Hotel association in B.C. blames bad messaging for World Cup vacancies

VANCOUVER — The British Columbia Hotel Association is blaming flawed “messaging” for vacancies heading into next month’s FIFA World Cup, that has left tourists with the false impression no rooms are available.

Instead, the association says June hotel occupancy rates in downtown Vancouver are pacing about 15 per cent behind the same period last year.

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It says the World Cup has “has not generated the broad hotel demand many expected,” although booking activity suggests travellers are making plans closer to arrival.

The association says a move by FIFA to release previously booked blocks of rooms was partly behind the room inventory that “continues to return to the market.”

It says it’s time to switch to a simple message, that “Vancouver is ready, rooms are available, and visitors should make their plans.”

The association’s statement comes less than four weeks before June 13, when Vancouver hosts the first of seven World Cup matches in the city.

Next month’s occupancy rates across the broader Vancouver and Lower Mainland markets are meanwhile pacing about nine per cent behind June 2025, the association says.

While fans have complained about being priced out of attending the World Cup due to ticket and accommodation costs, the association makes no mention of financial considerations in its breakdown of the reasons behind the vacancies.

“This should also serve as a reminder that major events require balanced messaging, co-ordinated planning, and realistic expectations,” the association says in the release.

“Perception matters in tourism. When consumers are repeatedly told there will be ‘no rooms available,’ many simply choose not to come.”

It says a false “public story” about the city being booked out “can reduce the very demand the event is meant to support.”

The association says recent visitor modelling also points to a “different mix of demand than many first assumed,” saying a significant share of attendees are expected to be local or regional same-day visitors.

Destination Vancouver said earlier this week that hotel bookings for June were down, but noted that air arrivals to Vancouver between June and August are up six per cent from last year.

Vancouver is among 16 cities across Canada, the United States and Mexico that will host a combined 104 games during the expanded 48-team tournament, running June 11 through July 19. Toronto is hosting six matches.

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