To find out that Ontario is responsible for half of Canada’s manufacturing and home to the country’s capital and one-third of its population is to know only one side this many-faceted province. Within a few short miles of its world-class cities are bucolic lake- and riverfront villages, wineries, golf courses, and areas of protected natural beauty.
“Our diversity in our meetings destinations and our unique leisure experiences, close proximity and easy access help create an edge for Ontario,” says Vicki Owen, MC & IT coordinator for the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation. “Ontario is a great place to do business. From urban entertainment to ultimate indulgences to thrilling outdoor adventure, Ontario also has all the destination elements to draw delegate attendance.”
Likewise, to know that Ontario is booming with new hotels and additional convention space is to see only part of the picture. The rapid development is being balanced by an avid devotion to sustainable growth and ecologically sound building policies.
Meanwhile, Canadian officials are hoping that with a little advance planning, event professionals can avoid any setbacks resulting from new passport requirements that went into effect Jan. 23 as part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. The initiative requires anyone traveling by air between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, most of the Caribbean, and Bermuda to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or Alien Registration Card to enter or re-enter the U.S. By Jan. 1, 2008, the requirement will be extended to all land and sea travel between the same regions.
“As with any major change, we expect a small dip in visitors but a quick rebound as more and more people become aware of the new passport requirements,” says Charmaine Singh, vice president of meeting and convention sales at the Toronto Convention and Visitors Association. “We’re working with delegates of meetings and conventions that are coming to Toronto early this year right now to make sure that as many of them as possible have passports.”
Toronto
Consistently rated one of the world’s most livable cities, Toronto is also one of the fastest-growing. And with true Canadian hospitality, it is outdoing itself to accommodate all types of visitors.
“The Greater Toronto region has something for everyone, with fabulous shopping, festivals, sports, art, museums, and, of course, countless inspiring meeting places and spaces.” Singh says. “But what truly sets Toronto apart from other destinations is its creative energy. You really can feel it, see it and taste it. There’s a creative and collaborative energy that comes from the diverse people, languages, cultures, and lifestyles.
With an expanding cosmopolitan population and ever-increasing tourism comes an awakening of the city’s soul in the form of investment in the arts.
“In 2006, Toronto began unveiling a new era of cultural celebration with more than $1 billion in new and expanded galleries, museums, performance venues, and citywide cultural festivals,” Singh says. “Meeting planners will definitely be interested in these cultural attractions because it enhances the delegate experience.”
The Royal Ontario Museum is scheduled to complete an expansion in June, and the Art Gallery of Ontario remains open as it undergoes a renovation and transformation designed by Toronto architect Frank Gehry. Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art reopened in summer 2006 after a multimillion-dollar expansion. The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts opened last year, and Royal Conservatory of Music: TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning is set to debut this year.
Toronto’s convention venues, already the nation’s largest, are also on a path toward growth.
Exceeding 1 million square feet, Direct Energy Centre (formerly known as the National Trade Centre) is the largest convention facility in Canada and the sixth-largest in North America. The convention center is planning a major expansion to its Automotive Building to create a conference center with 58,500 square feet of ballroom space and 22,500 square feet of meeting space.
Attendees won’t have trouble spotting the center no matter how far they wander; its 30-story wind turbine provides a great landmark for visitors as well as 1 million kilowatt hours of clean energy each year. The center, which has won awards for its environmental design and waste minimization, is working toward other ambitious environmental goals, including high-efficiency lighting retrofits, utility vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells and becoming 70 percent waste-free by 2008.
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre is planning a $4 million renovation project this year that will reconfigure the prefunction space outside Constitution Hall. The center offers 460,000 square feet of exhibit space, 64 meeting rooms surpassing 100,000 square feet, two ballrooms, and a 1,330-seat theater. In 2006, the Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada awarded the center the prestigious “GO Green” designation for its leadership in environmental best practices.
The International Centre is adding a 50,000-square-foot conference center to its existing 500,000 square feet of exhibit and meeting facilities. The expansion, scheduled to open in January 2008, will add 12 new meeting rooms, a 17,000-square-foot ballroom and a business center.
