For immediate release
November 9, 2006

Three More International Organizations Choose Toronto for Major Conventions

Toronto, ON – Tourism Toronto, and its partner the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, have announced three more convention wins for Toronto that will deliver an estimated 11,500 delegates and $10.8 million in direct visitor spending into the Greater Toronto region. These wins, aided by a strong financial commitment from the Ontario government, bring the total value of future convention business secured this year to more than $62 million.

“Competition is tougher than ever for major conventions yet Toronto continues to win business, especially from the U.S.,” said Bruce MacMillan, President and CEO of Tourism Toronto.

“Tourism Toronto has landed three big fish that will bring thousands of visitors and millions of dollars into Ontario. Convention business is an efficient way to boost tourism,” said Ontario Tourism Minister Jim Bradley.

Toronto will host the 2007 World Conference for CB Richard Ellis, one of the world’s largest commercial real estate firms, in September 2007. The event will bring an expected 3,000 delegates and generate upwards of $1.8 million in direct visitor spending throughout the Greater Toronto region.

“By choosing Toronto for its 101st annual conference, CB Richard Ellis joins a growing group of organizations that are coming to Canada for their first meeting outside the U.S.,” said MacMillan.

The Cultural Association of Bengal will return to Toronto for its 28th North American Bengali Conference in July 2008, after successful Toronto meetings in 1992 and 1998.  The event will bring an expected 5,500 delegates to Toronto and generate $2.3 million in visitor spending. 
 
The 44th International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) Congress will take place in Toronto in September 2014.  The event will bring more than 3,000 delegates from around the world to Toronto and expected visitor spending of $6.1 million throughout the Greater Toronto region.

Provincial-industry partnership delivering business
Now an essential sales tool, the Convention Development Fund was launched by the Ontario government in 2002 with partner investment from the tourism industry led by the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and Tourism Toronto. It has helped Toronto’s competitive position and has helped deliver valuable large-scale conventions to the region.

Since its creation the fund has invested $5 million in 39 major conventions that are generating a combined $242 million in direct visitor spending. A further investment of $3.6 million in 23 tentative conventions could deliver an additional $93 million.

“Some of these conventions book several years in advance, but in many cases the returns are almost immediate. The CB Richard Ellis meeting that we confirmed this week will bring 3,000 people and nearly $2 million to Toronto in less than a year,” said MacMillan.

About Tourism Toronto
Tourism Toronto, Toronto’s Convention and Visitors Association, is an industry association of more than 1,000 members established to strategically sell and market the Greater Toronto Region as a remarkable destination for tourists, convention delegates and business travelers around the globe.   For more information on Tourism Toronto, please visit, www.torontotourism.com.

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For more information contact:

Michele Simpson
Tourism Toronto
Manager, Media Relations
(416) 987-1738