As the autumn travel season approaches, prominent US destinations including Orlando, Miami, Palm Springs, and Las Vegas are collaborating in a bid to rekindle interest among Canadian travelers who are traditionally keen to escape the harsh winter months.
Recognizing a slowdown in tourism from Canada earlier this year, these iconic locations are rolling out extensive campaigns, enhancing flight accessibility, and providing special offers designed to entice Canadians back to their beaches, theme parks, nightlife, and desert resorts.
Orlando is particularly appealing to families, proclaiming that winter does not exist in its sunny theme park paradise.
In Miami, Canadian travel advisors were hosted in an effort to spread awareness about its cultural offerings, vibrant nightlife, and inviting beaches.
Palm Springs has adorned its streets with banners and heartfelt messages of welcome, asserting its openness to Canadians.
Las Vegas is energetically working with Canadian tour operators and hosting roadshows to revive the historical bond it shares with Canadian tourists.
Collectively, these destinations are weaving a compelling narrative of warmth, value, and hospitality, aiming to resonate with Canadian travelers who may currently be reconsidering their travel plans.
The focus this autumn isn’t solely on splendid weather; it encapsulates themes of loyalty, connection, and trust in the travel industry.
With the onset of winter, millions of Canadians will inevitably turn their sights southward for sun and enjoyable escapes, prompting US cities to intensify their efforts with substantial advertisements, promotional offers, and an increased flight network aimed at welcoming back Canadian visitors.
Canadian tourists are pivotal to the winter economy in various US cities, including those from California to Florida and beyond.
As reported, recent figures indicate a notable decline in Canadian travel to the US, eliciting concern among city leaders, tourism boards, and local businesses.
In response, cities are bolstering their outreach with friendly welcome messages, enticing travel deals, and increased flight options.
Delving into the actions of individual cities highlights how deeply they value Canadian tourists and why they are deemed critical to their local economies.
Palm Springs has employed a unique strategy by showcasing large “Palm Springs Love Canada” banners throughout the city, alongside video messages from the mayor welcoming Canadians.
Given that many Canadians own homes in Palm Springs or partake in extended visits, the city is intent on reinforcing ties with its Canadian visitors, as local businesses depend on their patronage during the winter months.
This efforts signify a “charm offensive” focused on maintaining the historical relationship between Canada and Palm Springs, bringing attention to local jobs and income.
Meanwhile, Las Vegas is revamping its outreach to Canadians, with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority orchestrating events in Vancouver to re-ignite affection for the city.
Although Canadians consistently rank among Las Vegas’s top international markets, a 15 percent drop in visitors for early 2025 was reported, prompting concerted efforts to attract them back through collaborative promotions with travel operators.
New air service agreements, such as those between Air Canada Vacations, WestJet Vacations, and Las Vegas, are being emphasized, making the neon lights and attractions of Las Vegas more accessible and appealing.
With the slogan “Winter Doesn’t Exist Here,” Orlando, Florida, has relaunched its campaign, emphasizing the region as a favorite escape for Canadian families who want to trade their winter woes for sunshine and amusement parks.
Tourism leaders from Orlando are reaffirming their commitment to the Canadian market, aided by new flights from Hamilton, Ontario to Orlando set to commence in December.
Fort Lauderdale stands firm with its assertion that “Canadians are family,” with the Greater Fort Lauderdale tourism board making a public commitment to show Canadian visitors how much they are appreciated, especially with new airline routes commencing mid-December.
In addition, Miami is nurturing its connection with Canadian travel advisors, offering direct exposure to the city’s attractions in hopes they will promote it more vigorously to their clients.
Cities like Tampa Bay and St. Pete–Clearwater have launched seasonal advertising campaigns targeted directly at winter travelers, mindful of the essential need for Canadian visitors.
Sarasota aims to attract Canadian tourists with its message to “Trade scarves for sandals,” highlighting the appeal of beaches and leisure activities during the warmer winter months.
San Diego has also tailored its marketing, creating a dedicated landing page for Canadian visitors that showcases local attractions, emphasizing a warm welcome.
