, and Aboriginal worldviews and education. They’re also providing a course on managing your mental health during COVID-19.
University of British Columbia. UBC Is providing courses through edX on subjects such as coding and software development, novel-writing, climate change, and a wide range of business topics.

Other well-known institutions, including Harvard and MIT, have followed a similar route. Take a look at what interests you:

Harvard University. Harvard has listed over 50 courses through their online portal. Popular picks include Introduction to Computer Science and its follow-up, Web Programming with Python and Javascript. Not all courses are free, however.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. MIT is also offering free online courses through edX, including the crowd favourite titled Entrepreneurship 101: Who is your customer?

Princeton University. Princeton has taken the Coursera route, with 14 courses currently available. Its selection primarily revolves around computer science theory and computer architecture—the standalones include a course called Buddhism and Modern Psychology.

Stanford University. Stanford’s selection is similar to Princeton’s, with 23 courses offered on Coursera. Start dates range from currently available to launching October of this year. Some highlights include Game Theory, Love as a Force for Social Justice, and Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity.
Yale University. Yale is also using Coursera to offer its selection of 30 courses, many of which specialize in American law. Health-related courses include Introduction to Breast Cancer, Essentials of Global Health, and Health Behaviour Change: From Evidence to Action.

More Resources to Boost Your Potential

A number of well-known organizations are currently offering free online courses and webinars to further your knowledge across a vast range of topics. Check out what’s available:

The Linux Foundation Training. An expanded mentorship program was launched in response to COVID-19, offering free educational content on open source technologies. Check out their 45-page ebook introducing open source strategies and software for enterprises.
CPA Canada. Their blog updates you on the latest podcasts, webinars, and training to expand your skillset. Keep yourself in the loop with a stream of relevant resources and reading material.
LinkedIn Learning. Pick up in-demand skills from real-world professionals with over 14,000 courses to choose from. Free trials last for a month. Not sure where to start? Check out LinkedIn’s course on how to use LinkedIn Learning.

A Quiet Space to Learn and Work

For many of us, the lockdown has been far from peaceful. With our usual outlets unavailable, little to no contact with family and friends, and the anxieties of a viral pandemic weighing on us at every turn, what we really need is a break from isolation. But we need to be careful.

The solution is to find a space away from home (but not too far) where you can relax and focus while staying as safe as possible. Think of it as a temporary wellness retreat or a second home office. So, what’s the answer?

Short-term rentals in Toronto allow you to work and learn without constant interruptions. In particular, a furnished suite by DelSuites lets you take a breath and unwind while providing you with everything you need to stay exactly where you are, from a fully-stocked kitchen and ensuite laundry to high-speed internet. Our furnished apartments in Toronto offer the luxury, comfort, and safety of a hotel—only without the hefty price tag and high turnover of guests.

Are you looking for a calm space to rest, rejuvenate, and learn new skills? Book your suite today by visiting our website. Feel free to get in touch with our team if you have any questions.

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Looking at Short-term Rentals in Toronto? Here’s How You Can Stay Safe

June 10, 2020

Finding the right short-term rentals in Toronto is challenging in a pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live, work, and interact with one another. But most of all, the outbreak has brought health and safety to the forefront of our thoughts. We ask ourselves the same question every time we leave the front door: How do I keep myself and my loved ones safe from a highly infectious and potentially deadly virus?

If you plan on relocating during the COVID-19 pandemic, your first concern should be safety. Whether you’re a frontline healthcare worker determined to self-isolate closer to Toronto’s network of hospitals, or you’re hoping for a brief escape from isolation, we’ve done the legwork and put together a comprehensive guide to staying safe while enjoying your stay in Canada’s most famous city.

The Latest From the City of Toronto

What we know about COVID-19 changes almost daily. The City of Toronto has created a detailed set of coronavirus resources that Toronto residents can use to understand the latest bylaws, suggestions, and more.

Browse Short-Term Rentals in Toronto With Virtual Tours

So, where’s the safest place to stay in Toronto during a viral pandemic? When it comes to safety, short-term rentals in Toronto must adhere to the rigid disinfection standards that home-sharing platforms like Airbnb have no way of enforcing. At the same time, these suites provide the luxury experience that you get with a hotel room—only without the hefty price tag or high turnover of guests.

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s the value of preparation. Before deciding on a short-term rental company, check for flexible pricing and cancellation terms. Moreover, what amenities are offered? How close will you be to grocery stores and pharmacies? What do properties look like on the inside?

