For the first time in at least two decades, the Ottawa Ski, Snowboard and Travel Show has no American ski resorts among its exhibitors, as some Canadians continue to rethink their winter travel plans south of the border. The annual event welcomed upwards of 9,000 visitors to the Cohere Centre this weekend, with skiers and snowboarders browsing equipment, vacation packages and travel destinations ahead of the upcoming season. But despite a sold-out show floor, one familiar group of exhibitors was missing. Monica Kunstadt, director of the Ottawa Ski, Snowboard and Travel Show, confirmed that this is the first time in at least 20 years that no American ski resorts have attended. While the show dates back to 1987, she could not confirm whether it had happened in its earlier years. Kunstadt believes declining Canadian visitors to American ski resorts has made it difficult for those businesses to justify the cost of attending. “I think what the trend has been showing those exhibitors is that we have less Canadians heading down to the American resorts, and therefore, they couldn’t invest in sending their representatives up to Canada for our show this year,” she said. The absence hasn’t gone unnoticed by visitors. Kunstadt said some attendees came to the show specifically looking for neighbouring American destinations, including Vermont’s Jay Peak and Smugglers’ Notch resorts. For Ottawa-area skier William Dendy, the lack of American exhibitors wasn’t surprising. Dendy said his family previously travelled to Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont for March break, making the trip annually for seven or eight years. This season, however, they’re heading elsewhere. “We’re sort of in the same boat ourselves. We’re diverting to Alberta and Europe instead,” he said. Dandy has plans to ski in Banff and Zermatt, Switzerland, this winter. While he’s avoiding American ski destinations for now, he hasn’t ruled out returning in the future “We’re hoping to hit the Rockies in the next few years and hoping that things go in the right direction. We’ll see what happens here.” Patrice Miron, a ski instructor at Mont Cascades, is making a similar decision. Miron said he’s travelled to American ski resorts many times in the past and holds an Ikon Pass, which provides access to several destinations in New England. But he won’t be using it south of the border anytime soon. “I’ll be refraining for now,” he said. Miron said he would reconsider travelling to American resorts following a change in U.S. leadership, adding that the destinations themselves aren’t to blame for the political climate. “When the leadership’s changed over there, we’ll give it a second thought,” he said. Growing interest in Canadian skiing While American destinations were absent, Canadian resorts were making their pitch to skiers looking to stay closer to home. Joe Overton, sales and promotions manager at Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia, said he’s noticed growing interest from Canadians who want to keep their vacation spending within the country. “We’ve noticed an active decision from Canadians to keep business with Canada, to keep our travel within Canada,” he said. Overton said visitors to the Ottawa show have expressed interest in travelling west to experience the mountains in British Columbia. He also noted that the resort continues to welcome American visitors, particularly from Washington state and other northern states. Despite the absence of U.S. exhibitors, Kunstadt said the show floor was sold out, with new Canadian businesses, including exhibitors from Quebec, helping fill the space. There may also be signs that cross-border ski tourism is beginning to recover. Kunstadt said she remains in regular contact with American resorts, some of which are reporting renewed interest from Canadian customers. “We are in constant chats with them, and they do tell us that they are seeing an upswing of their Canadian customers coming back,” she said. For now, organizers remain hopeful that familiar American destinations will be represented at the show again next year. “Hopefully for 2027, we can welcome some of our key repeat exhibitors back for these shows,” Kunstadt said.
