RESPONDING TO THE CRISIS AND A LOOK AHEAD HIGHLIGHT DESTINATION TORONTO’S AGM

Nearly 400 people from a cross-section of the city’s tourism and hospitality community gathered virtually for Destination Toronto’s Annual General Meeting yesterday. The AGM marked the 2^nd virtual meeting during the pandemic, with this year’s event streaming live from Studio Ex at Exhibition Place.

All three levels of government showed their support for our industry by delivering remarks. Board Chair Rob Housez was joined on stage by Vice Chair Andy Loges and President & CEO Scott Beck who collectively looked back at the year dominated by the global pandemic and its tremendous impact on the businesses within Toronto’s visitor economy, and looked ahead towards re-opening and recovery.  

You can find the full recap of the AGM along with a live recording below.

READINESS INDEX UPDATE: A PATH BACK TO REGIONAL TRAVEL

As key factors continue to evolve in the march toward the return of travel, Destination Toronto’s Market Readiness Index reflects the current status in key visitor source markets for Toronto. The latest update to the Index now includes data through to June 2. Destination Toronto developed the Index, powered by data from a diverse range of sources for key source markets. The initial framework began with the Hospitality Recovery Task Force last summer and now reflects robust data and inputs in a simplified index.

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES CANADA RECOVERY HIRING PROGRAM

This week the federal government released details about the new Canada Recovery Hiring Program. The proposed subsidy would offset a portion of the extra costs employers take on as they reopen, either by increasing wages or hours worked, or hiring more staff. This support would only be available for active employees and will be available from June 6 to November 20, 2021. Eligible employers would claim the higher of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy or the new proposed subsidy. 

REMINDER: REGISTER FOR NEXT WEEK'S DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION FOCUS GROUP

Destination Toronto is committed to ensuring our organization reflects the diversity and inclusiveness of our community. That’s why we’ve engaged the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) to help ensure the work we do is reflective of our destination. 

As such, CCDI invites you to participate in an online and anonymous Diversity and Inclusion Focus Group being conducted with Destination Toronto stakeholders.

The focus group aims to provide an understanding of the inclusion perceptions and experiences you have about, and while working with our organization. By taking part, you’ll help to inform our practices and policies surrounding equity, diversity and inclusion.  

During the online focus group, A CCDI facilitator will ask questions related to inclusion in the workplace and participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback by typing their experiences and feedback in a comment/chat box. The CCDI facilitator will be the only person during the session to view the participant’s feedback. No one within Destination Toronto will have access to the individual responses and feedback received

Choose the date below that works best for you: 

• June 9, 3– 4:30 pm: Register here
• June 11, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Register here

Thank you in advance for taking the time to participate in this important work.

CONGRATULATIONS ANDREW WEIR – NAMED NEW TIAO BOARD CHAIR

Congratulations to Destination Toronto’s EVP Andrew Weir who has been elected Chair of the Board of Directors for the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario.  TIAO hosted its AGM this past Tuesday, convening industry leaders across the province. 

INDUSTRY NEWS

Toronto History Museums mark Indigenous Peoples Month: Toronto History Museums will make available Indigenous histories, cuisine, arts and stories in collaboration with community partners for Indigenous Peoples Month starting on June 9. The program can be enjoyed in four parts: Shop, Explore, Feast and Watch. The Shop is now open Opens in new window with products from emerging and established artists.

Indoor performance set to return for Mirvish: Mirvish is set to open its doors with indoor theatre this summer with a production of Blindness. The socially distanced sound installation begins on August 4.