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Press Release
For immediate release
July 21, 2006
Plans unveiled for second annual Welcome to Toronto Day to salute U.S. visitors to Toronto
TORONTO (July 21, 2006) – Tourism Toronto, in partnership with the citizen group United We Are Toronto, today outlined activities that will take place at and during the Toronto Blue Jays-New York Yankees baseball game in the Rogers Centre on July 23rd as part of the 2nd Annual Welcome to Toronto Day to thank Greater Toronto’s American visitors.
“On Sunday, the people of Toronto will salute the millions of visitors who come to our region and, in particular, say thank you to our American friends and neighbours,” said Bruce MacMillan, Tourism Toronto President and CEO.
Last year more than 2.7 million people visited the GTA from the U.S., spending over $1.3 billion in the region’s restaurants, hotels, stores and attractions. Sunday’s Blue Jay game versus the Yankees is expected to attract more than 10,000 U.S. visitors.
“We are excited about the number and quality of events planned in and around the stadium on Sunday,” said Warren Kinsella on behalf of United We Are Toronto. “This is a great opportunity for Torontonians to let the world and our American friends know they are welcome in our great city.”
Sunday’s celebration of tourism will include:
• Indoor and Outdoor marketplace: Tourism Toronto Members will host interactive booths and giveaways outside Gates 5 and 6 (base of CN Tower) and in the concourse of all three stadium levels.
• First pitch: Tourism Toronto ran contests aimed at families in eight New York State markets. Members of the winning families will be on the field for the pre-game ceremony and one of the winners, a 13-year-old from Ithaca, will throw the first pitch.
• Video salutes: Video clips of tourists saluting Toronto and Torontonians thanking visitors will be broadcast throughout the game on the Rogers Centre Jumbotron.
• Canada/U.S. Flags: Joint two-sided flags will be handed out as fans enter the stadium as a symbol of our nations’ friendship.
“Americans continue to be our top tourism target despite challenges that all Canadian destinations face now, including the high Canadian dollar, rising cost of gasoline, confusion around passport requirements and greater global competition for U.S. tourists,” said MacMillan.
This summer, Tourism Toronto and its partners engaged in the most aggressive marketing campaign to date in the U.S. market. Radio, print and online ads promoting Toronto’s culture, shopping, family and nightlife experiences are running in key U.S. markets such as Boston, Detroit and cities throughout New York state. Earlier this summer, Toronto was featured in a high-impact newspaper insert to 14 million homes in 27 U.S. markets, including New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
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.
For more information contact:
Andrew Weir Warren Kinsella
Tourism Toronto United We Are Toronto
(416) 987-1741 (416) 642-3100
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