The diverse, welcoming and modern city of Toronto is an up-and-coming MICE destination serving business travelers and event planners in new ways. Global Traveler spoke with Jaques Lapierre, general manager, Bisha Hotel Toronto, to get his insights on Toronto’s dedication to the ever-expanding and ever-changing MICE market.

GT: What is the MICE market currently like in Toronto?

Jaques Lapierre: Toronto hosts global events across all sectors, including the film industry, transforming the city once a year with the world’s largest film festival, the Toronto International Film Festival. Toronto also hosts highly attended cultural, technology and life sciences conferences and sporting events, including the Honda Indy, Pride Toronto and Collision. Bisha is perfectly in the center of all these activities and we love welcoming MICE planners.

Toronto, with its reputation for safety and stability, is fast becoming a global location destination for financial services as well. The city is the second-largest financial services center in North America and has one of the highest concentrations of financial services company headquarters in the Americas. We are seeing a growing trend of business and technology conferences being held here, too.

GT: How is Toronto setting itself apart from other destinations MICE planners might be considering?

JL: Toronto Pearson International Airport is the second-busiest North American international airport, serving 200 global destinations in 55 countries. This means there are multiple direct flight options from Europe, Asia, Mexico and the United States. Event organizers can plan their events at ease as Toronto is one of North America’s safest cities, with a steadfast commitment to digital security, health security, infrastructure safety and personal safety. As well, Toronto has North America’s third-largest public transit system after New York City and Mexico City. It also has great transit options including trains, taxis and rideshare services.

Besides that, planners have a host of venue options from large convention centers hosting up to 4,000 individuals to boutique venues that offer intimate settings for less than 200. For planners looking for a special meeting space, Bisha has the Sky Suite, perfect for a corporate event or meeting. This space soars 43 stories aboveground with floor-to-ceiling windows and offers guests beautiful views of the CN Tower, Lake Ontario and the downtown core.

GT: What are some things you particularly want to promote to MICE planners in 2019?

JL: Toronto is truly a dynamic, multicultural city. Fifty-one percent of the city’s residents are foreign-born, which means there are 200 different languages spoken here. I’m originally from Quebec, one of Canada’s French speaking provinces, and I feel completely at home here.

Toronto is also at the forefront of combining business and leisure. Toronto boasts some of the country’s greatest restaurants and chefs, cultural activities and unforgettable landmarks, and offers professionals the chance to indulge in whatever their passion is. At Bisha, for example, travelers can arrange for a professional meeting or event, luxury accommodation, fine dining experience and see the city’s beautiful skyline view with a cocktail in hand, all at a single location. Bisha and Toronto offer more than a night’s sleep, it offers a sophisticated setting for business travelers to mix work with play.

GT: Are there any particularly new or up-and-coming developments across Toronto that would interest MICE planners, such as new conference centers, etc.?

JL: The local construction sector has been a key growth driver for Toronto’s economy. In fact, Toronto now prioritized non-residential construction, which will soon provide MICE planners with an array of new venue options. But Toronto already has plenty of venue options for MICE planners. Bisha, in particular, is almost a year old and we are always looking to partner with MICE planners to provide a unique and luxurious setting for corporate events and meeting spaces.