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Tourism Toronto Issues 'Tourism Test' for Ontario Place

Six priorities to maximize the tourism opportunity of major redevelopment of waterfront lands TORONTO, May 16, 2019 /CNW/ - Tourism Toronto is issuing a...
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Tourism Toronto Issues 'Tourism Test' for Ontario Place
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TORONTO, May 16, 2019 /CNW/ - Tourism Toronto is issuing a 'Tourism Test' for Ontario Place – six priorities from a tourism perspective that are essential for the redevelopment of the waterfront lands. The test aims to ensure that the tourism opportunity is a central consideration as development options for Ontario Place are evaluated.

The Tourism Test comes at a time where tourism in Toronto is seeing record numbers with 44 million visitors and $9 billion in visitor spending annually.

"Ontario Place is clearly one of the most important opportunities in Toronto to create something truly new and compelling that will attract new visitors from around the world," said Andrew Weir, Executive Vice President, Destination Development at Tourism Toronto. "The Government of Ontario has begun a process to seek ideas for Ontario Place's future and we are bringing a tourism lens and expertise to that discussion."

The "Tourism Test" consists of six fundamental elements that are key to delivering an exceptional visitor experience:

ICONIC NEW LANDMARK
The redevelopment must result in a compelling new experience that compliments Toronto's existing attractions and gives visitors a new reason to travel to the city. This is an opportunity to create a signature visual icon, recognized around the world that travellers must see for themselves.

YEAR-ROUND DESTINATION
Toronto is a destination with four distinct seasons, all with potential to appeal to visitors. Redevelopment must ensure the attractions and offerings are accessible and animated throughout the year, as well as weekends and weekdays, day and night.

EMBRACE THE WATERFRONT
Ontario Place is and must remain a waterfront destination, showcasing one of Toronto's greatest tourism assets – Lake Ontario. New development and attractions must complement the waterfront setting and ensure ample public access to the parks and waterfront.

RETAIN HERITAGE ELEMENTS
Ontario Place features unique examples of modernist architecture in the Cinesphere and pavilion pods. Tourism is built upon unique experiences and these iconic buildings must be preserved and integrated in the redevelopment.

MULTI-MODAL ACCESS
Accessibility is vital to maximizing the visitor opportunity. For residents and visitors, redevelopment must include direct transit connectivity, parking, cycling infrastructure and also loading accommodations for shows and events.

JOINTLY PLANNED WITH EXHIBITION PLACE
The Ontario Place opportunity is intrinsically linked with the adjacent Exhibition Place, featuring major sport, conference and event venues. Redevelopment must be planned together with further development of Exhibition Place to maximize transit and infrastructure investment and create an exciting combined campus for events and experiences.


"For the new development to be not only viable but successful, it will need to tap into Toronto's surging tourism market and the 44 million people that visit the city each year," said Weir. "Tourism Toronto and the tourism business community are committed to working with the City, the Province and other stakeholders to realize an exciting new experience at Ontario Place and ultimately to invite travellers from around the world to come see it for themselves."
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You know what'd I'd like to see? A mini neighbourhood, designed around pedestrians and small business -- give me a Venice, Ontario.

THINK. BIGGER. TORONTO.

All jokes aside though, I'd love it if the city thought more outside the box with prime real estate like this.
 
Hieberrr said:
You know what'd I'd like to see? A mini neighbourhood, designed around pedestrians and small business -- give me a Venice, Ontario.

THINK. BIGGER. TORONTO.

All jokes aside though, I'd love it if the city thought more outside the box with prime real estate like this.
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It doesn't have to be a joke. Amsterdam works as a functional city built around canals. I'd love to see some waterfront neighbourhoods with canals as the main streets. Venice is more of a museum now where most of the people are tourists.
 
junctionist said:
It doesn't have to be a joke. Amsterdam works as a functional city built around canals. I'd love to see some waterfront neighbourhoods with canals as the main streets. Venice is more of a museum now where most of the people are tourists.
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Amsterdam is /built/floating around 17th century built canals (head start?), and is indeed one of the most precious cities on the planet. Venice (huge challenges it faces) survives in large part to tourism (forgive me for taking that gondolier ride) but museum? Sure partly. Bet all the glorious bakers, restaurants, glass-blowers, residents and river pilots might give u the finger for that comment ;-). The world nearly lost many of the European town "museums" (and art) in WW2 but much was saved (No I haven't seen the movie). Viva Venice.

But I agree that some smart, modern innovation here involving bringing surface water into the city would be great... unless it's coming in anyways -good luck T.O. Island(s). See my post above.
 

