Destination
Welcome to Toronto!
Canada’s largest city, and the fourth-largest in North America, Toronto is a global business, entertainment and tourism hub, famous for its progressiveness and diversity. Toronto sits on the northern shore of Lake Ontario (the easternmost of the Great Lakes) and has a shoreline stretching 43 kilometres featuring sandy beaches, marinas and working ports.
Venue
ICDAM 2025 will be held at the Hilton Toronto which features a prime location in Canada’s largest city and state-of-the-art meeting facilities. To learn more about booking a room at the Hilton venue, please visit our Accommodation page.
Getting Here
As Canada’s hub of international travel and passenger traffic, Toronto is conveniently served by daily direct flights from U.S. and international cities aboard regional, national and global air carriers.
By Plane
Toronto is a major transportation hub with Pearson International Airport and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and many other different travel options for visitors whether coming for business, conventions or leisure travel. Please check out this website to learn more about your travel options!
By Car
Several highways, including Highways 2, 401, 407 and the Queen Elizabeth Way, link surrounding cities to Toronto. The nearest Canada-U.S. border crossings are at Niagara Falls, Fort Erie and Windsor.
Getting Around
Toronto is easy to navigate with one of the most extensive public transit systems in North America and a large number of attractions concentrated in a walkable downtown.
The most cost-effective and convenient transportation from Pearson International Airport to downtown Toronto is UP Express. Once at Union Station, the Hilton Toronto can be reached via a short subway ride or by walking (~10-15 minutes).
If arriving at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, there is a complimentary Porter shuttle to Union Station.
For the UP Express; Toronto subways, buses, and streetcars; and GO trains (which connect Toronto to other parts of the province), passengers can purchase and load a PRESTO card (or get the app) or tap a credit/debit card or mobile device. If you are transferring from one route to another, transfers will be automatically accounted for when paying with PRESTO or a card.
Please note, you can enter streetcars through any door – be sure to tap to make your payment on the machines at each door as inspectors routinely circulate to check fares.
Local Info
Spring weather in Toronto can be unpredictable and layers are useful for chilly mornings and evenings. Average April temperatures range from a low of 3 to a high of 12 degrees C (and in May, from 9 to 18 degrees C).
Canadian currency is the Canadian dollar, which is divided into 100 cents. There are 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollar bills. Smaller coins are 5, 10, and 25 cent pieces as well as of 1 and 2 dollars. Banking and credit cards are also welcome almost everywhere.
There are two official languages in Canada – English and French.
The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is a 13% tax that is applied to most purchases of taxable supplies of goods and services in the Province of Ontario, where Toronto is located. The HST consists of a 5% federal portion and an 8% retail sales tax portion.
It is standard to tip 15 to 20% at cafes and restaurants and for other services. At higher end restaurants, the going rate is closer to 18 to 22%. The gratuity may be added to bills automatically in the case of large groups. Bellhops and porters generally receive at least $2 per suitcase or per service.
In case of emergency: 911
Canada operates on 110V, 60 cycle electric power, which is the same as in the United States. Non-North American visitors should bring a plug adapter if they wish to use their own small appliances from home (razors, hair dryers, laptops etc.). If you are visiting from countries, such as Australia, that use a higher voltage, you may encounter problems charging your rechargeable batteries. Canadian electrical goods come with either a two-prong plug, which is the same as the US or a three-prong plug; most sockets accommodate both.
Smoking is not permitted in the venue. The city of Toronto has public health regulations that prevent smoking in public buildings, on public transit and in all restaurants and lounges.
International Travellers
It is your sole responsibility to ensure that you have all the travel documents necessary to enter in, or transit through, each country on your itinerary. Please ensure you verify the requirements for each country as the required documents for the outbound portion of your travel may differ from those required on the return.
Find out what you need to visit Canada as a tourist or business person, how to extend your stay in Canada and what documents you need to carry with you to transit through Canada.
Find out if you need a visa or Electronic Travel Authorization
Letters of Invite
Letters of invite can be provided to international delegates who may require a letter for Visa application. Please note, full conference registration must be arranged prior to a letter being provided. Please contact us below for more information.
Eating and Drinking
There are a range of restaurants close to the Hilton. Below are a few with good ratings:
165 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5H 3B8 (2-minute walk from Hilton)
Inspired by Mediterranean and Italian cuisine; sandwiches, omelettes, salads, burgers, pizza
155 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5H 3B7 (2-minute walk)
Antipasti, pizza, pasta; vegan and gluten-free options
141 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON M5H 3L5 (3-minute walk)
Salads, burgers, pizzas, sandwiches; vegetarian and gluten-free options
180 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3X3 (5-minute walk)
Vegan; sushi, dumplings, noodles, small plates
208 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1Z2 (5-minute walk)
Salads, noodles, roti, burgers
The PATH, an underground pedestrian network, is accessible through the Hilton lobby. The PATH offers a range of cafes and restaurants (and shops) and links the Hilton to Chefs Hall (the venue for Tuesday’s conference dinner), the Eaton Centre, and the Queen subway station. As the PATH largely serves commuters working downtown during the week, shops, restaurants, and food courts may not be open on weekend days.
Additional nearby food halls that feature local eateries include:
Waterworks Food Hall – 50 Brant St, Toronto, ON M5V 3G9 (17-minute walk)
Wellington Market Food Hall (at The Well) – 486 Front St W Lower Ground Level, Toronto, ON M5V 0V2 (22-minute walk)
Exploring The Six
Toronto, also known as T.O. or The Six, is a dynamic and multicultural city. If you have extra time in the city, we highly recommend exploring neighbourhoods outside of the downtown core, such as Kensington Village or Queen West/Ossington. Learn about T.O. neighbourhoods.
You can also find out about major tourist attractions, such as the CN Tower, the Hockey Hall of Fame, and Ripley’s Aquarium. St. Lawrence Market is well worth a visit!
You could instead consider catching a game. Toronto is home to the Sceptres (Professional Women’s Hockey League), Blue Jays (MLB), the Raptors (NBA), the Leafs (NHL), and more. Or if ballet, opera, or theatre is more your thing, the Hilton is steps from the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts or check out what’s on stage at Mirvish or Soulpepper.
Check out Spacing if you are looking to take a bit of Toronto home with you. They offer artwork, apparel, and local honey, among many other options.