INDUSTRY INSIGHTS & UPDATES FOR DECEMBER 2, 2021

REGISTER TODAY: FINAL EDGE EVENT OF 2021
UNPACKING BOOKING TRENDS WITH EXPEDIA

Join Destination Toronto and Expedia for the final virtual EDGE event of 2021, to look at early indicators and booking trends for the year ahead. Hear from Vas Kolovos, Market Manager, Expedia Group how consumers are searching, booking and purchasing travel, and new insights into how consumers feel about traveling in 2022.

Tuesday, December 14
9:30 – 10:30 am
Go To Webinar (Virtually)

Moderated by: Andrew Weir, EVP, Destination Development, Destination Toronto
Guest speaker: Vas Kolovos, Market Manager, Expedia Group

TOURISM RECOVERY PROGRAMS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT 

The Canadian and Ontario governments have each introduced critical programs in support of tourism recovery. 

Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program & the Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program

Last week, the federal government tabled Bill C-2 which included targeted support to tourism and hospitality businesses facing significant pandemic-related challenges in their recovery. If passed, financial support would be made available through the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program and the Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program. 

It’s critical that Bill C-2 passes before the House rises for Christmas. The Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses, TIAC and the Hotel Association of Canada issued letters to opposition leaders urging them to swiftly pass the bill. Join these industry leaders by contacting your MP to ensure Toronto’s voice is heard and Bill C-2 is passed immediately. 

Ontario Staycation Tax Credit

Earlier in November, the Ontario government proposed a new Ontario Staycation Tax Credit for the 2022 tax year. Through the credit, Ontarians would get a 20 per cent personal income tax credit on eligible accommodation between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, up to a maximum of $1,000 for an individual and $2,000 for a family, for a maximum credit of $200 or $400 respectively. 

Want to know more about the newly-introduced programs? Read about both in an article on the Research & Insights Terminal.

NEW MARKET READINESS INDEX NOW AVAILABLE

Destination Toronto’s Market Readiness graphic has now been updated. The index provides a summary of market signals and indicators assessing the readiness of key source markets Toronto’s visitor economy.

TAKE PART IN NEVER HAVE I EVER HOLIDAY JOY LIST

Toronto’s holiday season is in full swing, and so is the Never Have I Ever Holiday Joy List campaign that encourages our hyperlocal and drive market audiences to reconnect in Toronto this season.

HERE ARE 6IX WAYS TO SPREAD JOY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

1. Use our #NeverHaveIEverTO and #SeeTorontoNow hashtags on your social channels!
2. Access and use the campaign toolkit and the campaign playbook
3. Access and use our official image library. Register for free, with new images added regularly
4. Share your ‘Never Have I Ever Holiday Joy List’ content. Do you have seasonal imagery across the key themes like food and drink, arts and culture, attractions and entertainment, hotel staycations, iconic Toronto, hidden gems, neighbourhood strolls and the outdoors?  Share them with us!
5. Promote My Toronto Pass to your customers in your social content and website. And if you have an offer to include, you can sign up here. 
6. Contact us if you have a media release you’d like to share about your ‘Never Have I Ever’ experience or a question not addressed in this playbook

Want to know more about the campaign? Read all about it in a Q&A with Destination Toronto’s Jeremy Maunder.

NEW REPORT IDENTIFIES KEY TRENDS SHAPING CANADA’S TOURISM SECTOR

Destination Canada has released a new report that identifies the key trends that will have the greatest impact on the travel and tourism industry in Canada over the next one to three years and beyond. Tourism’s Big Shift: Key Trends Shaping the Future of Canada’s Tourism Industry also identifies longer-term trends as part of the process to anticipate adaptive measures for the industry moving forward.

TAKE PART IN THE SHOWLOVETO SURVEY

Created by the City of Toronto, ShowLoveTO is an initiative designed to inspire local tourism, foster community engagement, support local businesses, and encourage economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Toronto has commissioned The Strategic Counsel to undertake a survey to gather feedback on ShowLoveTO. City of Toronto is looking for your feedback on this initiative through this five minute survey, which will be shared with City Council to help determine future City of Toronto programming initiatives. The survey is open until December 19. 

Canada tightens border measures: Canada is reviewing its vaccine booster strategy, adding new countries to the list of nations subjected to federal travel restrictions, and is imposing new testing requirements on all air travellers coming from outside of Canada with the exception of the U.S., due to concerns over the Omicron variant. The new testing requirements mean that all air travellers coming from outside Canada, with the exception of the US, will now need to be tested at the airport when they land in Canada, on top of the existing pre-departure test requirement.

Cameron Bailey announced as new TIFF CEO: TIFF has announced the appointment of Cameron Bailey to the role of CEO. A veteran of TIFF, Bailey leads the organization into a new chapter with an immediate focus on building a Toronto International Film Festival for the future while offering audiences a transformative TIFF experience all year round. Bailey’s new position comes on the heels of the announcement of Jeffrey Remedios, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Canada, as TIFF’s new Chair of the Board.

Harbourfront Centre announces Festival of Cool: Festival of Cool kicks off Harbourfront Centre’s year-long cultural initiative, Nordic Bridges with spectacle and celebration. Take a trip on the Bifrost, the dazzling rainbow bridge of Norse myth that connects us with the realm of the gods to our world of light and art.

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