Toronto, Ontario
National Trade Centre Governance Services and Analysis
Concerns about rental rates at the National Trade Centre (NTC) led to engaging Hunden Partners in an analysis of rate structures specific to comparable facilities as well as surveys and interviews with facility management and meeting planners. Hunden Partners presented its findings to provide context for the NTC’s governance and rate structure competitiveness.
Situation
The National Trade Centre (NTC) sought a third-party review of rental rates charged by competitive facilities to address concerns regarding its pricing. Because most venues have varied rate structures, it was important to understand costs in an apples-to-apples format.
Approach
Robin Hunden worked on behalf of the National Trade Centre (NTC) to perform a facility rental pricing analysis. The analysis included a detailed review of industry-specific rental rate structures for comparable facilities in both the Canadian and U.S. markets.
Mr. Hunden conducted surveys of comparable facilities’ rental rates, interviewed facility management to understand pricing structures and strategies, interviewed meeting planners, and provided recommendations to improve the competitiveness of the NTC’s pricing structure. Mr. Hunden also recommended additional strategies, such as developing a headquarters hotel, to enhance competitiveness.
Impact
Recent industry research indicates that operating costs and commercial rental benchmarks across major Canadian markets have increased over the past several years, driven by inflationary pressures and rising facility management expenses. These trends reinforce the importance of regularly evaluating rental-rate structures to ensure competitiveness and cost recovery. This broader market context reinforces the relevance of the NTC’s pricing review and informs Hunden Partners’ recommendations on rate alignment and strategic positioning.
