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Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Category: Event Planning & Services Venues & Event Spaces Venues & Event Spaces [Edit]
255 Front St WToronto, ON M5V 2W6
Neighbourhoods: Entertainment District, Downtown Core
(416) 585-8000
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
16 reviews for Metro Toronto Convention Centre
16 reviews in English
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Review from Myrem D.
Mississauga, ON
11/20/2011
Came here last night for the Wine & Food expo.
I'd like to count this as 2 reviews because the expo itself is a seriously impressive event to review and it cannot be tied in with the review of the venue.
Think, shampoo & Conditioner in 1 type of deal.
The Event.
I should point out that I am no wine expert. I would immediately *air explosion five* trade a vintage glass of wine for a glass of beer. With that said, I had heard about this event but never had the opportunity to go. So, my wonderful man got tickets and off we went.
The annual Gourmet Food & Wine admission tickets often sell out so you can purchase them on line ahead of time. The expected number of attenders is in the 4,000's. The map in the booklet will give you a clear blueprint of the sections. The divisions are made internationally. So, while exploring some Argentinean wine, you an also try out some mahi mahi fish with mango and custard crumbs. It's a rare opportunity that food/wine lovers should attend at least once. The variety is wide and it's a good opportunity to try out all the popular names (Barefoot, Naked Grape, FuZion, girls night out, Yellow tail) lyou pass at the LCBO without being stuck with a whole bottle. With over 300 With over 300 exhibitors, you are bound to learn lots about little differences (Chardonnay Versus Savignon Blanc; Shiraz Versus Merlot). AND if you didn't get a chance to try out winterlicius or summerlicious, this event also gives you the opportunity to risk and savour the culinary stylings of Toronto's best restaurants(EDO, BRASSAI etc).
It's held only for 1 weekend :
Thursday, November 17, 2011, 6pm-10pm VIP Preview Evening
Friday, November 18, 2011 2pm-10pm
Saturday, November 19, 2011, 12pm-10pm
Sunday, November 20, 2011, 12pm-6pm
We went on sat at 5pm. Expect line ups for everything. Coat check, purchasing, entry, sample tasting and last but not least - the bathroom.
before entry, you buy a sheet of tickets for $20.00 (excluding admission tickets) each ticket is worth $1.00. Sample prices range from $1.00 to $14.00
If you walk around long enough, you can find tons of free samples and free giveaways among the mist of drunkards. There was a cool photo booth that was featuring the 'new years' movie with an impressive list of Hollywood A-listers.
The booths give you the opportunity t try out all types of reds and whites along with organic brews. It's pretty neat. I must add, some booths are so generous about drinks and other try and scam you daffy duck style. it's just dumb.
Otherwise, the popularity seems to be justified. You walk in and grab a wine glass to try out all your samples and at departure you may keep it if you wish. Which, for a souvenir collector, tis the straw to my coconut drink. Along with the wine glass, you also receive a go-green bag with coupons and a free Clamato drink. The big appeal is how much fun you can have here. It's a good show to catch with friends, family , colleagues and/or girls/guys night out. I found this show to also do that one impossible job . A chance to hang with all the married couple friends you have been trying to avoid gracefully. Which at any other show would be a matrix evolved bullet to dodge. Needless to say, it went gravy.
The Venue.
I had been here for my friends body building contest and in my defense I had no idea how huge this place was. It's rather easy to get lost. 3 escalators later and the we were told the coat check was on an entirely different floor than the show. Coming to this Convention Centre, be sure to expect riding the escalators quite often. The security is dominated at this show. As in, loads of them around. There were other events happening and there was tons of staff leading the traffic to the right area.
The service is really great and the open space helps you feel less congested with all the people expecting to show up to the event. The floors are clean and all escalators, stairs and walkways are cleared off from any accidental 'spills' so you can strut with your heels shooing your worries away. I really really like that the convention rooms are carpeted inside. 2 stars for heel friendly events.
The bathrooms are large and less crowded. If you needed to use the restroom, you would have to exit the show and use the re-entry line to admit again which is yet another line up. (They stamp you at entrance to check later). Note: There are bathrooms inside the convention , you just have to find them. Talk a walk along the ends of the room. There's an opening to a small set of stalls.
Toronto , with great power comes great responsibility and you def took care of both here.
xoxo
M. -
Review from Cynthia G.
Toronto, ON
2/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Attended the Interior Design Show here the end of January and this convention centre is really prepared for the masses.
The hall had plenty of staff to direct you and inform you.
I did find it kind of odd that ATM's were few and far between, I actually had to leave the show and go out and downstairs to get some money to buy something at the show - not very convenient....so get money prior to going into the building !
Washrooms - which are always important at venues where there are a large amount of people - they were clean and really very nice !Listed in: FOODLESS FEBRUARY CHALLENGE
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Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
12/7/2011
I don't go to Metro Toronto Convention Centre that often. Maybe once or twice a year.
I found most of the trade shows that held here were Meh.... aside from the annual Yoga Conference which I enjoyed.
