Next to the palm trees at Richard’s Motel in Hollywood, Fla., there’s a life-size fiberglass moose and signs that welcome Canadian visitors. Usually, fall brings many French Canadians to this place, which owner Richard Clavet has affectionately called “Little Quebec.”
However, Clavet, who hails from Quebec himself, mentioned that the trade conflict between the United States and Canada that started last year led to many cancellations. Some guests pretended to be ill. But one caller was straightforward, citing politics as the reason.
Clavet attempted to persuade him to reconsider.
“You have a $1,000 deposit already paid, you know – you’re turning that down if you’re not coming. At least postpone it or do something,” Clavet recalled telling the guest.
Clavet said the caller responded, “No, I’m not going in the U. S. anymore.”
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
A sign indicating that French is spoken hangs outside Richard’s Hotel in Hollywood, Fla., on Feb. 10. Karen Hopper enjoys poolside weather while on vacation from Quebec.
The United States has always been a favorite travel spot for Canadians according to Canadian government data.
But recent trade tensions have caused a significant drop in visitors, especially noticeable in this South Florida area.
In addition to trade disputes, factors like a weak Canadian dollar and new border screening and ID requirements have also contributed.
By summer 2025, Clavet became concerned. He started hosting free parties and bingo games to attract attention. Then he flooded his social media with photos of Canadians enjoying those events.
It worked out well for him; this year’s bookings are looking strong.
“This year I’ve got a lot of them coming in October,” Clavet said. “I’m like a little freaking out – it’s too many.”
Al Diaz / Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Clavet walks past a statue of a moose he brought from Canada for display at one of his Canadian-themed hotels.
This isn’t true for Jay Gandhi at Curtis Inn & Suites down the street. He expressed concern about this year’s snowbird season starting as early as October until April. Normally, he’d see around 60 to 70 Canadian guests during this time but last year it dropped to about 50 and he’s now expecting only around 30 guests.
The decline in travelers from Canada is also reflected by fewer nonstop flights between Canada and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. According to Visit Lauderdale-Broward County’s official marketing arm-the number of flights started dropping last April with an overall decrease of about 7% last year and nearly 9% during the first half of 2026.
: Oh, Canada – tourists missing from Florida
This aligns with results from a survey conducted by Snowbird Advisor last year which gathered responses from about 4,000 members revealing a 12-percentage-point decline among those planning to spend winter season 2025-2026 in the U. S.
At the same time, Snowbird Advisor President Stephen Fine noted an increase in travel elsewhere.
“We’re seeing more snowbirds heading to Central America,” he stated. “We’re also noticing growth towards Caribbean destinations.”
