| NEWS 08.28.09 8:01 AM |
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Tourism Toronto Hopes to Build on Success of A.S.A.E., Looks Ahead to Convention-Filled Fall
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 | A.S.A.E.'s opening night party
Photo: Courtesy Accucom Corporate Communications |
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Although it's too early to gauge the full impact of the American Society of Association Executives (A.S.A.E.) and the Center for Association Leadership's annual meeting and exposition, held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre last week, Tourism Toronto president and C.E.O. David Whitaker couldn't be happier with the feedback he's received.
"It was a wonderful week for us. The convention was flawless and the evening events were spectacular. And we received tons of feedback in terms of being a good host," he said. It's expected that roughly 20 per cent of the 4,900 association executives who attended the meeting will return to Toronto to host their own events here in future years. And Whitaker is confident the convention served to showcase the city and all that it offers. “By the nature of the event they saw the capabilities of our city both to host a meeting and to serve a meeting," he said.
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RELATED TOPICS
Tourism Toronto, American Society of Association Executives, The Center for Association Leadership |
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| NEWS 04.17.09 9:30 AM |
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Toronto Continues to Attract International Conventions Despite Economic Downturn
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The winner of five major conventions in recent months, Tourism Toronto is off to a strong start in 2009, said Tara Gordon, the organization’s vice president of meetings and conventions. Groups including the Lions Clubs International, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery have booked meetings scheduled for 2013 and beyond. “We are being cautiously optimistic as far as what is going on the books for future years," said Gordon, who maintains that the city continues to be a competitive destination, despite challenges in the global meetings market.
“I know there is a lot of talk out there as far as some of the major centres in the U.S. getting hit by cancellations and groups not meeting because of perception. We haven’t been experiencing cancellations to the same degree as that of our neighbour. There have been cancellations, but not at an alarming rate. And I think that’s a message we need to be very clear on getting out there,” Gordon said. “We have a solid base—that was booked between five to seven years ago—of major events coming into the city.”
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RELATED TOPICS
Tourism Toronto, Lions Clubs International, Society of Nuclear Medicine, American Industrial Hygiene Association |
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| NEWS 11.26.08 11:38 AM |
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Tourism Toronto Promotes Local Culture in New Guide for Event and Meeting Planners
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Tourism Toronto is promoting the experience the city offers to delegates attending local meetings and conventions in a new guide designed to help planners organize events in Toronto. The 213-page booklet, entitled "Toronto: Destination Planner", includes information about meeting venues, accommodations, meeting services, and sports facilities throughout the city. An About Toronto section also offers a rundown of what to see and do in neighbourhoods like Little Italy and the Beach.
"We've tried to tell the story about the fact that we have this great cultural scene happening," said Tara Gordon, Tourism Toronto's vice president of meetings, conventions, and incentive travel sales. "It's not necessarily about the nuts and bolts of the city as far as getting your meeting here. It's 'here's the experience we're going to offer your delegate' ... it appeals to the emotional side." The guide will be distributed to members of the Professional Convention Management Association and will be launched online in 2009. —Susan O'Neill
RELATED TOPICS
Tourism Toronto |
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| Q & A 11.05.08 4:26 PM |
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Carole Boughannam Is Planning the Launch of Toronto's Holiday Festival—and the 2009 Edition of Nuit Blanche
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 | City of Toronto event programming manager Carole Boughannam
Photo: Courtesy of Carole Boughannam |
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Each year, thousands of tourists and Toronto residents descend on Nathan Phillips Square to mark the start of the holiday season and watch the official tree lighting. This year, the 42nd annual Cavalcade of Lights, presented by Scotiabank, returns to the Square from November 29 to December 31. (The official tree, a 68-year-old white spruce that stands 62 feet high, is already in position outside City Hall.) Spearheading the citywide festival—which includes fireworks displays, neighborhood tours, skating parties, and weekly concerts by the likes of Serena Ryder, the Canadian Tenors, and the Dragonettes—is Carole Boughannam, the programming manager for the City of Toronto's special events. Boughannam talked to us about the objective of the event, how the festival has evolved over the years, and what residents and visitors can expect this season.
What is the objective of the Cavalcade of Lights?
Our main goal is to create civic pride in the city and engage residents to come out and celebrate together. The holiday season is a really good time to do that. We also like to enhance the visitor experience. There are a lot of people who are in the city, whether they come from border states or just outside of the GTA. It’s really nice when they come to shop and dine during the holiday time to actually have something that really feels alive in the center of the city. I think it also helps to profile the city, so when people go back out to where they’re from they can really talk about Toronto as being a dynamic place.
The other thing we talk about is motivating travel—we really do want people to be motivated to come to Toronto and come here to shop instead of maybe going to some of the other cities around us. That, in turn, generates an economic impact.
