Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO)
439 University Avenue, Suite 1400 M5G 1Y8 Toronto, ON, Canada

From all of us at TIAO, we want to wish you and your loved ones a very safe and Merry Christmas!

The Ontario government is announcing a new Ontario Small Business Support Grant, which will provide a minimum of $10,000 and up to $20,000 to eligible small business owners to help navigate this challenging period.

Ontario to move into a Provincewide Shutdown as of Saturday, December 26, 2020, at 12:01 a.m. The current COVID-19 Response Framework will be paused when the Provincewide Shutdown comes into effect. The impacts of these time-limited measures will be evaluated throughout the 14 days in Northern Ontario and 28 days in Southern Ontario to determine if it is safe to lift any restrictions or if they need to be extended. Details http://ow.ly/IPy150CRmNb

We’re very excited to announce our upcoming joint webinar, that will be discussing the potential business opportunities associated with the creation of a licensing system to permit the on-premise consumption of cannabis-infused food and beverages. Presented by Canopy Growth and in partnership with TIAO and JLM Strategic Marketing. Join us for an inspiring day of education and networking. Mark your calendars for November 24th and register for this free event today: http://ow.ly/O4M850CmhuD Canopy Growth Corporation JLM Strategic Marketing #Webinar #VirtualEvents #Cannabis

The Ontario government is helping small and independent restaurants during COVID-19 by capping high food delivery fees. The Supporting Local Restaurants Act, 2020 will come into effect tomorrow, December 19, at 12:01 a.m. Food delivery companies will be required to limit the rates they charge to 20% for each transaction with no more than 15% for commission for food delivery services. The cap applies in areas where indoor dining is prohibited, to help restaurants stay in business and continue contributing to their communities. If indoor dining is prohibited in new regions, the cap will also apply in those locations. Details http://ow.ly/f82s50CPDB5

Attention tourism operators and small businesses located in Peterborough and the Kawarthas! It is your last chance to register for your upcoming Elevating Canadian Experiences workshops. Taking place on Monday, November 23rd and Tuesday, November 24th, these workshops will assist small and medium tourism operators and other tourism organizations in developing strategies to maintain their businesses, and develop winter and shoulder season and culinary experiences to attract vi...sitors back once Canada is ready to welcome them again. The culinary workshop has been tailored specifically to your region and will explore Multisensory Experience Development. Learn about elevating visitor experiences through meaningful and memorable interactions with food & drink. This workshop provides an overview of a process for creating experiences that align with culinary tourism readiness standards and best practices. The Winter and Shoulder Season Tourism workshop is designed to help expand the opportunity for tourism operators in rural communities and those operating in the winter and shoulder seasons to attract new visitors and grow their businesses. Register for these free and interactive workshops here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/nov-23-24-2020-peterborough-and Tourism Industry Association of Canada Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism CTA: Culinary Tourism Alliance Twenty31 Consulting Inc

For employers with non-unionized employees, the government is extending regulatory changes brought forward under the Employment Standards Act to July 3, 2021.The regulation's changes include putting non-unionized employees on job-protected leave during the COVID-19 outbreak any time their hours of work are temporarily reduced by their employer due to the pandemic to prevent temporary layoffs from becoming permanent. Under the Act, temporary layoffs become terminations when th...ey exceed the permitted period. Given the unique challenges that many employers in the tourism and hospitality industries are facing as a result of COVID-19, the government is providing employers and unions the option to use those funds to help keep business doors open. The provision is only available if unions and employers both agree to create alternative arrangements. For instance, an employer and union could agree to only 50 per cent of termination and severance pay being put into trust. Employers will not be able to implement these changes unilaterally. Full release http://ow.ly/LGoD50CPkcM ESA Regulations https://tinyurl.com/y8pe4bj7

The Ontario government moves most cities in the GTHA into red zone.

