Montreal hotels say more action from government needed to keep tourism industry alive
Montreal hotels say that even though they never shut down during the pandemic, they’re still losing a lot of money — and that many could close if the government doesn’t help.
“We are driving our business on credit cards,” said Marc Saunier, who manages Hotel Monville in downtown Montreal.
He says business has been slow throughout the Omicron wave. Of the hotel’s 270 rooms, an average of just 30 are booked every day, and cancellations keep coming.
“We lost all of the business we had on our books until the end of April,” he said.
An industry survey found that 40 per cent of Quebec hotels lost more than $100,000 in the last month.
And Saunier says the government isn’t doing enough to help.
“Taxes [are] coming in March — the city tax — and nobody has the money to pay for it," said Jean-Sebastien Boudreault, CEO of the Hotel Association of Greater Montreal (AHGM).
Aside from financial aid, hotels want the government to come up with an action plan to bring tourists back.
“We have international conferences coming in April and May and June and July. We want them to be reassured that they can come and be in Montreal,” said Boudreault.
Part of the problem, hotels say, is that tourists are avoiding Montreal because the restaurants are closed for indoor dining — restaurants that are also desperate for help.
The owners of Le Sh Moonshine BBQ in St-Henri say that even with a renewed emphasis on takeout, business is down around 70 per cent.
Owner Melissa Beaver says that although she understands hospitalizations are high, restaurant workers “need to be able to continue the restaurant lifestyle” that Montreal is “so well-known” for.
A spokesperson for the tourism minister said that since the beginning of the pandemic, the government has allocated $1.2 billion to support the tourism industry — but adds that, at this stage, safety must be prioritized when it comes to the reopening of businesses.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW What Canada is doing about the toxic forever chemicals in drinking water
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
Arrest made, manslaughter charge pending in 2022 death of Calgary toddler
Calgary police have arrested a man and a charge is pending in connection with the death of a toddler in 2022.
Prince William returns to public duties after wife Kate's cancer revelation
Prince William will return to public duties on Thursday for the first time since his wife Kate revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
Russia reports downing 5 Ukrainian military balloons in Kyiv's latest apparent war innovation
Russian air defences downed what authorities described as five Ukrainian balloons overnight, the defence ministry in Moscow said Thursday, as the sides kept up long-range strikes that have featured heavily in what has largely become a war of attrition.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson Airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Frustrated farmers are rebelling against EU rules. The far right is stoking the flames
Mainstream political parties failed to act on European farmers' complaints for decades, one farmer says. Now the radical right is stepping in.
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.