INSIDE GUIDE FOR EVENT PLANNERS VIB EXCITING · Authentically local cuisine, paired with...

INSIDE GUIDE FOR EVENT PLANNERS

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CONTACT USTourism TorontoQueen’s Quay Terminal at Harbourfront207 Queens Quay West, Suite 405, Box 126Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 1A7Toll free: 1·800·363·1990Direct: 416·203·2600

Tara Gordon, CMP, 416-203-3827Vice President, Meeting & Convention [email protected]

Julie Holmen, 416-203-3833Director of Sales, [email protected]

Robert Kawamoto, CMP, 416-203-3810Director of Sales, Greater Toronto [email protected]

Alice Au, 416-203-3819Director of Sales, International Meetings & [email protected]

Jon Hixon, 847-236-0114Director of Sales, Association (in Chicago)[email protected]

Kathryn Wakefield, 416-203-3829Director of Client [email protected]

Produced and printed in Toronto by Ignite ignitemag.ca © 2012

“There’s an amazing amount of collaboration among our more than 1,200 members. It’s great to help them connect and watch them dream up new and fresh ideas for visitors.”

- Robert Kawamoto, Director of Sales, Greater Toronto Regions

“We welcomed a record number of overnight guests in 2011: four times our population. Our new luxury hotel brands are helping attract groups we hadn't previously worked with, and first-time clients from all over the world.”

- Julie Holmen, Director of Sales, Corporate

“There’s a new buzz about Toronto that is translating into a growing awareness and interest in this community as a visitor and meetings destination that can deliver on our guests’ expectations.”

- David Whitaker, President and Chief Executive Officer

“Well before your guests arrive to attend a citywide meeting or important event, our services can help ensure that every detail is addressed, from reserving your space to finding unique gifts to thank speakers with.”

- Kathryn Wakefield, Director of Client Services

“We’re definitely a ‘roll-up-your-sleeves’ convention bureau; we understand what goes into a successful business event. It’s our job to help meeting planners connect with venues and services that can make it happen here.”

- Tara Gordon, Vice President, Meeting and Convention Sales

“Reflecting all that’s new and happening in the city is one of our challenges – and such a nice problem to have! A thrill to see Toronto make the Travel + Leisure list of ‘Hottest Destinations of 2012’.”

MEET AND GREET,

WITH TOURISM TORONTO

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ABOUT TOURISM TORONTOTourism Toronto is the Toronto Convention and Visitors Association, the primary resource for meeting planners and convention organizers considering Toronto as their event destination. Our staff will help identify products, services and facilities that will help ensure a successful, memorable event or meeting. Meeting planners can also take advantage of Tourism Toronto's free, time-saving Booking Notice Service. This guide is produced by Ignite, covering news, ideas and inspiration for creative events.

Produced by Ignite | Ignitemag.ca | Creative: theboomeranggroup.comEditorial: Julie Charles Communications

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PLANNING NOTEBOOK Resources to be in the know like a local pro, check out your best event dates and learn how to give your guests the TIFF red carpet treatment

NEW AND NOTABLETORONTO, ON TAPTAKE A SWIG OF THE CITY’S CRAFT SUDS

UNVEILED SPACES NEW AND REINVENTED EVENT VENUES MAKE THEIR MARK

� � en Photo: Connie Tsang

The Drake Hotel's celebrated patio,

Sky Yard, is one of the hottest

summertime event spaces.

Photo: Troy Miller www.karmaphotography.ca

Ignite_Toronto_Supplement_2012_c.indd 4 6/2/12 12:00 AM

19INSIDE GUIDE

READY TO CONNECTINNOVATIVE APPS TO HELP SPARK YOUR AUDIENCE

MISSION: SUSTAINABILITY URBAN VENUES BAND TOGETHER

MADE FOR MEETINGS CONVENTION AND TRADE CENTRES

EVENT EXTRASNOT SO SERIOUS! TEAMS GONE WILD

THE GOODSGIFT IDEAS AND MORE

TORONTO FYI

BEST FACE FORWARD

GOOD TO THE LAST BITE

ts 3138

434446

2427

Photo: Trump InternationalPhoto: Sky ZonePhoto: Arcadian, Oink & Coo

Photo: Connie Tsang

EdgeWalk at the CN Tower

Comfort food at the Drake Hotel



SWEET TREATSGooderham & Worts Whisky truffl es from SOMA

BEST HISTORY LESSONFort York and the War of 1812

WELL-HEELED VENUEBata Shoe Museum

L

EXPLORE LIKE A LOCAL

SeeTorontoNow.com/MeetingPlanners

Browse venues and get fresh itinerary ideas to plan your

next event.

A SMALL SAMPLING OF TORONTO’S ICONS

AND ATTRACTIONS THAT YOU

JUST WON’T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE

URBAN WATERSIDE Sugar Beach

SMARTEST MEETING SPACEAppel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library

RED ROCKETS Convention passes on TTC public transit

know-ledge

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COOL COCKTAILDrake Hotel’s Maple Me Pretty

CURVIEST HIGHRISEThe “Marilyn” in Mississauga.

HIGHEST ATTRACTIONCN Tower EdgeWalk

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INFORMATION & RESERVATIONS 1 800 441 1414 [email protected] www.fairmontmeetings.com

Take your next meeting to new heightsat The Fairmont Royal York.

Meetings and events at The Fairmont Royal York feature authentically local cuisine and luxurious décor. The size and diversity of our award-winning culinary team allows access to the country’s finest food and beverage products combined with styles and recipes showcasing cuisine from around the world.

Our menus focus on local and sustainable ingredients, including herbs from our rooftop garden and honey from our rooftop apiary. These are just a few of our many initiatives that prove our commitment to providing local and sustainable products for our guests.

Authentically local cuisine, paired with distinctive meeting facilities, make The Fairmont Royal York Toronto’s choice for meetings.

The Fairmont Royal York has been a landmark meeting destination in Toronto since 1929. We look forward to making your next meeting a truly memorable one.



FLAVOURS OF THE MONTHPlan your own event around the city’s social calendar, or work these classic Toronto festivals and events into your theme, year-round.

JANUARY

Winterlicious

FEBRUARY

Canadian International Auto Show

MARCH

Canada Blooms

APRIL

Hot Docs Film Festival

MAY

Doors Open Toronto

JUNE

Pride Toronto

JULY

Honda Indy Toronto

AUGUST

Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival

SEPTEMBER

Toronto International Film Festival

OCTOBER

Festival of International Authors

NOVEMBER

Cavalcade of Lights

DECEMBER

Lowe’s Toronto Christmas Market at the Distillery District

GAME CHANGER As the Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe Region prepares to host some 10,000 athletes and officials for the 2015 Pan American Games and Parapan American Games, a cluster of Toronto venues are on the rise, including an athlete’s village transforming industrial lands along the Don River into a sustainable, mixed-use neighbourhood. Across town, Exhibition Place will be dubbed Toronto Pan Am Park. To be held in July and August, the Games will be the largest multi-sport event ever held in Canada.

THE LIFE AQUATIC There will be good wishes for fishes when a new Ripley’s Aquarium opens in Toronto in 2013. Set near the base of the CN Tower, this 130,000-sq.-ft. attraction will house more than 450 kinds of aquatic creatures. As an event setting with animal attraction, guests will be able to meander thru an acrylic tunnel deep below a shark lagoon.

ISLAMIC TREASURES Due to open in 2013, the Aga Khan Museum will display the largest collection of Islamic art in North America, with objects and artifacts of artistic and historical significance from various periods and geographic areas of the Muslim world. Designed by Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, the museum will also have extensive exhibition spaces, a 350-seat auditorium, a reference library, classrooms and workshop spaces.

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WHAT’S COMING ADVANCE PLANNING

Lknow-how

In its first global ranking of

smart cities, Fast Company

magazine ranks Toronto second

only to Vienna as a top smart city and the highest

ranked North American city.

Detail: “Emperor Jahangir at the Jharoka Window of the Red Fort in Agra,” Agra, India, circa 1620.

�I

WHAT’S ON

©Aga Khan Trust for Culture

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It can get crowded on the red carpet at the height of the annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) each September, so it’s a good thing the festival’s glamorous new HQ in the TIFF Bell Lightbox has opened up event space and opportunities year-round to host film-themed get-togethers.

This fall, for instance, TIFF has scooped up a blockbuster James Bond exhibition celebrating the British spy’s 50th anniversary, featuring costumes, Q Branch gadgets, props and photos from the movie franchise – a great scene-setter for an exclusive event with big-screen appeal.

The TIFF Bell Lightbox itself is a unique multi-venue facility in the heart of Toronto’s entertainment district, with spaces large and small to suit a film premiere, awards gala, cocktail reception or arts-focused board meeting. Treat your own stars and VIPs to an evening under the stars, on a rooftop patio served by Oliver & Bonacini’s Malaparte restaurant on site.

TIFF's new home is open to

your private VIP events

all year, and its savvy

production team can offer

film-related program ideas to give guests

a behind- the-scenes

experience.

FROM TORONTO, WITH LOVEIT'S A YEAR-ROUND FILM-FEST AT TIFF

SECURE YOUR DATE!

SeeTorontoNow.com/MeetingPlanners Use our online RFP and we can help

find your space.

© 1977 Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation. All rights reserved.

Designing 007 — Fifty Years of Bond Style, is set to run Oct. 26 to Jan. 20, 2013.

© 1962 Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation. All rights reserved.

Photo: TIFF Bell Lightbox


UNIQUE. CONTEMPORARY. VERSATILE.

Spectacular revitalized

glass cube entrance now open

A vibrant literary and cultural commons in the heart of the city

T O R O N T O P U B L I C L I B R A R Y

416.393.7148torontopubliclibrary.ca/salonrentals

T O R O N T O P U B L I C L I B R A R Y



INVENTIVE INCENTIVES

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How � you like your luxe?

FOUR SEASONS TORONTOTHE HOTEL: One of the city’s newest luxury hotel open-ings this year is from one of the most well-established names in town: the global chain was founded in Toronto in 1961.

THE ’HOOD: A hop, skip and high-end shopping spree away from its previous location one block over in Yorkville.

EVENT SPACES: Glass-enclosed meeting and banquet rooms look out onto city views of the tree-topped neigh-bourhood. Given the airy, contemporary decor by superstar Toronto design duo Yabu Pushelberg, staff have chosen not to typecast any spaces as “ballrooms,” suggests Marc Dorfman, Catering Director. From banquets for up to 400 to private dining room for 10.

SCORECARD: »»»»» Yorkville gets a keeper

RITZ-CARLTON TORONTOTHE HOTEL: First off the block in the city’s new luxury crop, opened in early 2011, it was honoured as a pick on Condé Nast’s Hot Hotels List: Best New Hotels of 2012.

EVENT SPACES: With a duo of ballrooms on the second and fourth fl oors, the largest can accommodate up to 600 for a luxury banquet. Pre-function spaces overlook dramatic views of Metro Hall Park and Roy Thomson Hall. More intimate spaces for power-house meetings include the Executive Boardroom and the Park View Room, with your own little perch over Toronto’s fi nancial district.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: An outdoor oasis, the DEQ Lounge and Terrace can host private parties of up to 120 people, says Daniel Newberry, Director of Sales and Marketing

SCORECARD: »»»»» A rewarding destination

SHANGRI-LA HOTELTHE HOTEL: The Asian fl avour of this international brand fi ts right at home in Toronto’s diverse community, which welcomed Zhang Huan, one of China's most infl uential contemporary artists, to unveil an iconic public sculpture that winds into the hotel’s University Avenue entrance.

MEETING SPACES: The third fl oor is purpose-built for events, with four distinct areas set slightly apart that can be opened up to fl ow through hallways. Meeting rooms include a two-storey glass box, which is dramatically set with nine crystal chande-liers. The ballroom’s rotating doors open to a glass wall allowing a light-fi lled space. A 40-seat screening room, with oversized chairs, completes the multi-functional events fl oor.

SCORECARD: »»»»» Global appeal

»

OUR SCORECARD TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT’S NEW IN THE CITY’S

EXPANDING UNIVERSE OF INCENTIVE-CLASS

HOTELS.

»


TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL TORONTO THE HOTEL: Set in a 64-storey, mixed-use condo tower in the heart of Toronto’s financial district, the hotel boasts a “champagne and caviar” theme and the height of discretion.

MEETING SPACES: The ninth and tenth floors combine enough function space to host 600 at capacity for a two-storey reception, linked by a lacy steel staircase and lavish décor. Each floor has its own ballroom and grand foyer. The hotel's 4,000-sq.-ft. Presidential Suite on the 3oth floor accesses a media-ready screening room, boardroom and lounge, designed to host elite business meetings and summits of up to 60 people.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: Look for delicious science projects from the kitchen, where pastry chef David Chow has the reins of a dedicated, climate-controlled “chocolate lab.” For the local chapter event of Meeting Professionals International, chef paired a local icewine with cherry paté de fruit, dark chocolate and pecan praline bonbon made with Valrhona Manjari dark chocolate.

SCORECARD: »»»»» Bring on the power meetings

Photos: Trump International Hotel Toronto


Six Pints Specialty Beer Company’s new Beer Academy is not some party-on brew pub: This newly opened private venue at Victoria and Lombard Streets is touted as a “beer edu-cation centre.” It’s the corporate headquarters of Six Pints, which markets popular micro-brew Creemore Springs, and also houses an experimental brewery and space in which to host exclusive events and industry education focused on craft beer.

The name is a nod to 18th century British naval tradition of giving sailors a ration of six pints of beer per day. In addition to programming such as tutored tastings and beer-making lessons, there’s a Beer Museum and Beer Library, where home brewers can brush up on their technical know-how.

The main venue seats 150 or a stand-up crowd of 225. Basic room rental comes with a couple of bartenders, access to AV equipment and screens, set up, clean up and an education in beer. A back room seats 30 for a more intimate group or a stand-up party of 50. A private tast-ing room and kitchen can also host 25 for a sit-down lesson, or a cocktail reception for 50.