Hotel-wise, construction will begin in mid-2007 on Starwood’s aloft Toronto, a 250-room hotel scheduled to open in late 2008.
Among the city’s current lineup of popular meetings-ready hotels are the Westin Harbour Castle, Sheraton Centre Toronto, The Fairmont Royal York, Metropolitan Hotel Toronto, Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre, and Hilton Toronto.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls has enjoyed a long history as a popular tourist destination, with its majestic namesake, wineries, outstanding golf, and, more recently, a thriving gaming industry. The destination has also turned an eye toward developing its meetings business.
“Niagara is a growing destination for meetings and conventions as well as for the incentive market,” says Joyce Morocco, CSEP, director of sales, meetings, conventions, and incentive travel for Niagara Falls Tourism. “Our destination has seen a 90 percent increase in RFPs in the last year.”
The big news that isn’t officially news yet is an announcement about a large new convention center expected early this year.
Meanwhile, a number of new properties and expansions are taking shape.
Hilton Niagara Falls Fallsview recently received approval for a massive expansion. The property currently offers 516 guest rooms and 12,000 square feet of meeting space, with an additional 30,000 square feet available at Fallsview Casino Resort, reachable via a covered skywalk.
Grand Niagara Resort has plans for a $300 million expansion. By 2010, the 800-acre complex will add another golf course, a Hilton hotel, a conference facility, homes and condos, two manmade lakes, and a winery.
After a $20 million renovation, Holiday Inn Select reopened in December as a Crowne Plaza. The 391-room property offers 14,000 square feet of meeting space.
Great Wolf Lodge opened last April with 406 suites, 10,000 square feet of meeting space and a 103,000-square-foot indoor water park.
Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel debuted last March with 604 guest rooms, a spa, 147,000 square feet of gaming space, and 30,000 square feet of meeting space.
Sheraton Fallsview Hotel and Conference Centre is another standout group hotel in the destination, offering more than 32,000 square feet of meeting space.
Muskoka
It’s possible to go to Muskoka and stay indoors, but why? Apart from its copious natural beauty, which comes in the form of towering forests, pink granite rock and waterfalls, the area is famous for its wide range of activities, which planners can take advantage of with options such as chartering a boat or being creative with team-building options.
“Muskoka’s year-round nature and outdoor activities give our area the edge,” says April Keyes of the Destination Muskoka Canada division of Hammond Transportation Ltd. “We see Muskoka as the getaway destination that provides first-class facilities in a relaxed, natural environment. Delegates can go away to a conference and take in everything that the conference needs to accomplish and at the same time unwind with nature. Add fishing, boating, snowmobiling, or dog sledding, and you’ve got an all-around great Muskoka meeting.”
A number of well-appointed lodges and resorts make cozy destinations for small to midsize groups. Three of the largest are Deerhurst Resort, Delta Grandview Resort and Taboo Resort.
The 104-room Residence Inn by Marriott Muskoka Wharf Hotel is scheduled to open on the shore of Lake Muskoka this spring.
Exciting new alternative venues include the nautical Grace and Speed, the Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre, and Savour Muskoka, a unique dining option that celebrates local cuisine.
Ottawa
It’s hard to understand how the capital of a nation could be overlooked, but Ottawa often is. In fact, Frommer’s named it one of the “most underrated cities in the world” in 2006.
Ottawa is a rich depository of Canada’s cultural treasures. Its attractions include the National Arts Centre, National Gallery of Canada, Canadian Museum of Civilization, Canadian Museum of Nature, Canada Aviation Museum, and Parliament Hill.
Ottawa is a friendly, pretty, highly walkable city with a lot to offer planners.
“We frequently hear from our guests that they appreciate how easily navigable and compact our downtown core is,” says Tom Price, director of meetings and conventions sales and marketing for Ottawa Tourism. “The Ottawa Congress Centre is easily accessible to several hotels, the Rideau Centre shopping mall and the ByWard Market, Ottawa’s premier shopping, food and entertainment district. We also find that conferences held in Ottawa tend to have higher attendance rates. Delegates enjoy exploring the region, as it’s really a microcosm of Canada.”
