As 2025 gets underway, the Greater Toronto Hotel Association (GTHA) is celebrating a remarkable milestone: our centennial year. More than just an anniversary, it’s the culmination of one hundred years of city-building, economic development, and global connectivity with Toronto region hotels at the heart of the industry.
When GTHA was established in 1925 as the Toronto Hotel Association, the city was still under prohibition, women had only sat on city council for a few short years, and the population hovered just around 550,000. That first decade saw the Toronto landscape start to blossom with some of its classic architectural gems, such as the Royal York Hotel, Omni King Edward Hotel, and Union Station. Residents witnessed a rapid transformation as Toronto streets bustled with automobile traffic and streetcars of the newly formed Toronto Transit Commission, while the suburbs expanded and downtown office towers sprouted taller, forming the iconic skyline we love today.
Over the past century, our association has supported its members as the accommodation sector expanded from a handful of small properties to a world-class network of member hotels catering to every need and budget. We have stood by our members as they welcomed millions of domestic and global travellers, sustained tens of thousands of careers, and earned over a quarter of the city’s annual visitor spending. We have advocated for the strength and prosperity of our industry as our membership has expanded alongside Toronto’s booming population and regional integration, bringing major events to the city and branding it as a global destination.
While our centennial year naturally invites us to reflect on the historic city-building that led us here, it also beckons us toward a promising future for the GTA hotel industry. Today, our Association represents over 150 hotels with 36,000 guest rooms and 32,000 employees. More than just a place to rest your head, these hotels are neighbourhood hubs, connectors of communities, and essential pillars of the Greater Toronto economy.
Our hotels welcome millions of visitors each year who in turn drive billions of dollars in economic activity and infuse life into Toronto’s unique neighbourhoods, cultural events, and culinary scene. The World Travel & Tourism Council’s latest findings indicate that for every dollar spent by travellers, over twice that amount flows back into the economy, touching sectors from retail to real estate. The industry is poised not just to maintain, but to enhance the city’s stature as we continue to welcome the world.
As we celebrate a century of success, GTHA looks forward to the next century, as we champion the city's vibrant spirit and build on the legacy that has made Toronto an enduring destination for travellers near and far.
Celebrating a century of success, GTHA’s mission is to support and advocate for the hotel industry, ensuring its continued growth and sustainability to foster growth and enhance the prosperity of the region.
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