TO on t�

Across town, along the city’s hot King Street West dining district, chef Aldo Lanzillotta has opened up Wvrst, a lively social spot serving up artisanal sausages and brews in an unpreten-tious beer hall setting. Expect straightforward fare, with 20 different kinds of homemade sausages and fries on the menu, all gluten-free, without preservatives and made with fresh locally sourced ingredients.

Here too, the craft brews get top billing. “There’s so much happening in the craft brew world, with an incredible number of local Ontario beers coming on tap,” says Lanzillotta, who wants to use his venue to introduce upstarts and newcomers such as Muskoka’s Sawdust City Brewing Co., Church-Key Brewing in Campbellford and Toronto’s own Kensington Brewery. You could roll out a barrel or two for a Beer 101 course, with a buyout of the space for 145 people, or a group party of up to 60 in a boisterous setting.

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BREWS GET RESPECT IN NEW

GROWN-UP EVENT VENUES

»

WHAT’S HOPPING IN MICROBREWS

While dozens of craft breweries are popping up all over the city, look for these established popular brands to give events local flavour.

GREAT LAKES BREWERY

Golden Horseshoe Premium Lager

MILL STREET BREWERY

Tankhouse Ale

TORONTO AMSTERDAM

BREWERY

(416) Urban Wheat

STEAM WHISTLE BREWING

Steam Whistle Premium Pilsner

A very local take on a

German beer hall, Wvrst is

the kind of venue that incites

friendly conversations.

Photos: Tony Lanz Photo


WE SCOUTED THE SCENE TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A FEW OF

THE NEW PLACES AND SPACES THAT EVENT PLANNERS HAVE

BEEN TAKING NOTE OF



NEW

VEN

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e�- �l m�e- oversA COURTLY CLASSICSince it opened in 1929 to host Canada’s first National Auto Show, Arcadian Court has been a go-to scene of tradi-tional Toronto. A thoughtful renovation has peeled off years of hodgepodge decor, and the 8,000-sq.-ft., two-storey space was reborn this year as Arcadian, a sleek refinement of the original Art Deco hall. A partnership between The Bay and Toronto restaurant powerhouse Oliver & Bonacini, a year-long transfor-mation also gutted an old department store cafeteria, reinventing it as Arcadian Loft, an airy, open space with a 200-foot-long span of windows and dramatic view across to Old and New City Halls. Divisible into five private rooms with AV equipment and drop-down screens, groups can easily transition from meetings to cocktails in no time at all, all catered by O&B’s skilled team of chefs dedicated to corporate events.

Menu highlight and nod to tradition: Arcadian’s mini chicken pot pies.

DESIGNER SUITE WITH BOUTIQUE CHICToronto has no shortage of unique bou-tique hotel suites that can host intimate hospitality events. One of note is the Designer Penthouse at Cosmopolitan Hotel Toronto, which was designed and constructed by HGTV's Designer Guys. Wraparound balconies on the 27th floor give unparalleled views over Lake Ontario and downtown skyscrapers as a perfect way to orient guests to the city.

»

WE SCOUTED THE SCENE TO HIGHLIGHT

JUST A FEW OF THE NEW PLACES AND SPACES

THAT EVENT PLANNERS HAVE BEEN TAKING

NOTE OF »



FOUNTAINBLU WITH A VIEWTo make a grand entrance, the rounda-bout leading to the historic Queen Elizabeth Building on the grounds of Exhibition place has been used for car launches and red carpet arrivals. Now, it also leads to the recently opened Fountainblu, a private meeting and banquet hall on the upper level adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. With a main space that can serve 600 guests and a comfy lounge area that can accommodate 60, views over greenery and fountains can add to an elegant sense of occasion.

A new flagship property for Delta Hotels and Resorts is under construction in the heart of Toronto’s lakeshore financial district, scheduled to open in 2014.

Groupe Germain Hospitality brings its third property to Toronto, introduc-ing its “no-frills chic” brand, with the ALT Hotel Toronto Pearson opening in 2012.

SPACE WITH A SOCIAL CONSCIOUS The Citadel is a former soup kitchen turned dance hall and yoga retreat with a socially conscious spin on special events. An emblem of the dynamic urban renewal in the Regent Park community, this renovated Salvation Army landmark is the new home for dance troupe Coleman Lemieux and Compagnie. Two rooms and a lobby area are available for private events including a yoga space that seats 30 and an upper studio theatre with flexible seating for up to 70, or a larger crowd for stand-up functions. Best yet, Ofelia Loret de Mola, Venue Manager, says proceeds from events help fund social programs such as the pay-what-you-can yoga sessions and free dance lessons for neighbourhood kids.

NEW

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�WHO�LS



DISCREET SPACE IN THE FINANCIAL CORESet in the epicentre of corporate Canada, St. Andrew's Club and Conference Centre is a meeting centre alternative that’s like gath-ering in your own office tower in Canada’s fi-nancial capital. Located at King and University, two floors of meeting and banquet spaces offer guests ultimate privacy along with spectacular views overlooking the lake. New this year, an expansion takes over a two-room Garden Suite on the 16th floor, adjacent to The Conservatory Suite, with private entrance. The suite’s move-able walls allow for flexible configurations, easily handling 200 for a reception and theatre style presentation or 170 for a sit-down dinner.

AUTHENTIC LOFT WITH ARTISTIC GRACEThe steady conversion of Toronto’s downtown industrial space into condos and commercial spaces has made it harder to find an original loft for those event planners seeking the “real thing.” Fortunately, dancer and fitness specialist Jennifer Nichols unearthed a gem of a space in a former print factory in the city’s east end as the new home of the Extension Room dance studio. Nichols has

pioneered a new style of dance and fitness called the Extension Method program, blending classical ballet with contemporary athletic conditioning. Not only can her team arrange private workshops for a fun teambuilding alternative, the studio itself is available for events that call for a creative setting and a bright open space, from product launches to parties.

www.heritagetrust.on.ca/ewgTHE ELGIN AND WINTER GARDEN

THEATRE CENTRE

at the Elgin and Winter Garden

Theatre Centre. With numerous lounges and two theatres,

the Centre is perfect for AGMs, film premieres, fundraisers

and product launches.

For rental inquires call 416-325-4144 or email [email protected]

Be a star at your next corporate or special event



100 %1:00 PMiPad

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YOU’LL FIND THAT TECHNOLOGY IS ON YOUR SIDE IN CANADA’S APP CAP, WHERE THE MEETINGS INDUSTRY SUPPORTS A THRIVING CENTRE OF INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION

BY CHOOSING Toronto as the site of its 2012 Microsoft Worldwide Partners conference, tech giant Microsoft picked a city well equipped to host the most technologically advanced conference in the company’s history. “The four-day event celebrates the accomplishments of the company's 640,000 global technology partners,” said Eric Gales, General Manager, Microsoft Canada, in advance of the event, expecting some 15,000 delegates to attend at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and the Air Canada Centre.

From downtown Toronto through to the R&D and manufacturing centres of the greater metropolitan region in cities like Mississauga and Brampton, you’ll fi nd the largest concentration of private information and communication technol-ogy (ICT) facilities in Canada and third largest such cluster in North America, according to Invest Toronto research.

