|
Rotarians choose Toronto for 2018
Tourism Toronto is extremely pleased to announce that Toronto has just been chosen as the host city for the 2018 Rotary International Convention, to be held from June 24-27. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the local Rotary Organizing Committee and congratulate them on an admirable job. Thanks to the Rotary International Convention, Toronto will welcome over 20,000 Rotarians and their families, which will represent some 40,000 room nights in downtown and west side hotels, with an estimated direct visitor spend of $32 million. The Metro Toronto Convention Centre and the Air Canada Centre will serve as primary venues. Financial assistance for the event was made possible by the Convention Development Fund, a joint initiative of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Recreation, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, participating hotels and Tourism Toronto.
"Toronto Looks Good on You" wins award
TT’s marketing campaign from summer 2010 was the recipient of the Best Tourism Interactive Marketing award at the recent Ontario Tourism Summit. The Toronto Looks Good on You campaign featured video pods stationed at key festivals where visitors could record their Toronto experience or love for the city in a 30-second video that could be posted through Facebook, Twitter, personal YouTube channel or delivered into their email inbox for sharing with friends and family.
Sharing Toronto dreams with China
Tourism Toronto has partnered with one of China’s largest media companies to bring Luyu (known as the Oprah of China) to Toronto this week to tape episodes for her new show, Dream Sharing. The show is expected to reach a weekly audience of more than 60 million viewers beginning in December, and is also promoted extensively through daily online and social media updates to a similarly large following.
Deep in the hearts of Texans
A cover story in the travel section of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram resulted from TT’s Media Relations team hosting a culinary- and wine-themed press tour this past July. The newspaper serves the fifth-largest consumer market in the U.S. and is the major daily for Dallas. The feature article has an advertising equivalency of over $110,000.
Getting in the game
The TT Sport Sales team, along with 18 members, hosted the fifth annual tradeshow luncheon at the Sport Alliance of Ontario facility on September 27. This year we wanted to “Help Kids Get in the Game!” by making a donation of over $2,000 to KidSports Ontario through a coordinated effort between TT, TT members and Ontario sport organizations. The donation will provide registration or equipment support enabling at least eight children to take part in sport this season. With twenty different provincial sport organizations participating in the event, our TT members were given a chance to get in front of 75+ attendees.
Toronto trending in Paris
TT’s Media Relations team hosted Paris-based Trends Magazine in May as part of a group press trip. As a result of that visit, Trends ran a huge eight-page feature on Toronto.
Southeastern swing
From September 26-28, the U.S. Association Sales team was in Atlanta and Nashville for a day of sales calls and hosted events sponsored by the CTC. Feedback from the Southeast market reflected the “Buy America” sentiment that is pervading the U.S. these days. Focus on secondary markets like Atlanta will remain an important part of our strategy to develop business opportunities for the community.
Mapping it out for Chinese drivers
From Sep 14-24, TT and OTMPC hosted a press trip spearheaded by Beijing Communication Radio (BCR) group, promoting driving tours through Toronto, Niagara Falls and other parts of Ontario. BCR is the most popular radio station in Beijing and reaches a young, high-value audience, eager to have new travel experiences. Other press included on the trip extended the media reach to internet, video, print and blogs and BCR drivers club has committed to working with a Chinese tour operator to promote and sell a driving package tour similar to what this press trip experienced.
Fams galore
TT’s International Leisure Trade Sales team hosted several FAMS over the past two weeks with key North American and emerging market tour operators. Voyages A+, a student tour operator from Quebec, brought 50 decision-making clients who spent three days learning about the educational opportunities in Toronto. Performing Arts Consultants from New Jersey brought five of their Festival Directors/Product Managers to experience everything possible for student and performance groups as they are receiving many enquiries from groups that want to visit the region for performance trips and as part of their spring festival dates.
For emerging markets, we hosted Mazda Travel, one of the most influential tour operators in India for two whirlwind days. They were impressed with all we have to offer Indian travellers and excited to include the region in their 2012 itineraries. As well, CTC, Ontario Tourism and TT hosted eight Canada travel specialists from Australia over two days.
|
