In May 2024, the Toronto Region added a significant new asset to its tourism and hospitality landscape: Canada’s largest casino resort. Developed by Great Canadian Entertainment, the venue brings together a gaming floor, a 5,000-seat theatre, a 400+ room hotel, and a suite of dining and entertainment options, stitched together as a full-service experience just minutes from Pearson Airport.
For Anahit Tantushyan, Assistant General Manager of Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, the launch was about more than just opening a new venue. “We weren’t just building a venue — we were creating an experience that brings together gaming, hospitality, and entertainment in a way Toronto hasn’t seen before,” she says. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see how it’s already resonating with both local and international visitors.”
A Platform for Economic Activity
A 2024 report from Destination Toronto and the Toronto Region Board of Trade found that visitor activity supports nearly 67,000 jobs and generates over $8 billion in economic activity — underscoring tourism and entertainment as key drivers of the city’s economy.
With its combination of amenities and high-capacity programming, the resort fits squarely into this growing ecosystem. “This wasn’t built to be a standalone,” Anahit explains. “It’s part of a broader strategy to create destinations that contribute to the local economy, attract talent, and drive sustained growth.”
The venue has already generated thousands of jobs and is helping to attract new audiences to Toronto — from international travelers to touring performers and event producers. “We’ve created something with real potential to shape how people experience Toronto — and how Toronto continues to grow,” she says. “This is only the beginning.”
Inside the Build: Coordinating Complexity and Delivery
While the public launch came with fanfare, the road to opening was layered and complex. The scale of the build demanded a coordinated approach — one that brought together construction, licensing, staffing, programming, and operations under tight timelines.
“Bringing this destination to life was a true team effort,” says Anahit. “The moving pieces were constant. We had to align everything behind the scenes to make the guest experience feel effortless.”
Along the way, the team faced no shortage of challenges — many familiar to large-scale developers, but intensified by the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. Construction halts, shifting public health rules, and prolonged site closures threw timelines into flux. These setbacks, combined with widespread supply chain issues and labour shortages, demanded constant recalibration.
Anahit credits the team’s ability to adapt under pressure. “There were times when timelines were fluid and resources uncertain,” she says. “But our team never wavered. Everyone brought not just expertise, but a shared passion for getting it right.”
Her biggest lesson from the experience? Stay focused, but flexible. “Stay true to your vision, but don’t be rigid with your plan,” she says. “Things will shift — often in ways you can’t anticipate. The ability to pivot without losing sight of your purpose is what separates success from misfire.” She also emphasizes the importance of internal alignment: “Strong partnerships — with communities, government, and contractors — are essential. But even more important is a unified team. If your people are aligned, everything else becomes possible.”
Balancing Growth with Responsibility
Growth at this scale brings attention, and Great Canadian Entertainment is responding by reinforcing its commitments to safety, responsibility, and long-term sustainability. That includes regulatory compliance, responsible gaming initiatives, and a growing focus on environmental performance.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of growth,” says Anahit. “But we’re focused on building something that’s safe, responsible, and built to endure.”
As part of a sector that supports thousands of jobs and generates billions in economic impact for Toronto, the resort’s ability to operate with both ambition and accountability will be essential to sustaining its value over time.
What’s Ahead
With its doors now open, the casino resort will continue to evolve as part of Toronto’s broader destination economy — one that connects entertainment, tourism, and business travel in a city competing globally for attention and investment. The venue is positioned not just as a place to visit, but as part of the region’s ability to attract meetings, major acts, and international events.
“We’ve created something with real potential to shape how people experience Toronto — and how Toronto continues to grow,” Anahit says. “This is only the beginning.”
