Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
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Hotels in Saskatoon that were once a hub for business activity, parties and conferences are now virtually empty as the COVID-19 pandemic keeps customers away.
Tourism Saskatoon CEO Stephanie Clovechok laid out the grim reality facing hotels, restaurants and attractions with Gormley guest host Mike Couros.
Clovechok said there are downtown hotels in Saskatoon operating with four per cent occupancy, while many restaurants are struggling to break even due to public health orders that limit seating capacity.
“The times are very, very dire for our hospitality sector,” said Clovechok.
“In the next couple months there is about 60 per cent of our partners who could be permanently closing their doors and I have not met one single person who looks forward to seeing businesses boarded up in our communities.”
Seeing restaurants, hotels and attractions close is just one aspect that worries Clovechok.
The Saskatoon Airport Authority ended the year with passenger traffic down 69 per cent and is forecasting a $2-million deficit. Clovechok said if air service does not return to pre-COVID levels, it would create a domino effect on international travelers who visit the city.
“If we do not have a destination where there are things to do and infrastructure that remains for people to come and experience, we will not attract that investment or capital in the future,” she said.
“This is about the need to shift part of our conversation toward strategies that are going to rebuild and restart our visitor economy with a very Saskatchewan solution around people.”
Clovechok predicts we won’t see the hospitality industry fully recover until 2024.
