INDUSTRY INSIGHTS & UPDATES FOR NOVEMBER 18, 2021

NEVER HAVE I EVER, TO GIFTING JOY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

With the success of the Never Have I Ever, TO campaign, a new holiday edition is here - The Never Have I Ever Holiday Joy List! The campaign leans into the idea that gifting joy and reconnecting with those you care about creates holiday magic and the Never Have I Ever Holiday Joy List campaign encourages our hyperlocal and drive market audiences to reconnect in Toronto this season. 

6IX WAYS TO SPREAD JOY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

1. Use our #NeverHaveIEverTO and #SeeTorontoNow hashtags on your social channels!
2. Access and use the campaign toolkit and assets in your own content. Check the toolkit often as new assets will be updated regularly.
3. Access and use our official image library. Register for free, with new images added regularly
4. Share your ‘Never Have I Ever Holiday Joy List’ content. Do you have seasonal imagery across the key themes like food and drink, arts and culture, attractions and entertainment, hotel staycations, iconic Toronto, hidden gems, neighbourhood strolls and the outdoors?  Share them with us!
5. Promote My Toronto Pass to your customers in your social content and website. 
6. Contact us if you have a media release you’d like to share about your ‘Never Have I Ever’ experience or a question not addressed in this playbook

Unwrap all the details and ways you can get involved in the Never Have I Ever Holiday Joy List campaign playbook. 

JOIN THE HOLIDAY JOY LIST WITH MY TORONTO PASS

A key driver for the holiday campaign is the My Toronto Pass, a complimentary digital download available on our Never Have I Ever Holiday Joy List landing page. Launched in August, My Toronto Pass reaches 5,600+ subscribers and features 43 Toronto attractions. 

The platform is heavily supported by the holiday campaign and remains one of primary “calls to action" providing consumers the opportunity to safely access and redeem special offerings, value-adds, and unique one-of-a-kind experiences from participating businesses.

Offers are featured under one of these categories: Culture & Entertainment; Attractions; or Tours. Your participation helps encourage exploration and motivates discovery of what locals and visitors can discover or rediscover this holiday.  

Add your name to the growing list of participating businesses featured on the My Toronto Pass!  

NEW ARTICLE: GET THE INSIDE SCOOP ON THE NEW HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN

Curious to find out more about the new campaign? Read this exclusive Q&A with Destination Toronto’s Jeremy Maunder about the new campaign and how it took shape, in a new article on the Research & Insights Terminal.

THAT’S A WRAP ON DESTINATION TORONTO'S BUSINESS OUTLOOK FORUM

This afternoon, Destination Toronto hosted the Business Outlook Forum featuring the latest data and insights shaping recovery, key destination strategies and resources to help plan for the year ahead. The Forum brought together more than 300 attendees both virtually and in-person to support industry leaders in aligning their strategies and making informed, strategic business decisions. The Forum featured a broad array of Destination Toronto and industry thought leaders at the hybrid event - the first in-person organization-wide event hosted by Destination Toronto since the start of the pandemic and the re-opening of the city’s meeting spaces. 

Thank you to all of those that were able to attend both virtually and in person. Thanks also goes out to Hilton Toronto for hosting us downtown!

 DESTINATION TORONTO SHOWCASES THE CITY AT IMEX AMERICA

Last week, Destination Toronto engaged global buyers and key decision-makers from the incentive, corporate and association markets at the return of IMEX America in Las Vegas – one of the largest business event trade shows in the industry. Over 3,300 buyers attended the 10^th edition of IMEX America alongside 2,200 exhibiting companies representing 200-plus countries, making it a key event to facilitate business development opportunities, lead generation and position Toronto as the destination of choice for future business events. Destination Toronto was well-represented by members of the Global Sales & Services team and conducted 90 hosted buyer meetings and myriad walk-up appointments throughout the three day show.  The quality of business opportunities and connections made at this important industry event will inject new leads in the pipeline in the coming months ahead.   

NEW ARTICLE: GLOBAL LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL

The newly released Destination NEXT Futures Study was the focus of our latest virtual EDGE Event on November 8, and was also featured during today's Business Outlook Forum. The study shines a light on how destinations around the world are adapting to changing circumstances and capitalizing on trends that are shaping the business of travel. 

In this new article by Destination Toronto’s Andrew Weir, find out more about the study and how it captures the trends driving destinations in their sales, marketing and destination development work. Access it on the Research & Insights Terminal today.

SHOP & DINE LOCAL THIS HOLIDAY TO SHOW LOVE TO SMALL BUSINESSES

The City of Toronto and Mayor Tory have kicked off their ShowLoveTO holiday campaign encouraging local dining and shopping this holiday season. The new phase of ShowLove is aimed at helping small businesses that have endured repeated lockdowns and restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. To drive the message home, the city is extending its marketing campaign through December on TV, online and transit shelters. Ontario Heritage Minister Lisa MacLeod joined the mayor at the news conference to say the provincial government will provide $250,000 to the campaign.

Toronto city council approves plan to make CafeTO permanent: Toronto city council has approved a plan to make the CafeTO program, which allows for restaurants and bars to have new outdoor dining opportunities, become permanent. Registration will open early in the new year and installation will start as soon as May, with registration fees waived for 2022.

Canada-US land border reopens: Fully vaccinated tourists can now cross the border in both directions for the first time since March 2020. The move is a positive step for the return of the U.S. drive market to Toronto in time for the holiday season. A negative PCR COVID test is still required for all inbound US visitors. 

Ontario pausing lifting of capacity limits in remaining settings where proof of vaccination is required: The Government of Ontario has announced they are pausing the lifting of capacity limits in remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required as key public health trends have increased. These settings include food or drink establishments with dance facilities such as night clubs and wedding receptions in meeting/event spaces.

The Toronto Zoo Is Getting A Christmas Market: The Toronto Zoo is getting festive with the return of its Holiday Marketplace. The event is opening for its second year on November 19, and transforms the Indo-Malayan courtyards and front of the Zoo into a market filled with shops and more.

Toronto to Build $250 Million Studio Complex, Marking Biggest Production Industry Investment in Two Decades: The Basin Media Hub, named for its Basin Street location, will sit on 8.9 acres along the Port Lands. It will provide 500,000 square feet of film, TV and digital media studio space. The  proposal was approved by CreateTO and was announced by Mayor Tory on Tuesday.

Friday: Immersive Dream to open in Toronto: Immersive Dream is the latest 360-art show to touch down in the city. The show is produced by Lighthouse Immersive and the group of producers that are also behind Immersive Van Gogh, Immersive Klimt and Immersive Nutcracker, which is opening this week.

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