DelSuites offers virtual tours with 360-degree interactive panoramas of each room in its properties. A “walk” score assigned to each listing informs you whether errands can be accomplished on foot. “Bike” scores tell you a property’s proximity to bikeable areas.

Food Delivery

The best part about short-term rentals in Toronto is the abundance of delivery services available. Whether we’re talking about fresh produce or fresh loaves of bread, Toronto is home to a broad network of grocery delivery services. Have the essentials and more delivered directly to your furnished suite by connecting with the brands we recommend:

Instacart. Download the Instacart app or visit their website to find exclusive deals with same-day delivery (or order up to six days in advance). Instacart lets you purchase from well-known brands like Loblaws, Walmart, T&T Supermarket—even Bulk Barn to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Walmart. You can always rely on the world’s largest company in times of need. Keep in mind that Walmart only offers home delivery for orders of $50 or over.
Metro. Metro’s Online Grocery Service has same-day delivery with a fee of $12 plus tax. Just make sure to reserve your time slot before you start shopping. New time slots are added every day to meet increasing demand.
Grocery Gateway. For gourmet groceries and perhaps some adult beverages on the side, check out Longo’s grocery delivery service. Same-day deliveries are made during a 90-minute window.
Fresh City Farms. Shop from local farmers’ markets all year long with Fresh City Farms’ organic and artisanal suppliers. Minimum order values are set at $27, with delivery fees waived at the $75 mark.

Avoid crowded supermarket aisles by taking advantage of same-day grocery delivery. Plus, DelSuites provides you with everything you need to reignite your love of cooking, from a spacious kitchen area to top-shelf equipment. But what if you’re not in the mood to cook?

Takeout Options

Toronto is famous for its diverse flavour profile—we’ve got something for everyone. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen crowd favourites hop onto third-party apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash to stay in business.

What are the city’s most treasured food spots, and where can you order from them?

TORA. If you’re craving flame-seared aburi oishi, beef tataki salad, or crispy pork gyoza, one of Toronto’s top higher-end sushi spots is available to order from through Uber Eats and Ritual.
Oretta. For fresh pasta, pizza, and salad, look no further than Oretta’s authentic Italian menu. You can find them on Uber Eats and Ritual.
Aba’s Bagels. If you’re in the mood for freshly-baked bagels, check out Aba’s. Plus, their Bagel It Forward program lets you deliver a bagel care package to loved ones, family, and friends.

Curbside Pickup

Shop for the essentials without ever getting out of your car. So, which brands are offering curbside pickup?

Apple. Do you need a new set of Airpods to work from home? Order any Apple product online and pickup in-store or curbside within the next hour—or have them delivered directly to your suite.
Bed Bath and Beyond. To hang a mirror or roll out a rug, stop by Bed Bath and Beyond. If you choose to have items delivered instead, shipping is free for orders over $39.
Best Buy. Are you looking for a new headset for video conferences? Do you need a second monitor for work? Best Buy will hold your items for up to five days.
Home Depot. Do you finally have time for that side project? Select the tools you need for the job and have an associate bring them straight to your car.

Keep Yourself Protected With DelSuites

DelSuites has a wide selection of short-term rentals in Toronto, making it easy for you to choose the neighborhood you love—complete with all the amenities you need in this new world.

Are you thinking of moving to Toronto for work, school, or for a medium-term stay? Visit our website to book a furnished suite today.

For more information on how you can stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, get in touch with our team by emailing info@delsuites.com.

Corporate Housing, Toronto Condos, Vacation Travel

What is the Secret Wellness Retreat We All Need?

May 29, 2020

Are you feeling antsy? You’re not alone. Recent weeks under lockdown have left us feeling a range of emotions: grumpy, short-tempered, anxious—you name it.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left no aspect of life untouched. Whether it’s restaurants, shopping malls, gyms, or camping grounds—all of our usual retreats are no longer available as outlets for us to release pent-up energy and feel recharged in the process. And with travel out of the question for the foreseeable future, a change of scenery has become a distant dream.

People are feeling moody, unusually tired, and downcast. Alone time without distractions is difficult, if not impossible, to come by—especially with kids in the mix. For those of us who have considered sitting in the car for a couple of hours as a brief escape from life in isolation, we have a better solution—and it’s called furnished suites.

Furnished Suites: A Home Away From Home

Renting a furnished condominium in the GTA is the perfect solution for those of us craving a change of scenery without straying too far from home. Treat it as a wellness retreat or a second home office—whatever the reason, a premium condo offers all the luxury of a hotel room without feeling impersonal.