The 106-room Hotel Indigo Ottawa is set to open this month. The boutique property will offer 3,000 square feet of in-house meeting space and an additional 6,600 square feet in an adjacent facility.
Hampton Inn Ottawa and Conference Centre is undergoing an expansion that will double its meeting space. The property currently offers 179 guest rooms and 24,000 square feet of meeting space.
Ottawa’s largest convention facility is the 69,000-square-foot Ottawa Congress Centre, and some of the city’s major meeting hotels are the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Marriott Ottawa and Hampton Inn Ottawa, featuring a new conference center.
Meanwhile, the state-of-the-art Canadian War Museum opened on the banks of the Ottawa River in 2005. Featuring an environmentally friendly design, a wide array of exhibits and a 231-seat theater, the popular museum offers group discounts and guided tours.
For an absolutely unique off-site meeting, planners can try the Diefenbunker, Canada’s Cold War Museum, located northwest of the city in the small town of Carp. The underground bunker was constructed during the height of the Cold War to protect members of the government and military during a nuclear attack. The War Cabinet Room is available for event rental and seats up to 20 people.
Ottawa Tourism has a lot to boast about, having won the 2006 “Innovator of the Year” award from the Tourism Industry Association of Canada for its Web-based meeting planning and RFP tool, MeetingsEasy.
“Ottawa Tourism plans to continue to be at the leading edge of meeting technology in the coming years,” Price says. “In the second quarter of 2007, we will launch new options for experiential group outings. Meeting planners will be able to choose from over 50 different group activities that can be combined with hotel value packages.”
Ottawa Tourism is already an excellent resource for out-of-the-box activity ideas.
“The staff has developed unique, value-added group packages that provide a creative team-building experience, from building model airplanes at the Canada Aviation Museum to hosting a workshop with members of the National Arts Centre Orchestra,” Price says.
Kingston
Known as the “Limestone City,” Kingston is distinctive for its 19th century buildings constructed of handsome stone, and its winding waterfront provides visitors with plenty of places to explore.
“Kingston truly offers a natural meeting place in an accessible location,” says Rob Carnegie, director of tourism at Kingston Economic Development Corporation. “When delegates need to escape the chaos of larger cities, Kingston has state-of-the-art facilities and services that provide the quiet atmosphere to get work done.”
Renovated in 2004, Ambassador Conference Resort offers 251 guest rooms and 22,000 square feet of meeting space. Four Points by Sheraton Kingston has 171 guest rooms and 13,000 square feet of meeting space. There are also several smaller hotels and bed-and-breakfast properties perfect for exclusive, intimate events.
As always, what groups will be doing after meetings is nearly as important as where they’ll meet.
“Spousal and team-building activities are all part of what Tourism Kingston can create and assist meeting planners with,” Carnegie says. “A successful conference not only brings your members and employees together to refocus and recharge, it should also inspire a memorable experience that will leave a lasting impression.”
Renowned for its sailing, Kingston is a hot spot for all sorts of boating, including kayaking and cruises around its “1,000 islands.” It’s a mecca for freshwater scuba divers, who enjoy exploring the 200 wrecks lying in the clear waters of Lake Ontario.
Sault Ste. Marie
There are two Sault (pronounced “soo”) Ste. Maries, one on each side of the international border. They are the oldest cities in Ontario and in Michigan.
These twin cities are a prime spot for bi-national gatherings. The Canadian Sault Ste. Marie has 1,600 hotel rooms and 150,000 square feet of meeting space.
“With its central location, close proximity to the U.S. and natural outdoor beauty, Sault Ste. Marie is a unique meetings destination,” says Patti Kidd, coordinator of meetings, conventions and sports tourism for Tourism Sault Ste. Marie. “Sault Ste. Marie has a small-town charm with big-city urban amenities. Meeting planners are often surprised at how friendly the people of Sault Ste. Marie really are.”
