Due to the upcoming Canada Day holiday, Destination Toronto's community newsletter will return July 9th. The newsletter will then move to a bi-weekly schedule, finding its way to your inbox every other Friday. 

INTRODUCING PatioscapesTO

This coming Tuesday, Destination Toronto is launching an effort to encourage Torontonians to safely explore patios across the city this summer. PatioscapesTO is a six-week campaign and contest that capitalizes on the local excitement of patios re-opening, and invites diners to experience neighbourhoods and patios in all corners of Toronto by sharing their favourite patio dining photos online.  

To enter, participants only need to post a photo of their patio experience on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and include hashtag #PatioscapesTO. Photos can also be uploaded on the soon-to-be-launched PatioscapesTO website.

Diners will also be able to search the hashtag #RoomOnThePatioTO on Twitter, for help finding patios with space available for their dining pleasure. The hashtag will be used by Toronto’s culinary community to let diners know they have space.

We encourage all of Toronto’s tourism and hospitality community to take part in the project. If you’re a Toronto restaurateur, click here to find out how you and your business can be a part in PatioscapesTO.

Stay tuned for the official PatioscapesTO launch on Tuesday, June 29.

TOURISM ECONOMIC RECOVERY MINISTERIAL TASK FORCE REPORT RELEASED

This week, the Tourism Economic Recovery Ministerial Task Force released its final report. The report contains ten recommendations to government on how best to support the tourism industry in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Minister MacLeod established the Tourism Economic Recovery Ministerial Task Force – including Destination Toronto – to provide actionable guidance on the strategies, tactics and approaches that the Ontario government should consider when supporting the economic recovery of the tourism industry in Ontario.

The report highlights the important role gateway cities, including Toronto, play in attracting visitors to our destination and then spurring visitation to other destinations across the province. The report also speaks to the critical role gateway cities like Toronto have in the return of meetings, conferences and events.

You can read the full report, including the 10 actionable recommendations here

TORONTO TO ENTER STEP 2 OF REOPENING ON WEDNESDAY

Toronto (and most of Ontario) is set to enter Step 2 of the province’s Roadmap to Reopen on Wednesday. Step 2 was originally slated for July 2, and was moved ahead several days following a successful first step in the framework.

 Here is how Step 2 impacts Toronto’s tourism and hospitality community:

 Outdoor Dining:  

• Capacity expands to 6 people per table, with exceptions for large households (NEW) 

 Outdoor Meeting and Events: (NEW) 

• Permitted at 25% capacity  
• A maximum of 6 people may be seated together at one table  

 Outdoor Amusement Parks: (NEW) 

• Permitted at 25% capacity  

 Outdoor Water Parks: (NEW) 

• Permitted at 25% capacity  
• Reservations required for seated activity 

 Outdoor Cinemas, Performing Arts, and Concert Venues: (NEW) 

• Maximum of 25% capacity  
• Reservations required  

 Outdoor Fairs, Exhibitions, and Festivals: (NEW) 

• Maximum of 25% capacity  
• Reservations required  

 Outdoor Professional and Elite Amateur Sport Events: (NEW) 

• Maximum of 25% spectator capacity 

 Outdoor Tour Guides: (NEW) 

• Maximum 25% capacity, including trails, walking tours, bicycle tours, fishing charters, wineries, breweries, etc.  

 Weddings: (NEW) 

• Indoor maximum 25% capacity  
• Outdoor capacity limited to permit physical distancing to 2 metres  

Yesterday, Minister Lisa MacLeod walked stakeholders through a technical briefing outlining the key indicators that allow for reopening, as well as the framework for the upcoming steps.

DESTINATION TORONTO HOSTS VIRTUAL EVENTS FOR POTENTIAL MEETING CLIENTS

Destination Toronto continues its work in securing future meetings, conferences and events for the city once restrictions lift. The team hosted a series of recent virtual events targeting prospective meeting clients:

The Experience Toronto Virtual Event replicated what clients would experience if they were here live in-person. More than 50 Canadian and U.S.-based guests took park in a series of virtual fams in May and June highlighting the best of our destination’s meeting spaces, hotels and attractions.

Destination Toronto also hosted a Toronto Hidden Gems Tour this past Tuesday, highlighting newsworthy venues, hotels and attractions on a 24-person virtual trip around the city. The Hidden Gems Tour featured a mix of noteworthy businesses within the community, including a sneak peek of both Little Canada and Beyond Monet, opening later this year.  

Work continues throughout Destination Toronto to continue to secure future meetings and the return of meetings, conferences and events.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BEGINS RELAXING BORDER MEASURES

The Canadian government announced that it will begin loosening travel restrictions for fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents amid warnings that a return to a completely open border will take more time.

Beginning July 5, fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents are able to enter Canada without having to quarantine if they meet eligibility conditions. For these new measures to apply, travellers must be fully vaccinated, asymptomatic, eligible to enter Canada, and show a pre-entry negative COVID test, in addition to a negative on-site test upon arrival. 

REGISTER FOR WE’RE READY TORONTO

Join the Toronto Region Board of Trade for a complimentary webcast to hear from some of our Region’s notable personalities and leaders, including Mayor Tory, to learn critical information about what’s happened and what you can expect as the economy reopens. 

July 7, 2021 - 11:30 am 

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Scotiabank’s vaccine clinic to set record: 25,000 people have now booked Toronto Vaccine Day appointments at the “Our Winning Shot” clinic taking place Sunday at Scotiabank Arena. The fully booked, Toronto Vaccine Day has more than doubled the current Canadian record for most people vaccinated at a one-day clinic and is on track to potentially set a new North America-wide single-day clinic record.

TIFF kicks off September 9: TIFF will kick off 10 days of international and Canadian cinema on September 9 with over 100 films. This year’s festival marks the return of in-person screen both indoors and outdoors cinemas.

The National Ballet of Canada announces 2021/22 season: The National Ballet is set to return to the stage on August 9 to start the 2021/22 season – marking the final season programmed by Karen Kain before she steps down on June 30.

Design installations arrive on Toronto streets: A series of sculptural, interactive installations have been introduced to the pedestrian-only streets of the historic Distillery District. Part of an annual competition Winter Stations, the three installations have been created by various international design teams responding to the theme of ‘refuge.’