AR 2001 Layout_Final - Royal Ontario Museum
AR 2001 Layout_Final - Royal Ontario Museum
AR 2001 Layout_Final - Royal Ontario Museum
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Message from the Chief Operating Officer<br />
This past year was filled with engaging exhibitions, exhilarating installation<br />
deadlines, program diversity, record-breaking attendance, international notoriety,<br />
budget challenges, a healthy year-end surplus and staff-driven miracles. Just<br />
another year at the ROM.<br />
The quality and popularity of our exhibits and public programs made this<br />
another banner attendance year. We surpassed the 1,050,000-visitor mark in<br />
June. The <strong>Museum</strong> was, is, and will continue to be a place for all people who<br />
wish to learn and be inspired by our great collections.<br />
General admission to the ROM surged from 580,000 last year to 775,000 this<br />
year due to the success of Great Asian Dinosaurs! March Break alone hosted some<br />
79,375 visitors. Our school-visits program did equally well, surpassing last year’s<br />
attendance of 151,000 by 20,000 students. ROMLife supplied 30,000 participants<br />
with splendid ticketed programs. Third-party events did not do as well due to<br />
numerous cancellations in the fall, not surprising given the horrific events of<br />
September 11. Our <strong>Museum</strong> Sales department did re-book many events in the winter<br />
and spring, resulting in 72,000 visitors to the ROM through our events and<br />
functions business, down from last year’s 83,000. The tragedy of September 11<br />
created significant budget challenges, which were met by all ROM departments; we<br />
managed to trim costs by $800,000 to meet our budget at year end.<br />
ROM services continue to be the focus for enhancements and creativity. Our<br />
food-service partners continue to amaze visitors with clever menus to match our<br />
exhibit programs. Our retail shops continue to please visitors with ideal <strong>Museum</strong><br />
keepsakes. The ROM Shops are among Canada’s top 10 museum shops based<br />
on the benchmarks used as industry standards.<br />
The staff and volunteers of the ROM continue to demonstrate their commitment<br />
to the ROM values of discovery, respect, communication, innovation<br />
and action. I do hope that all our visitors find value and enjoyment in each and<br />
every visit to the ROM.<br />
Meg Beckel<br />
Chief Operating Officer<br />
Meg Beckel (R) and Margaret Godsoe (L),<br />
life member and an active supporter of the <strong>Royal</strong> Patrons’ Circle.<br />
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