STEP 1 OF RE-OPENING: PATIOS COME TO LIFE ACROSS THE CITY

Toronto is entering its second week of Step 1 of reopening with the next step now on the horizon. With it, comes much needed support for Toronto’s tourism and hospitality community, including support for the culinary community with patios open across the city. 

With Step 1 of reopening underway, Destination Toronto has reactivated the patios area on ToGoToronto.com in addition to the existing take-out and delivery options. Restaurants can update their patio information by logging into the Partner Portal to update their listing. Restaurants not currently listed on the site can click here for a step-by-step guide to updating or adding a listing. As always participation is at no cost for the participating restaurants.

Later this month, Destination Toronto will be launching a NEW social media-centric campaign, and content to support Toronto’s culinary community and capitalize on the local excitement of patios re-opening in our community. PatioscapesTO – launching June 29 - will come with a significant marketing push encouraging locals to safely and responsibly explore more of Toronto’s great patios throughout our many neighbourhoods, while we prepare for the long-awaited opening of indoor dining. We’ll be sharing more details about the campaign in next week’s newsletter. 

EXPLORE THE RESEARCH & INSIGHTS TERMINAL

This past May, Destination Toronto launched the new Research & Insights Terminal as part of our new Content Hub. This is Toronto’s tourism and hospitality community’s hub for data, insights and information about the city’s visitor economy. We hope this central source helps you navigate the opportunities of the visitor economy, plan for your business recovery and future, and enable you to stay connected with peers throughout the community.

You can read more about the Terminal here including the latest blog post about the urgent need for a Canada-US border re-opening plan written by Scott Beck.

As always, your feedback is important. Let us know what you want to see on the Terminal so we support your business as we collectively work towards recovery and growing Toronto’s visitor economy. Email us and a member of the Destination Development team will get back to you shortly. 

TWO NEW VITAL INDUSTRY SURVEYS NEED YOUR FEEDBACK

Two new important surveys need the feedback of Toronto’s tourism and hospitality community as Toronto (and the province) reopens and the industry begins the long road to recovery.

DESTINATION TORONTO’S RETURN TO WORK SURVEY

Destination Toronto, in partnership with the City of Brampton, Tourism Mississauga, and the City of Toronto, has received a new mandate from the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries to deliver a Workforce Development Program to help facilitate the return to work for employees in the hospitality industry across Toronto, Mississauga, and Brampton.

We’re asking the community to share insights in this 5 minute survey to help ensure the program reflects the needs and challenges of the community.  The survey is open until June 24.

TIAO’S REOPENING CHALLENGES SURVEY

TIAO is collecting up-to-date information on the current challenges facing tourism business operations to demonstrate the tourism industry’s continued need for government support.  The survey aims to understand what Ontario’s tourism businesses need to recover and rebuild so TIAO can advocate on your behalf. 

COVID-19 SCREENING KITS AVAILABLE TO HELP BUSINESSES SAFELY REOPEN

The City of Toronto has partnered with the Toronto Region Board of Trade to provide free COVID-19 rapid screening kits to help small- and medium-sized businesses of 150 or fewer employees safely reopen. 

Eligible businesses can order an initial four-week supply of testing kits and book a time slot for pickup at one of four locations throughout the city.

ONTARIO REOPENS PROVINCIAL BORDERS ON JUNE 16

Ontario has lifted the provincial border restrictions as of June 16, allowing people to once again travel freely into the province from Manitoba and Quebec. The change allows domestic visitors to enter Ontario through interprovincial land and water borders without the trip needing to be considered essential.

NEW RAINBOW REGISTERED PROGRAM TO CERTIFY LGBT+ ALLY BUSINESSES 

The Canadian LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce has launched a new accreditation available for Canadian businesses of all sizes and industries to show their allyship and make a concrete commitment to ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion. The first 50 small businesses to apply can become Rainbow Registered at no cost from now until the end of June using code Rainbow100. CGLCC will also waive the sign-up fee for all other businesses until the end of the month using code RR Pride Month Offer.

REMINDER: ACCESS DESTINATION TORONTO’S MEDIA ASSETS - INCLUDING NEW AERIAL AND DRONE FOOTAGE

Destination Toronto is here to help support your marketing efforts with our collection of images and videos including new aerial and drone footage. These images and videos are available for you to use in your marketing activity and future campaigns to help promote your businesses alongside the city. 

Click here to access a curated collection of assets including the aerial/drone footage, our hero video on the homepage of our content hub, and A Love Letter to Toronto video (featured in an article below).

Register here to access the entire Media Hub for all of our available video and photography assets:

INDUSTRY NEWS

Canada’s Wonderland set to re-open July 7: After more than a year of being closed, Wonderland will reopen with limited capacity for season passholders on July 5 and 6, followed by a grand public reopening on July 7. The attraction's adjacent water park, Splash Works is set to reopen on July 12.

Toronto Zoo to re-open June 19: The Toronto Zoo is also set to re-open. Only outdoor spaces will be open during the first stage with mandatory masks onsite when in washrooms, food services areas, giftshops, and outdoors when 2 metres cannot be maintained and when in close proximity to animal viewing spaces. The Zoo opens to the public tomorrow.

Four Seasons Hotel Toronto introduces D|azur: The acclaimed property invites guests to experience the South of France with the opening of d|azur, an all-new patio inspired by the romance and elegance of the French Riviera. Open now, guests will experience fresh fare in a chic atmosphere the evokes the glamour, warmth and "je ne sais quoi" of the Côte d'Azur.

Massey Hall to open after 3 years: In celebration of its 127th birthday, Massey Hall has announced that after a three-year closure for an extensive revitalization, it will reopen its red doors and welcome back music fans in November 2021. Massey announced the first listing of artists who will perform in the newly dedicated Allan Slaight Auditorium including Gordon Lightfoot, Buffy Sainte-Mare, City and Colour, Broken Social Scene and the Glorious Sons.

TSO’s Return to In-Person Performances: The long-awaited reunion between the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and its patrons is scheduled for November 10, 2021, with 30 dynamic programs running through June of 2022. The return to live performances will be defined by the leadership of Music Director Gustavo Gimeno, who will mark his first complete season on the podium, conducting 11 subscription programs.

Luminato announces 2021 lineup: Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky, filmmaker Director X and theatre artist Christine Brubaker are among the artists set to present original works at the Luminato Festival Toronto this fall. The three will headline the annual arts and culture event, which will feature free film and digital experiences and a drive-in concert Oct. 13 to 17.

2021 Dora Ancillary Awards Announced: The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts has announced the recipients of the 2021 Dora Ancillary Awards which were presented in a virtual broadcast in Toronto this week and streamed on TAPA's YouTube channel.  With no live performances throughout the pandemic, the Ancillary Awards are not based on a specific performance season, but on a body of work. Congratulations to all of the recipients!

RendezViews – Toronto’s largest outdoor patio opens: With Step 1 of reopening, comes the return of Toronto’s largest outdoor patio. RendezViews saw more than 100,000 patrons last year and has returned to John and Richmond.

African Lion Safari reopens to visitors: Nearby African Lion Safari has also reopened to visitors as of June 12. The attraction now has online timed ticketing and mandatory face masks when inside all buildings, washrooms and when speaking to employees.