Clean washrooms and Tons of ATM machines...Seems like at every events I went to there's always a line at the ATM?
The prices of most of the events that held here are usually more pricier than other locations, but I guess since it is the place to be for anything big or international?!
Car shows? Bridal Shows? Food and Wine Show? Yoga Show? Cultural Show?
You would find something here that you would enjoy! -
Review from Janna S.
2/24/2011
My experiences at the convention center are pretty consistent, and while every event isn't terribly exciting, I can tell you that the washrooms here are reliable, plentiful, clean, and a welcome respite from loud show floors. Yes, I realize I'm focussed on the washrooms here, but that's worth something, no?
Overall, the staff here generally keep things very clean and organized. The path from Union Station is a bit long, but it's handy in bad weather. The major drawback to this location is the lack of decent food; unless you're attending a gourmet convention, you're going to have to go far for decent eats.Listed in: Best Washrooms in Toronto
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Review from Fabio N.
Toronto, ON
11/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
Hey, it's a convention Centre. It's very complicated to review a place like this, since the main interest is always the particular convention rather than the underlying infrastructure, but I'll give it a shot.
First things first: this place is huge. So huge in fact that everything is far away, including washrooms. This can be a problem when you're facing lineups all the time, but I guess this would be true for any big convention Centre.
There are simply no credible food options. I know most conventions tend to offer these on their own, but you just can't count on it. I went to a Jamie Oliver show organized by the Food Network and -- guess what -- there wasn't ANY FOOD available. Imagine 3000 people salivating watching food being made on stage! Pure torture. I went out before the end of the show out of starvation.
On the upside, it's well organized compared to other convention spaces and the signage is clear enough, but I think that's the least you could ask.
There's not much else to say. It's one of those places that look exactly like all places with the same objective. If I were kidnapped and left there, this could be any convention Centre in any english-speaking north-american city. -
Review from Lynda W.
Toronto, ON
9/8/2008
Oh my Love-Hate relationship with the Convention centre! The Metro Toronto Convention centre is home to a lot of exhibitions, fairs and events. One of the most popular being Canadian Idol and the Auto Show. The hall is always kept extremely clean, washrooms are spotless, and there are many of them so the line up issue (especially for women) isn't as prevalent.
I've been here for numerous shows and events, such as Canadian Idol, condo show, some kind of women's lifestyle show, Chinese New Year festival event etc. It's a nice place to hold conferences and such because it's so big and central. In the heart of lower downtown Toronto, with access to the underground PATH and subway, as well as plenty of restaurants and the entertainment district.
That was my love.. My hate stems from the lack of cheap parking in the area.. If you drive, expect to pay upward of $20+ for a day of parking! That increases when there is a sports game or event in the area (and with the Rogers centre close by as well as the ACC not too far away, there's always something). The price drops to a reasonable amount ($5-$10 ish) after 6pm, so if you can it's good to wait. There are some good underground parking lots in the area, you just have to search for them. -
Review from Brian K.
8/20/2009
This is a great venue for a meeting. My organization just finished up our annual meeting here, and it was a truly wonderful experience. The staff was extremely professional and friendly, and they truly went out of their way to make us feel at home. Big meetings are typically fraught with tiny (and sometimes huge) technical glitches, but I felt like this year's had very little to speak of. I definitely attribute the lack of "Oh Shit!" moments to the staff here - great job!!
My only complaint was the catering. I certainly wasn't expecting to be wowed, but there were several dishes where I took one bite and chucked the rest in the trash. I realize how hard it is to make food for thousands of people and keep all those taste buds happy, but I've definitely had much, much better.
Aside from the food, I'd highly recommend MTCC. -
Review from Melissa J.
Toronto, ON
11/22/2008
I've been to dozens of events hosted at the convention centre, from the Canadian Club of Toronto annual meeting to the University Fair, to the Gourmet Food & Wine Show (which happens this weekend).
Being a Ryerson grad, I've also had a handful of exams take place there. Yeah, exams. Huge pain in the ass.
This place is HUGE and has the capacity to host many events at once, from private functions to public fairs, and they seem to do them all very well. I've never had a problem here. You get to take the Skywalk and avoid walking outside, it's really nice and spacious all over, washrooms are easy to find and clean, and the food was good the couple times I had it.
So no complaints about this place -- they know how do to conventions. Except the cell phone signals DO come and go, which is a little bit annoying. -
Review from John I.
Toronto, ON
4/26/2010
I had attended a major conference several months back at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and was generally not impressed. The layout is so convoluted and the distances are great. There are barely any amenities within the complex and temperature control is poor. Also, sound and visual dynamics are weak in many of the smaller rooms. Seating areas are not comfortable, but was pleased to see a comprehensive security program.
Sorry, but this complex isn't quite up to par. -
Review from Luisa S.
Vancouver, BC
10/4/2008
I've only been to one event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre but they do a job well, to say the least. It was organized and spacious. Signage was easy to follow and it's conveniently located. Everything was clean and spotless, and the staff was very firndly.
My only qualm with this place is.... hmm... I can't think of anything. -
Review from Kim B.
