The United States’ loss could be Canada’s gain.
Several travel experts told The Times (UK) that Canada offers everything from abundant, spectacular nature to diverse cities and is a great value right now.
“Canada holidays combine some of the world’s most appealing cities and spectacular landscapes with incredible wildlife encounters,” James Ferdinando of Trailfinders told The Times. “With the value of the pound the highest it has been against the Canadian dollar since 2016, we predict we’ll see an increased demand in bookings to Canada.”
Mike Collins, managing director of the tour operator Canadian Sky, agreed, saying: “We expect a 10% rise in bookings to Canada this year as more UK travellers look for alternatives to the US.”
When was in charge of Tourism Toronto, organizational CEO David Whitaker used to tell me that he never wanted to talk much about the Canadian dollar or the exchange rate because it can turn around. I get that, but when Europeans can get $1.55 CAD for a Euro (versus $1.08 USD), maybe there’s a way to use the dollar/value proposition to our advantage.
“Global perception of our nation remains highly positive, and this, coupled with a more favourable exchange rate, provides a perfect opportunity for Canada to win the hearts of international travellers in 2025,” Destination Canada President and CEO Marsha Walden told The Times.
The Times said a British study found that a “sample basket of typical holiday purchases,” including drinks and meals, would cost a British visitor £168 in New York. Over the border in Toronto it was £93.
The Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto. JIM BYERS PHOTO
That’s a huge difference in price.
The Times said their analysis also showed Canadian hotels to be up to 46% cheaper than those in the States.
Just for fun, because this is what I do on a Sunday, I went online to look at a Four Seasons hotel stay in New York City and Toronto for April 24 for one night for two people. The NYC Four Seasons in midtown Manhattan showed a 500 square-foot junior suite for $1,895 USD. The Four Seasons Toronto in Yorkville showed a 500 square-foot superior room for $698 USD. That’s a difference of $1,100.
I also checked out two nice hotels in San Francisco and Vancouver to compare two west coast cities. The Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront in Vancouver, a nice four-star property, was listed on Expedia.com for $283 USD for the night of April 24 for two people. The Hilton San Francisco at Union Square was listed for $211 USD for the same night for two people.
That could be an indication of San Francisco’s tourism struggles, so again, just for fun, I compared a three-star hotel in Chicago with one for Montreal. Expedia showed the Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago Downtown/River North for two people on April 24 at $211 USD. The Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Montreal Centre-ville Ouest by IHG was $155 USD.
There’s definitely value in Canada. There’s also tremendous variety. I don’t think most Europeans or Americans now how vital and diverse Toronto is, or how amazing the seafood is in Vancouver or how beautiful the streets and shops are in Old Montreal. They’ve probably seen photos of the Rockies, but they have no how truly majestic and awe-inspiring they are in person.
Moraine Lake, Alberta. JIM BYERS PHOTO
And I bet they have no idea how raucous and fun it is to hit the bars and to hear the live music on George Street in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, or to explore the beach towns on Lake Huron and Lake Erie on Ontario, or the lively city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan or the startling beauty of the Yukon.
Canada is truly a great destination. It’s also a great deal right now, so please come and see for yourself.
