HLT Advisory Case Study
Casa Loma Corporation/City of Toronto – Casa Loma (2012-2015)
The Casa Loma Corporation engaged HLT in 2012 for what was to become a multi-year, multi-phase process to return Toronto’s “Castle on the Hill” to its former glory.
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Casa Loma Corporation
The Casa Loma Corporation engaged HLT in 2012 for what was to become a multi-year, multi-phase process to return Toronto’s “Castle on the Hill” to its former glory.
Phase 1 included the identification of broad options available to the Board regarding the ownership, use and operation of the overall Casa Loma complex, including both the Main House and Grounds as well as the stables, garage and potting sheds on the North Precinct. Options included maintaining the current use as a heritage attraction and special events venue as well as a full array of other uses including institutional, residential, commercial and retail.
HLT analyzed financial, operational and organizational data as well as reviewed contractual agreements with existing tenants. Comparable attractions were benchmarked to Casa Loma operations. The assignment also included an extensive stakeholder consultation element through interviews (i.e., residents’ groups, City of Toronto planning, heritage<culture and legal, the Toronto tourism industry, key suppliers, Casa Loma tenants, City councillors, and adjacent business improvement areas), public consultation sessions, and a board of directors workshop.
Phase 1 concluded that the best approach was to maintain the heritage tourism attraction and special event venue usage. However, the Corporation and City of Toronto Council elected to seek proposals from outside parties to operate the Business and to conduct two procurement processes, one directed at the Main House and Grounds the other for the North Precinct facilities.
Phase 2 saw the Corporation engage HLT to manage a two-stage RFP process to identify an entity to lease, improve and operate Main House and Grounds. HLT prepared the RFP documentation and managed the RFP process, culminating in the awarding of Liberty Entertainment Group a 20-year lease.
Phase 3 involved a single-stage RFP process focussed on the land and buildings on the North Precinct site containing the former hunting lodge, stables, potting shed and garage. Phase 3 is ongoing.