By latest count, more than 11,500 technology companies call Toronto home, according to MaRS, a business incubator and innovation hub housed in the downtown Discovery District encompassing the country’s leading teaching hospitals and three major universities. From app developers to digital media to advanced computing, the city’s rich technology ecosystem criss-crosses diverse sectors.

The city’s meetings and business events industry is an important connector for all this collaboration and innovation, driving technology investments in business-class

Some 2,500 public access iPads are

being deployed to gates throughout both terminals of Toronto Pearson airport, for travellers to browse restaurant menus,

order food, surf the web and stay

updated with real-time fl ight information while they wait.

WOULD YOU LIKE

APPS WITH THAT?

TECH

NO

LOG

Y

JOLT is a new technology accelerator dedi-cated to building high-growth web and mobile companies located in the MaRS Commons, found in the Heritage Building of the MaRS Centre.

MICROSOFT TAKES

TORONTOJULY 2012

Number of events hosted

in the city

500+

Number of offi cial

hotels:

39

Photos: Courtesy of MaRS



hotels and convention centre facilities, to development of new apps and services to help people connect in person and on the web.

For organizers of Canada’s largest annual human resources conference, the HRPA Annual Conference and Trade Show, one of the most recent tools adopted has been a locally sourced application called Hashcaster, a content engine that helps harness and encourage conversations via social media.

“We fi nd social media to be an effective way to communicate with members,” says Chris Larsen, Vice President of Membership for the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), and an on-site Twitter wall provided a way to provide real-time delegate reaction and commentary to conference keynotes, seminars and events. The 2012 conference, held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, included

some 120 individual sessions, eight plenaries and three days of trade show activity for more than 4,000 attendees.

Another sponsor of innovative meetings is MESH, Canada’s annual digital media conference that explores how the Internet is changing the way we live, work and play. Founded in 2006 with an inaugural event staged at the MaRS Centre conference venue, organizers expanded to the Allstream Centre at Exhibition Place, one of the city’s newest and most state-of-the-art conference venues.

Knowing that the digital-savvy MESH audience tend to come carrying smartphone and laptop, the Centre ramped up the broadband for its free WiFi service during the two-day event, to ensure delegates could always stay connected.

“In general, we’re seeing more and more people

TECH

NO

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DOWNLOAD THE SEE TORONTO APPShare our See Toronto mobile app with business travellers or conference delegates before your event as a pre-trip promo to highlight all the exciting things they can see and do while in Canada’s largest metropolis.

The app includes easy-to-search listings for events, dining, attractions and shopping.

Point your smartphone here to get more out of every business trip to Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton.

When Ontario HR professionals met at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for their annual trade show and conference, the Twitter wall provided a popular window to all the hot topics under discussion.

Just for the fun of it!Come stay at Doubletree by Hilton – Toronto Airport! Deluxe accommodations await your arrival. Enjoy the indoor

pool, waterslides and giant hot tub, plus our fitness facility. Indulge in scrumptious food and drink at fourrestaurants, a lounge, Zen Spa and Wine Bar. Treat yourself today!

655 Dixon Road, Toronto, Ontario M9W 1J3 1-800-668-3656416-244-1711 www.torontoairport.doubletreebyhilton.com

Hilton HHonors membership, earning of Points & Miles® and redemption of points are subject to HHonors terms and conditions.

©2009 Hilton Hospitality, Inc.

continued on page 22



coming to meetings carrying multiple devices,” says Laura Purdy, Director of Sales and Marketing, Allstream Centre/Direct Energy Centre. “Attendees aren't just carrying a smartphone anymore but also a tablet and sometimes a laptop too. For this particular event, which is a digital media conference, people aren’t just sitting passively in the sessions: Many of them are blogging, sharing information and photos and getting feedback from outside.

"It really is the kind of hybrid meeting we expect to see more of in the future: where there’s the main face-to-face element, but other attendees can join in from anywhere.”

While design of the Allstream Centre, above, tributes the history of its former life as the Automotive Building at Exhibition Place, a modern retrofit includes the latest technologies in energy conservation, AV and automation. Features like the advanced Creston control systems can be used to fine-tune meeting room lighting and environment.

READY TO CONNECTContinued from page 20

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HASHCASTER HARNESSES THE TWITTERSPHEREKnowing that trying to follow fast-moving Twitter #hashtags can be like “drinking out of a fi re hose,” Toronto tech entrepreneur Geoff Clendenning developed a new way for event marketers to curate and infl uence social media conversations and measure response in real-time. Hashcaster prompts delegates to share ideas, photos, multimedia and personal experiences on-site, while giving event sponsors or exhibitors a visible forum in which to generate their own buzz on a Twitterwall or on the web. While it’s a local company, early adoption has been global: last fall it was picked up by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals to bring its prestigious Photoshop World Conference to the web in real-time.

Instead of seeing social media as a corporate time-waster, the developers of Toronto start-up Speechbobble want businesses to let employees or clients loose to share ideas and innovations, via branded communities. Incubated at the Ted Rogers School of Busi-ness at Ryerson University, the company launched in 2011 and now has over 10,000 corporate users, with customers like Rogers Communications, Metro News and Schulich who use the service to create in-house, member-only networks. “It lets you have your own private social media platform,” says Tom Price, Vice President of Sales and Marketing with Toronto-based Skyline Hotels & Resorts, which signed on last fall. “We’re using it to build out a loyalty program for our Skylife Rewards, creating VIP communities for our members.”

Forget random taxis and lost receipts – anyone with a smartphone has a car service at his or her fi ngertips using Hire Winston, a Toronto-made mobile app that lets a rider book, track travel, pay and receive r eceipts electronically. A boon for business travellers as well as corporate travel managers, this digital innovation was born out of Toronto’s The Next 36: Canada’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Initiative.

SMART APP FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL:

HIRE WINSTON

SPEECHBOBBLE’S BY-INVITE-

ONLY SOCIAL NETWORKS

The HireWinston tech team


mi� iongreen

While the idea of “green” initiatives may conjure natural vistas and serene landscapes, it’s really in the busy, urban centres of commerce and industry where sustainable practices can make the biggest difference.

In what could be Canada’s highest-traffi c business district, around Pearson International Airport, a growing community of businesses are working together to create an internationally recognized “eco-business zone.”

Their business-to-business network, Partners in Project Green, is helping to reduce energy and resource costs and factor in the environmental impact of day-to-day decisions.

Like-minded hotels and meeting facilities in the area recognized the opportunity to participate, forming Venues Aligned for Sustainability Excellence (VASE). Their goal is to work together to become leaders in sustainability and the fi rst choice for guests who make it a priority.

“Hearing best practices, getting contacts, and having the brain power of other industry leaders weigh in on my ideas means less risk and higher returns,” says Trevor Lui, Director of Operations and Sustainability, International Centre.

One of the biggest efforts is to fi nd better ways to reduce waste, recycle materials and audit results.