Taking care of your mental health should always be a top priority. In recent months, COVID-19 has cast a shadow over our lives. For many of us, the constant fear of infecting our loved ones has left its mark. If you find that your sleep patterns have shifted and concentrating is more difficult than usual, you’re not alone.

With a furnished and serviced condo, you’re free to unwind in a space that’s yours. Take a much-needed break from watching or reading the endless stream of pandemic-related news stories and reconnect with the activities that you enjoy. Whether your hobbies are creative writing, meditation, or yoga, you now have a silent space to indulge in what fulfills you.

Short-term rentals (or furnished suites) spare you the hassle of ownership while providing you with a home away from home. With prime locations across the GTA, DelSuites grants you access to premium accommodations with personalized services. With our meticulous standards for sanitization and flexible pricing and cancellation terms, you won’t have a single worry on your mind.

Striking the Ideal Work-Life Balance

In a matter of months, the COVID-19 outbreak has blurred the boundaries between work and home. At first glance, working from home seems like a breeze: no in-person oversight, the elimination of soul-crushingly long commutes, and a flexible work schedule that accommodates unexpected circumstances, such as taking care of a loved one who has fallen ill. But as many of us now know, working from home comes with its own set of unique challenges.

Whether it’s hiccups in technology, time zone differences, or feeling disconnected from coworkers, working from home can be uniquely frustrating and leave you feeling drained at the end of the day. Plus, if you thought coworkers dropping by your desk was distracting, working from home opens up Pandora’s Box of interruptions.

Over time, breaking your concentration to sign off for deliveries, remind your kids that you’re working, or to let the dog out is maddening. Even finding a place in your home to take a conference call without waking the baby is stressful. Fully serviced furnished suites take away the need for a do-not-disturb sign that’s bound to be ignored.

Without the background noise of a library or coffee shop (which are closed anyway), you don’t need an expensive pair of noise-cancelling headphones. For the first time in months, you’ll be able to hear yourself think. Give your work the full attention it deserves, be as productive as possible, and reach breakthroughs.

Take Care of Yourself

Living through a viral pandemic isn’t easy. Lighten the load on your shoulders by treating yourself to a separate space—whether it’s a personal getaway or a second home office, you deserve to feel rejuvenated and focused.

Here at DelSuites, we take care of you. Our suites are fully equipped with everything you need—from toiletries and ensuite laundry (with detergent, of course) to top-shelf kitchen equipment. If you plan on working, we’ve got you covered with high-speed broadband internet and long-distance telephone packages.

Each suite has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected in accordance with our rigorous standards for cleanliness. All of our buildings are staffed with 24-hour security personnel and on-call managers who are ready to assist in an emergency.

Give Yourself the Support You Need With Furnished Suites by DelSuites

Recent months have brimmed with stress and uncertainty. Release the tension that you’ve built up by retreating to a home away from home where you can relax, recharge, and focus like never before.

For more information or to book your retreat today, email info@delsuites.com or visit our website.

Relocation, Toronto Condos

Toronto student housing is closed for coronavirus–but your life can stay open

April 29, 2020

COVID-19 cases are climbing in Ontario, and Ryerson University, the University of Toronto’s Victoria and University Colleges, and three Ottawa universities shut down their student residences last month to prevent the spread.

While that choice will save lives, it’s left some students juggling major decisions on top of adjusting to online classes. To find Toronto student housing or return to family homes where elderly relatives live? How to travel to hometowns in a hurry, and whether to temporarily walk away from their school year lives, including roommates, friends, and part-time jobs.

International or out-of-province students face travel restrictions that are changing regularly, the transmission risks of flying, how to pay for travel back home, or where to stay now that many international borders have closed.

Even students whose residences are still open are working out how to stick to social distancing guidelines with roommates and communal bathrooms.

If you’re a student coming back to Toronto after a university residence closure—or a student sticking with your Toronto life—a furnished short-term rental can help you safely self-isolate without giving up work, navigating borders, or the risk of exposing people you love.

Keep your daily routine stable

The transition from residence living to a short-term furnished rental is easy.

Our suites include everything a residence fee does—and more: housing, local and North American long distance calls (some areas excluded), broadband internet, laundry, cable TV packages, and all utilities.

If you packed last September for a furnished dorm room and meal plan, booking a fully furnished temporary rental suite lets you skip the stress of finding furniture, dishes, and cookware while non-essential stores are closed. All our suites have a fully stocked kitchen, laundry, and toiletries so you can stop searching for a pasta pot and focus on what’s important.

