Toronto’s Exhibition Place Debuts Immersive VR Tour of Beanfield Centre
August 24, 2023
For decades, on-site tours of meeting and event facilities have played an essential role in helping event planners make well-informed decisions about venue and space selection and logistics. But with event professionals facing increasing time, budget and travel limitations, digital site tours using virtual reality (VR) technology have become an increasingly helpful tool in enabling planners to explore venues from anywhere in the world without having to leave the office.
Today’s VR tours offer immersive and realistic experiences, allowing planners to navigate through event spaces, view different room setups and understand layouts as if they were physically there. Besides being a cost-effective solution, digital tours save planners time by allowing them to quickly assess multiple venues in a short period of time, thus accelerating the venue selection process.
As a result, more destinations and event facilities are creating VR tours to meet the growing demand of event clients. Case in point: Toronto’s Exhibition Place, which recently unveiled an immersive VR tour of one of its state-of-the-art meeting and event facilities, Beanfield Centre, at the 2023 Canadian Meetings + Events Expo (CMEE), held Aug. 15-16 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
How it works
Meeting and event professionals at CMEE were able to immerse themselves in a “digital twin” of Beanfield Centre’s facilities through branded VR viewers. Beyond being able to virtually explore the space, planners were able to navigate through various room layouts and setups – from banquet to classroom – to better envision how the venue’s versatile spaces can be used for events of all shapes and sizes.
The Beanfield Centre VR tour can be made accessible through a link where meeting planners can experience the tour and peruse room setups through branded VR Viewers. Those interested can reach out to the facility’s sales team at: sales@explace.on.ca. Meanwhile, check out a preview video here.
Why it matters
According to Exhibition Place General Manager Laura Purdy, the facility’s new VR tour caters to the industry’s demand for digital connectivity and reflects Exhibition Place’s dedication to being at the forefront of innovation.
“We’re excited to offer this leading-edge technology [to enhance] the site visit experience for meeting planners,” Purdy said. “Similar to our debut of Wi-Fi 6 at the Beanfield Centre in 2022, this VR Tour responds to the need for enhanced digital connectivity across the meetings and events industry. It has become clear that these advances are resonating within our industry, and we’re excited to be among the first in Canada to offer a VR Tour for a venue on this scale.”
Back story
Purdy said the Exhibition Place team decided to move forward with a VR tour of Beanfield Centre after researching trends and recognizing the need for enhanced digital connectivity to meet the demand of today’s events, the majority of which rely heavily on technology. The team then tapped and collaborated with Toronto-based agency Narrative Pictures in a process that involved scanning Beanfield’s rooms and furniture to build the digital version of its spaces virtually.
The 160,000-square-foot Beanfield Centre is a LEED Silver conference venue, designed for meetings, conventions and galas. Located in the former Automotive Building, the Art Deco structure is connected to Enercare Centre, offering 1 million square feet of exhibition space.
What’s next
The Exhibition Place campus is currently exploring the possibility of expanding its VR tour to encompass its additional venues, which include the award-winning LEED Platinum Enercare Centre, Canada’s largest exhibition and convention venue, according to Exhibition Place officials.
The Beanfield Centre VR tour can be made accessible through a link that allows meeting planners can experience the tour and peruse room setups through branded VR Viewers. Those interested can reach out to the facility’s sales team at: sales@explace.on.ca. Meanwhile, check out a preview video here.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
Add new comment