SOME OF TORONTO’S

GREATEST “GREEN” EFFORTS ARE

HAPPENING IN ITS BUSIEST MEETING

PLACES

Delta Meadowvale has long been known

as one of the Greater Toronto Area’s most

advanced, elite conference facilities. We

wanted our guest rooms to match, so we’ve

remodelled them with a sleek, intuitive,

contemporary design tailored to the needs

of the business traveller.

To book your next stay, visit

deltameadowvale.com

AN ELITE BUSINESS

DESTINATION WITH A

BOLD NEW LOOK.The Pearson Eco-Business Zone – an aerial view of Toronto Pearson International Airport and the surrounding business community.

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m�efor�et-ings

ALLSTREAM CENTRETHE SCENE: Situated in the historic Art Deco Automotive Building on the shores of Lake Ontario at Exhibition Place, this 160,000 square foot facility claims Toronto’s largest pillar-free ballroom, along with more than 20 flexible, state-of-the-art meeting rooms to suit groups of 50 to 3,000. With an indoor connection to the Direct Energy Centre, Canada’s largest exhibi-tion centre, conferences and trade shows can live side-by-side.

RECENT BUZZ: The bar for charity galas was raised in April 2012 at Allstream Centre when Toronto East General Hospital held its first annual "Laughter is the Best Medicine" Comedy Gala. With headliner Jerry Seinfeld

and Canadian actor Will Arnett (Arrested Development) as MC, more than 1,500 guests laughed it up to the tune of over $3 million in fundraising.

WHAT’S NEW: A new south garden reception area adjacent to the lakeside reclaims the origi-nal use of the space from the 1930s.

WHAT’S NEXT: Manhattan-based HK Hotels has drawings and city approvals for a new hotel adjacent to Allstream Centre, set to break ground in 2013. It would add 400 guestrooms to a part of the city that’s relatively scarce on accommodations, as well as a sports and recrea-tion centre and stunning rooftop infinity pool with both lake and city views.

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A PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES OF TORONTO’S FOUR

LARGEST MEETING AND CONVENTION CENTRES REVEALS

A SITE-SELECTION MENU TO SUIT ALL SIZES

AND STYLES

With over 2.5 million sq. ft. of exhibition halls and convention facilities available, there’s no event Toronto can't handle. Whether your group needs a front-and-centre, high-profile location, needs close proximity to the airport or prefers something discrete and locked-down, Toronto’s major convention and exhibition centres provide ample choice.

Photos: Garry Porter Photography



INTERNATIONAL CENTRETHE SCENE: About as close as one can be to the airport without lift-off, this sprawling, six-hall exhibition space expanded to include a dedicated, 48,000-sq.-ft. convention centre that has all the conveniences and full-service of downtown without traffic or parking fees.

RECENT BUZZ: Forget the conventional catwalk, upstart Toronto fashion designer Bruno Ierullo opted to stage his 2013 Renegade collection in one of the hangar-sized exhibition halls of the International Centre. The subject of the feature docu-mentary “Material Success” got a capacity crowd and pushed the boundaries of conventional thinking when it comes to site selection.

WHAT’S NEW: Navigation is getting an additional high-tech touch, with the addition of new video screens in the parking area.

WHAT’S NEXT: Planners can expect the unveiling of a whole new look inside, as renovations continue in the meeting room space.

TORONTO CONGRESS CENTRETHE SCENE: With more than 1 million square feet of flexible meeting and event space in two buildings in the northwest of the city, close to the airport, the multi-functional Toronto Congress Centre is a staple meeting place for local businesses, consumer shows, international events, and galas for as many as 2,500 people. Guests arrive by one of two impressive entrances

METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRETHE SCENE: With its north building facing Toronto’s bustling Front Street West and it’s southern wing now in the heart of a massive entertainment district that’s developed be-tween the CN Tower and Air Canada Centre, The Metro Toronto Convention Centre is as central to downtown as one can be. It counts 460,000 square feet of exhibit space; 64 furnished meeting rooms (more than 100,000 square feet); multi-purpose ballrooms and a chic performing arts and meeting theatre.

RECENT BUZZ: When Oprah Winfrey brought her Oprah’s Lifeclass Tour to Canada

for the first time this spring, a sell-out crowd put MTCC’s hospitality prowess to the ultimate test. With 8,500 people seated and served at each show, and two shows in one day, close to 18,000 people enjoyed the O, Canada, without a hitch.

WHAT’S NEW: A $30 million infrastructure investment is underway, with changes both behind the scenes in technology and on the surface. A notable upgrade is the Skyfold folding doors that can now push back to incorporate pre-function areas and meeting rooms into one large space.



© 2012 Marriott International, Inc.

MEET GOALS. EXCEED EXPECTATIONS.

Make the most out of your meetings when you meet at the Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton

Centre hotel. From large, pillar free meeting space to more intimate rooms with natural light, we

have 18,000 square feet of fully functional space to fit your group and your budget. With wireless

Internet access throughout the hotel, professional event planners and an award-winning culinary

team, once you experience our property, you’ll surely be back for more.

Inquire today!

TORONTO MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN EATON CENTRE MarriottEatonCentre.com 416.597.9200 / 1.800.905.0667

to the grounds, along beautifully landscaped boulevards, to be graciously greeted by a smiling parking attendant.

RECENT BUZZ: A who’s who of Canadian retail, including more than 600 executives, management teams, suppliers and vendors landed on site for Store 2012, Canada’s Retail Conference.

WHAT’S NEW: A January 2012 expansion added a 15,000-sq.-ft. adjoining reception area that has a dedicated entrance leading

into its 30,000-sq.-ft. pillar-free ballroom. The décor and original artwork throughout is in keeping with a sophisticated style set by the Centre. This modern new space also features lighting effects that provide very unique options to planners.

WHAT’S NEXT: Upcoming events will showcase cutting-edge technology, includ-ing Automation Technology Expo Canada which brings the latest advances in robot-ics and automation, and Medical Design & Manufacturing Canada Conference.



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NOT SO SERIOUS

SURE, YOUR MEETINGS RUN LONG AND THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING LEFT ON THE AGENDA, BUT BOOK DOWNTIME FOR STRESS-RELIEF AND TO SPARK FRESH ENERGY. HERE’S A BIT OF INSPIRATION FOR INTERACTIVE GAMES AND ACTIVITIES THAT CAN HELP LET LOOSE YOUR TEAM’S COMPETITIVE SPIRIT.

A PRIVATE AMUSEMENT HAVENNot open to the general public, the RINX Real Entertainment com-plex puts a corporate spin on the art of urban competition: the addi-tion of a new event centre in fall 2011 added more amenities to the 150,000-sq.-ft. mix: a full-service banquet hall, fi reside lounge, private 10-pin bowling lanes, a private cocktail bar and more. Originally built as a Rothman’s Smoke Factory, RINX was founded in 1997 with one ice rink and Toronto’s largest in-line skating rink. Since then, owner Howard Orfus has invested in bringing in the hottest interactive ac-tivities (new this year are TimeFreak and Balladium), as well as more party and event rooms to keep up with the corporate crowd. Located close to Yorkdale Mall on Orfus Road, which was named after the owner’s father who developed this neighbourhood, bookings are by reservation only so that your guests enjoy exclusivity. All-inclusive pricing is available to cover games, rentals, licensed catering and staff, for no-hassle event organizing for groups from 12 to 2,000.

