We're keeping a close eye on Canada these days from the HNN newsroom.
No, that's not just because we live pretty close to the border, but our affinity with Canada is in part because of that. It's a fact of geography: Up north here, we are used to a fluid border and easy travel. We've all taken the obligatory photo at Niagara Falls on the Rainbow Bridge with one foot in the U.S. and one in Canada. Mine is the generation that drove to Windsor and back again in one night just to gamble or buy high-octane beer. The Hotel News Now team alone has probably made the most requests to corporate for Tim Horton's to open a couple shops in Cleveland.
But now we're keeping a close eye on Canada because of the very real impact travel boycotts are having.
At first, when Canadian hockey and basketball fans started booing our national anthem at games, I thought it was funny. The hockey fans in my office pointed me to the footage and I realized nope, not funny. I talked to Canadian friends in the hotel industry. Nope, not funny to them at all. This is real and serious and damaging on both sides.
Now, a few months into 2025, travel data is showing flights from Canada to the U.S. are down, snowbirds are considering selling second homes here and hotel demand is declining in border regions around Buffalo, Niagara Falls and the Pacific Northwest.
Tourism Economics now estimates Canadian visitors to the U.S. will drop 15% this year compared to last year, costing us $3.3 billion.
Canceling trips and selling homes is extreme, real action that has an impact on hotels and the economy here, of course. What's more concerning now though is the confusion around travel. Everyone now is buzzing about border detentions, mobile phone seizure, huge delays and all of the hassles and general confusion around travel between the U.S. and Canada.
"General confusion" seems to be the goal. And those of us in the travel industry (hello Maui, Asheville and the Caribbean, I'm looking at you) know that general confusion around whether or how to travel spells long-term, expensive and often unnecessary chaos. What a headache.
Canadians, I'm not asking you to change your mind. Where you travel and why is totally up to you. The U.S. will pay the price for its unwelcoming stance. Silver lining though, Canadians: I hear Europe is ready and waiting for you.
Noticing a drop in demand from Canadian travelers at your hotel? Email me or find me on Twitter or LinkedIn.
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