Several major U.S. destinations are courting Canadian visitors at a very difficult time between the two countries.
We have seen Canadian “love letters” from cities such as Detroit and Palm Springs, and a cheeky video from California Governor Gavin Newsom. Today came a strongly worded note of support for Canadian visitors from the governor of Illinois, who also said US President Donald Trump has represented the U.S. in a “shameful” manner.
ILLINOIS GOVERNOR CALLS TRUMP BEHAVIOR “SHAMEFUL”
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity ( today released a new video inviting Canadian travelers to visit Illinois, reaffirming the state’s strong relationship with Canada as a key tourism partner. In celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week (May 4–10), Governor Pritzker emphasized Canadian tourists’ significant role in supporting local businesses and cultural attractions statewide.
“I don’t blame anyone from Canada whose appetite for visiting the U.S. might have soured—with our current president and the shameful way he’s represented us on the national stage as of late. But as Governor, and self-designated chief marketing officer of Illinois, I want to reassure you that we’re as eager as ever to have you come here,” said Pritzker.
“Here in Illinois, we’re ready and eager to prove that Midwest nice is the closest thing to Canadian hospitality you can get south of Windsor. As you head south through our shared Great Lakes, we are ready to welcome you to the middle of everything.”
Thank you, Governor Pritzker. I haven’t spent much time in Illinois but I do love Chicago, and I’ll be there next month for the U.S. Travel Association’s annual IPW convention. I’ll also (I hope) be exploring the state of Illinois. So I’ll be able to get a first-hand look at Illinois hospitality.
CALIFORNIA LOVES CANADA CAMPAIGN: 25% DISCOUNTS
California wouldn’t be California without Canada. That’s the ethos at the heart of a new campaign being launched today by Visit California to show Canadians how much they mean to the Golden State.
The campaign rollout includes a new video from Visit California highlighting how important Canadians are to California and the debut of a partnership with Expedia that provides discounts of up to 25% on over 1,000 California hotels, activities and attractions through a landing page made for Canadians.
I went onto the special deals page and found several terrific hotels that are offering great deals, including the Hollywood Roosevelt in Los Angeles, The Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, both of which I’ve stayed at and thoroughly enjoyed. I also spotted deals (some hotels were listed for as little as $214 CAD) in great destinations such as San Francisco, San Diego, Anaheim, Napa, Greater Palm Springs, Sacramento and Santa Barbara.
Last year alone, California welcomed more than 1.8 million Canadians to ‘The Ultimate Playground,’ a state built on inclusivity, and with an endless variety of activities for its northern neighbours to explore. While economic headwinds and a focus on Canadian domestic travel have understandably impacted travel habits, Visit California’s message for Canadians is simple: you are missed, you are deeply valued, and you’re always welcome in California.
“Canadians are important to California – contributing to our culture, our economy and our tourism industry,” said Caroline Beteta, president & CEO of Visit California. “Through a cinematic tribute and the Expedia partnership we’re launching today, we wanted to say thank you to our Canadian friends for all they have given to California and let them know a warm welcome awaits when they are ready.”
Today’s announcement follows a recent statement from California Governor Gavin Newsom encouraging Canadians to visit California to take advantage of everything the state has to offer. Last month, Newsom and Beteta also co-hosted an industry town hall with more than 1,000 attendees to address the importance of the relationship between California and Canada, two destinations that have historically been deeply connected through shared values and cultural affinity.
Canadians can view the new video on the Visit California website and visit Expedia’s new California Loves Canada campaign landing page to tap into significant travel discounts across the state.
As a born-and-raised Calfiornian, I’m a little biased. But the Golden State is quite different from many parts of the U.S. It’s a welcoming, open-minded place that celebrates diversity in much the same way as Canadians do. As Newsom points out in his video, it’s also “a world away” from the politics of Washington, D.C.
NEW YORK CITY HOSTS CANADIANS
New York City Tourism recently hosted a group of Canadian travel agents and other travel industry types in a bid to shore up their business from north of the border.
In a story posted at Travel Industry Today by my friend Michael Baginksi, NYC Tourism president and CEO Julie Coker suggested she understands it’s a tricky time in the U.S.-Canada relationship.
“Needless to say, some things have changed, and some atmosphere and conversation and comments have changed over the past four months,” she said.
New York City. JIM BYERS PHOTO
New York City was expecting 67 million visitors this year, a million of them Canadians, but Coker said that might not come to pass given the current perceptions around the world about travel to the States.
“Canada is our number two market, so obviously the importance of the Canadian traveller to, not just New York City and the five boroughs, but certainly the United States, is truly (significant),” she said. “If that isn’t said and if that isn’t revealed, please note we definitely want you in New York City and we definitely appreciate you.
“Every stay starts with an invitation and your invitation is always open in New York.”
Much like California, New York City is an amazingly diverse destination with people from around the world. It’s a city that celebrates its immigrants, welcomes LGBTQ travellers, and treats visitors with respect and dignity.
Of course, both California and New York City are part of the U.S., as is Illinois. But their attitudes and morals are much closer to the Canadian way of thinking than they are to certain U.S. politicians.
I fully understand Canadians who want to boycott the U.S. for the next little while, but I’m still of the mindset that travel can help broach societal and national differences. I’m not going wild with trips to the States, but I’ll be in California soon to visit with my Dad and family. As I mentioned above, I’ll also be in Chicago in June for the annual U.S. Travel Association’s IPW event. The latter will be quite interesting given the current US-Canada relationship.
WASHINGTON DC SETS TOURISM RECORD
More than 27 million people visited the US capital in 2024 – a new record – Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC, announced today. The figure surpasses the previous benchmark, set in 2023, by 1.25 million visitors. The record-setting visitation resulted in record economic impact: $11.4 billion in visitor spending, $2.3 billion in tax revenue and 111,500 jobs supported.
Cherry blossoms and the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. Ridwan Meah/Unsplash Photo
Again, I get that not all Canadians are eager to visit the U.S. right now. But I have to say Washington DC is a beautiful city with some of the world’s best museums, most of them free, as well as great food and tremendous neighbourhoods like Georgetown.
ADELAIDE TO HOST AUSTRALIA TOURISM EXCHANGE 2026
Tourism Australia’s largest annual trade event, the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE), will return to Adelaide/Tarntanya in 2026 attracting members of the tourism industry from around Australia and around the world.
Thousands of delegates will travel to Adelaide for ATE which will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre between Sunday, 10 May 2026 and Thursday, 14 May 2026.
Tourism Australia Managing Director, Phillipa Harrison, said it is the first time the event has been held in Adelaide since 2018 and it will be a great opportunity to showcase to the world the products and experiences South Australia has to offer.
“Brisbane has done a great job hosting ATE25 and we are already looking ahead to next year to see how Adelaide and South Australia showcase the best of their state to visiting international buyers and global media,” Harrison said.
“ATE helps to drive international travellers to regions right around the country but it is a particularly good opportunity for the host state and we will be working closely with our partners, the South Australian Tourism Commission, to put on a memorable event next year.”
I’ve been to two ATE’s in the past six or seven years, including programs in Sydney and in Queensland. They’re excellent events for anyone who loves Australia, books Australia trips, or writes about this marvelous country.
Adelaide is just a few minutes from the Barossa Valley, home to Australia’s most-renowned wine region. You’re also close to amazing beaches, stunning outback scenery and posh resorts such as Southern Ocean Lodge, located on Kangaroo Island and part of Luxury Lodges of Australia.
