Toronto hotels to offer special ‘King Tut’ packages, exclusive access to VIP line
(TORONTO – October 26, 2009) The Art Gallery of Ontario is partnering with Toronto’s top hotels to offer exclusive packages to travellers interested in experiencing the wonder of King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs. Opening on November 24, 2009 and running through to April 18, 2010, the exhibition is making its sole Canadian appearance at the AGO, 30 years after the gallery’s 1979 King Tut exhibition sparked what the media dubbed ‘Tutmania’ nationwide.
The AGO is proud to announce Starwood Hotels & Resorts as the official hotel sponsor of King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs. Guests who purchase the King Tut Jump the Queue package enjoy exclusive VIP access to the exhibition without having to pre-select a time to visit, even when the exhibition is in ‘sold out’ status. Priced from $169 per room per night, the package includes overnight accommodations for two adults, two VIP tickets to the exhibition and complimentary shuttle service to the Art Gallery of Ontario. Up to two children aged 17 and under can stay for free in the guest room and VIP tickets for these children can be purchased at the hotel.
Visitors may choose to stay at any of Starwood’s three signature downtown Toronto hotels: the Sheraton Centre Toronto, located in the centre of the business and entertainment districts, gives guests the utmost in urban comfort and style; The Westin Harbour Castle, rising 38 stories above scenic Lake Ontario, is an oasis of renewal conveniently located near the city’s major attractions; and Le Méridien King Edward Hotel, a model of graceful Canadian elegance just steps away from Toronto’s financial and theatre districts.
For more information on Starwood’s King Tut offers, call 1-866-716-8101 or visit www.starwoodpromos.com/kingtuttoronto
In addition to Starwood’s official sponsorship, the AGO has partnered with a number of Toronto’s top hotels to offer more great deals and exclusive offers. The official hotel partners for King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs include:
The AGO also offers group packages to parties of 15 people or more. These packages include discounted ticket prices, guided tours of the gallery by specially trained education representatives, and specialized menus at FRANK, the AGO’s signature restaurant. For more information call 1-800-225-4246 or visit www.ago.net/groups . The official sponsor hotels (Sheraton Centre Toronto, The Westin Harbour Castle and Le Méridien King Edward) are also offering special group rates for accommodations during the King Tut exhibition. To learn more visit www.starwoodpromos.com/kingtuttoronto
In addition to King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs, the AGO has an incredible fall exhibition program lined up, including Edward Steichen: In High Fashion – The Condé Nast Years, 1923-1937, showcasing more than 200 photographs from the man who defined celebrity portraiture as chief photographer for Vogue and Vanity Fair in the 1920s and 30s; Alexander Calder: The Paris Years, 1926-1933, featuring the early years of the 20th century’s most celebrated and influential sculptor, including ‘Calder’s Circus’, a magical miniature circus in Canada for the first time; and Beautiful Fictions: Photography at the AGO from the Vivian & David Campbell Collection, a collection of incredible contemporary photographs exploring the impact of digital techniques on photographic art. For more information on King Tut and these other fantastic exhibitions, visit www.ago.net/groups.
King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs is organized by the National Geographic Society, Arts and Exhibitions International and AEG Exhibitions, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. Northern Trust is a proud cultural partner. American Airlines is the official airline of the exhibition. Additional support is provided by the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership.
ABOUT THE AGO
With a permanent collection of more than 79,000 works of art, the Art Gallery of Ontario is among the most distinguished art museums in North America. In 2008, with a stunning new design by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, the AGO opened its doors to the public amid international acclaim. Highlights include Galleria Italia, a gleaming showcase made of wood and glass running the length of an entire city block along the Gallery’s façade; and the feature staircase, spiralling up through the roof of Walker Court and into the new contemporary galleries above. From the extensive Group of Seven collection to the dramatic new African art gallery; from David Altmejd's monumental installation The Index to Peter Paul Rubens' masterpiece The Massacre of The Innocents, a highlight of the celebrated Thomson Collection, there is truly something for everyone at the AGO.
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For more images and more information contact:
Sean O’Neill, 416-979-6660 ext. 403, sean_oneill@ago.net
Antonietta Mirabelli, 416-979-6660 ext. 454, antonietta_mirabelli@ago.net
The Art Gallery of Ontario is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Culture. Additional operating support is received from the Volunteers of the AGO, the City of Toronto, the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Canada Council for the Arts.
