Greater Toronto Hotel Association

The voice of Toronto's hotel industry, the Greater Toronto Hotel Association represents 160 hotels,
with approximately 34,000 guest rooms and more than 32,000 full time jobs.
Founded in 1925, the GTHA enables competing hotels to work together on issues of
public policy and charitable ventures, provides information and service to its members,
and advocates to raise their profile and prosperity as a vital component of Toronto's tourism industry.

GREATER TORONTO HOTEL ASSOCIATION

2008 - 2009

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

CHECKING IN: FACTS AND FIGURES

Report of Rooms Operations by Location - Q3 2007

*Occupancy variance between current & previous year is reported as a point change, not as a percentage

Miscellaneous & Sundry: Around the Industry

CHECKING IN: FACTS AND FIGURES

Report of Rooms Operations by Location
SECOND QUARTER 2007

*Occupancy variance between current & previous year is reported as a point change, not as a percentage

NEW REGULATIONS AFFECT HOTELS

A number of new regulations have recently been implemented that will have an impact on the way hotels do business. GTHA members should be aware of these new rules:

Accessible Customer Service Standards – Hotels are now legally required to make customer services operations accessible to people with disabilities.
Smart Serve Training – Starting on January 1, 2008, all facilities with liquor licences must ensure that staff members successfully complete server training within 60 days after being hired.
Gift Cards – Expiry dates on gift cards (including hotel promotions) are prohibited as of October 1, 2007, unless terms and conditions are disclosed clearly and prominently.
Private Security – As of August 23, 2007, all private security practitioners, including in-house security staff, must be licensed. Existing staff have one year to obtain their licences
Property Taxes for Urban Condominium Hotels – The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation has been instructed to assess urban condominium hotels in the same manner as traditional hotels, based on the income capitalization approach to valuation.

The GTHA was consulted and actively participated in the development of these new regulations.

PARTY PLATFORMS ACKNOWLEDGE TOURISM INDUSTRY

As the Ontario election campaign moves toward its conclusion on October 10, 2007, tourism has not emerged as a central issue for any of the political parties. However, the industry has not been completely ignored. Following are highlights from party platforms pertaining to the tourism sector.

The Liberal platform includes one specific tourism commitment: “Working with the tourism industry we will conduct a comprehensive competitiveness study, increase funding for festivals and events, and enhance marketing efforts to promote Ontario destinations.”
The Progressive Conservative platform includes pledges to increase the province’s tourism advertising budget, spending at least 75% of the tourism budget on marketing. It also pledges to: improve Canada-U.S. border crossings, including finding an alternative to the new American passport requirements; work in partnership with tourism operators to open the door to smaller businesses and volunteer organizations; improve training for tourism workers and to clarify regulations and legal terms in the industry; top up funding for the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund; provide stable funding for the tourism sector, with five- and ten-year commitments; and make sensible, short-term investments to help sustain key events and attractions, such as the Luminato Festival of Arts and Creativity.
New Democratic Party platform commitments do not mention tourism.
The Green Party platform includes a promise to “protect the natural heritage needed to sustain and enrich Ontario’s eco-tourism industry.”

Regardless of which party wins election, the GTHA will work quickly to establish and maintain strong relationships with the new Minister of Tourism.

MISCELLANEOUS & SUNDRY: AROUND THE INDUSTRY

The GTHA, as part of a coalition of industry, labour and education groups, participated in news conference to release a new report by the Conference Board of Canada, forecasting a serious shortage of skilled workers in Ontario. The report points to some potential solutions, such as better education and training of under- represented groups. The coalition is calling on Ontario's political leaders to commit to establishing a comprehensive provincial skills strategy.
The GTHA welcomes a new member: Super 8 Toronto Downtown (General Manager Allain Tan).
New General Managers at GTHA hotels: Corinne Oatman-Howell, Sandalwood Suites; Alex Hernandez, Best Western Toronto Airport West; Bill Brown, Crowne Plaza Don Valley; Guy Lucas, Novotel Toronto Airport; Ralph Schwingers, Waterside Inn.

