INDUSTRY INSIGHTS & UPDATES FOR MAR 16, 2023

How we connect as an industry matters. Sharing knowledge, collaborating, and aligning our strategic efforts increases our collective success. As we enter spring, there are many opportunities to be informed and connect with the community.

Register for one or more industry events – like the Spring Briefing, the upcoming EDGE Event on accessibility, or the TIAO IMPACT event – or join the advocacy effort for Global Meetings Industry Day to help build awareness around the importance of the visitor economy.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE SPRING BRIEFING ON APRIL 6

Join us on Thursday, April 6 for the second annual Spring Briefing at TD Music Hall, Toronto’s new, state-of-the-art live music and events venue, to learn how you can tap into Destination Toronto’s marketing opportunities and sales strategies.

Date: Thursday, April 6, 2023

Networking Breakfast: 8 a.m.-9:30 a.m.

Presentation: 9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m. (a live stream option is available)

Please register for in-person by Friday, March 31, 2023. Space is limited.

REGISTER FOR INCLUSIVE TOURISM: CREATING BARRIER-FREE ENVIRONMENTS & EXPERIENCES

Register for the next EDGE Event on March 28, Inclusive Tourism: Creating Barrier-Free Environments & Experiences. 

Maayan Ziv, an internationally renowned speaker and disability advocate and the Founder & CEO of AccessNow, will discuss how barrier-free environments and human-centred design are integral to serving this market.

IMPACT SUSTAINABILITY TRAVEL & TOURISM – ONTARIO: A REGIONAL EVENT 

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario is pleased to execute the first-ever IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism – ONTARIO: A Regional Event, taking place at Queen’s University Biosciences Centre in Kingston, Ontario, from May 7 to 9, 2023. 

This 2 day event will bring together thought-leaders, destinations, and operators from across Ontario who are committed to making the tourism industry more sustainable.

TORONTO CELEBRATES GLOBAL MEETINGS INDUSTRY DAY

Landmarks across Toronto are lighting blue for Global Meetings Industry Day on March 30, 2023, a day of advocacy that spotlights the importance of in-person events. 

If you are planning to light your business blue in support of Meetings Mean Business Canada (MMBC) please reach out to Destination Toronto's Dan Young to be added to the list. Use the hashtag #LightingUpBlue and tag MMBC and Destination Toronto in posts for amplification.

Please use the below link to learn more and to find the MMBC tool kit.

MONTHLY HOTEL ACCOMMODATION REPORT FOR JANUARY

The Monthly Accomodations Report for January is now up under Business Intelligence in the Research & Insights Terminal.

The Monthly Accommodations Report outlines hotel and short-term rental market performance to provide insights into Toronto’s visitor economy.

SIX IN THE 6IX: WOMEN INDUSTRY LEADERS SHARE THEIR BEST ADVICE

In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, Heather Greenwood Davis connected with six women leaders in the tourism and hospitality industry to share their stories and advice from the other side of the glass ceiling. 

DESTINATION CANADA RELEASES FIRST TED TALK

Destination Canada has released their first TED Talk in a series of fourteen that aims to highlight Canada’s open hearts and open minds, including the brightest speakers and biggest changemakers connected to Canada. 

Kris Alexander is a video game wizard and professor of video game design from Toronto. Kris’ talk focuses on how video games can support learning, an on-trend topic with Call of Duty League Major V Tournament coming to Toronto in May and EsportsTravel Summit here in July.

DESTINATION CANADA US SENTIMENT REPORT SHOWS HUGE OPPORTUNITY

The Destination Canada US Sentiment report is showing that Americans’ level of excitement to travel is at a 3-year high, with 85% stating they are excited to travel. 

The report also shows Canada is third on their list of most desired foreign destinations to visit in the next 12 months, presenting a huge opportunity for Canada to focus on growing the US market and to capitalize on this demand.

SIGCSE 2023 – ACM Technical Symposium on Computing Science Education - March 15-18, 2023

ACA Conference & Expo 2023 Toronto - March 28-April 2, 2023

Ontario Public Service Employee Union 2023 Annual Conference - April 17-22, 2023

Ontario Volleyball Association Championships 2023 - April 17-25, 2023

Canadian Produce Marketing Association 2023 Convention and Trade Show - April 23-28, 2023

Ontario Association for Mathematics Education Conference 2023 - April 26-28, 2023

City of Toronto to mark third anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic with commemorative gathering and public art installation, The Burn on Nathan Phillips Square - City of Toronto

City of Toronto outdoor rinks open until Sunday for more skating fun after welcoming more than 500,000 winter visitors - City of Toronto

Government of Canada provides small business support in Toronto to help boost tourism sector - FedDev Ontario

New Indigenous Business Navigator service available at Indigenous Services Canada - Government of Canada

Take Flight: 5 Destinations Under $300 Round-Trip in March - Travel Noire

Family Travel: Toronto Old Favorites & Stunning New Attractions Await! - Western New York Family Magazine

Toronto’s Varied Museums Amaze and Delight - Group Tour Magazine

117 Toronto businesses receive over $9.5M in tourism recovery support - Toronto.com

Toronto Business, Travel Leaders Seek New Trusted Traveller Program For Canada - Jim Byers Travel

New coalition calls on feds to expand Nexus, Global Entry at YYZ - PAX News

Inclusive Tourism: Creating Barrier-Free Environments & Experiences - March 28, 2023, Virtual

TIAC Regenerative Event Management - Cohort 2 - March 31-May 31, 2023 (deadline to register March 20)

Destination Toronto Spring Briefing - April 6, 2023, TD Music Hall

CHIC- Canadian Hotel Investment Conference - April 18-19, 2023, Fairmont Royal York Toronto

IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism – ONTARIO: A Regional Event - May 7-9, 2023, University Biosciences Centre in Kingston, Ontario

Greater Toronto Hotel Association's Hotel Summit & Annual General Meeting - Wednesday, May 17, 2023, Sheraton Toronto Centre

Ontario Hospitality Conference 2023 - October 2-3, 2023, Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel & Suites in Richmond Hill

Connect with us!