Our suites are run by professional property managers who know the ins and outs of the fuse box, common apartment problems, and how to get an emergency plumber if your toilet backs up at three a.m. Support staff are on call 24/7 to help you adjust to your new apartment and answer common questions.

And if your part-time job is still open, our multiple locations across the GTA let you stay close enough to skip the commute and avoid transit.

Keep your support network close

Suddenly moving out of residence doesn’t just shake up your sense of place; it splits up the people you rely on, and that’s hard during a crisis.

We have two-bedroom and family-sized units available to let you stick with your roommates and friends and keep your support networks solid. You don’t have to worry about feeling sick far from family or isolating in a newer city. Separate bedrooms with doors and multiple bathrooms let you self-isolate from roommates if someone has symptoms—without leaving each other alone.

Keep costs down

To help during this pandemic, we’re offering major discounts on our suites to keep them affordable on a student budget. We’ve priced a two- or three-bedroom suite, right for sharing, at only a few dollars more per night than many university residence plans.

We’re also making our stays flexible: You can cancel anytime up to your check-in, in case your plans change. You can extend your stay easily if your summer sublet falls through, and because there’s no long-term lease, it’s much easier to substitute another friend into your second bedroom if a roommate has to move out.

Toronto student housing that works for you

Book through our website or email Info@delsuites.com for more information on how we can help you finish the school year safely, affordably, and together. We’ll do our best to help you find the easiest transition from residence to temporary home.

Relocation, Toronto Condos

Your Solution to a Delayed Moving Day

April 21, 2020

Social distancing regulations are affecting every aspect of Toronto life—including the stress of deciding what to do with a delayed Moving Day.

With evictions sensibly frozen and public health departments telling all of us to stay at home to stay safe, thousands of families—the Canadian Real Estate Association reports 65,494 homes were sold across Canada in January and February—are unsure whether Moving Day is happening.

With so much up in the air, we’d like to offer some quick facts on the ever-changing situation and how you can keep your housing stable.

House-hunting during a pandemic

For people who have bought or sold a new home, there is very real uncertainty around reaching closing day. The Ontario government has declared real estate an essential service and realtors are still available by email and phone but COVID-19 has put real obstacles into finding a new home this month.

The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) has told its members to stop “all face-to-face business, including open houses, agent and public office hours, and in-person showings, particularly of tenant-occupied homes, during the Province’s COVID-19 state of emergency.”

Those responsible actions, aimed at preventing COVID-19 exposure, are also being taken up by many home inspectors and contractors, who are focusing on emergency repairs only.

The City of Toronto’s building inspections department is also prioritizing emergency building inspections, and still evaluating whether it’s safe to do the occupancy inspections that new homes and high-rises must pass before letting buyers move in.

Even historically low hotel bookings might not last, as the City of Toronto buys out entire hotels to shelter our most vulnerable neighbours.

The upside: We’re pulling together as an industry and society to keep each other healthy in ways that will save lives.

The downside: Even if you’ve already signed your paperwork, it might be very difficult to meet your conditions of sale, close on time, or find a new home if you’ve sold without buying yet.

Staying sheltered and staying safe

If you’re facing a gap between your old home and your new one, our fully furnished rentals are already designed to reduce stress during a housing emergency.

Located in stable residential buildings across the GTA, our suites let you settle down in your own neighbourhood—or your new one!—and minimize any disruption to your daily routines until your new home closes, or you can start your search again.

Our suites come fully equipped with bath towels, toiletries, ensuite laundry and detergent, and everything you need to cook your usual favourites already in the kitchen. If you’ve already done your packing, there’s no need to do it twice: you can use our basics—furniture, kitchen supplies, and linens—until it’s time to unpack in your new home. Our cleaning staff are taking thorough safety precautions with every suite.

And with all utilities included—broadband internet, cable TV, hydro, water, and long-distance telephone packages—you don’t have to do the work of moving your own accounts, and can easily work from home.

Booking your temporary home

During this unprecedented public health emergency, we know everything’s changing quickly, so we’re offering flexibility on your arrival and departure dates. Our support staff will work with you to extend your stay, get the childproofing supplies or furniture you need, and solve any problems you encounter.

And in recognition of the times, we’ve made significant cuts to our nightly rates, so every one of our neighbours can safely have a home—even if you’re between homes.

Book through our website or email Info@delsuites.com with your unique situation, and we’ll do our best to help you, crisis or not, have a place to call home.

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