BUSINESS TRAVEL KEY TO GATEWAY CITIES’ RECOVERY

This past week saw two important responses to this reality for urban destinations, part of a growing recognition that visitor economy recovery requires purposeful and collaborative action aimed squarely at the needs of major gateway cities.

First, Ontario Minister Lisa MacLeod announced key supports for Ontario’s gateway cities of Toronto and Ottawa. The investments included stabilization funding for the provincially owned convention centres in each city and strategic investments in both Destination Toronto and Ottawa Tourism to address key gateway needs, particularly major meetings and conventions and international travel.

Second, the CEO’s the Boards of Trade of Canada’s three largest cities – Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver – jointly published an article calling on governments to prioritize the return of business travel as a vital catalyst for the broader economies of these cities and for Canada as a whole. 

Gateway cities like Toronto rely on a strong mix of leisure and business travel, and a combination of regional and international visitors. Both the op-ed in yesterday’s Globe and Mail and the investment announcements this week by Minister MacLeod speaks to this vital importance of a robust visitor economy and a recovery plan that addresses the full scope of Toronto’s critical role as a gateway city.

Visit Destination Toronto’s Research & Insights Terminal to read more about why business travel is key to Toronto’s recovery.

ONTARIO MOVING TO STEP THREE ON JULY 16

The Government of Ontario today announced that Step 3 of re-opening will take place on Friday July 16 – five days earlier than previously announced. This is welcome news on multiple fronts for the tourism and hospitality industry in Toronto including re-openings for sectors of the industry closed for the majority of the pandemic and higher capacity limits than initially anticipated for many others. Here are the re-openings and changes that comes in Step 3 for the industry:

• Museums, galleries, historic sites, aquariums, zoos, landmarks, botanical gardens, science centres, casinos/bingo halls, amusement parks, fairs and rural exhibitions, festivals permitted, with capacity limited to not exceed 50 per cent capacity indoors and 75 per cent capacity outdoors;
• Indoor dining permitted with no limits on the number of patrons per table with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect
• Indoor meeting and event spaces permitted with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect and capacity limited to not exceed 50 per cent capacity or 1,000 people, (whichever is less);
• Essential and non-essential retail with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain physical distancing;
• Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 100 people
• Indoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 25 people
• Concert venues, cinemas, and theatres permitted to operate at:
• up to 50 per cent capacity indoors or a maximum limit of 1,000 people for seated events (whichever is less)
• up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum limit of 5,000 people for unseated events (whichever is less); and up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum of 15,000 people for events with fixed seating (whichever is less).
• Nightclubs and restobars, permitted up to 25 per cent capacity or up to a maximum limit of 250 people (whichever is less).
  
  

Please refer to the link below for the full list of changes with Step 3. 

PatioscapesTO CONTINUES INTO WEEK 2

PatioscapesTO, Destination Toronto’s contest encouraging locals to safely explore patios this summer, is now well into its second week! The campaign capitalizes on the local excitement of patios re-opening, by sharing their favourite patio dining photos online using #PatioscapesTO or on the PatioscapesTO site. This week’s theme, “First Timer”, is all about trying something outside your usual. As always, for Torontonians looking for at-home dining, Destination Toronto continues to support restaurants offering delivery and takeout on ToGoToronto.

Restaurants and diners are also encouraged to use the hashtag #RoomOnThePatioTO on Twitter, to help with filling and finding available patio spaces in the city.

We encourage all of Toronto’s tourism and hospitality community to take part. Restaurateurs can participate by assuring their restaurant is listed with Destination Toronto (click here to add a restaurant) and the patio dining feature is activated.

Destination Toronto collaborated with local media to promote the campaign, with some of the stories found below:

• Toronto Life: Experience summer in Toronto on one of the city’s great patios
• BlogTO: 30 curblane patios for outdoor dining in Toronto by neighbourhood
• NARCITY Toronto: 7 BIPOC-Owned Toronto Patios to Check out This Weekend
  
  

COALITION OF HARDEST HIT BUSINESSES CALLS FOR TRAVEL AND TOURISM PROTECTION

This week, the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses called on the federal government to protect travel and tourism businesses and their employees across Canada as the crucial Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) programs wind down. The Hardest Hit press conference was followed by an open letter posted to Minister Freeland along with a meeting with the minister to discuss the crucial needs of the industry.

Tailored, sector specific support needs to continue for the tourism industry in Toronto and across the country. Here’s are 3 ways you can get involved:

1. Send a letter to your local MP: It is already written, you simply need to press send!

2. Spread the word on social media: Encourage your followers and network to send a letter to their MP; Download and use the campaign images; and learn about the call for more support 

3. Join and send a letter of support for the Open the Border campaign: OpenUSCanBorder.ca

TORONTO PEARSON LAUNCHES “WHEN YOU’RE READY” PROGRAM

Coinciding with some quarantine restrictions beginning to ease, Toronto Pearson has launched the “When You’re Ready” program, and with it, a host of essential information aimed at helping those who choose to travel to do so safely from curb to gate and back again.

CANADIAN TOURISM AWARDS 2021 NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

Nominations are now open for TIAC’s Canadian Tourism Award nominations. Any Canadian tourism-related product, business, initiative, event or service that occurred from June 1, 2019 to July 31, 2021 is eligible. This year, the CTAs will take place December 1st and awards will be presented in four categories: 

• Air Canada Business Excellence Award
• Indigenous Tourism Award
• Sustainable Tourism Award
• Tourism Employee Appreciation Award

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR NEW INDIGENOUS TOURISM WORKFORCE PROGRAM

TIAO, in collaboration with Indigenous Tourism Ontario, and the Ontario Tourism Education Corporation, are now accepting applications for A Three Fires Collaborative Quest Program - designed to support recovery and growth of the province’s Indigenous tourism workforce by building the labour pool and filling critical gaps within the industry. The program, A Three Fires Collaborative Quest, will be executed in three phases - each managed by one of the three partners.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Porter Airlines to restart service September 8: Porter Airlines will be restarting flight service to Canadian destinations beginning September 8. The flight schedule is returning in phases with the initial group of Canadian destinations being Halifax, Moncton, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, St. John’s, Thunder Bay and Toronto. Flights to U.S. destinations, including Boston, Chicago, New York and Washington, would then follow on Sept. 17.

Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. to open July 29: Guests of Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. step into the world of the Avengers, discovering intelligence and cutting-edge science. After completing their training, participants only have one thing left to do: Assemble! 

The Bentway hosts a “Summer of Play”: The Bentway launches Playing in Public this summer, a collection of outdoor and online projects that invite you to rediscover “play” in the city. By the neighbourhood, for the neighbourhood, the program includes 8 art installations, a connective Play Path, roaming and audio experiences, and more.

Hotel X transitions rooftop patio into summer oasis: Toronto’s Hotel X is transforming their rooftop patio and restaurant into the ultimate summer spot to dine and wine. Summer House spreads across 75,000 square feet with five zones where guests will be able to eat, chat and “play” throughout the summer.