‘It’s actually like VIP experience right now’: Your next trip up the CN Tower is going to look a lot different

“It’s actually like VIP experience right now,” said Peter George, CN Tower’s chief operations officer, who oversaw the changes leading up to the reopening.

In addition to the required public health measures, the tower and all its amenities are operating at 25 per cent capacity for the safety of team members and guests, said George.

Here are some of the other changes visitors should expect:

The elevators

The CN Tower has six elevators that bring visitorsto the observation deck, the 360 Restaurant and the Edgewalk. Prior to COVID-19, each elevator could be filled withat least 18 people, including a tour guide. Now only four people are permitted inside to respect physical distancing measures.

The elevators have been retrofitted to be operated from the outside rather than the inside. Automatic annunciators have been installed to provide the information previously gleaned from a tour guide as the elevator ascended.

Cleanliness

CN Tower workers disinfected and sanitized the entire building before resuming operations, said George. And a “electrostatic disinfectant spray system” allows the cleaning process to better reach difficult-to-clean areas than a hand spray system.

“I’d say we’re much cleaner now than when we closed,” George said.

Safety

Everyone — guests and staff — must wear a mask at all times. The only exception is while eating in 360 Restaurant. A contact tracing system is in place, and everyone will have their temperature checked before entering the building. If someone shows signs of higher than normal temperature, they will be taken inside and rechecked. George said sometimes a person can show a higher temperature simply because they are out in the sun.

“When we started it was a little bit controversial because not everyone is happy getting their temperature checked,” George said. “But this is COVID time and people have come to understand it.”

Everything is ‘touchless’

In an effort to avoid unnecessary lineups and to facilitate physical distancing, a “timed ticketing” process has been introduced, whereby all visitors must purchase tickets ahead of time and choose the arrival time.

Those going to the 360 Restaurant get a QR code that they can scan and get an electronic menu from which to order food and drinks. Disposable menus are also available for visitors who are not familiar with technology. Only cashless payments will be accepted.

The restaurant, which before COVID-19 had seating for about 400, will allow a maximum of 100 people. The Edgewalk is operating at 50 per cent capacity.