INDUSTRY INSIGHTS & UPDATES FOR MARCH 31, 2022

DESTINATION TORONTO SPRING BRIEFING 

Destination Toronto is hosting a webinar on April 11, 2022 to share the latest Market Readiness analysis and key upcoming opportunities for Toronto businesses to engage with the return of the visitor economy and leverage Destination Toronto’s in-market channels. 

Spring Briefing: April 11, 2022 at 9:30 AM    

GLOBAL MEETINGS INDUSTRY DAY ON APRIL 7TH

Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) is an international day of advocacy that spotlights the economic and networking value of in-person events. In conjunction with Meetings Mean Business Canada, destinations, meeting venues, industry partners and attractions will celebrate the day this year with the theme of Time to Meet!

MPI Toronto is hosting a GMID Kick Off at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel on April 6, 2022 at 1 pm. Keynote Speaker Gregg Brown will tackle the topic: Are You Ready for Takeoff: Navigate Your Future in a Post-Pandemic World. 

To mark the importance and vital contribution of the meetings, conferences and events industry, attractions and landmarks across Toronto will once again be lit blue. Meeting venues such as the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Exhibition Place, the Toronto Sign at Nathan Phillips Square, and CN Tower will turn their exterior lighting blue on the evening of April 7th.

You can join the celebration of Global Meetings Industry Day on April 7th by lighting the exterior of your building blue to bring to light the value that business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows and exhibitions bring to businesses and the economy.

RESTAURANTS CANADA CALLS ON CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES TO #DINEINDOOVER

Restaurants Canada is asking businesses and consumers to participate in a #DineInDoOver. Serving as an industry revival effort, the campaign encourages consumers and businesses across Canada to come together at their favourite local restaurant, and ‘redo’ the moments, milestones and special events they’ve missed over the last two years.

In addition to consumers and support from businesses, Restaurants Canada is also calling for restaurant owners and operators to spread the word about the campaign by downloading the #DineInDoOver Toolkit, joining the conversation on social media, amplifying and creating additional awareness to keep restaurants at the heart of incredible connections and memories. 

DRIVING NEW DEMAND THROUGH MEDIA RELATIONS 

With the growing return of travel demand, media relations activities are accelerating to drive greater awareness and appeal of Toronto. Destination Toronto has resumed in-market PR representation in key international markets including Mexico and the U.K., and has also resumed hosting journalists from Canada and around the world through an aggressive media relations effort. Press trips to Toronto in April include a focus on the city’s music scene, sports, dining and arts and culture.  

Toronto, The Quietly Booming Tech Town - New York Times technology writer Cade Metz positions Toronto as the hottest new tech town, above both Austin and Miami, and the third largest in North America.

The Elusive Urban Forest That Lies Beneath Toronto - Toronto-based freelancer Josie Kao pens a story for National Geographic discussing Toronto’s ongoing ravine revitalization and recommends the best ways to explore the ravine system.

Reminder: Starting today, pre-entry tests will no longer be required for fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada by land, air or water. 

"After a challenging two years, we all want the Canadian economy, including the tourism sector, to rebound and grow. We in government have been listening to the concerns of tourism businesses across the country. We are confident that, thanks to all that Canadians have done to protect one another, we can now take the next step forward and remove testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada. The economy, workers and tourism business owners will benefit from this next step in opening Canada up once again to the world."

– The Honourable Randy Boissonnault

Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance

City of Toronto Partners with Musicounts to offer New Resources for Aspiring Music Industry Professionals - Today, the City of Toronto and MusiCounts announced the launch of new learning resources for young aspiring music industry professionals. MusiCounts Learn TRACK: Industry Insights is a series of free videos that provide emerging artists and music industry professionals with key information about how to get started in the music industry. TRACK: Industry Insights is launching in celebration of 2022 JUNO Week taking place in Toronto from May 9 -15.

Toronto live venues to get permanent tax break as music scene revs back up, city says - At a time when live music is making a comeback across the city after two years of COVID-19 restrictions, Toronto will reduce property taxes for eligible concert venues permanently, Mayor John Tory said on Monday. Tory said city council lowered property taxes for live music venues in 2020 during the first year of the pandemic to show support for the local music industry. The city said 48 venues in 2020 and 58 venues in 2021 received the benefit, with an average savings of $18,995. 

Toronto Symphony announces 100th anniversary season - The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) just announced their historic 2022/23 season that celebrates the Orchestra’s 100th anniversary. Events, repertoire, and world-renowned artists have been programmed to reflect and pay homage to the TSO’s illustrious past, signal the beginning of a dynamic future, and pay tribute to the vibrant, diverse community it serves. It's a whole year of hits, including a special Gala w Yo Yo Ma. 

The Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards Return for an In-Person Ceremony - The annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards, produced by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), celebrate excellence in the city’s professional performing arts sector for theatre, dance and opera. Due to COVID-19 health restrictions, which forced postponements to a number of live performances beyond the typical Dora Award adjudication period, TAPA has adopted a revised schedule. As such, the Board of Directors of TAPA and PAIS are pleased to announce that the 42nd Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards will take place September 19, 2022, venue TBA. 

Investing in Canadian Talent to Help Build for the Metaverse - Today, Meta announced the creation of a new engineering hub in Canada based in Toronto, alongside increased hiring across Canada. This is expected to create up to 2,500 new jobs over the next several years, with recruiting already underway. The majority of roles are engineering-focused and expected to span across building extended reality experiences and Meta technologies. Meta is also establishing the first Canadian WhatsApp, Messenger and Remote Presence engineering teams and growing their Canadian Reality Labs and AI Research teams. 

A New Company is Stepping in as a Replacement for Greyhound in Ontario - FlixBus, an intercity travel company from Germany, acquired Greyhound's U.S. arm in October, which means it took over remaining cross-border lines, like the one between Toronto and New York. The company is also establishing new direct routes within Canada between Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto and Ottawa, and Toronto and St. Catharines/Niagara Falls.

Connect with us!