Returning for its fifth year, Gift of Lights at Bingemans is always a spectacular event. From the comfort of their personal vehicles, families will drive through more than 2.5 km of impressive & eye-catching twinkling light displays while tuned into their FM radio to hear popular Christmas music to get into the holiday spirit. The displays are open to the public beginning November 14 to January 3rd, 2021. : Bingemans

Thank you to ALL of our local restaurants across Ontario that made the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence’s virtual dinner possible and thank you to @smartserve_ontario for making sure they arrived to everyone. Be sure to share with us your finished products. #OTS20 #OTS20Gala #FeastOn : @ontarioculinary... : @spencers_w : @deerhurstresort See more

Today, we remember.

Last chance to buy your #OOTS20 Gala Ticket and support a Feast On restaurant in your local community. Ticket sales end tomorrow at 5 pm est. Our Virtual Gala Experience includes the option to purchase a Gala Meal that will be provided by a Feast On restaurant in your community and delivered right to your door. Regardless of where you’re tuning in from across our beautiful province, we will come to you, and we will arrive with a local meal in hand. All proceeds go directly ...to the restaurants, and by purchasing a Gala ticket, you are helping to directly support local businesses in your community. Once you purchase your Gala Ticket, a member of our team will reach out to you with menu choices of participating restaurant(s) in your region. A peak of participating restaurants include: Marben (Toronto,ON) Radical Gardens (Timmins, ON) Eddington's of Exeter (Exeter, ON) SixThirtyNine (Woodstock, ON) Little Mushroom Catering (Cambridge, ON) Lancaster Smokehouse (Kitchener) Borealis (Guelph and Kitchener, ON) Rare (Peterborough, ON) Bruce Wine Bar (Collingwood, ON) Richmond Station (Toronto, ON) #OTS2020 #eatlocal #eatontfood #supportlocal #FeastOn

Less than two weeks away until we gather (virtually) for our Ontario Tourism Summit! Have you got your tickets yet? http://ow.ly/OHLU50BxW1R

Ending Day 2 of #OTS20 with Lisa MacLeod. Thank you Minister MacLeod for sharing a preview of the 5 year plan, coming Oct. 30. We are all looking forward to hearing what’s in the strategy.

Big thank you to Smart Serve for getting all the #OTS20Gala meals to attendees all over Ontario!

Ontario Government announces details around the $300M in funding to help small businesses with their fixed costs over the next 28 days. This includes waiving: Provincial & municipal property tax Electricity bills Natural gas bills... The government is also supporting small business through its Main Street Recovery Plan by: Committing to permanently allow licensed restaurants and bars to include alcohol with food as part of a takeout or delivery order before the existing regulation expires Permanently allowing 24/7 deliveries to restaurants Supporting the distribution of local food and food products by increasing the range of products sold at the Ontario Food Terminal Ending outdated and duplicative rules so businesses can focus on their work Modernizing regulations to allow businesses to innovate and meet the challenges of today Providing mental health supports to business owners and employees who are struggling Providing $57 million with federal partners through the Digital Main Street program and creating new Digital Main Street squads to help small businesses grow online Launching a new portal to assist small businesses to quickly find the supports and information they need Full Release: http://ow.ly/Keb950BRuAV

The TIAO video shoots have been going incredibly well. Our goal is to create two videos for your use; one to encourage local tourism and one to address resident sentiment, letting residents know about the importance of local tourism and encouraging them to welcome tourists who are adhering to public health guidelines. We are excited to unveil the videos at the upcoming Summit. They will be in our collective tool box, at the ready to use, when the time is right. A big thank you to our members who enthusiastically stepped up to participate; Chatham-Kent, Peterborough & the Kawarthas, Caledon, Ottawa and Toronto. Also thank you to those who offered to help. Although we could not be everywhere in person due to time constraints, we will ensure to include you through Destination Ontario’s b-roll library Enjoy this taste of what’s coming!

