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Richard Walker is the first to admit that his allergies give him a hard time. In restaurants, he warns waiters that he must not eat any seafood or nuts. But even then it can be tricky. "I'll eat a steak and my glands will start swelling up, and I'll ask, 'Did you just cook fish on that same grill?' " Walker, 37, is so sensitive that even a small exposure can trigger a serious reaction. Yet, as the Montreal-based manager for a professional jazz musician, he travels all the time and is a constant customer of restaurants and hotels across North America.

The good news for Walker is that the hospitality sector is responding to what prominent Canadian allergy researcher Judah Denberg calls "the allergy epidemic."

Studies indicate that food allergies have tripled in the Canadian population in less than a decade, while there has been a corresponding surge in asthma and environmental allergies to things like mould and dust. As many as one in four Canadians now suffer from some kind of allergy, often requiring friends and relatives to take an active role in preventing unpleasant -- and even dangerous -- reactions.

To cater to the varied needs of customers with allergies, restaurants are putting staff through awareness courses. In modern hotels, meanwhile, the trend is to hardwood and tile floors, which both please the eye and eliminate wheeze-inducing dust mites and mould that can reside in carpets. Some hotels are even going so far as to create "allergy-friendly" rooms with special air-filtration systems and hypoallergenic bedding.

Walker, who is also allergic to feathers, grass and bee stings, has noticed how businesses have adapted to travellers with allergies. He recently booked a room at the Hôtel Godin in Montreal and mentioned his allergies. Before he could go into his standard explanation, the reservations clerk began rattling off a series of questions, marking him down for hypoallergenic pillows and a nut-free mini-bar. "I was impressed," Walker says.

Here, then, is a guide to the growing number of hotels and restaurants in eight of North America's most popular destinations where the welcome mat is out for allergic travellers:

Vancouver

The Canadian city synonymous with healthy living and ecotourism is also among the most allergy-aware. Vancouver is home to many restaurants that are well versed in food allergy concerns (such as cross-contamination of ingredients through knives and cutting boards), as well as a wealth of hotels with hypoallergenic bedding. For travel information, call 604-682-2222 or visit http://www.tourismvancouver.com

WHERE TO STAY

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport:

1-800-441-1414; fairmont.com/

vancouverairport. This luxury hotel is the first in North America to devote an entire floor to guests with environmental allergies. Forty-two rooms offer filtration systems to purify air and water, as well as a central vacuum system to reduce dust. One room has hardwood-only floors, there is no smoking, and no pets are allowed. Don't miss a visit to the nut-free bar. Room rates start at $239 a night (all hotel rates are based on double occupancy).

Wedgewood Hotel: 845 Hornby St.; http://www.wedgewoodhotel.com; 1-800-663-0666. Ranked fifth in the world and best in Canada for value and service by Travel + Leisure magazine, this upscale hotel gets high marks for allergy friendliness. Guests can request hypoallergenic sheets, pillows, duvets and robes. Starts at $248.

WHERE TO EAT

Raincity Grill: 1193 Denman St.; 604-685-7337; raincitygrill.com. Buy locally, eat seasonally is the mantra at this award-winning restaurant, named the hottest in Vancouver by The New York Times. The menu features fresh seafood and organic vegetables from British Columbia and the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Or choose from a wide array of gluten-free items. Servers are knowledgeable about menu ingredients, and the kitchen will accommodate requests for allergy-friendly meals.

Diva at the Met: 645 Howe St. (in the Metropolitan Hotel); 604-602-7788; http://www.metropolitan.com/diva. Executive chef Ray Henry will happily accommodate food-allergy menu requests. Servers identify their customers' specific allergies, then verify all components of the dishes with the kitchen staff. Separate pans can be used in all preparation stages.

Toronto

Hogtown could now be called "Cheftown" given the surfeit of talent in its stylish eateries. There is a high level of awareness of issues such as cross-contamination, and many offer tasting menus that are easily adapted to allergic needs by substituting ingredients. For travel information, call 1-877-342-0243 or visit http://www.torontotourism.com.