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City of Toronto, Tourism Toronto, Scotiabank, The Bay, Brian Gluckstein, Nuit Blanche |
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| NEWS 09.23.08 12:45 PM |
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Honda Signs Deal to Sponsor Toronto Indy in 2009
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Honda Canada and Andretti Green Toronto have signed a deal to re-establish the Toronto Indy in 2009. The event, scheduled to take place July 10 to 12 at Exhibition Place, will be called the Honda Indy Toronto. The Indy, first held here in 1986, was dropped from the racing circuit this past summer when the Indy Racing League and the Champ Car World Series reunited. "We are so excited to be involved with bringing this great event back to its roots and a huge loyal fan base in Ontario," said Kevin Savoree, president of Andretti Green Toronto.
The Province of Ontario, the city, and Tourism Toronto are also supporting the event. The province is providing $1 million a year for each of the next three years to Andretti Green, a promotions company owned by seven-time Indy winner Michael Andretti. "Ontario welcomes the Toronto Indy, and with it, hundreds of thousands of racing fans from across the province, the U.S., and overseas," said Tourism Minister Peter Fonseca. "We're proud to partner with Andretti Green Racing to re-establish the Toronto Indy as another exciting summer draw for visitors to our province." —Susan O'Neill
RELATED TOPICS
The Toronto Indy, Honda Canada, Andretti Green Toronto, Province of Ontario, City of Toronto, Tourism Toronto |
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| NEWS 06.06.08 12:14 PM |
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Sponsors Drive Free Programming at Luminato Festival
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Makeup demonstrations, dance classes, light shows, and performances by the likes of the Barra MacNeils and Ashley MacIsaac are just some of the free events being presented as part of the second annual Luminato Festival of Arts and Creativity, which starts Friday and runs through June 15. And, with more than 80 percent of the programming being offered at no cost to the public, sponsorships are critical to the event's success, festival president and C.E.O. Janice Price said in an interview.
“I think last year we were extremely grateful that [the inaugural festival came] off and that people embraced it so well … but we did all of that with only about seven months of planning," Price said. "The luxury of having a year of planning time means that we’ve really been able to leverage the desire of our corporate sponsors to make the connection with the programming. It’s allowed us to be a lot more creative with our partners." She added, “I think the really optimum blend of public-sector, individual, and private sponsorship makes [our sponsors] feel comfortable they’re working with an organization that has brought everybody to the table."
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RELATED TOPICS
L'Oréal, Government of Ontario, Government of Canada, Telus, CTV, The Globe and Mail, Tourism Toronto, Cineplex Media, St. Joseph Communications, BMO Financial Group, OLG, National Bank, Manulife Financial, Toronto Star, Scotiabank Group, Toronto Life, Waterfront Toronto, The Weather Network |
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| TOP 100 EVENTS 05.16.08 12:21 PM |
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Toronto's Top Food, Wine & Hospitality Events 2008
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 | Restaurants and wineries across the city hosted dining events for Santé.
Photo: Courtesy of NKPR |
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1. Wine & Cheese Show
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the Wine & Cheese show prides itself on being “Toronto’s most aggressively promoted food and drink show ever.” The wine competition has become a well-known fixture, with more than 500 submissions in 15 categories judged by a panel of experts. The 2008 show took place April 4 to 6 at the International Centre in Mississauga, featuring a sip-and-savour stage presented by the Food Network.
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RELATED TOPICS
Toronto's Top 100 Events, Food Network, Second Harvest, Tourism Toronto, Bon Appétit, Town Media, University Health Network, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Niagara Community Foundation, Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada, Evergreen, Slow Food Toronto, Stop Community Food Centre |
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| EVENT REPORT 07.27.07 9:38 AM |
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Tourism TO's White Event
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 | A savory beef appetizer from Ginger Island Cuisine was served at Tourism Toronto's client reception for the 2007 ASAE & The Center Invitational Forum on Leadership & Management on the Roy Thompson Hall Patio
Photos: BizBash |
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Cutting-edge local talent and ultra-hip multicultural cuisine were showcased during Tourism Toronto’s client reception for the 2007 ASAE & The Center Invitational Forum on Leadership & Management on the Roy Thomson Hall Patio. One hundred and twenty guests were introduced to Tourism Toronto’s new president, David Whitaker, and the funky cool side of Toronto. “We want to offer a sensory experience that highlights the edgy aspect of the city’s creative soul,” explained Catherine Dawson, client experience architect with Tourism Toronto. “You see it with the eclectic performances and the highly imaginative culinary presentation. It all ties in with our prevailing theme of Toronto the creative city.”
Chinese dragons and drummers marshaled guests to the patio, which was dressed in modern white settings by event producer Roni Feldman & Associates Inc., who also arranged the florals and provided logistical support. The decor featured white leather sofas from Contemporary Furniture Rentals, chairs, ottomans, and tables topped with white bouquets billowing from clear bowl-shaped vases. Accents of Tourism Toronto’s trademark blue appeared in the carpet and floret-shaped blooms nestled in clear square bowls.
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RELATED TOPICS
Tourism Toronto |
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