Future and Recent Tourism Developments

Bond|St Event Centre

Bond|St Event Centre is within a redeveloped and restored historical property once home to the United Auto Workers 222 in Downtown Oshawa. An entertainment haven offering two homes for live music, a cafe, restaurant and lounge, the Bond|St Event centre is a major destination for arts, culture, and entertainment in Durham Region.

Durham Live, Pickering 

Durham Live is an entertainment and tourism district located at Church and Bayly Streets in Pickering. A blend of entertainment, culture, nightlife and commercial venues, Durham Live is bringing exciting services and facilities to the region, including a convention centre, film studios and an amphitheatre. The district will include: 

• Pickering Casino Resort 
• Porsche Experience Centre
• Five-star boutiques and hotels
• More to be developed

Thermëa Spa, Whitby

Groupe Nordik has opened its third location, Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature at Cullen Central Park in Whitby. The spa features a relaxation and healing centre, covering a 385,423-square-foot area and will be able to welcome up to 1,100 visitors.

Guests can expect an innovative, imaginative, and multisensory relaxation and renewal experience, inspired by the winning formula of its predecessors, Nordik Spa-Nature | Chelsea and Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature | Winnipeg. 

Growing our accommodation sector to meet tourism demand

The accommodation sector in Durham Region is growing to meet the demand of tourism needs. A high occupancy rate is driving this need for investment. High occupancy is created by sport tourism, travel trade, meetings and conventions, film industry use, and business and leisure travel. 

Durham Region is currently home to many established chain hotels as well as attractive Bed & Breakfast/Inn accommodations across all eight area municipalities.

The following properties are planned for development:

• Best Western Hotel and Convention Centre–Town of Ajax
• Fairfield Inn and Suites–Town of Ajax
• Comfort Inn and Suites–Township of Scugog
• Tru By Hilton-City of Oshawa
• Wooden Sticks Golf Course Hotel - Township of Uxbridge

Tourism Education Programs 

 Durham College

• Event Planning (Co-op option available)
• Hospitality–Hotel and Restaurant Operations Management (Co-op option available)
• Hospitality Skills
• School of Media, Art and Design
• Sport Administration (two year program)/Sport Management (three year program)
• Sport Business Management (Graduate certificate)
• Tourism - Destination Marketing (Co-op option available)

Ontario Tech University

• Communication and Digital Media Studies

Trent University Durham GTA

• Media Studies (BA)

Liaison College

• Career training in the culinary arts

 Tourism Industry Links

• Central Counties Tourism (CCT)
• Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO)
• Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC)