The Bacardi booth during day two of the 33rd annual Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show on March 27, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nev..David Becker/Getty Images
For years, Canadian brides- and grooms-to-be have embraced a time-honoured tradition: celebrating with a wild weekend in a sunny party destination before they put a ring on it.
Miami, Las Vegas, Nashville – these U.S. hot spots, among others, have long been the backdrop for boozy weekends, co-ordinated outfits and elaborate party itineraries.
But this year, some Canadians are opting to keep their bachelor and bachelorette festivities closer to home. A weak Canadian dollar, rising travel costs and the trade war with the U.S. are weighing on those decisions.
Amberly MacKinnon, 35, had her sights set on Nashville when she started planning her sister’s bachelorette party in February. But when she crunched the numbers, the reality hit hard: Flights and accommodations alone would set each guest back at least $1,000 for the weekend.
While she was expecting the flights to Nashville to have a hefty price tag, the price for the Airbnb for the weekend, which was around $500 per person, surprised her.
Ultimately, Ms. MacKinnon and the rest of the wedding party decided to pivot to a surprise destination in Canada for the bachelorette in May, trading honky-tonks for cozy cabins. The group will spend just over $600 each for the whole weekend, including transportation, accommodation, food and activities.
The decision was mostly financial, but Ms. MacKinnon said growing tensions with the U.S. involving concerns of annexation and tariffs, played a role, too.
“I think people are a little bit relieved that we aren’t going,” said Ms. MacKinnon, who lives in Stratford, Ont., in an interview.
She’s not alone. Reddit threads have popped up with Canadians sharing tips on affordable bachelor party alternatives, with many cancelling their U.S. party trips in favour of domestic destinations or sunny getaways in places such as Mexico.
While it’s too early to gauge the trade war’s full impact on Canadians' travel down south, signs of a slowdown are emerging. Statistics Canada reported that in January, the number of Canadians returning from U.S. trips by vehicle declined annually for the first time since the pandemic.
Yet not all tourism has taken a hit – a recent Globe and Mail report found that bookings by Canadians at a Vermont ski resort haven’t changed much.
Still, Bach to Bach, a Montreal-based bachelorette planning service, has seen a 25-per-cent drop in bookings for U.S. destinations this year.
“While usually Canadians are hoping to evade the cold winters this time of year and head towards warmer U.S states, we are now seeing them prioritizing budget more and opting for options closer by,” said Chiara Bettan, the company’s co-founder, in an e-mail.
The impact extends beyond party planners, as airlines are adjusting their schedules to reflect shifting travel habits. Air Canada, for example, recently announced a 10-per-cent reduction in flights to Florida, Las Vegas and Arizona starting in March, all hot spots for pre-wedding parties.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Travel Association estimated that just a 10-per-cent drop in Canadian travel would cost the industry US$2.1-billion and 14,000 jobs.
For American businesses that have long relied on Canadian party groups, the drop-off is noticeable.
Jewels Giordano, manager of Scottsdale Party Bus Limo in Arizona, has spent three years organizing bachelorette party transportation. Lately, she says, fewer Canadians are booking.
“We have noticed a ton less Canadians coming down,” Ms. Giordano said. When Canadians do inquire, they often hesitate after hearing the cost in U.S. dollars and then ask if there are any sales or promotions because the loonie is so low, she said.
Case Resor, owner of Double Black Transportation, which operates party buses in Charleston, Jackson Hole and Miami, says Canadian bookings have disappeared.
“I haven’t noticed any Canadians booking in the last six months,” Mr. Resor said. “We want as many bookings as possible, so any negative effect hurts us.”
Nashville, one of the biggest U.S. bachelorette destinations, would be affected significantly if Canadian visitors to the city declined. Based on research from the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp., Canadians make up almost half of international visitors to Music City.
“The absence of Canadian visitors would have a significant impact on Nashville’s tourism industry, as Canada is our top international market,” said Deana Ivey, president and chief executive of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, in a statement to The Globe.
“A decline in Canadian visitors would not only affect overall tourism numbers but also the local businesses and cultural experiences that thrive on international engagement.”
While U.S. businesses brace for losses, Canadian locations are seeing a boost. Bach to Bach said there’s been increased interest in places such as Montreal and Prince Edward County – already known for their tourism appeal – as more Canadians choose to celebrate domestically.
“Personally, I’m happy to stay in Canada and support Canadian businesses,” Ms. MacKinnon said. “There’s lots of fun places here, too, to do things in, and I think people forget about that.”
