U.S. tourism operators offer exclusive deals for Canadians to try to
convince them to return
Sophia Harris
| CBC News | Posted: May 30, 2025 8:00 AM | Last Updated: May
31
Fewer Canadians are visiting U.S. amid Trump's trade war and
threats to annex Canada
Image | Paul Dame, owner of Bluff Point Golf Resort in
Plattsburgh, New York,
Caption: Paul Dame of Bluff Point Golf Resort in Plattsburgh,
N.Y., says business over the past two months fell by 30 per
cent compared with the same time last year, mainly due to fewer
Canadian visitors. (Louis-Marie Philidor/CBC)
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It's been a rough start to the golf season for Paul Dame, owner
of Bluff Point Golf Resort in Plattsburgh, N.Y., about 100
kilometres south of Montreal.
Over the past two months, he said, business for both golf and
lodgings has plummeted 30 per cent compared with the same
period last year. Dame attributes much of the decline to far
fewer Canadian golfers, who typically make up about half his
business.
He said many past Canadian customers have told him they're
avoiding the U.S., and hence his golf course, due to anger over
President Donald Trump's trade war and threats to make Canada
the 51st state.
"They don't like being picked on, and to be honest, I can't
really blame them," Dame said. "It's disheartening to have
something completely out of my control that is causing my
business to have a major downturn."
In an effort to show Canadians they're welcome, Dame is now
offering them a couple of freebies: a bucket of golf balls for
practice at the course's driving range, and a gift set of three
golf balls adorned with Canadian symbols, like a beaver and a
hockey jersey.
"The idea is that, 'Hey, this is a gift from us to you to show
that we care and show that we appreciate you,'" he said.
Image | Bluff Point Golf Resort in Plattsburgh, New York
Canadian golf balls
Caption: To entice Canadians to return to his golf course, Dame
is now offering them freebies, including a gift set of three
golf balls adorned with Canadian symbols, like a Mountie and a
hockey jersey. (Louis-Marie Philidor/CBC)
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Dame joins many other tourism operators across the United
States offering special deals for Canadians to try to convince
them to cross the border — just in time for the summer travel
season.
The stakes are high. Canadians traditionally make up the
largest group of international tourists to the U.S. In 2024,
they spent $20.5 billion US in the country, according to the
U.S. Travel Association.
* Upstate N.Y. tourism operators offering discounts to win
back Canadians
But that tourism market started to decline after Trump took
office in January. By April, the number of return trips among
Canadians travelling to the U.S. dropped by 19.9 per cent for
air travel and by a whopping 35.2 per cent for land travel,
compared with the same time last year.
"We're really starting to see the impact now.... Everyone is
scared," said Kristy Kennedy, vice-president of marketing for
the North Country Chamber of Commerce. It helps promote
businesses in the Adirondack region in Upstate New York,
including Plattsburgh.
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To encourage their northern neighbours to visit, in April the
chamber launched a TV ad campaign in Ottawa and across Quebec.
It's also set to launch a webpage on June 1 that will list
tourism-related businesses offering exclusive discounts for
Canadians.
Kennedy said the deals will include a 20 per cent room discount
at the Best Western hotel and a free one-day rental at the
Adirondack ElliptiGO bike shop, both in Plattsburgh.
"We understand that there were feelings hurt, but understand
that Plattsburgh and the Adirondack region value you and we
want to make this relationship continue," Kennedy said. "We're
ready to roll out that red carpet."
WATCH | U.S.-based conferences relocate to Canada:
Media Video | The National : Conferences relocating to Canada
over harsh new U.S. border measures
Caption: As Canadian travel to the U.S. continues to drop, CBC
News has found several professional conferences relocated to
Canada to avoid harsh new U.S. border security measures. One
sociologist describes being grilled by U.S. customs officers
who searched his phone and wallet.
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Are deals enough?
Back at the Bluff Point Golf Resort, Dame said he may also
offer some mid-week golf discounts. But he's concerned that
deals may not be enough to repair Canada's fractured
relationship with the U.S.
"If your friend insults you, you don't give them $10 and go
back to being friends," he said.
Outside the CN Tower, a popular tourist destination in Toronto,
several Canadians told CBC News that the U.S. is off their
destination list, regardless of any promotions.
* Canadian travel to the U.S. has plummeted. One reason why:
fear
"Because of Trump, I'm not going to travel to the States,"
Laura Livlik said. "I don't like his stance on gender and trans
rights. I don't really like anything that he's doing down
there, and it makes me nervous to travel down there."
Nilay Shah said Trump needs to end his trade war to make things
right with Canadians.
"[A] discount is a temporary bandage, nothing else."
Image | OLY Toronto Bid 20150724
Caption: People make their way toward Toronto's CN Tower, a
popular tourist destination. Canadians traditionally make up
the largest group of international tourists to the U.S., but in
April, the number of return trips among Canadians travelling to
the U.S. fell for both air and land travel. (Gregory Bull/The
Associated Press)
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But Maggie Hill said deals could entice her to cross the
border.
"Especially in the U.S., I feel a good discount would
definitely make a difference," she said, referring to the
Canadian dollar, currently worth 72 cents US.
The weak loonie was part of the reason Visit California, the
state's tourism organization, launched a website this month
offering Canadians discounts on more than 1,000 California
hotels, activities and attractions.
Posted deals include a 20 per cent discount at the Little Italy
Hotel in downtown San Diego and 15 per cent off a massage at
Studio Soothe day spa in San Francisco.
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The campaign includes a promotional video ad celebrating
Canada's ties to the state.
"We sat down and said, 'How do we reach out with that olive
branch? ... It couldn't just be a heartfelt gesture," said
Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California. "There
had to be something real, because the reality is, the [U.S.]
dollar is so strong right now."
The organization partnered with online travel agency Expedia to
offer the deals. In a number of cases, Canadians must sign up
for a free Expedia Rewards membership to take advantage of the
offers.
Seattle campaign declares success
Up the coast from California, a grassroots campaign to entice
Canadians to visit Seattle recently wrapped up.
Dubbed Open Arms for Canada, 40 local businesses, from
restaurants to hotels, offered Canadians discounts of 30 per
cent from May 9-11 — when the Toronto Blue Jays were in town to
play the Seattle Mariners.
Howard Wright, chair of the Seattle Hospitality Group, which
helped organize the campaign, said it proved successful, with
Canadians taking advantage of the discounts more than 1,000
times over three days.
* Several conferences relocate north of the border as
Canadians refuse to travel to the U.S.
"Isn't that amazing?" Wright said, adding that organizers may
offer the deals again at different times during the summer.
He said the best part of the campaign was that it sent an
important message, one he hopes will continue to resonate —
even after Canada-U.S. relations are mended.
"What I hope is that after this is all behind us, that people
remember that we reached out and said, 'Hey, love you guys,
come on down.'"
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