Ontario Newsroom

news.ontario.ca news.ontario.ca

From the above:


Michael Tibollo, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, will be joined by Monte McNaughton, Minister of Infrastructure, to make an announcement about Ontario Place.

Date: Tuesday May 28, 2019

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Location: Ontario Place
955 Lake Shore Blvd W (access via Remembrance Drive)
Toronto
 
Let me cover the bases:

- Is initiating the process in finding a partner/developer to 'revitalize' Ontario Place and make it a 'year-round' destination
- Some new renovation of a small section of the park
- The PCs are working hard to expand gaming in the city with the new MGM Doug casino @ Ontario Place
- Something about the Ontario Line, the PCs have decided where the station goes at Ontario Place

Did I miss anything?
 
jje1000 said:
Let me cover the bases:

- Is initiating the process in finding a partner/developer to 'revitalize' Ontario Place and make it a 'year-round' destination
- Some new renovation of a small section of the park
- The PCs are working hard to expand gaming in the city with the new MGM Doug casino @ Ontario Place
- Something about the Ontario Line, the PCs have decided where the station goes at Ontario Place

Did I miss anything?
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I believe the government has already ruled out a casino, and I imagine the transport minister would be at any announcement about the Ontario Line. So likely one of the first two. My bet is the first one.
 
Ontario Officially Launches World-Wide Search for Development Partners
Province seeking submissions to reinvent Ontario Place as a spectacular destination
May 28, 2019 9:10 A.M.
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport
TORONTO — Ontario's government for the people is launching a world-wide search to find a private sector partner, or partners, with the best, most remarkable concepts to transform Ontario Place into the world-class destination it was always intended to be.

Michael Tibollo, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, was joined by Monte McNaughton, Minister of Infrastructure, at Ontario Place to make the announcement.

"Our government promised to move quickly to bring Ontario Place back to life and we are delivering on that promise," said Michael Tibollo, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. "We are inviting partners from around the world to submit their designs and ideas for a reimagined Ontario Place."

Through a Call for Development, the province is encouraging interested parties to take a fresh look at this unique waterfront asset. The province is seeking transformational ideas that are financially viable from partner(s) who have the right experience and capacity to design, implement and operate their development on the site. Residential developments or casinos will not be considered.

"Infrastructure is more than bricks and mortar. It's about the people who use it," said Infrastructure Minister Monte McNaughton. "Today's announcement puts us on a new, visionary path for Ontario Place that will benefit the people of our province and beyond. We are looking for big, bold ideas."

This Call for Development follows the government's invitation in January to interested parties to submit their ideas early. Submissions should be commercially feasible and reflect the province's vision for the site as a spectacular destination that could include sport and entertainment landmarks, public spaces and parks, recreational facilities, as well as retail.

"The former government ignored this gem and let it deteriorate for far too long," said Tibollo. "We have a real opportunity here to unlock the great potential of Ontario Place as a year-round, world-class destination that can attract visitors from Canada and abroad, as well as Ontarians."

Quick Facts
  • Interested parties are invited to visit OntarioPlaceDevelopment.com for more information on the opportunity and details on how to make a submission.
  • Submissions are due September 3, 2019.
  • Infrastructure Ontario has engaged KPMG and Colliers to market and promote this opportunity.
Additional Resources
 
From the call for development doc (pdf):
The Government of Ontario’s vision for the Ontario Place Site is a world-class year-round destination that will attract local, provincial and international visitors – with potential landmarks such as sports and entertainment attractions, and retail. These landmarks could be complemented by recreational facilities, public space / parks and the existing amphitheatre.
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So... ferris wheel and mega-mall is what I'm hearing here, right?

Looks like they're seeking a long-term lease arrangement:
The Government of Ontario is committed to make change happen quickly and efficiently. We are seeking Submissions from individual companies, organizations, teams, or consortia teams with the appropriate experience and capacity to enter into a long-term lease arrangement to design, implement, and operate their proposed development concept on the Site.

Development concepts could propose a single use or a cluster of complementary uses, including entertainment, recreation, sports, hospitality and retail. No residential development or casino use will be permitted on any part of the Site. Although the government’s preference is for comprehensive development of the entire Site, smaller-scale creative and bold concepts may also be considered for portions of the Site. Modifications to the Site may be contemplated, dependent upon an appropriate development concept.
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Anybody know the total area of the site?
Across the Site, a minimum of 7.5 acres (3 hectare) of parkland must be provided. Concepts that propose the use of any part of Trillium Park will be required to replace this area with a new contiguous park space of an equivalent size elsewhere on the Site.
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