More seating areas and food choices at AutoShow
If you spend enough time walking around the 650,000 square feet of the Canadian International AutoShow at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, you are likely to develop thirst and an appetite.
The good news is there are plenty of options in various locations that offer an array of food and beverages.
This year, there is a new café and lounge on the 600 level of the south building and a new food court in the Military Zone on the 800 level, behind the escalators. There are multiple food concession areas on the 200 level of the north building and the 600 level.
“For 2019, we wanted to increase food options and seating areas,” said AutoShow marketing manager Stephanie Thompson. “We’ve done a great job the last couple of years to increase seating all throughout the show, creating more lounges and resting areas.
“As our audience grew, we knew our food options had to grow, as well, obviously increasing the amount of different locations but also the variety. We noticed a desire for more healthy options the last couple of years.”
Thompson said each year, the AutoShow sends out a consumer survey to attendees and analyzes the data to better understand what the attendees want and make to improvements for the following year.
“We work with the MTTC staff to make sure there are lots of options, there’s multiple areas for people and things like that,” Thompson said. “That’s a big effort each year, working with the venue on where we are placing the food options and what kind are available.
“Pizza is still the most popular each year, so we have locations on the 200 level and the 600 level.”
Thompson said throughout the last couple of years, there’s been a huge increase in positive comments in the survey responses.
“It shows us the changes we make each year are recognized and appreciated by consumers,” she said. “For 2019, there is still a strong focus on improving food options, seating areas, as well as directional signage.
“With the very high attendance last year, we definitely learned how we can navigate people more seamlessly through the show to provide a better experience. Our biggest focus for 2019 is to create the most positive customer experience.”
The AutoShow has increased its attendance each of the last three years, including 358,842 in 2018. Every year since 2015, the attendance has exceeded 300,000.
Last year, the AutoShow had attendance records on six of the 10 days. The first Sunday drew 54,487 people, the most ever for a single day in AutoShow history.
Steve Razmovski, who regularly attends the AutoShow with his wife, Sonja, and their three children, Nicholas, 10, Alexander, 8 and Jonathan, 6, are typical of families looking to find various food choices.
“We usually go with pizza,” he said. “My kids are picky eaters as it is, and my two oldest boys love pizza, but my youngest son does not like pizza. We’ve got to feed him something. It’s always good to have variety.”