AR 2001 Layout_Final - Royal Ontario Museum

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