Completed in September, the 140,000-square-foot Steelback Centre features 17,000 square feet of floor space and four meeting rooms. More than 500 hotel rooms are within walking distance of the facility.
“With the completion of the Steelback Centre, it is now possible to position Sault Ste. Marie as the premier destination in northern Ontario to host special events, meetings, conventions, and sporting events,” Kidd says.
Major attractions in the area include Agawa Canyon Tour Train, Searchmont Ski Resort, Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, Lock Tours Canada Boat Cruise, and Sault Ste. Marie Casino.
The city is also optimistic about a major new development.
“Sault Ste. Marie will be welcoming the largest tourism project in northern Ontario in 2008,” Kidd says. “Borealis is a 35,000-square-foot tourism attraction being developed on the waterfront in downtown Sault Ste. Marie.”
Kidd says Borealis, a year-round vacation resort, will be North America’s first domed tropical rain forest.
Windsor
Against all conventional wisdom, Canada generally being north of the U.S., Windsor is actually located just south of Detroit. This proximity furnishes many advantages for events.
“Our unique geography provides us with an edge over most other meetings destinations,” says Michael G. Chantler, director of membership services and communications for the CVB of Windsor, Essex County and Pelee Island. “We provide a small-town feeling with all the amenities of a large city. We have the added luxuries provided by a major metropolitan U.S. city.”
The big news in the destination is the $400 million expansion and renovation of Casino Windsor, which includes a 400-room hotel tower, a 5,000-seat theater and 100,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. The three-year project is slated for completion at the end of this year. Casino Windsor currently offers 389 guest rooms and 15,000 square feet of meeting space.
“As a result of the expansion of Casino Windsor, we will have the largest convention facility outside of the Greater Toronto area,” Chantler says. “We will be able to host a number of meetings and conventions that previously passed us by due to space limitations. Our U.S. clients will continue to receive great value for their dollar while adding an international flavor to their conference. Accessibility, affordability and great facilities will have planners thinking of Windsor before other cities.”
The city also recently approved a new $48 million ice hockey complex that will feature a 6,500-seat arena plus three community ice rinks.
Groups currently enjoy the city’s Cleary International Centre, which offers a view of the Detroit skyline and 40,000 square feet of meeting space. The facility is connected to the Hilton Windsor and the Radisson Riverfront Hotel Windsor.
Scenic Essex County and Pelee Island on Lake Erie provide groups with memorable excursion options from Windsor. On Pelee Island, accessible via ferry and air service, attendees can visit a winery, head to the beach, or opt for activities such as canoeing and kayaking, while Essex County is filled with inviting communities and interesting sights, in addition to wineries, including the new event-ready Viewpointe Estate Winery.
Thunder Bay
Adventurous as its name, Thunder Bay is the perfect jumping-off point for water sports and golf in summer, or skiing, snowboarding and sledding in winter.
For a unique souvenir, visitors can pick up a piece of amethyst; the area is a large producer of high-quality specimens of the semiprecious purple stone. Group tours of many working amethyst mines are also available.
As the largest city in northwest Ontario, Thunder Bay is also a natural choice for smaller regional meetings. Among its largest venues are the 267-room Valhalla Inn, with meeting space for 1,000, and Victoria Inn, with 182 guest rooms and eight meeting rooms.
For More Info
CVB of Windsor, Essex County and Pelee Island 519.255.6530
www.visitwindsor.com
Kingston Economic Development Corporation 613.544.2725
www.kingstoncanada.com
Muskoka Tourism 800.267.9700
www.muskokatourism.ca
Niagara Falls Tourism Visitor and Convention Bureau 905.356.6061
www.niagarafallstourism.com
Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation 800.668.2746
www.ontariotravel.net
Ontario’s North 705.759.5462
www.ontariosnorth.ca
Ottawa Tourism 613.237.5150
www.ottawatourism.ca
Toronto Convention and Visitors Association 416.203.2600
www.torontotourism.com
Tourism Sault Ste. Marie 705.759.5432
www.sault-canada.com
Tourism Thunder Bay 800.667.8386
www.visitthunderbay.com
