For immediate release
January 10, 2007
Three More U.S. Medical Associations Choose Toronto for International Conventions
Toronto-area convention industry announces new investments
and growing capacity to capitalize on momentum
Toronto, ON - As the prestigious Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Annual Meeting concludes today in Toronto, Tourism Toronto and the region’s convention industry launch a new year of aggressive worldwide sales by announcing three new convention wins and plans to expand the region’s appeal to meeting planners.
Three more U.S.-based medical associations have chosen Toronto to host their upcoming international meetings, bringing a combined 22,000 delegates and $53 million in direct spending to the Toronto region:
• American Psychological Association (13,500 delegates in 2009)
• American Head and Neck Society (2,500 delegates in 2012)
• International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (6,000 delegates in 2015)
“Toronto’s position as a first-tier global convention destination is being entrenched more every year,” said Bill Allen, President and CEO of Tourism Toronto. “With full-time sales teams in four cities we are marketing our destination more aggressively than ever to convention organizers around the world.”
Today’s announcement follows a successful 2006 in which Toronto hosted 14 city-wide meetings including the International AIDS Conference and American Psychiatric Association, both with more than 20,000 delegates. Throughout 2006 Tourism Toronto’s active sales efforts generated future meetings and conventions totalling more than 400,000 hotel room nights.
Funding partnership delivers business
Ontario Tourism Minister Jim Bradley joined Tourism Toronto in announcing a renewal of the highly successful Convention Development Fund (CDF) that has helped tip decisions in Toronto’s favour for the past three years. In that time, the CDF has helped deliver 55 convention wins that are expected to generate $351 million in direct visitor spending between 2007 and 2015.
The provincial government is investing $1 million in the fund for Toronto this year. Tourism Toronto, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and hotel partners have also committed more than $3 million over the next three years, ensuring strong continued partnership between the industry and the province.
“The Convention Development Fund has proven to be an essential sales tool that helps meeting organizers overcome financial obstacles and ensure that meetings that should be in Toronto are in Toronto,” said Mr. Allen.
Convention facilities expanding
To ensure the region’s capacity keeps pace with demand, the four major convention facilities in the Toronto area are planning major expansions and renovations in the coming year.
• Metro Toronto Convention Centre plans a $4-million renovation project in 2007 that will reconfigure and refinish the pre-function space outside Constitution Hall.
• Direct Energy Centre is planning a major expansion that will add to the Automotive Building to create a Conference Centre with 58,500 square feet of ballrooms and 22,500 square feet of meeting rooms.
• Toronto Congress Centre will undertake a massive expansion in 2007 that will double its total exhibition space to more than one million square feet. The 500,000-square-foot expansion includes 40 new meeting rooms and a 25,000-square-foot ballroom.
• International Centre is adding an $11.5-million state-of-the-art Conference Centre to enhance its existing 500,000 square feet of exhibit and meeting facilities. The 50,000 sq. ft. expansion offers 12 new meeting rooms, a 17,000 sq. ft. ballroom and a business centre. The Conference Centre is scheduled to open in January 2008.
In the 2006 Flaspohler survey of more than 400 influential North American meeting planners, Toronto was the only Canadian city in the top ten, and Tourism Toronto was rated the number one convention and visitors bureau in Canada, fourth in North America.
“These expansions and funding tools add to our already-strong convention offering. With full-time sales teams in four cities and an industry-leading reputation for service, Toronto’s convention forecast is encouraging,” said Mr. Allen.
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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Note to Editors: Photo available on CP Photo Wire
For more information contact:
Andrew Weir
Vice President, Communications
Tourism Toronto
(416) 987-1741
aweir@torcvb.com