ON
1/11/2009 12 photos
I'm always happy when there's an event I want to go to and it's at the MTCC, because that means (especially in the winter) that I don't have to walk outside. I can take the Skywalk right to it. Awesome.
I've been here for several events and I've never been disappointed by the coat check or the ticket sales or the space in general. It's got loads of room and events always appear to be very organized.
Last time I went was for the big Wedding Show (yes, I'm getting married) and my mom and I laughed our heads off at all the crap they try and sell brides. I even pretended to throw a hissy-fit over (fake) wanting a Barbie cake on display (see my photos).
The one negative thing about the MTCC? (actually two things)
- The UGLY carpet.
- The really really REALLLLLLLY ugly neon "art". -
Review from bold c.
Toronto, ON
9/26/2010
Disappointed - Not worth the price of admission, headaches or security hassles from MTCC
Events:
May 2010 - Korean Products Food & Beverage Expo
Sept 2010 - Canada's Bridal Show 2010
Synopsis:
I enjoy Korean food but was disappointed at the show's lack of food options. The bridal show also a disappointment. $30 for two people was not worth it. Based on the opinions of people leaving the show we opted to skip it and try again in January at the far bigger event. It is a sales brochure distribution event.
RANT WARNING - Negative MTCC Security-
The security officers engaged to protect paying customers are absolutely rude & unprofessional. They cause headaches rather than provide security and service and hinder people from enjoying the shows.
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1st Headache @ Korean Product Food & Beverage Expo - the security guard was inside the show and directing the lines of people. He shoved children, parents with strollers, including my girlfriend and directed people out of the food booths. After yelling and pushing people away he then went back to the empty booths and started to eat the products. I FILMED HIM WITH MY phone and showed it to event staff! Considering this was a food show and our admission was targeted towards trying new Korean cuisine we were appalled. We went to the ticket counter, explained the situation and received a refund. We launched a complaint against the security officer (who apparently had received other complaints). We received a formal apology from the staff and management of the MTCC who explained this was an isolated incident and assured appropriate steps would be taken. We left frustrated but at least MTCC acknowledged there was a problem and took corrective steps. Apparently this did not resolve things.
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2nd Headache @ Canada's Bridal Show 2010 - September was even more unbelievable. Apparently security was beefed up for the Ontario Universities Fair 2010 and Toronto Resources Investment Conference and Deloitte's annual event.
For obvious reasons. There was a significant Police presence. For the record Metro's finest did a wonderful and laudable job directing the flow of students (parents in tow). I want to stress that they were in charge at the entrances and were conducting inspections/pat downs (like airport security). There were no incidents. The students and their parents like most folks in Toronto are law abiding and peaceful citizens.
The same cannot be said of the MTCC security officers who were manning the exits.
As the various exhibits crowds intersected with those returning from the Bridal show and Resource show there was a small choke point near the TTC exit. No issues or problems were apparent. This is Canada. No protesters guys, just a few customers going home. Where MTCC really dropped the ball was once again with the laughable and unprofessional security.
RECOMMENDATIONS: BOOK YOUR EVENT SOMEWHERE ELSE and ATTEND EVENTS HERE WITH A DIFFERENT EXPECTATION FOR SECURITY AND SERVICE -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
5/26/2010
After attending the Korean Products Food & Beverage Expo, I have finally completed the tour of MTCC. Most would know of this place for the popular Canadian International Auto Show which fills up the South Building and the Lobby part of the North Building.
The Korean Expo lead me to an escalator DOWNSTAIRS of the North Building which has the smaller rooms but still big enough to pack in a couple hundred Hungry people.
Due to the Safety Policy, the staff were not allowed to have GAS Burners to prepare the meals so the food took more time than normal. There was food prepped ahead of time probably in a kitchen located somewhere.
I went to the MTCC through the indoor method but unfortunately didn't notice that it leads closer to the South Building as we passed the South Building entrance and walked towards the CN Tower to figure out we passed EVERYTHING.
We went back into the South Building entrance to see a SIGN pointing us towards the North Building which was quite a walk. Later finding out that it was better to walk out along Front St. My own episode of LOST! -
Review from Teresa N.
8/26/2008
The Metro Toronto Convention Center was home to my company's industry tradeshow for a week. Great location for a big show as the facility was spacious and clean. There were also numerous meeting rooms. The MTCC is conveniently located next to the CN Tower and Rogers Centre which opens up to a lot of subway and cab access.
The only downside is that we didn't get any cellphone reception in the main hall. -
Review from Jade H.
4/13/2010
Toronto did a good job.
The place was spacious and well organized. The signs are very everywhere and big and easy to read. There were people everywhere to help you with almost anything.
More than a thousand neurologists and their friends could have mass confusion ensue but they really handled us well. Security was everywhere. This was a good experience.
Sadly, the tradition of convention center food continues to affect anywhere with more than a thousand people milling about and hungry. -
Review from Daniel J.
10/31/2010 1 Check-in Here
15 minute walk to get to the area they have most conventions but it is close to our hotel and lots of places to eat near by
