CaféTO REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Registration is now open for CaféTO. The first month-long registration window allows participating restaurant and bar operators to have expanded outdoor dining as early as May and in time for the May long weekend. The second window, opening March 27, would allow for expanded outdoor space starting in June. 

The City is hosting a free webinar about CaféTO on Tuesday, March 2 at 9:30 a.m.

In 2020, CaféTO supported 801 restaurants in 62 BIAs, as well as 96 restaurants outside of BIAs. An additional 44 public parklets in BIAs were activated. The 439 curb lane closures converted 9,683 metres of traffic lanes into new outdoor dining space for restaurants. You can read more about the 2021 CaféTO announcement here.

MEETING PLANNERS GAIN INSIGHTS FROM HOME-GROWN
TORONTO TALENT

Destination Toronto continues to engage meeting planners as part of ongoing efforts to keep Toronto front of mind for future meetings, conferences and events when it’s once again safe to host delegates in the city.

One key strategy to engaging association and corporate meeting professionals is offering insights from some of our best home-grown talent to keep Toronto top-of-mind.

Yesterday, Destination Toronto hosted a virtual event for targeted U.S. Meeting Planners with Toronto-based The Book of Awesome author Neil Pasricha. More than 70 meeting planners participated alongside the Destination Toronto sales team.

Earlier this year, Destination Toronto hosted another virtual session with TIFF co-chair and Toronto thought leader Cameron Bailey on how the festival transformed itself into a hybrid event in 2020 – a topic that’s relevant for Meeting Planners. The session was attended by 270 U.S.-based meeting planners and virtual delegates at PCMA's Convening Leaders 2021 conference.

Click here to read an article featured on the PCMA site showcasing Toronto innovation and how TIFF engaged its audience in-person, at home and online in 2020.

DESTINATION TORONTO’S SHOW LOVE, GET LOVE MEETINGS CAMPAIGN CONTINUES

Destination Toronto’s sales team continues to encourage domestic meeting planners to book their future business events in Toronto with the Show Love, Get Love campaign - reminding Canadian planners that, once it’s safe to do so, our Toronto hotels are ready when they are to begin booking future self-contained meetings and events. The digital campaign features an aggressive offer that promises, “more benefits and zero headaches” for future meetings held in the city.  

For any questions about the new campaign, contact Dan Young at Destination Toronto.

LIVE PERFORMANCE HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES
APPROVED BY MINISTRY

The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development has approved the Live Performance Health and Safety During COVID-19 Guidelines. The guidelines were developed by Janet Sellery and other colleagues on the Live Performance Health and Safety Advisory Committee.

CITY EXTENDS CANCELLATION OF IN-PERSON CITY-LED
MAJOR EVENTS

To keep Torontonians safe and to help stop the spread of COVID-19, the City of Toronto has made the decision to extend the cancellation of in-person City-led and City-permitted outdoor major events from March 31 to July 1. This includes in-person Canada Day parades, festivals and events.

REMINDER: TAKE PART IN SAVEHOSPITALITY.CA'S LOCALLICIOUS

As a reminder, Save Hospitality.ca, a coalition of independent Canadian restauranteurs and suppliers, is inviting restaurants to join LocalLicious. This new promotion ask restaurants to offer a three-course prix fixe menu, with $1 from every menu sold to be donated to a local charity of their choice. The menu, price point, and charity are all up to each restaurant. The promotion is now on, running from February 25 to March 7.

Restaurants can sign up here, and download a set of LocalLicious images and sample posts here. Don’t forget to tag the charity of choice on Instagram, as well as @savehospitality.ca and #LocalLiciousCA, to help spread the word.

You can find a list of participating restaurants here. 

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO INVEST IN
FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

The Government of Ontario has announced its investment of more than $7 million in 87 local and virtual events and initiatives through the Reconnect Festival and Event Program. This funding will support the festival and event sector during the COVID-19 pandemic while helping municipalities and organizations deliver innovative and safe experiences. The 2021 Reconnect Festival and Event Program opens on March 17, 2021.

UPCOMING VIRTUAL EVENTS

50% OFF THE RC SHOW

Owned and operated by Restaurants Canada, this annual event provides education, the latest product innovations, and culinary events designed to provide an experience as well as lead, inspire and motivate the industry. As part of this year’s theme, Feeding the Recovery, Restaurants Canada is offering industry stakeholders a promo code for 50% off tickets using the code: destinationtoronto50%

The RC Show takes place virtually from February 28 to March 3

TIAC WEBINAR: STATE OF TOURISM IN CANADA

Tune in to hear Twenty31's take on high-level findings from the ‘State of Tourism in Canada during COVID-19’ dashboard report, joined by special guests to hear how they addressed some of the challenges and opportunities highlighted in the current report.

The State of Tourism takes place March 1 at 10 am, and is open to TIAC members and non-members.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Innovate Canada postponed to 2022: In light of the current situation, Innovate Canada, scheduled to take place July 5 to 9, 2021 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, will not be going ahead this year as planned. Business Events Canada is now working to reschedule Innovate Canada in 2022.

Toronto Fringe goes digital for 2021: After considering an outdoor festival for Summer 2021, the Toronto Fringe has decided to move forward with a digital festival. Now called The Digital Toronto Fringe Festival, dates have been shifted from June 30 to July 11 to July 21 to 31, 2021. During the festival, Fringe companies will present pre-recorded video, audio, and written pieces for audiences to enjoy as part the Fringe On-Demand series.

Luminato planned for June 2021: Luminato Festival Toronto has confirmed that the 2021 festival will be held this June through a series of video and digital experiences all across the GTA. 2021 marks the 15th anniversary of the Luminato Festival.

The Toronto Biennial of Arts moves to 2022: The Toronto Biennial has postponed its second edition. Originally scheduled for fall 2021, the Biennial will now take place March 26 to June 5, 2022.