WHERE TO STAY

Cosmopolitan Toronto: 8 Colborne St.; cosmotoronto.com; 1-866-852-1777. Located in the heart of the financial district, this new boutique hotel blends luxury with amenities that will please allergy-sensitive guests. All suites have hardwood floors and air purifiers, as well as full kitchens for preparing allergy-safe meals. Balconies and windows that open can offer relief for guests with dust allergies. Starts at $149.

Four Seasons Hotel Toronto: 21 Avenue Rd.; http://www.fourseasons.com

toronto; 416-964-0411. Rooms feature hypoallergenic pillows and duvets. If you make the hotel aware of extreme sensitivities upon booking, the bed linens will be rewashed without soap. Starts at $340.

WHERE TO EAT

Susur: 601 King St. W.; 416-603-2205; susur.com. The namesake restaurant of one of Canada's more inventive chefs, Susur Lee, also offers an allergy-friendly dining experience. Tasting menus are designed individually for all guests, which means you share your food preferences with your server (and warn of any allergies), and the kitchen whips up something delightful to fulfill your request. One caveat: Seafood appears often on the menu, so it may not be the best choice for some.

Delta Chelsea: 33 Gerrard St. W.; 1-800-243-5732; deltahotels.com. This spring, the hotel chain introduced its "Our Kitchen is Your Kitchen" concept, whereby all menu requests -- additions, substitutions -- are satisfied. Spell out your allergies, mention "Our Kitchen is Your Kitchen," or simply request a specially prepared meal. Another new feature is the "whitecoat program," in which the chef visits your table to discuss the particulars of your meal.

Montreal

The epicentre for the boutique hotel offers a wide variety of stylish accommodations well suited to allergic needs. Rooms with hardwood and tiled floors instead of broadloom, for instance, are easy to find. Full-service properties usually include hypoallergenic bedding -- just make sure to request this when booking. For travel information, visit tourisme-montreal.org or call 1-877-266-5687.

WHERE TO STAY

Hôtel Godin: 10 Sherbrooke St. W.; 1-866-744-6346; hotelgodin.com. Designed by avant-garde architect Joseph Arthur Godin, this elegant hotel was the first poured-concrete structure in North America. Today, customers can notify the hotel about allergies before their arrival and their rooms will be cleaned with a powerful ozone machine that minimizes dust and other allergens. The hotel offers hypoallergenic pillows and bedclothes that are washed with non-commercial products. Bath products may be replaced with Clinique or other hypoallergenic brands, and a nut-free mini-bar is available. Starts at $230.

Auberge du Vieux-Port: 97 Commune St. E.; 514-876-0081; http://www.aubergeduvieuxport.com. Wrought-iron beds, exposed brick and floor-to-ceiling windows facing the St. Lawrence River are some of the accoutrements of this boutique hotel located in Old Montreal. The rooms have hardwood floors and hypoallergenic pillows and comforters. Starts at $199.

WHERE TO EAT

Brontë: 1808 Sherbrooke St. W.; 514-934-1801. Voted "best new restaurant" by enRoute magazine in 2004, this hip eatery is housed in a sleek space with hardwood floors. The first question the servers ask concerns the specific allergies of their customers. Menu items can be customized, and servers are knowledgeable about all ingredients.

Bouchée de Pain: 910 Duluth St. E.; 514-523-6922. This quaint bakery specializes in nut-free, gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian fare.

Halifax

This coastal city is a haven for those with fragrance and chemical sensitivities -- all public buildings are scent-free, and many restaurants and shops advocate a no-scent policy. For travel information, visit http://www.destinationhalifax.com or call 1-877-422-9334.

WHERE TO STAY

Four Points Sheraton Halifax: 1496 Hollis St.; http://www.fourpointshalifax.com; 1-866-444-9494. Completely smoke-free, this Sheraton location also features a 7,300-square-foot mural of Halifax in its open-air courtyard. Starts at $149.

Chanterelle Country Inn & Cottages: 48678 Cabot Trail, Baddeck, N.S. (about 3½ hours east of Halifax by car); http://www.chanterelleinn.com; 1-866-277-0577. Surrounded by the beauty of Cape Breton Island, this 60-hectare estate serves up dining options that inspire. Owner Earlene Busch uses organic and locally grown fruits, vegetables and meats. Specialty dishes employ the fragrant chanterelle mushrooms collected on the property, lobster and crab, and Cape Breton lamb. Rooms are designed for the environmentally and chemically sensitive traveller and feature organic, fragrance-free soaps. Cleaning products are also eco-friendly, while heating is provided by solar power to avoid chemicals and airborne allergens. The inn and cottages are non-smoking. Starts at $160 (including breakfast).

