We are seeing the events industry use these meetings to drive change and create a positive legacy for both attendees and the city where they meet.
-Angela Jefferies, Destination Toronto
Angela Jefferies, Sales Director, Canada & International Associations, Destination Toronto
Please share a little bit about your role and what you are focusing on for 2024
My role as Sales Director, Canada & International Associations is to grow Toronto's visitor economy by working with both local and international meeting planners to bring their next Congress to Toronto.
What innovations or trends do you think are coming that could have an impact on the future of business events?
Meetings are powerful economic engines that have the power to bring people together, share knowledge and engage great minds to develop innovative ideas that make great things happen. We are seeing the events industry use these meetings to drive change and create a positive legacy for both attendees and the city where they meet. By coming together, we have the power to make a difference and therefore it is crucial to integrate impact strategies into event planning to ensure positive societal change.
Destination Toronto’s suggestion for action: Event planners or businesses looking to create legacy through more DEI-conscious, accessible and sustainability-minded events in Toronto can sign up to receive our I.D.E.A.S. Guide. Supporting community organizations can also help the industry to create a positive legacy. We’ve put together a list to help you put social responsibility into action, but there are many in-need organizations in Toronto that may align with your business or event.
The greatest opportunity to improve sustainability at events is travel as well as food and beverage. The majority of an event's impact comes from these two areas.
- Romina Kwong, Eco-Friendly Events
Romina Kwong, Lead Sustainability Consultant & Event Strategist, Eco-Friendly Events
Please share a little bit about your role and what you are focusing on for 2024? 
I’m the founder of Eco-Friendly Events. We are an events and consulting agency that supports people by sharing ideas and strategies for hosting more sustainable events. For 2024, we are focused on intentionally partnering with planners to act as the environmental expert on their team and take this crucial part of the load off their shoulders.
What innovative approaches have you seen that make business events more sustainable and where do you see the greatest opportunity for improving sustainability at events?
I'm not sure if innovative is the right word to describe it, but I am seeing more planners and businesses include questions about sustainability practices from all their vendors in the RFP process. I'm also seeing companies asking their planners if they have their own internal sustainability policies in place.
Recently I've also seen the technology for carbon removal from events, and while this can be part of the solution, reducing environmental impact and carbon emissions should be first.
The greatest opportunity to improve sustainability at events is travel as well as food and beverage. The majority of an event's impact comes from these two areas.
Secondary to this is measurement. Doing an audit and measuring the current impact of an event so that you know which areas there are to improve.
DT’s suggestion for action: Any business looking for a clear roadmap on being sustainable should consider applying for sustainability certification. Not only does this signal your commitment to environmental and social impact, it also helps you measure where you already excel and where you can improve. GreenStep Sustainable Tourism offers a free business assessment so you can begin your journey at your own pace.
Our events team continues to focus on furthering our sustainability efforts as we build out an event portfolio that continues to authentically reflect our destination.
- Jennifer Main, Destination Toronto
Jennifer Main, Director, Destination Services & Events, Destination Toronto
Please share a little bit about your role and what you are focusing on for 2024?
I have the privilege of leading two incredible teams at Destination Toronto – our destination services team and our events team. In services, we see an opportunity to enhance our support to our show organizer clients, particularly regarding exhibitor support in coming to Canada. Meanwhile, our events team continues to focus on furthering our sustainability efforts as we build out an event portfolio that continues to authentically reflect our destination.
What innovative approaches have you seen for attendance building and how do you think the industry could better support in-person attendance?
In Toronto, we continue to see opportunities to build on our 6ix Stack Attendance Marketing program, available at tiered levels to business events clients. This customizable program is seeing increasing success and we couldn’t be more excited. By connecting our business events clientele to our community, we are seeing tangible results in this space.
DT’s suggestion for action: One way to support attendance and the success of meetings held in Toronto is to ensure the venue / event is accessible. AccessNow is an accessibility mapping company that assesses businesses for their physical and sensory accessibility and their AccessNow Verified program can help businesses to better understand the improvements they can make to attract this audience, supporting Toronto’s reputation as an inclusive destination.
The major focus is on selecting venues that prioritize sustainability and have achieved accreditations like the LEED certification, Green Seal or Green Key.
- Alison Owers-Graham, Destination Toronto
Alison Owers-Graham, Sr. Event Planner, Destination Toronto
Please share a little bit about your role and what you are focusing on for 2024
I’m responsible for creating customized experiences to showcase Toronto for event professionals in conjunction with our Global Sales team. We introduce clients (planners, association management professionals, third party professionals etc.) to the opportunities available to them in Toronto and ultimately book conferences, meetings and events in the city.
What innovative approaches have you seen that make business events more sustainable and where do you see the greatest opportunity for improving sustainability at events?
In this coming year we are focusing on integrating meaningful eco-conscious experiences into our FAM and events. We are seeing more and more emphasis on sustainability in events. The major focus is on selecting venues that prioritize sustainability and have achieved accreditations like the LEED certification, Green Seal or Green Key. Another focus is zero waste Initiatives including strategies to minimize waste by providing reusable or compostable materials, having recycling stations, and partnering with food banks to donate surplus food.
We are also intentionally collaborating with suppliers and vendors that prioritize sustainability in their organizations, from printing materials to event décor.
DT’s suggestion for action: See helpful resources for tips and information that can help to make your business or event more sustainable, read an article that can help you reduce waste or sign up for the TOWaste app to ensure proper disposal of waste.