Scottsdale and Phoenix continue to prove enticing for Canadian travelers, capitalizing on Arizona’s renowned luxury and lifestyle offerings, including spas and golf.
In the heart of New York City, the emphasis is on shopping and culture, particularly during the festive winter season, where campaigns and outreach efforts aim to attract holiday travelers from Canada.
In a contrasting approach, New Orleans has welcomed Canadian journalists to showcase its vibrant cultural scene, benefiting from increased visibility in the Canadian market, despite not being a traditional winter escape.
Beyond individual city campaigns, it’s crucial to recognize why Canada represents such a strategic market for US tourism.
Canadians consistently rank as the largest source of international visitors for a multitude of US states, exhibiting longer stays and steady spending habits compared to other foreign tourists.
However, 2025 has demonstrated a more challenging landscape, with states like Florida facing declines in Canadian visitors due to inflation, steep accommodation prices, and changing travel funding preferences leaning towards Mexico and the Caribbean instead.
Specifically, data from Florida revealed a notable year-over-year decrease in Canadian visitors, from 739,000 last year down to approximately 640,000 in early 2025.
This has raised alarm bells across hospitality sectors, with hotels and restaurants in popular destinations like Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Tampa Bay particularly reliant on Canadian patronage during winter.
Addressing this pressing issue, local tourism boards are ramping up their marketing budget, shifting focus to attracting the Canadian demographic by harnessing slogans centered on familial ties and appealing offers.
Data out of Nevada indicates a similar trend, with Las Vegas experiencing a 15 percent decrease in Canadian tourist arrivals, adversely affecting local economies reliant on their business.
In light of pandemic recovery, Las Vegas officials are establishing roadshows targeting Canadian travel companies, solidifying partnerships and marketing promotional packages that add value for potential visitors.
Hawaii has not escaped the trend, as reported declines indicate a nine percent drop in Canadian visitors, signalling a need for intervention to revitalize the appeal of traveling to the beautiful islands.
Escalating expenses and diminishing flight options have forced Canadians seeking tropical vacations to reconsider their travel plans, shifting towards alternative warmer regions.
The situation is echoed in New York, where tourism officials report a melancholic decline in visitors from Canada, thus adjusting forecasts for international arrivals and strategically investing in promotional activities aimed at attracting Canadian tourists.
As evidenced at key border crossings in Washington State, such as Blaine, there has been a notable reduction in Canadian entries, culminating from economic anxieties and shifting travel trends.
In response, US states reliant on borders are strategizing outreach efforts to bring back Canadian shoppers and tourists, such as Michigan, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, where businesses have seen dramatic dips in sales attributed to fewer visitors.
Maine has documented a more than 25 percent decline in Canadian border traffic, underscoring the pressing reality that border retail and service-dependent towns are facing acute hardships.
Similarly, Vermont’s vehicle crossings have dropped over 35 percent, significantly affecting local economies that rely heavily on Canadian patrons during peak travel times.
New Hampshire has also felt the fear of declines in tourism traffic, with local estimates suggesting a dip of around 30 percent in Canadian visits compared to prior years.
In an effort to mitigate losses, California has launched a “California Loves Canada” campaign offering discounts of up to 25 percent on accommodations and attractions, emphasizing outreach programs to entice Canadian travelers.
Palm Springs has taken steps to boost engagement by initiating initiatives such as banners proclaiming its affection for Canadians, positively impacting local morale and outreach.
In conclusion, as the 2025 winter season looms, the US is unveiling one of its most robust welcomes for Canadian travelers observed in years—consistent messages of warmth and appreciation are met with campaigns aimed at enticing visitors back.
Despite challenges within the travel market, US cities understand the critical economic influence of Canadian visitors and are taking comprehensive measures to bridge the gap, ensuring that they remain connected to this important segment.
Ultimately, as the travel landscape evolves, Canadian travelers showcasing preferences for variety and value will force US states to adapt rapidly, leading to improved offers, enhanced experiences, and the regaining of lost market share in the near future.
image source from：travelandtourworld
