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Doing business
If you’ve worked in America you’ll be largely prepared for working in Canada – but don’t make the mistake of assuming the two are the same place. Canadians are a proud bunch and don’t appreciate comparisons to their southern neighbours, even if similar business rules apply. Canadians are also loyal to their province, so if you know something about Ontario and, even better, the fortunes of the Maple Leafs Ice Hockey team, you’ll get plenty of brownie points.

Cool hotel
Cambridge Suites Hotel (www.cambridgesuitestoronto.com) is a polished executive hotel offering two-room cityscape suites with in-room DVDs and free high-speed internet access. Suites start at £110 and go up to £250.

Hip restaurant
Toronto’s definitive dining space is Canoe (www.canoerestaurant.com) and what a space it is! Sweeping views of choppy Lake Ontario and the Toronto Islands extend from the dining room and take in Toronto’s most famous landmark, the CN Tower. Intriguing regional Canadian haute cuisine is on offer here, including caribou from distant, frozen Nunavut province.

Happening bar
Everyone raves about Czehoski at 678 Queen St West, a timber-faced bar that manages to be classy and underrated all at once. The beer and wine lists are extensive, the cocktails are potent and the interior design is magazine-worthy. The only thing worth arguing about is how to pronounce the name.

Must-see sights
The CN Tower remains as cool and iconic as it was when constructed 30 years ago, and colleagues will want to take you in the glass elevator all the way to the observation deck, half a mile above Downtown Toronto. They’ll want to take you to the Hockey Hall of Fame too, but will probably understand if you pass on that. Two hours south of Toronto are the spectacular Niagara Falls, complete with huge numbers of tourists year-round.

Getting downtown
The usual mix of express buses, minivans and taxis connect Pearson International Airport with downtown Toronto. Metered taxis cost around £25.

The details
You don’t need a visa for short-term visits to Canada, but check with the Canadian Immigration Centre (www.cic.gc.ca) if you’re going to be there longer term. There are two Canadian Dollars to the Pound at time of writing. Toronto gets seriously cold in winter so pack your thermals from November to March. Toronto is six hours behind GMT.

Getting there
Direct, business-friendly timed flights with Air Canada, British Airways or bmi generally come in at around the £500 mark, though expect to pay more at busy times. Consider also budget airline Zoom, or transiting through the United States. There’s a good selection of flights from regional airports too.

The carbon cost
A return flight from London Heathrow to Toronto will cover 11,414km and emit 1.3 tonnes of CO2. Offset this with The CarbonNeutral Company starting from £9.75.

Compiled by Tom Hall on behalf of Lonely Planet. www.lonelyplanet.com

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