INDUSTRY INSIGHTS & UPDATES FOR JANUARY 20, 2022

Provincial reopening plan announced

Today the Government of Ontario announced a new plan for reopening key economic sectors including many in hospitality and tourism. The first easing of restrictions will take effect on Jan. 31 with restaurants, attractions and many other businesses permitted to operate at 50% indoor capacity. Subsequent phases of easing are scheduled for Feb. 21 and March 14. Read a clear summary of the stages and sectors affected from TIAO here, and you can read the full Government announcement here.

Omicron wave sends Market Readiness into reverse

The Omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an abrupt setback as illustrated in our updated Market Readiness Index. Read our analysis and view the full Index for six different geographic markets from hyperlocal to international in the Terminal.

Applications now open for the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program 

The application portal for the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program is now open. Eligible businesses that are required to close or reduce capacity during the current provincial public health restrictions will receive rebate payments for 100% of their property tax and energy costs they incur while required to close, or 50% of the costs while required to reduce capacity.  (This is a separate program from the recently announced Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant.) More information on the program - including eligibility - can be found here.

Help TIAO advocate for the industry

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario continues to advocate on behalf of the industry to secure vital government support, investment and policy clarity that will help the businesses of the Visitor Economy weather the current restrictions and succeed through the recovery period. TIAO is encouraging businesses to provide insights through a short, updated survey to understand the impact of the Omicron variant, related restrictions, and what Ontario’s tourism businesses need to recover and rebuild in 2022.

2022 CaféTO registration now open 

The City of Toronto announced that local restaurant and bar operators interested in expanding their outdoor dining space into a curb lane and onto sidewalks in 2022 can now register for the CaféTO program. The program also supports the expansion of outdoor patios on private property through temporary use Zoning Bylaws that permit larger outdoor patios than would otherwise be permitted. Deadline to apply is April 2. 

City launches CaféTO Property Improvement Program

The City of Toronto's new CaféTO Property Improvement Program provides funding to eligible owners and tenants of commercial and industrial properties in Toronto – including CaféTO program participants – to help improve the appearance and/or function of the property's exterior spaces. Grants cover 50 per cent of the costs of eligible property or site improvements up to a maximum amount of $5,000. Additional grant funding of up to $2,500 is available for exterior accessibility improvements such as the installation of ramps, handrails and other accessibility devices. 

Tourism Business Matching Program for Indigenous employees 

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, in collaboration with Indigenous Tourism Ontario and Ontario Tourism Education Corporation, is hosting a virtual employee-to-employer matching event on February 7, designed to help Indigenous tourism employees find employers and help tourism businesses (both Indigenous and non-Indigenous) find employees. Qualified employers will be eligible for a 30 per cent wage subsidy up to $3,000 per employee. Potential employers can register online to participate in the program.

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Mark Williams announced as new CEO of Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Cathy Beck, Chair of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors, is pleased to announce that Mark Williams has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Williams is a senior leader in the orchestra sector, having held positions at the San Francisco Symphony and IMG Artists New York prior to his current role as Chief Artistic and Operations Officer at The Cleveland Orchestra. He oversees all aspects of artistic planning and programming, touring, and orchestra operations in his current position.

Soulpepper welcomes Gideon Arthurs as the company’s new Executive Director: Soulpepper is pleased to announce the appointment of Gideon Arthurs as the Company’s new Executive Director, joining the Executive team alongside Artistic Director Weyni Mengesha. Gideon is an exemplary Canadian arts leader and brings incredible experience, ideas, ambition, and civic knowledge from the local and national levels to Soulpepper as the Company celebrates its 25th anniversary. Gideon will be joining as the Executive Director of Soulpepper & The Young Centre for the Performing Arts full-time in May. 

Toronto is getting the first Curio by Hilton hotel in Canada: Directly across from the Distillery's main gates, the project will repurpose an out-of-use six-storey heritage building constructed in 1890. The plan is to maintain the historic exterior for the first three floors only, which architects say is extremely complicated due to the nature of the design. In the end, the accommodation will offer 392 rooms and amenities such as a rooftop bar and restaurant, a gym and spa, ballrooms and conference spaces, and four underground floors of parking across 288,000 square feet of floor space. Construction is due to start in mid-2022.

Winter Stations return to Woodbine Beach: Launched in 2014, Winter Stations invites the international design and art community to reimagine the lifeguard stations along Toronto's east-end beaches for the winter. The competition has seen entries from over 90 countries, bringing the world of design to the water's edge. Founded as a collaboration between local firms RAW Design, Ferris + Associates and Curio, Winter Stations is heading into its seventh year and continues to capture the city's imagination. 

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