20 Best Corporate Event Venues in Toronto (Part 1/5 -2023 Edition)
As the dynamic pace of the corporate world continues to evolve, so too does our need for innovative, inspiring spaces to host our most crucial meetings and events. For all the event professionals who are planning, organizing, or just dreaming about the next big corporate event in Toronto, this article is for you!
Toronto, a city known for its unique mix of cosmopolitan charm and cultural diversity, is teeming with exceptional venues that cater to a variety of corporate needs. From state-of-the-art conference rooms to breathtaking outdoor spaces, this city truly has it all. But with so many options, finding the right venue can feel overwhelming. That's where we at the Idea Hunter come in. We have narrowed our list down to 20 venues and are releasing our first 5 here. Follow along, as we release more in the coming weeks.
Whether you're looking to impress potential clients, reward your team, or host an unforgettable launch party, we've got you covered.
1. Steam Whistle
Steam Whistle, located in the historic John Street Roundhouse in downtown Toronto, offers a unique setting for corporate events of all sizes. Key benefits include:
Historic Setting: The venue is a century-old landmark, retaining original features such as cobblestone patios with locomotive trains and exposed tracks, original brick and beam indoors, and large pane windows with soaring ceilings. The venue's atmosphere pays homage to its history while providing a modern, comfortable setting for events.
Multiple Spaces: There are two main indoor spaces: Pilsner Hall, a 4000-square foot loft-like space for up to 250 guests (cocktail reception) or 180 guests (plated dinner); and Locomotive Hall, a 6700-square foot rustic elegant space for up to 800 guests (cocktail reception) or 300 for plated events. Both spaces feature high ceilings, string lights, and access to a large prep kitchen, fully customized AV capabilities, and a complimentary suite for smaller gatherings. Each also offers a 2000-square foot open-air patio with a stunning view of the city skyline, available from May to October.
Full Venue Buyout: For large-scale events, Steam Whistle offers full-venue buyouts that can accommodate up to 6,000 attendees. This option is perfect for outdoor festival-style events, staff appreciation parties, summer picnics, and winter festivals.
Accessible Location: Steam Whistle is located in the heart of downtown Toronto, across from the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and just a 2-minute walk from the GO station and Up Express. Its central location, surrounded by hotels and landmarks like the CN Tower, offers convenience and energy to event attendees.
Expertise: With over 20 years of experience hosting corporate meetings, receptions, galas, product launches, film shoots, weddings, and private events, Steam Whistle's team has a proven track record of delivering seamless event experiences. They also offer partnerships with top vendors to ensure high-quality service across all aspects of event planning and execution.
Positive Impact: Hosting an event at Steam Whistle supports the preservation and use of a historic city landmark, contributing to the cultural and architectural heritage of Toronto.
Overall, Steam Whistle provides a unique, versatile, and convenient venue for corporate events in Toronto, backed by experienced professionals who can help ensure a successful event.
2. Globe and mail centre
The Globe and Mail Centre, located in the King East Design District of downtown Toronto, is a premier venue for corporate events. It offers a sophisticated and modern event space with panoramic city and lake views from the top floors of Canada's leading news organization's headquarters, making it an impressive and inspiring venue for events such as conferences, receptions, gala fundraisers, meetings, or awards presentations.
The venue is equipped with state-of-the-art recording facilities for capturing perfect video content and offers a wide range of streaming options to engage and connect your audience. It also specializes in hosting "The Morning Event" and "The Full Day Event," accommodating up to 300 guests. These events can be customized to include presentations, optional networking lunches, and other flexible refreshment options.
The Globe and Mail Centre boasts a breathtaking space purpose-built for remarkable events, including a magnificent terrace with sweeping city and lake views, perfect for networking during breaks. The venue comes with up to 300 sleek, stylish, and comfortable chairs, along with tables and benches for a ready-to-go networking setup. The venue also ensures easy set-ups and take-downs with support for vendor logistics, making the event planning process seamless.
The venue provides outstanding food and beverage options, allowing for customization based on the event's needs. They work with some of the best caterers in Toronto to offer customized menus and note that there are no additional gratuities or service charges on their beverage or other services, ensuring no surprise fees.
Moreover, their AV services are top-notch, with in-house supplier EPIQ vision handling all technical aspects to ensure the venue looks, sounds, and feels perfect throughout the day. They offer a standard Conference AV package, but also provide custom solutions if needed.
Lastly, the venue prides itself on its dedicated and enthusiastic event staff, who focus on ensuring a flawless delivery of he event and making the day incredible for all attendees.
3. Evergreen brickworks
Evergreen Brick Works is a premier corporate event venue in Toronto, offering a unique blend of heritage aesthetics, modern architecture, and a commitment to environmental sustainability.
Unique Setting: The venue is nestled in Toronto's lush ravines amidst awe-inspiring heritage buildings, offering a truly distinctive backdrop for private events.
Professional Event Management: Experienced event managers at Evergreen guide clients through every step of the planning process, ensuring seamless execution from start to finish.
Versatile Spaces: Evergreen Brick Works offers a variety of spaces with differing capacities to suit different needs. These include the BMO Atrium (capacity of 250), CRH Gallery & Koerner Gardens (capacity of 2,500), several meeting rooms (capacity ranging from 12 to 100), the Pavilions (capacity of 2,000), the Frances and Tim Price Terrace (capacity of 250), and the Young Welcome Centre (capacity of 300). Each of these spaces offers a unique ambiance, from the industrial brick and graffiti walls of the BMO Atrium to the stunning parkland views from the Frances and Tim Price Terrace.
