A guide to travelling to and doing business in Canada’s most populous city, Toronto, from Adib Shadid
How do you get to Toronto?
Toronto is easily accessible by both air and land, depending on where you are coming from.
The city has two airports, Toronto International (Pearson) and Toronto Island. The international airport is roughly 40 minutes from the city centre while Toronto Island is located on an island just south of the downtown core, making it a short ferry ride (or tunnel walk) away.
Toronto’s Union Station accommodates various railways including Via Rial, TTC, GO and the UP Express – each one stretching to different extremities of the city/country.
What’s the public transport and taxi service like within the city? Are there any interesting ways of getting around?
Toronto boasts top-notch public transport. Union Station includes the TTC subway line, which runs north and south through the heart of downtown Toronto. Furthermore, there are street cars [trams] to help you navigate east/west, as well as buses for everywhere else. Nowhere is inaccessible via public transportation.
That being said, Toronto is not large in surface area; the city is dense and centralised. This means you can catch Ubers, taxis, Lyft, etc. with extreme ease to get around for good prices. Just be careful of bad traffic periods. Finally, why not try some city bikes, scooters or walking paths?
Do you have any suggestions of business hotels in Toronto?
For general business hotels, I would suggest one of the options near Union Station simply for the ease of access to the rest of the city, as well as hotels close to your local office.
King and Queen Streets are major streets loaded with attractions that are a close distance to and from Union Station, and also offer many good accommodation options. Yorkville is an area just north of Toronto’s downtown core. It offers a stark distinction from the rest of Toronto in terms of culture, heritage and general atmosphere. While Yorkville is also easily accessible from any downtown hotel, Yorkville village offers its own set of options.
If travelling on a shoestring, do you have any suggestions for accommodation?
Airbnb is an option for getting a taste of local lifestyle and saving a few dollars on room nights. I suggest looking early, however, as they can sometimes be hard to find in Toronto. Alternatively, Toronto has a number of budget hotels, motels and hostels at great rates and at good locations in the city.
Do you have any suggestions for shared working spaces or a coffee shop to catch up with some paperwork while travelling in Toronto?
No shortage of these in Toronto! Some popular favourites include Rooster Coffee on King Street (Italian atmosphere, specialty coffees, light snacks and larger spaces for working coffee breaks) or Sassafraz in Yorkville (bar/lounge atmosphere at one of Yorkville’s heritage restaurants).
What are some of the key industries associated with Toronto?
Banking, insurance, investment management, development firms, law firms and engineering firms dominate the heart of downtown Toronto and are home to some of its tallest buildings.
The service sector is also prominent, with trade, restaurants, hospitality and public administration businesses. Fashion and film are also at the forefront here in Toronto, not to mention education: with three major universities, many colleges and hundreds of other institutions, Toronto is a great place to study.
What interesting businesses and organisations are based in Toronto?
Toronto and its surrounding regions are home to Canada’s second-largest aerospace cluster and a growing aerospace campus hub.
Are there any major business events or conferences taking place in Toronto?
‘Collision’ is a conference that brings together people from all industries to discuss the hot tech topics of today and tomorrow within 16 different conference events.
It has been called the fastest growing tech conference in North America and that’s no understatement – the last instalment of ‘Collision’ had more than 25,000 attendees and it will be hosted in Toronto for the next three years, starting with 2019’s edition at the end of June.
Where would you recommend for a lunch meeting in Toronto?
Head to d|bar in Yorkville. Located at the Four Seasons hotel, it is newly renovated, stylish, vibrant and exciting.
The luxurious hotel company, Four Seasons, is based in Toronto, and this hotel is its flagship property. There, you’ll have a chance to enjoy an excellent menu and have a functional lunch meeting right in the heart of Yorkville.
Where would you recommend for a client dinner in Toronto?
With so many dining options to choose from in Toronto, I would suggest tailoring the restaurant to the clientele or business theme of the dinner. As a suggestion, however, try Benihana at the Fairmont Royal York.
It is a great place to entertain clients for handful of reasons – the most obvious being the talented and awe-inducing Teppanyaki chefs. The hotel is built from a converted historic railroad station that precedes all of Toronto’s growth, an architectural masterpiece that has catered to members of the British Royal Family.
Where would you recommend for drinks with colleagues after a day of meetings in Toronto?
Try Hemingway’s in Yorkville. It’s a casual style multi-purpose and multi-level bar that hundreds of locals frequent. Featuring a rooftop view of Yorkville in the summer months, it is a good place to get a feeling of local lifestyle.
At the other end of the spectrum, try the Rec Room downtown. Located at the base of the CN Tower, this busy, arcade-filled bar is a great place to unwind, have some drinks and play some games.
Are there any challenging aspects to Toronto that business travellers should consider beforehand?
While much milder here than in other major Canadian cities, the winters are still a challenging aspect of life in Canada. Remedies include tunnels, underground paths and heavy parkas. But the unwelcome bite of winds that reach minus 25 degrees does weigh heavily until the gorgeous summers return!
Tell us a bit about some of the unmissable attractions in Toronto?
The CN Tower and surrounding areas are almost certainly the most famous Toronto attractions, and not undeservingly. The tower’s glass floors and revolving restaurant make for great memories.
Otherwise, Toronto is home to award-winning museums, a bustling Broadway scene, ballets, operas and art galleries. Toronto also features some of the best shopping malls in the country – try visiting the Eaton Centre on a day of Dundas Square [sometimes compared to Times Square and Piccadilly Circus] exploration!
Can you give some insider information into some hidden treasures outside popular tourist haunts?
As a personal favourite (for summers only), a ferry ride to Toronto Island takes about 10 minutes and costs $10 CAD return. It’s an unmissable day of fun in the sun, biking, hiking and eating.
Are there any unmissable activities business travellers should bolt on?
For those thrill seekers, try standing on top (outside) of the CN tower and walking around the edges of the roof. It is Toronto’s boldest activity, giving access to the best and scariest views.
Is there any local cuisine that’s worth a try?
Of course! Poutine and beavertails are comically Canadian staples. Poutine is a dish consisting of fries topped with cheese curds and smothered in gravy (modify any way you choose). Beavertails are fried dough pastries, like a donut but shaped like a beaver’s tail, topped how you like and dangerously delicious.
Why do you love Toronto?
I love Toronto because it’s a completely welcoming and eclectic city. There’s no shortage of things to do or people to see. Something is always happening, whether it’s a parade, festival or other events. Everyone is extremely friendly (Canadian stereotype), and the added benefits of living in the country’s most metropolitan and busy city are endless.
Why would you recommend Toronto as a place to do business?
Everyone is here! I’d recommend Toronto as a place to do business for all of the reasons one would conduct business in a city like New York. We just have the added benefit of being friendlier and more organised. It does, however, come at the expense of teeth-shattering cold weather in the winter months.
Adib Shadid is an Assistant Food and Beverage Manager at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and an Assistant Professor at Toronto School of Management.
