What is revenge travel? A 'potential problem' for the region, says WindsorEats owner
A pandemic-inspired trend is encouraging people to pack their bags and jet off to the places they have missed over the past few years — but the owner of WindsorEats says it has him concerned about its negative impact on Windsor-Essex tourism.
"One of the things that we're really worried about is the idea of revenge tourism. While it's great for a lot of destinations, we look at it as it could be a potential problem," said WindsorEats owner Adriano Ciotoli.
According to Ciotoli, far too many Americans — particularly those from Michigan, Ohio and Illinois — are electing not to cross the border into Canada. Plus, many Windsorites are looking to vacation outside the city. The result is what he calls "the perfect storm" for a decline in the number of people spending money in Windsor-Essex.
"There's still a stigma to coming to Windsor-Essex as a lunch-bucket town that really doesn't have much to offer," he said.
While free events such as the Carrousel of Nations are seeing high attendance, paid events aren’t doing as well, according to Ciotoli. One example he points to is WindsorEats' Dinner on a Pier event.
Prior to the pandemic, tickets would normally sell out within one or two weeks. But this year, with less than one month to go before the event's schedule date, only a quarter of tickets have sold.
"With our Wine Trail Ride, it's the same thing where we've had lower ticket sales. Even with our Friday Night Lights, the numbers are lower than they traditionally are," he said.
"So there's still some of that hesitancy of spending ... They're being a little more frugal with their dollars — taking advantage of free or inexpensive events or experiences."
When asked what Windsor Essex Tourism Pelee Island (TWEPI), the region's official destination marketing organization, is doing to combat revenge travel, CEO Gordon Orr said "we've never spent more money" on marketing campaigns.
"We're doing a multimillion dollar campaign that we bought into through Destinations Ontario, for Get To Know Your Neighbor Again. That's targeted to people in Michigan and Ohio — to bring people here and remind Americans that the border is open," said Orr.
He added 150,000 copies of direct mail have been sent to people in Chatham, Sarnia and London, along with 150,000 copies of a Windsor-Essex staycation guide that was distributed across southwestern Ontario.
"We're still looking for the locals in Windsor and Essex County to support local and to spend some of their money here. But we also respect the fact that some of them will want to get out and enjoy what's there to see and do in other markets," Orr added.
"If they're going to do that, we hope it's in the province of Ontario, because that's the economic engine that makes the tourism and hospitality industry thrive here."
But for Ciotoli, he'd like to see tourism organizations do a better job of promoting the region's whisky tourism — something the WindsorEats owner said has been booming worldwide.
"We have North America's largest distillery here. There's our history of rum running and we're the birthplace of Canadian Club Whiskey. Even Kentucky, with all their hundreds of distilleries, can't even touch that," said Ciotoli.
"We really feel a focus on that can really help give Windsor-Essex a name, to be known for something. That's really, I think, what's lacking for Windsor-Essex.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
BREAKING Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Metro Vancouver mayors call for serial killer Robert Pickton to be denied parole
A dozen mayors from around Metro Vancouver say federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Arif Virani should deny parole for notorious B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, and reassess the parole and sentencing system for 'prolific offenders and mass murderers.'
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
2 military horses that broke free and ran loose across London are in serious condition
Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in a serious condition and required operations, a British government official said Thursday.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.