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←Toronto City Council · 2022-07-19 · 2022.MM47.51

The filed record

Supporting the Optimization of Toronto's Convention/Trade Show Capacity - by Councillor Michael Thompson, seconded by Mayor John Tory

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The decision

2022-07-19 · Toronto City Council · adopted

As filed

City Council on July 19, 20, 21 and 22, 2022, adopted the following: 1. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to work with stakeholders and relevant City divisions and agencies, with consideration through the 2023 Budget process, and to submit a report in the second quarter of 2023 to undertake research, as appropriate, in order to identify actions to be implemented to advance Toronto's position as a leading destination for meetings, conventions and trade shows.

The vote

Adopt Item · Carried, 22-0

For (22)Ana Bailão, Anthony Perruzza, Brad Bradford, Cynthia Lai, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata, Gary Crawford, Gord Perks, Jennifer McKelvie, Joe Mihevc, John Filion, John Tory, Josh Matlow, Mark Grimes, Michael Thompson, Mike Colle, Mike Layton, Paul Ainslie, Paula Fletcher, Robin Buxton Potts, Shelley Carroll, Stephen Holyday
Absent (3)James Pasternak, Jaye Robinson, Nick Mantas
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On the agenda

As the city filed it

As a destination for meetings, conventions and trade shows, Toronto is a very desirable location, but is becoming less competitive in the eyes of the event planners. Consultations and market research indicate this is due to insufficient contiguous, modernized meeting and event space, and the necessary amount of supporting hotel room blocks. As a result, Toronto is losing valuable economic impact from meetings, conventions and trade shows to equivalent or smaller jurisdictions.

Show the rest of As the city filed it, 1,171 more characters as filed

That affects multiple sectors including hotels, restaurants, retail, transportation, event production services and entertainment. Additionally, local industries aligned to the focus or purpose of events that locate elsewhere lose incalculable opportunities to build relationships, be showcased, and do business. Visitor spending - including the important meetings segment - is a powerful economic driver for Toronto, generating more than $10 billion in economic activity in 2019 across a diverse range and types of businesses. Potential opportunities for future visitation, workforce development and foreign direct investment, related to hosting large meetings, conventions and trade shows should be prioritized for support as the City recovers from the effects of COVID-19 and sets a foundation for sustained economic growth. The City of Toronto has a significant role to play in supporting the optimization of infrastructure for meetings and events by consulting with key stakeholders to identify current and long-term challenges, needs, opportunities, and trends, working with them to enable and advocate for a supported collective vision based on market intelligence.

Staff recommended

Councillor Michael Thompson, seconded by Mayor John Tory, recommends that: 1. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to work with stakeholders and relevant City divisions and agencies, with consideration through the 2023 Budget process, and to submit a report in the second quarter of 2023 to undertake research, as appropriate, in order to identify actions to be implemented to advance Toronto's position as a leading destination for meetings, conventions and trade shows.

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