Dramatic results of The National Trade Centre’s independent economic and fiscal impact analyses prove that Toronto’s newest and Canada’s largest tradeshow facility has indeed spurred the local and provincal economy.

In 1998 The National Trade Centre generated:

• one quarter of a billion dollars in new direct spending within Toronto
• 2,817 full time equivalent jobs for Toronto
• a yield of nearly $30 million in new Federal, Provincial and Local tax revenue

In 1998, its first full year of operation, The National Trade Centre hosted 92 events including tradeshows, consumer shows and special events. In 1999, the facility will host over 100 events.

Councillor Joe Pantalone, Chair of the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place stated "These facts clearly demonstrate that building The National Trade Centre was one of the wisest investments made by government in the Toronto area in a long, long time. The National Trade Centre adds to our tourism and economic investment which in turn creates wealth for the entire region."

In 1998 alone, The National Trade Centre generated over one quarter of a billion dollars ($Cdn.) in new direct spending within Toronto. New direct spending is defined as the total amount of new spending brought into the area from outside sources – it does not include spending that originates within Toronto. Hence the total amount of new spending/economic impact for Toronto and the region was directly generated by events held at The National Trade Centre.

C.H. Johnson Consulting, Inc., authors of the study, further analysed eight (8) out of 92 events held in the facility in 1998 and found that these eight (8) tradeshows, consumer shows and the CNE fair, alone generated more than $119 million in new spending in Toronto’s economy in 1998. "The economic impact of these events is substantial, and is more impressive when one considers that the tradeshows and consumer shows studied are repeat events that will occur annually", said Ernest Vincent, General Manager of The National Trade Centre.

The National Trade Centre is Canada’s largest tradeshow facility, with over one million square feet of connected usable space. The National Trade Centre opened in April 1997 and was funded through the Canada/Ontario infrastructure works program. The National Trade Centre is owned by the City of Toronto and managed by O&Y/SMG Canada. O&Y/SMG Canada is a Canadian company offering management services to convention and trade centres, arenas, stadiums and theatres across the country.