Toronto Meetings – 2020 Catering Menu

/in , , /by

Toronto Meetings – 2020 Catering Menu

Toronto Meetings is proud to release our new 2020 Catering Menu, which includes all individually served options, coinciding with post COVID-19 health and safety regulations of food handling and serving.

Our options, which include both hot and cold meals, will all be singularly packaged and individually labelled to reduce the spread of germs and mitigate the risk of contamination.

We’ve worked extensively with our food and beverage providers to ensure that health and safety is as high a priority as the quality of food that we serve to our clients.

Rest assured that when you order catering services with The Rostie Group, that we have your health, as well as your high expectations at the forefront of our execution.

Our newly revised Prix Fixe Menu, which allows for hot meal and gluten free upgrades, is the perfect option for full day meetings. Not only does this option provide you with an all-in-one cost, it eliminates the headache of having to arrange multiple food and beverage components throughout the day.

Of course, with our lengthy list of vendor partnerships, we do have the ability to provide items that you do not see on the menu. If you would like something that is not included, please don’t hesitate to ask!

It’s time to check out our Toronto Meetings – 2020 Catering Menu.

For more information about our Catering Menu, its options, as well as placing an order, feel free to call 416-214-1840 or email catering@rostiegroup.com.

We look forward to serving your food and beverage needs.

The Wedding Bells Are Ringing – So What’s Your Meeting ID?

/in , , , /by

2020 was going to be the best year yet.

Your invitations were sent out, you purchased the dress, you lined up the perfect photographer and have a great DJ booked.  This is going to be the best day of your life.

Fast forward to March and wow how things have changed.

Brides-to-be all over the world have been thrown a curve ball that not even Alanis Morissette could have predicted in her famous song Ironic.

So where do you go from here?  After all, you’ve spent countless hours planning for the day that would signify the start of the rest of your lives.

With the current COVID-19 pandemic halting all gatherings over 5 people, couples are left with a tough decision – cancel, reschedule, or improvise?

Cancelling surely isn’t an option when you ask most and rescheduling will be quite tough given the large number of people in the same position as you.

That only leaves one option.  Improvise.

If the pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s to think outside of the box and many are utilizing technology to fill the void where human interaction used to play such a large part.

So why not say your “I Do’s” virtually?

This new trend seems to be taking over as couples can now be married via the popular video meeting app Zoom.  This April 2020 article from The Verge shows how happy couples worldwide have utilized the internet to tie the knot with all of their guests in attendance, well sort of.

Although your loved ones will not be there to walk you down the aisle, they won’t be left missing out on the festivities.

So what do you need to make your wedding day a “virtual wedding day”?

It’s simple. You need a venue that can provide you with a large enough space and the reliable technology required to host your big day.

That’s where we come in.

At The Rostie Group, our wide array of spaces are fully equipped to make your special day a success.  With state of the art video meeting technology and reliable connections, we’ll be sure to take care of everything, leaving you time to concentrate on those important vows.

For more information about saying yes to your big day at The Rostie Group, please visit www.rostiegroup.com or call (416) 214-1840.

Video Conferencing – The Essentials of Looking Good

/in , , , /by

Even if you are admittedly “old-school” and prefer face-to-face communication, chances are that you will one day have to turn to video conferencing to stay in touch with colleagues and clients.

You may think video conferencing doesn’t demand the same level of polish you would bring to an in-person interview or client meeting, but the visual impact is still very much the same.

We have come up with six top tips to help you make the best impression during a video-conference.

  1. Light it up : Lights and angles are just as essential in video conferencing as they are for photo shoots and selfies. As a general rule, avoid fluorescent lights as they can be harsh and cast unflattering shadows. Place your primary light source behind the camera, this way your light and your camera are both pointing in the same direction.
  2. Choose a neutral background: Whether you are conducting your video conference at home or in a formal office, make sure your background is always professional. Less is more. In other words, you may be fond of all those family pictures hanging on the wall but the person on the other side of the camera may find them distracting.
  3. Dressing for your videoconference: Choose solid, bold colors. Simple jewelry is best. Ladies, avoid earrings that dangle or any accessories that makes noise when you move. For most video conference calls, you can wear whatever you want from the waist down -unless you think you might need to stand up for some reason, though I feel if you’re going to rock a power suit on top, pj or tracksuit bottoms wont help you feel your at your most professional or empowered best.
  4. Maintain good eye contact: You will look like a complete novice if you are not looking directly at the camera during the video conference, always imagine the person is in the room with you. You wouldn’t keep looking at the floor or out the window if it was an actual face to face meeting would you?
  5. Get the best audio visual: If you do a lot of video conferences, consider investing in an external webcam with high definition capabilities. Depending on your surroundings, you may want to use a headset during your call. However, a video chat without headphones looks more natural, and in my opinion more professional.
  6. Keep your notes nearby: A top tip I once read was, if you ever need to look at some notes during your video conference, jot them down and tape them next to your camera so you’re not shuffling with pieces of paper during the meeting. It helps you stay on track also in case you get a little nervous and forget what you were going to say.