Sustainable Practices: All events at Evergreen Brick Works are Bullfrog-Powered, demonstrating the venue's commitment to sustainability. The venue is also located in the Centre for Green Cities, a LEED® Platinum certified building, further cementing its dedication to green practices.
Community Support: By hosting an event at Evergreen Brick Works, clients contribute to the venue's mission of greening cities as revenues from events support onsite programming towards this cause.
Additional Activities: The venue also offers indoor and outdoor seasonal activities, such as planting and skating, which can be incorporated into event planning for unique team-building experiences.
Heritage and Modern Blend: Many spaces within the venue, such as the Young Welcome Centre, showcase unique heritage installations that pay tribute to the site's industrial past, while also being equipped with modern amenities.
In summary, Evergreen Brick Works provides a unique, versatile, and sustainable venue for corporate events in Toronto, with professional planning support and a variety of spaces to accommodate different event needs.
4. fairmont royal york
Fairmont Royal York is a renowned corporate event venue in Toronto, offering several unique spaces for events of various sizes. Here are some of the main benefits and features of this venue:
Dedicated Team: Fairmont Royal York boasts a dedicated team to ensure a seamless and memorable event experience, whether it's a corporate event, gala, or fundraiser.
Versatile Spaces: The venue features a range of versatile spaces, including the Canadian Room, Nineteenth Floor, Main Mezzanine Rooms, Imperial Room, Ballroom, and Ontario Room, each offering unique features and capacities.
1. The Canadian Room is one of Toronto's largest and most elegant event venues, providing almost 13,000 square feet of space. It is a versatile space adorned with hand-carved original works of art representing each province and territory.
2. The Nineteenth Floor offers an exclusive meeting space, complete with a private elevator, Concierge service, and state-of-the-art meeting rooms with natural lighting. This floor also provides an exclusive reception area and fireplace lounge with views of the Toronto skyline.
3. The Main Mezzanine Rooms consist of 19 different rooms of various sizes, offering adaptable venues for any event, from a board meeting of 12 to a reception for 200.
4. Once Toronto's most popular supper club, the Imperial Room offers over 5,000 square feet of meeting and entertainment space with wrap-around floor-to-ceiling windows, a tiered setting, a wood dance floor, and a permanent stage.
5. The Ballroom exhibits an Italian influence in its decor and is the most photographed room in Toronto, offering nearly 5,000 square feet of space.
6. The Ontario Room features a carved trillium with wood inlay millwork and custom-designed chandeliers. It also has a 19-foot high, 8-foot wide mural depicting The Toronto Purchase of 1788.
State-of-the-art Services: Fairmont Royal York offers professional meeting facilities supported by a comprehensive array of services, including multimedia services and WiFi connections in all meeting rooms.
Large Capacity: The venue has the capacity to host meetings and events for up to 1670 guests, with a choice of 36 versatile meeting and function rooms, four Hospitality Suites, and a VIP Boardroom.
Revitalized Meeting Space: The hotel has undergone extensive transformation, resulting in a revitalized meeting space with elegant decor, unique accents, and clean, sophisticated lines, creating a stage for greatness.
Location and Culinary Offerings: Fairmont Royal York offers an unbeatable location, elevated culinary offerings, and a team of dedicated colleagues, making it a premier choice for corporate events in Toronto.
5. Four SeaSons
The Four Seasons Hotel Toronto offers an array of benefits for corporate events. First and foremost, the hotel is known for its impeccable attention to detail, personalized service, and a sense of privacy, which are essential for professional gatherings. The hotel's function spaces are conveniently located for hosting different kinds of events, from conferences and product launches to board meetings. The ballrooms are adjacent to breakout rooms, providing easy transitions between different parts of an event.
A highlight of the venue is the Vinci Ballroom, which is popular for its floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning views of Toronto. It can host receptions for up to 300 attendees, with additional smaller spaces available for VIP receptions or after-parties.
The hotel also features two flexible ballrooms, breakout rooms, and pre-function foyers, most of which feature oversized windows and a pillarless design that facilitates various seating and event setups.
For accommodation, the hotel has chic suites that feel like Toronto apartments, providing an oasis for attendees to recharge between meetings. They also offer gourmet group activities, such as wine tastings on-site or at nearby wineries, nitrogen ice cream making, and gourmet luncheons.
The Four Seasons Toronto prides itself on its ability to offer global flavors through its catering service. The staff can recreate the feel of various international cuisines, ranging from Italian to dim sum to pub fare, offering a unique culinary experience for your guests.
One of the hotel's main selling points is its ability to host hybrid meetings. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, these meetings can safely bring together in-person and remote attendees. Their trusted audiovisual technology partners can help create innovative and engaging events.
Additionally, the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto offers customized virtual breaks with activities like interactive wine tastings, wellness and mindful breaks, and more to keep both in-person and virtual attendees engaged.
We hope you’ve found these initial five locations as exciting and promising as we have. We still have fifteen more extraordinary event venues to share with you, each with their own unique offerings that could be the perfect fit for your next event.
Stay tuned for the next installments as we continue to uncover the best of the best in Toronto’s corporate event venues. To ensure you don’t miss out, we highly recommend subscribing to our email updates.