WHERE TO EAT

Georgio's: 1725 Market St. (in the Prince George Hotel); 1-800-565-1567 http://www.princegeorgehotel.com/dine. All the menu items at Georgio's list the ingredients. The servers work with each guest to ensure that special dietary needs are met. The chefs can also prepare special meals for those with gluten- or wheat-free diets.

Heartwood Bakery & Café: 6250 Quinpool Rd.; 902-425-2808;

http://www.heartwoodbakerycafe.ca. This scent-free vegan restaurant is big on providing only organic ingredients. It has several allergy-free dishes, with a great selection of gluten-free fare. A sample menu includes savoury bean pie, roast marinated tofu in coconut sauce, and vegetable curry.

San Francisco

The City by the Bay has been a leader in contemporary cuisine, as well as vegetarian and organic trends. Today, kitchen staff at most of the better restaurants are skilled at making menu substitutions and avoiding cross-contamination. For travel information, visit sfcvb.org or call 415-391-2000.

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel Triton: 342 Grant Ave.; 1-800-800-1299; http://www.hoteltriton.com. The seventh floor of this boutique hotel is dubbed the "Eco Floor." Each room is outfitted with an air-purification device and Brita water-filtration system. Beds are decked out in organic cotton linens, and down comforters can be replaced with Fibrefill upon request. Low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint adorns the walls of the recently carpeted rooms, which are vacuumed daily and cleaned with non-toxic products. Starts at $200.

Orchard Hotel: 665 Bush St.; 1-888-717-2881; theorchardhotel.com. Near bustling Union Square, this 10-floor, 105-room hotel is smoke- and pet-free. All cleaning products are organic and biodegradable, and guests can call ahead to request hypoallergenic bedding. Starts at $170.

WHERE TO EAT

Puccini & Pinetti: 129 Ellis St.; 415-392-5500; pucciniandpinetti.com. From the servers to the chef, the staff at this kid-friendly Italian restaurant make allergic patrons a priority. They will do everything in their power to prevent cross-contamination, from learning the ingredients in every dish to ensuring that meals are prepared using separate pans and utensils.

Millennium Restaurant: 580 Geary St. (in the Savoy Hotel); 415-345-3900; millenniumrestaurant.com. Lauded as a temple of vegetarian food, this eatery is known by local foodies for its openness about ingredients. The chef will prepare gluten-free meals upon request.

Chicago

With the unveiling in April of the Hilton's new "Enviro-rooms," the Windy City is on the cutting edge of allergy-awareness. For travel information, visit http://www.chicago.il.org or call 1-877-244-2246.

WHERE TO STAY

Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport: 773-686-8000; hilton.com. Those with environmental allergies or asthma can book one of two avant-garde Enviro-rooms designed especially for them. The rooms feature hardwood floors, filtered-air ducts and purifiers that remove up to 99 per cent of dust and other airborne allergens. Walls are covered in wallpaper whose thousands of tiny pinpricks release moisture into the air, preventing mould. Starts at $130.

Ritz-Carlton Chicago: 160 East Pearson St.; 312-266-1000;

http://www.fourseasons.com/chicagorc. Like its sister hotels around the world, the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Chicago provides special rooms for its allergy-sensitive patrons. Guests can request rooms with hypoallergenic fabrics and vent guards that reduce exposure to airborne dust. Starts at $500.

WHERE TO EAT

Adobo Grill: 1610 N. Wells St. and 2005 W. Division St.; 312-266-7999 and 773-252-9990; adobogrill.com. Both locations of this upscale Mexican restaurant offer a comprehensive gluten-free menu. Try the chicken enchiladas in mole sauce, topped with red onion, radishes, cheese and sour cream. The kitchen will accommodate special requests.