TORONTO, TO A TEE With over 100 challenging, champi-onship-quality courses just a short transfer from downtown, Toronto is an event organizer’s dream when planning a corporate or association tourney. From municipal courses to private clubs available for exclusive events, Tourism Toronto can help connect you with the greens that meet your group’s needs, from charity tournaments to executive retreats.

FIND YOUR ACTIVITY EXPERTS

SeeTorontoNow.com/MeetingPlannersUse our RFP services to help connect

with Toronto DMC partners.

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SADDLE UP FOR SOME HORSEPLAYGrab a mallet and develop competitive horse-handling skills, with a private polo lesson at the La Maroma Farms just north of the city in Essa, and the professional instruction of The Polo Organization. Groups of up to 20 at a time can enjoy in-the-saddle lessons; larger parties can watch a demo polo match, explore the farm, or just enjoy a family-style barbecue put on by the hosts, the Massalin family who settled here from Argentina. The farm’s 100 acres includes six fenced outdoor fields and an indoor arena with climate-controlled viewing area for year-round events. No worries for city slickers: these steed have proven ability to handle a downtown crowd: last year their horses travelled to the heart of Toronto’s entertainment district outside of Metro Hall for Polo in the City, an event promoting the work of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. “Riding experience isn’t necessary for the introductory clinics,” says TPO’s lead instructor Fernando Massalin Jr., who was a captain of the under 21 National Canadian polo team.

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LEAP INTO EXCITEMENT

The newly opened Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park is a something like a bouncy castle for grown-ups: Its indoor playing field is a giant trampoline, making super-hero moves out of team dodge ball challenges or cardio fitness classes. Then there’s the foam pit, to ensure soft landings after any leap of faith. It may sound daring, but it’s not such risky business, as can

Prime the competitive

spirit of a younger crowd

by looking for sporty

alternatives to conventional teambuilding

The Toronto Polo Club is one of North America’s largest polo clubs, and the game is played year-round.

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attest a local insurance broker who treated his staff to a teambuilding event. “As soon as they stepped onto the field, you could not wipe the smiles off their faces, says Andrew Clark, a Vice President with Marsh Canada Limited. “We’re office people, so it was a chance to get a little sweaty and get a little silly; safe and fun entertainment and something a bit different

for us.” Located near Mississauga’s Square One Mall in the Greater Toronto Area’s western suburbs, the 33,000-sq.-ft. facility is the venture of Caroline Irving, a former TV producer turned entrepreneur. Groups of about 150 can have the run of the place, including court monitors and a choice of team challenges, and there’s on-site catering for a post-jump nosh.

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Simple travel planning? How unconventional.Experience the many benefits of our Meetings & Conventions program.

Instant online event registration. Easy bookings and itinerary updates for participants. Airfare discounts. Our Meetings & Conventions program gives you the simplicity, control and efficiency you need to get your job done. And all this to and from over 175 destinations on five continents.

For more information and registration, go to aircanada.com/conventions



lf�-vours

Part of Toronto's local food movement is driven by corporate social responsibility, to capture the environmental, social and economic benefits of sourcing and eating food that’s not processed, packaged or shipped long distances. But the taste of what’s on the plate is also an extension of experiencing the destination. The Toronto area is surrounded by delicious bounty, from the wine region and orchards of Niagara, freshwater fish from lake country, to the lush farms of Holland Marsh and beyond.

Last fall, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre hired a full-time advocate to get more Ontario produce and products onto banquet and luncheon plates. Local Food Procurement Officer Kelly Hughes is helping the centre’s catering and event staff to develop menus around seasonal availability of produce. The MTCC, which feeds more than a million people a year, has started a campaign to incorporate more locally sourced food.

The first rollout of MTCC’s local food launch was for the Conference Board of Canada’s Food Summit 2012, creating custom menus and

injecting them with Ontario flavour. “We can make such a difference in the future of food simply by including more Ontario food on our menus and committing to more sustainable practices,” blogged Hughes in advance of the event.

Toronto’s International Centre also woos foodies as host venue for the Toronto Wine & Cheese Show, and this year the consumer show highlight-ed the Centre’s own in-house talent with a pop-up Savour Local Pavillion, featuring the Centre’s award-winning Chef Joseph Levesque. Extending the success of event catering that has established strong ties and standing orders with local farmers over the past five years, the Centre has also changed the focus of its quick-service food offerings, introducing its Craft Eatery that focuses on hand-crafted, cooked to order cuisine with a fresh-food approach.

“There’s a real perception of value that people can recognize with food that’s local or high-quality cuisine,” says Trevor Lui, Director of Operations and Sustainability. “So, we don’t do ‘scoop and serve.’ Everything is fresh-made.”

TORONTO’S LOCAL FOOD MOVEMENT, EXPLORING HOME-GROWN FLAVOURS AND CLOSE-TO-HOME PRODUCERS,

HAS GROWN FROM GRASS-ROOTS TO LARGE-SCALE, AS EVENT

AND CONFERENCE PLANNERS DEMAND THE SAME

GREAT FRESH-FROM-THE- FARM TASTES.

More than ever, hotels and convention venues are serving up local fare and flavours as part of their guests' Toronto experience.


Located in the heart of downtown, just minutes from Toronto’s famed Entertainment District, prestige hotels and numerous events and attractions, Twenty Toronto Street is the ideal venue for an urban affair.

Parties | Luncheons | Banquets | Weddings | Meetings | Webcasts | Corporate Retreats | Webinars | Teleconferences | Award Dinners

416-869-1048 | [email protected] | www.20toronto.ca

Businesses and organizations seeking conference space, meeting rooms and all the latest’s technology will be well taken care of in our 10,000 square feet of space.



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When you need a local destination partner to help get an event designed,

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We MakeIt Happen

A Global Events Partner

One must-see for any foodie is Toronto’s abundance of neighbour-hood markets, whether it's to taste the fresh produce and craft food or just to take in the community vibe. The city’s largest is the year-round St. Lawrence Market, which recently got a nod from National Geographic as the world’s best farmers’ market.

Seasonally, nestled in Toronto’s lush ravines in a former industrial site, The Evergreen Brick Works Farmers'

Market is a community food market with a mandate to promote a sustain-able food system from the ground up. Host your own fresh food fest on-site with a special event catered by Belong Catering and Chef Brad Belong, who focuses on local, sustainable and organic ingredients, helping to convey the stories about the land and the farm-ers who produce it.

LOCAL CHEFS TAKE FLIGHTIt was good news to locals and visitors alike when a Mill Street Pub recently opened at Pearson International Airport. Coming next, a complete planned overhaul of the airport’s dining options will bring on a who’s who of the city’s best-known chefs dreaming up new concepts. With a projected completion date of summer 2013, participants include Mark McEwan with a burger bar called Nobel and a panini bar called Fetta, Claudio Aprile envisioning a global tapas restaurant called Trillium and Guy Rubino with a Japanese theme in Acera.

