U.S. tourism operators offer exclusive deals for Canadians to try to convince them to return

It was a difficult start for the golf season for Paul Dame, owner of the Bluff Point Golf Resort at Plattsburgh, NY, about 100 kilometers south of Montreal.

In the past two months, he said, business for golf and housing have dropped 30% compared to the same period last year. Dame attributes a large part of the decline to much fewer Canadian golfers, who generally represent about half of her business.

He said many Canadian customers have told him that they were avoiding the United States, and therefore his golf course due to anger at President Donald Trump’s trade war and threats to Canada on the 51st state.

“They don’t like to be taken, and to be honest, I can’t really blame them,” said Lady. “It is discouraging to have something completely out of my control that makes my business have a major slowdown.”

In an effort to show Canadians, they are welcome, Lady now offers them a few gifts: a bucket of golf balls to train at the course, and a set of three golf balls decorated with Canadian symbols, such as a beaver and a hockey jersey.

“The idea is that,” hey, it’s a gift from us to show you that we care and show that we appreciate it “,” he said.

Lady joins many other tourist operators across the United States, offering special offers to Canadians to try to convince them to cross the border – just in time for the summer trip season.

The issues are high. Canadians traditionally constitute the largest group of international tourists in the United States in 2024, they spent $ 20.5 billion in the country, According to the US Travel Association.

But this tourism market began to decline after Trump took office in January. By April, The number of return trips to Canadians Travel to the United States dropped 19.9% ​​for plane trips and 35.2% for land travel, compared to the same era last year.

“We are really starting to see the impact now … Everyone is afraid,” said Kristy Kennedy, vice-president of marketing from the North Country Chamber of Commerce. It helps to promote companies in the Adirondack region in the northern New York State, including Plattsburgh.

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To encourage their north neighbors to visit, in April, the Chamber launched a television advertising campaign in Ottawa and across Quebec. He is also ready to throw a web page On June 1, this will list companies related to tourism offering exclusive discounts to Canadians.

Kennedy said the offers will include a 20% discount of the room at the Best Western Hotel and a free day rental at the Adirondack Elliptigo bicycle store, both in Plattsburgh.

“We understand that there were injured feelings, but understand that Plattsburgh and the Adirondack region appreciate you and we want to keep this relationship,” said Kennedy. “We are ready to deploy this red carpet.”

Are the offers sufficient?

Back at the Bluff Point Golf Resort, Dame said that he could also offer golf discounts in the middle of the week. But he fears that transactions are not sufficient to repair Canada’s fractured relations with the United States

“If your friend insults you, you don’t give them $ 10 and don’t start being friends again,” he said.

Outside the CN tower, a popular tourism destination in Toronto, several Canadians told CBC News that the United States was out of its destination list, whatever the promotions.

“Because of Trump, I’m not going to travel to the United States,” said Laura Livlik. “I don’t like her position on gender and trans rights. I don’t really like anything that he does there, and it makes me nervous to travel there. “”

Nilay Shah said Trump had to end his business war to do things correctly with Canadians.

“”[A] Discount is a temporary bandage, nothing else. “”

But Maggie Hill said that transactions could reach it to cross the border.

“Especially in the United States, I think that a good discount would certainly make a difference,” she said, referring to the Canadian dollar, which is currently worth 72 cents.

The weak Huard was part of the reason for which California, the tourist organization of the State, visits, launched a website This month, offering Canadians discounts on more than 1,000 Californian hotels, activities and attractions.

Published offers include a 20% discount at Little Italy Hotel in downtown San Diego and 15% reduction on a massage at the SOOTHE Day Spa studio in San Francisco.

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The campaign includes a promotional video announcement celebrating Canada’s links with the state.

“We sat down and said,” How can we reach out with this branch of olive? … that could not be a sincere gesture, “said Caroline Beteta, president and chief executive officer of Visit California.” There must have been something real, because the reality is, the [U.S.] The dollar is so strong at the moment. “”

The organization has teamed up with the Expedia online travel agency to offer offers. In a number of cases, Canadians must register for a Free Expedia Rewards subscription to take advantage of the offers.

Seattle’s campaign declares success

At the top of the California coast, a basic campaign to encourage Canadians to visit Seattle recently wrapped.

Double Open coat of arms for Canada40 local businesses, restaurants to hotels, offered Canadians discounts from 30% from May 9 to 11 – when the Blue Jays in Toronto were in town to play Seattle Mariners.

Howard Wright, president of the Seattle Hospitality Group, who helped organize the campaign, said that she turned out to be successful, the Canadians enjoying discounts more than 1,000 times over three days.

“Isn’t that incredible?” Wright said, adding that the organizers can once again offer offers at different times in the summer.

He said that the best part of the campaign was that she had sent an important message, the one he hopes will continue to resonate – even after Canadian -American relations are repaired.

“What I hope is that after that it is behind us, that people remember that we have stretched out and said:” Hey, I love you guys, go down. “”