CHECKING IN: FACTS AND FIGURES

Report of Rooms Operations by Location

FOURTH QUARTER 2006

*Occupancy variance between current & previous year is reported as a point change, not as a percentage

It goes without saying that the Greater Toronto Hotel Association has entered a new chapter. As the new President of the GTHA, I am looking forward to working with our members to enhance the hotel industry in a variety of ways.

Hotels are a vital component of our economy and our social fabric, and we will be spending much of our time working strategically to ensure this message gets across to our many stakeholders, including government at all levels, the media and the public at large. We want to make sure hotels are recognized for their enormous contributions to our community, both fiscally and socially.

Over the years, the GTHA has succeeded in making its voice heard. Now is the time to take our industry the next level, to really drive home the vital importance of a healthy hospitality sector.

More people need to hear about the good work hotels are doing. In addition to being a key economic contributor – and with $2.2 billion in economic activity annually and more than 30,000 jobs, the economic contribution is significant – Toronto-area hotels are also important to the city’s quality of life. For example, hotels are an active training ground in a wide range of fields, especially for new Canadians. Hotels help the needy, by donating surplus food, linens and furniture. Hotels provide crucial infrastructure in a crisis – such as 9/11, when they supplied thousands of meals, beds and blankets to stranded airline passengers. Hotels are an integral part of the tourism sector, supporting the city and province’s many attractions. And hotels are a home-away-from-home for family and friends visiting from out of town. For many visitors, hotels are the first point of contact for our city, and it is imperative that hotels are able to make and sustain a good impression.

Hotels need to be both viable and vibrant. Our ongoing success depends on support from the community we serve, and we, as an industry, have to work together to make sure we continue to earn that support.

This is an exciting time for the Greater Toronto Hotel Association – a tremendous organization in a vital industry. Through strategic planning and exceptional delivery, we have every reason to believe our industry will soar to even greater heights in the years ahead.

The GTHA welcomes David Whitaker as the new President and CEO of Tourism Toronto. Recognized for his skill in international tourism marketing, he brings a wealth of experience and tourism acumen to our city, building on a career that includes senior positions with the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau for 17 years. This is an important appointment for Toronto’s hospitality industry, and the GTHA looks forward to a long and productive relationship, working together to grow the economic and social contribution tourism makes to the region.

The Foreign Convention and Tour Incentive Program – providing GST rebates or exemptions for convention, group and tour business – was a key measure in the federal Budget delivered March 19, and the GTHA publicly commended Finance Minister Jim Flaherty for listening to the tourism industry. In pre-Budget submissions, the GTHA and other tourism industry stakeholders pointed to the GST exemption/ rebate as an important factor in attracting visitors. The GTHA was also pleased with measures in provincial Finance Minister Greg Sorbara’s Budget March 22, including reductions in Business Education Tax rates and a four-year cycle for property tax reassessments – both of which should help ease the financial burdens facing our hotel community. We also welcomed the announcement of $5.5 million in funding for Luminato – Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity, which we are hoping becomes an important event on Toronto’s tourism calendar. Less positively, while both Budgets provided some help for our industry, we were hoping to see new funding directly for tourism marketing. The GTHA will continue to urge both levels of government to recognize that investments in tourism pay dividends throughout the economy.

The Greater Toronto Hotel Association has taken steps to trademark its Destination Marketing Fee (DMF) to ensure that the integrity of the program is maintained. The DMF was spearheaded by the GTHA as a way to collect funds for the direct purpose of destination marketing. Measures are in place to protect both consumers and hoteliers, and to ensure that the DMF is used only for its intended purpose.

MISCELLANEOUS & SUNDRY: AROUND THE INDUSTRY

The voice of Toronto's hotel industry, the Greater Toronto Hotel Association represents more than 160 hotels, with approximately 34,000 guest rooms and more than 32,000 full time jobs. Founded in 1925, the GTHA enables competing hotels to work together on issues of public policy and charitable ventures, provides information and service to its members, and advocates to raise their profile and prosperity as a vital component of Toronto's tourism industry. The GTHA can be reached at 207 Queen’s Quay West, Suite 590, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 1A7. Phone: (416) 351-1276. Fax: (416) 351-7749. E-mail gtha@gtha.com.