TO MARKET, TO MARKET

The farmer's market at Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto's landmark community environmental centre, is part of a larger movement to live and eat more sustainably.

One of the world's greatest markets, according to National Geographic, St. Lawrence Market is a magnet for locals and visitors alike.

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NOURISH YOUR GAME FACEFounded by Toronto entrepreneur Brian Lau after years at work in the image-focused consumer packaged products world, Bread&Butter is a no-fuss, back to basics skincare line created with regular guys in mind. Formulated and manufactured locally, free of any irritating ingredients such as fragrances or grain alcohols, seasonal kits in travel sizes would be welcome additions to any business traveller’s bag.

TAKEAWAYS, SPEAKER GIFTS, PARTY FAVOURS, REWARDS OR JUST PLAIN SWAG – ALL

THESE IDEAS ARE BROUGHT TO YOU WITH A TORONTO

CONNECTION AND A STORY THAT OFFERS SOMETHING MORE

THAN “STUFF”.

A BANNER TALEAny planner who has ever worked a trade show or consumer event knows fi rst-hand the volume of signage that has to go up – just to come down again. Extending the life cycle of all that colourful, branded vinyl into beautiful conference bags, totes, iPad cases and other upcycled products is the mission of Totem Bags, based in suburban Oakville. Company founder Melissa Richardson works with organizations to recycle used banners, signs, truck tarps and other materials – she’ll even pick them up free of charge anywhere in the Toronto area. The National Ballet of Canada and Toronto International Film Festival are two corporate clients who’ve transformed their old signage into amazing branded promo products.

For any sleep-deprived event planner who is destined to be the last one standing, a couple of entrepreneured-in-Toronto products caught our attention as potential pick-me-ups, from head to toe.

Up top, winner of Chatelaine magazine’s Best Canadian Beauty Product in 2011, Consonant Ultra Firming Organic Eye Cream can be a sight for weary eyes, formulated to help eliminate the look of dark circles. The Toronto-based skincare company Consonant Body makes all its products in Canada, from ingredients that are either certifi ed organic botanicals, oils and butters, or 100% naturally derived.

On the other end of the scale, student entrepreneur Hailey Coleman launched Damn Heels in 2009, a line of pretty, folded-up ballet slippers that can come to the rescue after a long day in high heels. Or, they’d make a great trade show promo item for the high-heeled divas in the crowd.

PLANNER PICK-ME-UPS

Photos: Troy Miller



FESTIVE FASCINATORSThese original fascinators could be just the topper to regally treat female guests as part of a Jubilee-themed high-tea event — just as a group of 50 travel profes-sionals got to try on and take home after a recent Toronto event. They are the feathery creations of Abigail Beveridge, a Brit who followed her heart to Toronto, her husband’s hometown, and brought with her the know-how from a family tradition in the millinery business to start Fascinators Toronto.

RAISE THE (SOAP) BARBased in the city’s trendy Liberty Village, soap designer Thomas Tam and his Demo Soap Studio has spent nearly a decade perfecting 100% natural, handmade products in amazing designs, from colourful scented bars, to fun faux brownies, cinnamon rolls and cupcakes in cute packaging. “He’s also willing to work with companies to develop signature soaps either by scents, colours or shapes,” says Janet Lewis of Orangefi sh.ca, who helps corporate buyers dream up customized ideas from local design shops.

EXPERT TIP CONSULT A PRO. Look for corporate gift experts who can curate local talent. A good working relationship with artisans and creative types facilitates custom work, promotes exclusivity and ensures commitment to timing and quantities, says Janet Lewis of Orangefi sh.ca.

SPICE UP YOUR CROWDA professional fi re fi ghter by day, Christian Horner has spent his off-hours fanning the fl ames of his formidable barbecue skills. After years of cooking for hungry crews in Toronto-area fi re halls, he developed this Fire in the Kitchen Spice Co. product line, completely free of MSG, gluten, fi llers or preservatives. One easy-to-give gift-pack is a trio of dry rubs and seasonings.

RECYCLING, REFINEDWith organizers of the TEDx Summit 2012 event in Doha exploring new ways of solving old problems, it seemed fi tting that the delegate gift bags give old materials a new lease on life. Toronto-based sustainable design company Mariclaro was hired to stitch up a custom order for 800 of these bags in its Roncesvalles Village studio, reworking used car seat belts and truck tarp. The company’s handmade, one-of-a-kind accessories are typically made of materials like exploded airbags, inner tubes, used 8mm fi lm reels, and more.

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PERSONALITY PAINTINGSome painters choose landscapes and portraits as their subjects, Toronto art-ist Sandy McMullen paints ideas. She combines art and the exploration of personality types to create unique gifts to be treasured forever. Choose from her extensive gallery of current work, or commission a personality painting as a once-in-a-lifetime personal tribute or for a milestone event or award. McMul-len can even create a painting that captures the essence of an organization, helping you tell your story to prospective clients.

TEA, YOU SAY?From Oh Canada Maple infused black tea, to a Queen Street Blend in tribute of the quirky downtown neighbourhood it calls home, Tealish Fine Teas has fun playing with the flavours of the world, as one of a new crop of tea shops quenching the city’s growing love of exotic teas. Brand a box of your own blend as a flavourful takeaway, as we did, or drop off as an affordable and refreshing room gift.

EXPERT TIP PRINT IT HERE. If you’re branding promo items or want to develop custom work for an interna-tional event in Toronto, consider working with a local supplier – you may even save money if they can land the goods for you in Canada, suggests Robert Laughlin of Universal Links.

TIP

The CN Tower, one of Canada’s top attractions is also a unique, state-of-the-art destination for corporate events. Award-winning cuisine, customizable menus and exceptional service set among spectacular views are just a few of the ways the CN Tower will go above and beyond with your next business event. To book an event, phone 416-601-4718 or email [email protected]

For more information visit cntower.ca



A DO-GOOD GIVEAWAY

HELP SOME-BODY SOAPThe founder of Consonant Body Organic Skincare products, Bill Baker, thought it was important to incorporate good deeds into his business model when he started his Toronto-based company. With that in mind, the entrepreneur has committed 100% of the sales price of this soap to the Canadian Breast Cancer Support Fund. This charity aims to ease the burden of cancer patients who are facing financial difficulties. For the recipient of the soap, which could make a thoughtful room gift for business guests, the lightly scented blend of lavender and lemongrass essential oils is free of toxic chemicals and carcinogens.

©2011 Hard Rock Cafe International (USA), Inc. All rights reserved.

279 yonge st. • yonge-dundas square+1-416-362-3636 • hardrock.com

facebook.com/hardrock • twitter.com/hardrock

toronto®

social & corporate events cocktail receptions

press conferences workshops

seminars


Plan your next event with Starwood Toronto

A landmark waterfront hotel in downtown Toronto, The Westin Harbour Castle features

the largest hotel ballroom in Canada and can accommodate groups of all sizes.

No matter if you are an intimate group of 10 or a gala dinner of 2000, you will find

success in our more than 70,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.

Located minutes from Pearson International Airport and close to downtown Toronto,

the Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel & Conference Centre is the perfect place to meet

for business or pleasure.

