Ontario tourism operators hope for summer staycation boom

Local tourism operators are anticipating more business this summer as Canadians opt out of travel south of the border. 

In the wake of trade tensions between Canada and the U.S., staycations are growing in popularity. Many Canadian travellers are avoiding or cancelling trips to American states and making summer vacation plans closer to home instead.

A boutique hotel chain in Ontario is already noticing that shift.

"Our stats are projecting that we're going to have our best summer ever," said Meghan James, general manager at the Somewhere Inn in Calabogie, Ont.

The 11-room location, nestled in the Ottawa Valley, has been around for four years. Nearly a year ago, the owners opened a second Somewhere Inn at a historic century home in Collingwood, Ont. — a town north of Toronto.

In the last 30 days, James said, both properties have seen an 100 per cent increase in bookings compared to the same period last year. For the most part, those bookings are being made by Canadians.

"I just love that Canadians are doing a very Canadian thing and just deciding to support local and stay local," she said.

Andrew Siegwart, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, has been hearing similar reports of an increase in early bookings from other industry players. But he said it's too early to tell whether the numbers some hotels are seeing will be reflected across Ontario given the potential for more economic and political uncertainty.

"While we are seeing early indicators that traveling local and Canadians staying close to home is going to be strong for the market, there are still some concerns on the horizon and I think consumers are waiting to see what's going to happen," he said.

For businesses like Somewhere Inn, the early indicators are still a welcome sign. 

"It's pretty exciting," James said. "For not just the business but also our communities who are definitely going to benefit from the injection of tourists and travelers and locals wanting to stay more local this year."

Scott Clément said a tourism boost isn't something he and his siblings, Rachel and Nick Clément, expected when U.S. President Donald Trump first threatened Canada with tariffs and annexation.

The Cléments own Breathe Vacation Rentals, a short-term property management company serving Ontario and Western Quebec, and Sandbanks Vacations, a tour operator in Prince Edward County, Ont.

Across their business area, they manage about 150 individually owned properties, including some cottages at the East Lake Shores resort near Sandbanks Provincial Park.