Who We Are.
Spaces in Places is led by senior professionals with deep experience across hospitality, public space activation, and community-driven programming within complex public and institutional environments.
Consulting For Places That Inspire & PerformWith more than 40 years of experience in hospitality, food and beverage services and business development, we have built our careers around creating impactful experiences.
Our backgrounds span leadership roles at some of Toronto's leading venues, restaurants and community hubs. We are passionate about collaboration and helping organizations align strategy with purpose to achieve lasting impact and financial success.
Spaces and Places is where food, programming, and place intersect.
Spaces in Places was founded by Michael Sullivan.
As a well-respected leader in the Hospitality space in Toronto, Michael comes to the table with more than 30 years of experience across boutique hotels, large-scale food and beverage operations, modular marketplaces, and the non-profit sector. He leads a team that specializes in transforming spaces into vibrant, high-performing destinations and public spaces.
His work spans luxury dining environments, chef-driven programming, multi-vendor marketplaces, and large-scale public space activation. His portfolio includes restaurant rebrands within boutique hotel settings, developing complex food ecosystems inside innovative urban marketplaces, and overseeing social enterprise portfolios that integrate events, tenancy, festivals, and food and beverage programming.
Spaces in Places bring deep expertise in:
• Strategic concept development
• Operational excellence
• Project lifecycle management — from design through launch
• Multi-stakeholder and cross-sector partnerships
• Revenue models that balance profitability with purpose
The approach of Spaces in Places is both strategic and hands-on. We understand the mechanics behind sustainable hospitality businesses — but we also understand the power of the visitor experience, place-making, and community.
At our core, we believe hospitality is more than service. It is a catalyst for economic resilience, cultural connection, and neighborhood vitality. We can’t wait to work with you on your next project!
“They understand how public spaces actually function. From engagement through implementation, the process was clear, collaborative, and grounded in real-world constraints.
Matt Rubinoff-Founder of Stackt Market