The iconic CAA Four Diamond Sheraton Centre Toronto features 1,377 guest rooms and

more than 100,000 square feet of flexible meeting space each equipped with wireless

high speed internet. The Sheraton Centre also boasts an unparalleled location in the

heart of downtown Toronto.

The only hotel located in Pearson International Airport, the hotel features 25 meeting

rooms, direct indoor access from Terminal 3, convenient and easy access from Terminal 1,

guest rooms that overlook the runway and Mahogany Restaurant and Bar for relaxing

after a long day of meetings.

The Westin Harbour Castle

Sheraton Toronto Airport

Hotel & Conference Centre

Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel

Sheraton Gateway Hotel in

Toronto International Airport

1-855-761-3939 www.starwood.com/toronto [email protected]



BUSINESS HAS NEVER BEEN SO

ENTERTAINING ...MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, CORPORATE WORKSHOPS,

TRADESHOWS or SOCIAL EVENTS

In Mississauga’s City Centre, minutes from Pearson International Airport.Features exceptional facilities featuring 210,000 square feet of theatre,

meeting and reception space.

CALL TODAY!Anne Parker, Corporate Sales Manager, 905.306.6015

[email protected]

�Z�I• Toronto is Canada's largest city, and fifth largest in North America, after Mexico City, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago

• Waterfront city, situated on the northwest shore of Lake Ontario

• Top Canadian domestic business travel destination as the country’s financial and business capital

• More than 38,000 hotel rooms in over 230 hotels

• The largest convention centre in Canada ranking among the top ten largest continuous-space facilities in North America

Well-developed transportation network makes it easy to host large groups.

• Most air traffic served by Pear-son International Airport (YYZ), the largest and busiest airport in Canada and a global gateway with 76 airlines to over 150 interna-tional destinations.

• Regional airlines also fly out of Billy Bishop Toronto Island Airport (YTZ) where a new terminal was built in 2010 and is being linked to downtown via a new pedestrian tunnel.

• Air Canada’s Meetings and Conventions program helps you plan group travel when you have at least 10 passengers travelling to the same destination. Island Airport-based Porter Airlines also offers groups fares and discounts.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONSAllow free time, or lure delegates with pre- or post-conference plans

Some 60% of the US

population is within a 90 minute flight from

Toronto

Toronto is home to more than 70 film festivals, 200 profes-sional performing arts organi-zations, symphony, ballet and opera companies.

Safe, pedestrian-friendly city with countless festivals, great shopping and lively neighbour-hoods to explore.

Easy daytrips to Niagara Falls, wine country, Muskoka lakes, Ontario wilderness and towns and villages with historic charm.

NEED TO

KNOW

CONVENIENT TRAVEL

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When your guests land in Toronto for your meeting or business event and hear, “We've been expecting you!" we really mean it: The message is part of a grass-roots hospitality training program supported by the City of Toronto, the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Tourism Toronto to help make sure visitors feel welcomed, informed and well-treated.

Tourism Toronto is also active in developing the industry workforce as part of a corporate social responsibility program to cultivate the next generation of talent. The Tourism Toronto Scholarships and Awards are given to students enrolled in a variety of tourism and hospitality programs at nine colleges and universities across Southern Ontario.

Proximity to a large, specialized workforce is one reason behind the growth of the city’s hotel and convention infrastructure, as seen by the recent opening of several luxury brands. Plus, these schools can be a planners’ best friend, offering a tremendous go-to resource to fill any hospitality or event related volunteer opportunity, internship or staff position.

“If you need volunteers, come to us, we have a pool of students and a very strong internship department,” suggests Kristy Adams, Program Coordinator/Professor of Hospitality & Tourism Operations Management, who manages a post-graduate business events program that’s part of the Humber School of Hospitality, Recreation & Tourism.

Toronto is one of seven cities to found the Future Convention Cities Initiative (FCCI), sharing innovative research to shape and accelerate the strategic development of their business events industries to meet customers’ needs in a knowledge-based economy.

TORONTO’S HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IS INVESTED IN PEOPLE TRAINED TO MAKE YOU LOOK GOOD

your be� f�efor-w�d

WELL-SCHOOLED

FUTURE FORWARD

SECONDCITY.COM • CONTACT 416-343-0033 OR [email protected]

LAUGH &LEARN

• Intimate 300-seat, state-of-the-art venue, with meeting support and catering, in the heart of Toronto's financial and entertainment district.

• Professional workshops that spark innovation, creativity, and communication.

• Unforgettable entertainment from Canada's legendary improv comedy troupe. Dinner & show packages available.

Recent grads of the Humber

School of Hospitality,

Recreation & Tourism

Photo: Humber College Institute



Inspired Italian Cuisine, Delicious Prices.20 years experience in hosting corporate events.

Private rooms.Customized menu to fi t your budget.

Experienced management.Heritage building.

Fifty foot marble top bar. Steps from the convention center and major hotels.

Contact: [email protected]

156 Front Street West | 416.977.3064 | JoeBadalis.com

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HÔTEL LE GERMAIN MAPLE LEAF SQUARE

Just steps from Toronto’s top shows, concerts and sporting events.

Official Hotel of the Air Canada Centre.

SET FOR SUCCESS

900 YORK MILLS ROAD • TORONTO, ON M3B 3H2, CANADA 416•444•2511

It’s the little things that add up to a great meeting. From inspiring spaces and healthful menus to thoughtful attention to details, we’ll set you up for clear-thinking productivity. We are the perfect choice for your Toronto meeting with over 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WESTINPRINCETORONTO.COM/NORTH-TORONTO-MEETINGS

TORONTO MARKETPLACE



g� d to tה � � bite

Refreshing desserts served up at a gala at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, under the uncompromising eye of Executive Chef Angelo Fernandes.

Photo: Metro Toronto Convention Centre

LIKE ANY GOODevent planner, it’s our mission to

leave your guests fully satisfied, yet wishing to come back for more.

Talk to Tourism Toronto to find out how we can help you plan your next business meeting, conference or tradeshow, from

finding the right venues to all the finishing touches to leave a lasting impression.


105 Princes’ Blvd., Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario 416 263 3000 [email protected]

With free Wi-Fi Internet, spacious lounges and pre-function spaces, natural light and picturesque lakeside views, the state-of-the-art Allstream Centre is the perfect place to host your next meeting, convention or special event.

Start planning now. Visit allstreamcentre.com.

Engageat Canada’s Greenest Conference Centre

Chic, sophisticated and sexy, Toronto is one hot destination and the world is starting to take notice – we’ve recently been ranked as one of the hottest destinations to visit in 2012 by Travel+Leisure Magazine and featured on NBC’s Today Show. Let us help you experience the excitement yourself; we’re experts at hosting, planning and keeping our fi nger on the city’s pulse.

Visit SeeTorontoNow.com/MeetingPlanners and get in on the loop – there are great new things in and around the city making Toronto so buzz worthy.

Funding provided by the Government of Ontario.

INSIDE GUIDE FOR EVENT PLANNERS VIB EXCITING · Authentically local cuisine, paired with...

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