Rarely do I see a business article use data with such clarity & insight
https://www.thestar.com/business/2018/07/17/less-room-at-the-inn-for-toronto-conventions-report.html
This surprisingly well written business article (esp for Canadian publication) supports oft-ignored lessons about Market Assessment; your boss will want to know 1. category size; 2. category growth,; 3. factors influencing growth and also 4. competitive SWOT’s. The data/ considerations should look out a few years.
Given the need for a ‘future focus”, many ppl may assume the Conventions/ Tourism Biz should be consumed about airbnb data. Not so fast. Despite the popular media’s focus on casual shared accommodation, the reality is that Bed & Breakfasts & airbnb-type accommodations don’t influence a location most meeting managers would select for a convention; what DOES influence it is a city’s perceived safety, transport & services infrastructure, entertainment options, meeting halls/ convention centres – and the capacity & service level of legitimate inns & hotels. And Toronto isn’t faring well on that front.
There are some extremely relevant figures here – on prices & capacity/ market. The Convention Biz is big- with big ripples to all aspects of a city’s economy. The data seems to indicate Toronto has an uphill climb to continue to be a ‘world class’ convention site. This Biz Category invites a market share fight as would any big category; I hope Mayor Tory takes time from ‘detail management’ to review this Big Picture opportunity – and to strategize/ invest accordingly.
In his favour? Mayor Tory’s business background, and his common sense actions to ease road traffic congestion on major routes.
Discouraging signs? A still-woeful regional transit ‘system’; a myopic decision to spend billions of taxpayer $ to BYPASS a borough with a subway; a brutal lack of accountability on transit car supply; road construction contracts that still seem to still be poorly written, unenforced, or both (youre hereby invited to play: “Let’s see if any work is done in the closed lanes of Hwy427 today!”)
SL