Charlie's on Leavitt: 4352 N. Leavitt Ave.; 773-279-1600. Top chef Charlie Socher's second restaurant is a delight of seasonal ingredients, with a menu that blends his French training with Thai and Mexican influences. Since most reservations are made on-line through opentable.com, patrons can provide a heads-up about a food allergy long before they walk through the door.

New York City

You can find anything and everything in the city that never sleeps, so you should almost expect to discover a caterer who accommodates food allergies. Allergy Free Delites (732-887-8609; allergyfreedelites.com) is the brainchild of chef Kathleen Gallo. She will even ship customized meals to hotels and homes across the U.S. and Canada. For travel information, call 1-800-692-4843 or visit nycvisit.com.

WHERE TO STAY

The Blakely New York: 136 W. 55th St.; http://www.blakelynewyork.com; 212-245-1800. This 118-room hotel has a no-pet policy and plenty of wooden floors with little carpeting. Each room features a fully equipped kitchenette, and down duvets and pillows (which can be replaced with hypoallergenic bedding). Starts at $320.

Comfort Inn Midtown: 129 W. 46th St.; applecorehotels.com; 1-800-567-7720. Designated as the city's first smoke-free hotel in 2001, the Comfort Inn underwent a major deep cleaning. Carpets, curtains and bedspreads were repeatedly washed, and phones, coffee makers and hair dryers were disinfected. Starts at $110.

WHERE TO EAT

City Crab & Seafood Company: 235 Park Ave. S.; citycrabnyc.com; 212-529-3800. Located in the bustling Gramercy Park-Flat Iron district, City Crab provides an amazing dining experience and is sensitive to those with food allergies. In fact, one of the owners is active on the board of the New York-based Food Allergy Initiative. The chef is flexible, accommodating special requests and openly sharing ingredients. All dishes are peanut-free.

Candle 79: 1307 Third Ave.; 212-537-7179, http://www.candlecafe.com. Floor-to-ceiling windows and blond wood create a sophisticated ambiance at this upscale restaurant located in the Upper East Side. The menu is organic and vegan, with several gluten-free dishes. Chefs create an ingredient list for every dish and train staff to be aware of allergies. Those with sulphide allergies will be delighted by the extensive list of organic wine.

Las Vegas

Allergy-free in Sin City? With planning, it can be done. And as the gaming capital and desert oasis celebrates its 100th anniversary, there's no better year to find out. For travel information, call 1-877-847-4858 or visit http://www.lvcva.com.

WHERE TO STAY

Michele's French Country Cottage: 4429 Casa Sencia; 702-454-6992; http://www.frenchcountrycottage.com. Michele Zimmerman keeps her Gallic-style abode smoke-free, animal-free and spic and span using environmentally friendly products. Common rooms are decked out in hardwood or tile and, while the bedrooms are carpeted, they are vacuumed daily. Beds are dressed with Fiberfill pillows and comforters encased in two layers of cotton. Mattresses are vacuumed and flipped after every stay. A note to gourmands: This Cordon Bleu-trained chef can accommodate food allergies. Starts at $150.

Caesar's Palace: 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; http://www.caesars.com; 1-877-427-7243. When it comes to special requests, "we can pull off just about anything," a Caesar's Palace spokesman says. In addition to many smoke-free areas in the casino, the hotel offers non-smoking floors, a no-pet policy, marble floors in some rooms and hypoallergenic bedding. All that and a nightly Celine Dion show.

WHERE TO EAT

Spago: 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (in the Forum Shops at Caesar's); 702-369-0360; wolfgangpuck.com. Wolfgang Puck's famed boîte takes food allergies very seriously. If you make a reservation, your server will ensure your allergy is flagged. Both the casual café menu and upscale dinner options are prepared from scratch, and many of the bases and sauces, like pesto, can be made without nuts or dairy. To avoid cross-contamination, meals are prepared separately on freshly wiped surfaces and thoroughly cleaned equipment.

Chinois: 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (in the Forum Shops at Caesar's); 702-737-9700. Another member of the Puck group, this Asian-fusion eatery is very accommodating to food allergies. It offers a wheat-free menu, few of the dishes contain peanuts, and no peanut oil is used. The staff is knowledgeable about allergies, but are also instructed to check with the kitchen before declaring a dish allergen-free.

With files from Laura deCarufel, Dory Cerny and Gwen Smith