Taylor Swift

This is how Toronto businesses are preparing for their Taylor Swift moment

Torontonians are counting down the days to when Taylor Swift plays her sold-out Eras Tour shows at the Rogers Centre this November. Each show is expected to draw about 50,000 people, including thousands of Swifties visiting from out of town, potentially injecting millions of tourism dollars into the economy! So, Toronto hotels, restaurants, and businesses are looking at ingenious ways to market to these super fans.

The Bisha Hotel, which is just a short walk from the Rogers Centre, is offering a more luxurious option to Swift fans who want to celebrate the singer in fashion. The hotel’s Taylor suite is a deluxe one-bedroom suite that is “soulfully designed” with earthy tones and rich wood, giving an ambiance of sultry refinement.  Fans can expect a room filled with Taylor-inspired brandings, like Swift-themed artwork, Swift quotes posted to the wall, album visuals, friendship bracelets, and even a curated Taylor playlist upon arrival!

The room also comes with a bunch of amenities, like a private terrace, floor-to-ceiling windows, heated floors, and accessorized bathroom amenities, so fans can expect to pay a premium price. Depending on the day, the suite is usually priced at around CAD 1,449 per night, but during Swift’s tour, it’ll be higher (expect about CAD 4,249/night before taxes).

Still, the cost covers more than the room — seven floors of the hotel will be renamed to different eras of Swift’s career, and there’ll be a party for all Swift fans heading to the concert (and each guest will receive a legendary red scarf).

 

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Hotel stays aside, fans can participate in other Swift-themed activities across the city! The Le Dolci Culinary Classroom is hosting Taylor Swift “Blank Space” cake-decorating classes (Nov. 14 -15, 21-23) for Swifties to recreate the heart-shaped cake that Swift infamously stabbed in her 2014 music video.

To dine on Swift-inspired food, check out Patois at 794 Dundas St W. The Caribbean-Asian restaurant recently announced a “Concert Brunch” series featuring a limited-edition menu to correspond with Toronto’s live music scene! During Swift’s stint, fans can expect themed playlists and dishes (Swifties can also show their concert tickets on the day of the themed brunch for a complimentary mimosa or orange juice).

Fans can even experience the Swift phenomenon while walking down the street! Last month, City Council voted 21 to 1 in favour of a motion to temporarily rename a route of streets (from Nathan Phillips Square to the Rogers Centre) as ‘Taylor Swift Way’ during the Eras Tour.

Whether or not you have tickets to Eras — fans will still have a chance to participate in the ultimate Taylor Swift fan experience! Prior to Swift’s performances, the North Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (a 5-minute walk from the Rogers Centre) will be transformed into Toronto’s Version: Taylgate ’24, which will run daily on her performance dates from 1 p.m. until 11 p.m.  This experience will feature live DJ sets, interactive dances, and sing-along spaces, putting Swifties in the mood prior to her concert.

Swift will perform across two weekends at the Rogers Centre in Toronto this fall — from Nov. 14 to 16 and Nov. 21 to 23. According to the Guinness World Records, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour (which began in March 2023 and will conclude in December 2024) is officially the highest-grossing music tour ever, becoming the first to surpass USD 1 billion in revenue as of December 2023 (even surpassing Beyoncé’s 56-date Renaissance World Tour, which was previously recorded as having the highest-grossing music tour by a female artist, earning USD 579 million between May and October last year).

Article exclusive to POST CITY