The reopening of the borders suggested the beginning of a revival of business tourism with the vaccination passport. The reality turns out to be more nuanced and major events have been canceled, which is unfortunate when you know thata business tourist earns twice as much as a leisure tourist. As an indication, the figures are revealing: the business tourism sector represented, before the pandemic, 40% of Montreal tourist spinoffs and more than 33% for all of Quebec. And that’s without counting the 27,000 direct and indirect jobs linked to this sector.
So what is coming for business tourism?
The recovery is likely to be delayed longer. From cancellations for the months of September, October and November are proof of this. This decline is also being felt in the field of business tourism in Europe, where the volume of business trips in 2021 will represent 52% of that achieved in 2019, according to current forecasts.
One of the obstacles stated in Quebec is related to the complexity represented by the application of health rules : they differ for festivals, shows, for a sporting event and for business events. Within an event itself, the passport may be required in one place (eg: restaurant, gym) and not in another (eg. Rooms, accommodation, spas) … The passport is required for conventions and conferences , but not for business meetings, or training …
However, the implementation of the vaccine passport was precisely aimed at guarantee business continuity preserving the health and safety of participants and employees.
The recovery is therefore likely to be delayed longer for business tourism in Quebec, in particular because of the more important and less spontaneous planning in this sector only for leisure travel.
As we operate in an increasingly connected world, it is essential for business tourism players to demonstrate that technology can never replace real life experience.
Some industry players are advancing the month of May 2022 for a positive recovery in terms of conventions and the business market. For Air Transat and Aéroports de Montréal, although uncertainty still remains, theopening of Canadian borders to adequately vaccinated international travelers, however, offers hope for the future. The AHQ therefore helps to rebuild confidence in the main stakeholders: customers of its customers!
The AHQ deploys all its energy to help the industry face the challenges created by the circumstances. It is about coming together to strengthen the hotel industry in the face of the encouraging prospects that will emerge in 2022 and 2023.
Any establishment offering accommodation in Quebec (such as inns, youth hostels, vacation or educational centers, bed and breakfasts, hotels, motels, tourist residences, etc.) can become a member of the AHQ. The latter’s mandate is to represent them, to offer them concrete services allowing them to manage their establishment brilliantly, to defend collective interests and to provide means and tools to improve the competitiveness of the various Quebec accommodation offers. .
Visit our brand new website, modern and pragmatic: find what you are looking for and more! Contact the AHQ for the support or answers you need: [email protected] and at 579 721-6215, extension 5.
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