SUPPORTING TORONTO’S RESTAURANTS WITH TOGOTORONTO.COM

Earlier this week, Destination Toronto reactivated the popular ToGoToronto.com website to showcase restaurants offering safe takeout, delivery and patio dining.

ToGoToronto was created earlier this year and generated thousands of leads to restaurants, acting as a referral site that connects residents to takeout, delivery and patio options throughout all parts of the city and participation is free for any restaurant.

As you may know, Destination Toronto and the City of Toronto were initially set to launch DineOutTO to support Toronto’s culinary community. As a result of the significant increase in COVID-19 cases in Toronto and new guidance from public health authorities (including the suspension of indoor dining), we have moved quickly to reactivate ToGoToronto.com.  

A marketing and social campaign has been rolled out encouraging residents to engage safely with restaurants, and help residents discover new restaurants in their own community or across the city.  For extra inspiration, the site also allows restaurants to feature a signature dish, a unique opportunity to highlight a particular culinary delight available exclusively at the participating eatery.  

To date, ToGoToronto.com now has more than 650 restaurants listed, including those that previously registered for DineOutTO and ToGoToronto this past spring. Registration remains complimentary for all Toronto restaurants, with new restaurants welcome via the “Add My Restaurant” link.

You can read the full ToGoToronto announcement here along with some articles like those found on Narcity and DailyHive.

We encourage Toronto’s tourism and hospitality industry to help spread the word about ToGoToronto.com to support our city’s culinary community. Feel free to use the graphics we have created here for social and other communications channels along with the hashtag #SupportLocal and (on Wednesday’s) #NationalTakeOutDay.

TORONTO JOINS FIVE GLOBAL CITIES FOR VIRTUAL WRLD CTY FESTIVAL NEXT WEEK:
REGISTER FOR FREE TODAY

Next week, Toronto will be featured as one of six host cities for a first-of-its-kind event, WRLD CTY, taking place virtually from October 22-24 – and registration is complimentary.  

WRLD CTY will feature content initiated by each destination with Toronto’s program showcasing the city’s thought leaders, decision-makers, creatives and artists in a series of curated keynotes and city experiences. Our city will join the five other host cities - New York City, Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong and Singapore. 

Toronto’s curated program takes place in both WRLD CTY’s “City Stage” and “Experiences" – both of which are free for participants.

WRLDCTY is the world’s first and largest virtual event dedicated to cities, their citizens, culture and experiences, featuring more than 100 speakers and 70 sessions led by leading urban visionaries, mayors, artists and other enlightened citizens.

Toronto’s host city program is being shepherded by Destination Toronto, working in partnership with the Toronto Region Board of Trade, Toronto Global, the City of Toronto’s Economic Development & Culture Division, Toronto Finance International, MaRS, the Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall, and The 194 Group.  

GOVERNMENT UPDATE:
ONTARIO GOVERNMENT EXTENDS SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS

The Ontario Government has announced $300M in funding to help small businesses with their fixed costs over the next 28 days. The new measures include an extension to waive provincial and municipal property taxes, and electric and natural gas bills.

The government is also supporting small business through its Main Street Recovery Plan, including:

• Permanently allowing restaurants and bars to include alcohol with food as part of a takeout or delivery order before the existing regulation expires.
• Permanently allowing 24/7 deliveries for restaurants
• Providing mental health support to business owners and employees who are struggling
• Providing $57 million with federal partners through the Digital Main Street program and creating new Digital Main Street squads to help small businesses grow online
• Launching a new portal to assist small businesses to quickly find the supports and information they need

INDUSTRY NEWS

Radisson Blu opens along the waterfront: Radisson Blu announces the opening of Radisson Blu Toronto Downtown at 249 Queen’s Quay W along the waterfront. The first Radisson Blu in Canada, originally the Radisson Admiral Toronto-Harbourfront, underwent an extensive renovation to become Toronto’s newest hotel property.

Porter Airlines extends service restart to Dec. 15: Porter Airlines is extending its temporary service suspension to Dec. 15, based on continuing travel restrictions associated with COVID-19. Porter is waiving change and cancellation fees on all fares booked through Dec. 15, including Porter Escapes vacation packages.

UPCOMING VIRTUAL EVENTS:

ONTARIO TOURISM SUMMIT

Tickets for the Ontario Tourism Summit 2020 and the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence are now available. Hosted by TIAO, this year’s conference is going virtual and embracing the challenges we continue to face in as an industry in response to COVID-19. The Summit takes place on October 27 & 28.

TIAC TOURISM CONGRESS

Join TIAC for two days of thought-provoking content, insights and ideas to help rebuild the visitor economy and navigate the new tourism landscape. The Congress will have a bustling virtual marketplace and plenty of networking opportunities.

The TIAC Tourism Congress on November 17 & 18, 2020.