Even if you feel nervous about video conferencing, remember that practice makes perfect. Once you get the hang of being in front of the camera, you will have mastered yet another invaluable business skill-the art of the video conference.

And you can start right now by booking one of our meeting rooms. They are all equipped with full video conferencing equipment so you can start practicing for the big day!

classrooms can be virtual

Classrooms… But Make them Virtual

/in , , /by

Over the past couple of weeks, self-isolation and social distancing have become the standard for people around the world. Contrary to initial thoughts, this practice is looking more like the ‘new-norm’ rather than a momentary solution. It’s important that we all take the advice of our leaders and follow instructions to protect those around us from sickness.

It’s especially important that businesses who are able to encourage their employees to work from home moving forward. With a multitude of different platforms to choose from, employees can connect to each other seamlessly from devices that they may have. At Toronto Meetings, we organize and conduct videoconferences for various clients on a daily basis, as well as for our own staff while we work from home.

While many business meetings can transition to phone calls, or simple gatherings via face time, it’s important to remember how much information is conveyed via body language, and facial expressions, that not having it available is like losing one of your senses.

That’s where we come in…

Over the last few weeks we’ve helped a handful of our clients’ set-up and run ‘Virtual Classrooms’ through the training rooms in our centre, allowing attendants to log into their session remotely. There is no need for business to shut-down completely while we’re all staying home, now is the time to adapt to current situations and react responsibly.

In our rooms, you have access to two 80-inch LCD television screens at the front of the room, and two at the rear. Your instructor can project from a variety of different sources directly to the classroom, shifting easily between powerpoint, doc-cam, or many other mediums.

Do you use GoToMeeting, Skype, Webex or Zoom? Not to worry, our new Polycom Studio Video Bars support all major platforms. Your instructor is the only person that actually needs to be present! We’re more than happy to look after everything on our end, as we usually do, so you just have to show up ready to present!

So if you’re ready to continue your classes virtually with no interruptions, check out our available rooms here, and book today!

Toronto Meetings Holiday Booking Ad

Book your Last Minute Holiday Party at Toronto Meetings!

/in , /by

Rostie Group Christmas 2019 Holiday Party Bookings Ad

Oh baby, it’s cold outside!

The prices of Canada Goose coats, toques, cardigans, and ugly socks for dad have sky-rocketed over the past couple of weeks, going to the Eaton Centre is officially back on everyone’s weekend to-do list, and Instagram feeds nationwide are full of couple-photo’s at the local market. It’s Christmas all over again! It’s the time of year when people come in from the cold, sit beside the fire and celebrate each other over the holidays

Maybe with all the buzz and kerfuffle you’ve forgotten to find a venue for your office Christmas party! Don’t worry, at Toronto Meetings, we’re determined to host the perfect evening for you and your dedicated staff. With multiple spaces varying in square-footage, we have the rooms to accommodate companies from start-ups to international heavyweights.

Our catering team is on-site to ensure that all your food and drink desires are met. Take a look at our catering menu for all the tasty options on offer. If there is a particular type of food that you would like, perhaps a Christmas turkey and fruitcake, let us know. We are more than happy to order from a variety of other food suppliers that we have relationships with in Toronto.

What a great way to say thanks to your team for all their good work. After all, Christmas parties, or any staff parties, have benefits that might not be immediately obvious to you. Finish the year on a high, and when everyone gets back to the office from holiday, the talk amongst your group will be how fun that party was!

So, give us a call at 416-214-1840 or

Interview at a Business Centre

Business Centres for Interviews

/in , /by

If you’re a third party recruiter working from a home office you may not have the ideal meeting space to conduct an interview – professional setting, quiet, confidential and comfortable. Or perhaps you are in Human Resources and are working a highly confidential search and are anxious about bringing candidates into the office. What are your options? A coffee shop? Home office? Never ideal – do you really want to bring strangers into your home or have the people at the next table over-hearing your conversation?

I have interviewed candidates in a coffee shop and the noise, interruptions and lack of privacy aside it just doesn’t set the right professional tone.

In my opinion, a business centre is the only way to go. Whether you want to rent a shared work space, your own office or make use of meeting space as needed, it just makes sense.

Everything you need is provided so you can just walk in, open up your laptop and be ready to go!

Your candidates will have a great first impression after being greeted by a friendly and professional receptionist, offered a beverage (saving you making the coffee!) and a seat while they wait. No more searching faces and tables to make sure you find the right person in the café – and hoping you can get a seat in a quieter corner!

The same professionalism and amenities apply even when you’re conducting a video interview.

With Toronto Meetings, you can easily plug into our 65 inch screens equipped with Polycom video conference cameras which automatically tracks new speakers so you don’t need to stay fixed to your chair.

All of our rooms have been designed with acoustics in mind so there is no need for microphones as sound will clearly carry throughout the space and that space only. People in the next meeting room will not over-hear your conversation.

Our technology is cross compatible with any platform you prefer such as Skype, Zoom, Webex, etc.

Next time you need to arrange an interview, give us a call!

October Scoop Social Cover

The October Scoop is Out!

/in , , /by
Read more