INDUSTRY INSIGHTS & UPDATES FOR MARCH 4, 2022

DESTINATION TORONTO CELEBRATES THE RELEASE 
OF DISNEY AND PIXAR'S TURNING RED

Destination Toronto is celebrating the release of Disney and Pixar's Turning Red, a coming-of-age story by Toronto-native, and Oscar-award-winning director Domee Shi, with a new promotion offering the chance to win a trip for four to Toronto. The film, which starts streaming March 11 on Disney+, showcases key landmarks and elements of Toronto. It also highlights the rich array of cultures and people living in the city. 

The contest is open from February 28 to March 27, 2022.

LATEST MARKET READINESS REPORT 

While we wait a little longer for spring and leaves to return to the trees, our updated Market Readiness Index has a distinctly green shade. Significant changes over the past month in entry requirements and destination readiness, combined with increasing comfort by travellers across all markets, point to improvements in market readiness. 

A long and uncertain road remains for the sector, but after the Omicron interruption, the conditions for recovery to begin and a resumption of business from key markets are taking shape.

Our Market Readiness Index combines data from more than a dozen sources into a snapshot of readiness across five factors and six source markets. 

SHARE YOUR MARCH BREAK ACTIVITIES

As visitors and locals plan their March Break, we want to know what your organization or establishment has planned for the week of  March 14 to March 18. The deadline for submitting March Break programming is Monday, March 7, 2022. 

In addition to March Break, please share any springtime programming you have in April or May to the above below. 

This information will be used for the Destination Toronto hub, on social channels and for pitching media working on stories highlighting this to do this spring. 

CANADIAN LIVE MUSIC ASSOCIATION - PANEL: LIVE MUSIC AND THE ROAD AHEAD - March 10 at 2 pm ET

An open national discussion on consumer confidence, vaccine mandates, restrictions and more.
Featuring: Ryan Balaski (Live Nation Promoter), Kerry Clarke (Calgary Folk Fest Artistic Director), Mervon Mehta (Royal Conservatory of Music Executive Director), Lisa Zbitnew (Phoenix Concert Theatre & Bronson Centre Music Theatre Owner).

Moderated by: Erin Benjamin (CLMA President & CEO) 

REMINDER TO REGISTER FOR RENDEZ-VOUS CANADA 

Date: May 24 – 27, 2022

Location: Toronto, Ontario & Virtual

Details: RVC+ 2022 is an exciting opportunity to welcome international buyers back to Canada and showcase the beauty of this country, as well as the truly meaningful travel experiences on offer across each province and territory.  RVC+ 2022 is a hybrid event, with a virtual component and an in-person seated marketplace in Toronto, Ontario, hosted by Destination Canada and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada. Buyer and seller registration is now open.

TORONTO WELCOMES THE RETURN OF FESTIVALS AND EVENTS 

This month, Destination Toronto joined Mayor Tory and Deputy Mayor Thompson, along with representatives from upcoming festivals and events, to welcome back live events to our city. Organizers are already beginning to confirm details for spring and summer events, festivals and conferences, helping to bring about the return of visitors and vibrancy in our communities. 

CANADIAN TRAVEL & TOURISM ROUNDTABLE (CTTR) CALLING ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO REMOVE ROADBLOCKS TO TRAVEL

The Canadian Travel & Tourism Roundtable (CTTR) is calling on the federal government to remove roadblocks to travel with the removal of pre-departure testing for fully vaccinated travellers, on or before April 1st when regulations will be updated.

Ontario Lifts Capacity Limits and Proof of Vaccination Requirements:

With key public health and health system indicators continuing to improve, Ontario is cautiously and gradually easing public health and workplace safety measures. The following changes to public health and workplace safety measures are in effect as of March 1, 2022. 

• capacity limits have been lifted in all indoor public settings
• proof of vaccination requirements have been lifted
• businesses and organizations may choose to require proof of vaccination upon entry
• other protective measures, such as mask/face covering requirements and passive screening of patrons remain in place
• businesses and organizations that are open must continue to have safety plans in place

Applications for Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant Now Open 

Small businesses that are subject to closure under the modified Step Two of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen plan can now apply for the Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant. Eligible businesses can apply for the program until March 11, 2022, to receive a grant of $10,000.  

• Top 22 Places to Travel for Spring, Summer and Fall 2022:  Toronto is listed in Architectural Digest’s Top Places to Visit in 2022 highlighting 1 Hotel Toronto, the Ace Hotel, the W Toronto, and the renovated Park Hyatt Toronto.

Juno Nominees Revealed:

The nominees for the 51st Annual JUNO Awards have been announced by The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) during a virtual presentation streamed on CBCMusic.ca/junos. This year’s winners will be revealed during the closing weekend of JUNO Week, at The JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Ontario Creates on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Toronto, and The JUNO Awards Broadcast on Sunday, May 15, 2022. 

Toronto Biennial of Art:

Toronto Biennial of Art (the Biennial/TBA) announces an extensive series of free public programs during the 10-week Biennial that will take place from March 26 to June 5, 2022. More than 40 local, national, and international participants will lead talks, workshops, performances, and learning programs that intersect and extend ideas emerging from the 2022 Biennial, What Water Knows, The Land Remembers.

Toronto’s General UHN Claims 4th Place for Worlds Best Hospitals:

The world's hospitals have been the front line in medicine's constantly evolving war against COVID-19 for two years now. According to the experts who helped guide the results of Newsweek's annual ranking of the World's Best Hospitals, that has meant learning to adapt to new and existing challenges quickly and improvising on the fly. 

Toronto Beats Maui & Whistler as Top Getaway Spot for Canadians on Airbnb:

Canadians are making travel plans again and Airbnb has released a list of the most popular destinations among its customers this spring. While you’d think that most people would be heading down south to Florida or even to B.C. for its warmer weather, Airbnb says that Toronto is the top trending destination among Canadians this spring. 

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