Thank you FordNation for taking the time to address the tourism industry at #OTS20

We hope everyone is enjoying a safe (and delicious) holiday weekend

"While it used to be viewed as a "nice to have", sustainability and social impact are now a "must have" due to heightened consumer expectations and widening stakeholder demands" - Don Cleary, Marriott Hotels

This afternoon the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland, announced a series of policies aimed at supporting businesses. They included: The new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, which would provide simple and easy-to-access rent and mortgage support until June 2021 for qualifying organizations affected by COVID-19. The rent subsidy would be provided directly to tenants, while also providing support to property owners. The new rent subsidy would... support businesses, charities, and non-profits that have suffered a revenue drop, by subsidizing a percentage of their expenses, on a sliding scale, up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible expenses until December 19, 2020. Organizations would be able to make claims retroactively for the period that began September 27 and ends October 24, 2020. A top-up Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy of 25 per cent for organizations temporarily shut down by a mandatory public health order issued by a qualifying public health authority, in addition to the 65 per cent subsidy. This follows a commitment in the Speech from the Throne to provide direct financial support to businesses temporarily shut down as a result of a local public health decision. The extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy until June 2021, which would continue to protect jobs by helping businesses keep employees on the payroll and encouraging employers to re-hire their workers. The subsidy would remain at the current subsidy rate of up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible wages until December 19, 2020. This measure is part of the government’s commitment to create over 1 million jobs and restore employment to the level it was before the pandemic. An expanded Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), which would enable businesses, and not-for-profits eligible for CEBA loansand that continue to be seriously impacted by the pandemicto access an interest-free loan of up to $20,000, in addition to the original CEBA loan of $40,000. Half of this additional financing would be forgivable if repaid by December 31, 2022. Additionally, the application deadline for CEBA is being extended to December 31, 2020. Further details, including the launch date and application process will be announced in the coming days. An attestation of the impact of COVID-19 on the business will be required to access the additional financing.

That’s a wrap for #OTS20 Day 1! Today we had over 800 attendees at our first-ever virtual Ontario Tourism Summit. The afternoon was filled with insightful and inspirational information from industry leaders all over Ontario. We can’t wait to see what Day 2 has in store! See you there

BREAKING NEWS: Our President and CEO Beth Potter responds to news that Ontario is implementing additional public health measures in Toronto, Ottawa and Peel region.

These are just a few of the innovative ways our sector has adapted to our current state. Proud to be a part of such a resilient industry. #OTS20 Destination Ontario

Congratulations to Pat Forrest on being our 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award winner. You have been instrumental in the success of the tourism industry over the years. Thank you for all you do! #OTS20

What Premier Doug Ford's announcement means for businesses and individuals in the affected regions

"...The industry needs tax breaks, extended access to the Canadian emergency wage subsidy into 2021, and grants for infrastructure costs and protective equipment" Full story http://ow.ly/t88C50BOFdt

Our President and CEO Beth Potter responds to the Federal government's announcement on new support for businesses.

We all know that Ontario has so many beautiful sites to see but maybe you’re looking for somewhere new to explore? Well that’s why we’re asking you to take a few minutes over the next two days to share your Ontario travel bucket list place. Be sure to tag us so we can share all the amazing suggestions #OTS20 #ONBucketList

Thank you Lisa MacLeod for your continuous support of the tourism industry! We are are so happy to have you with us at #OTS20

We do need more support from the provincial government to support these businesses through the next few months, Beth Potter said. It is a crisis. It’s more financially viable to support them now than to have to rebuild an industry that’s fallen apart. Full story http://ow.ly/49Wx50BNhBb

#OTS20 has officially begun! Please use the hashtag #OTS20 when posting over the next two days, so we can follow along with your virtual journey.

Full story http://ow.ly/AUrl50BNacW

Ford government is working on the necessary legislative changes to permanently allow restaurant and bars to add beer, wine and spirits to takeout orders going forward. http://ow.ly/5e9k50BMfEa