There’s optimism from Thunder Bay’s tourism manager for future development following the recent opening of the Delta-Marriott Hotel.
The city’s tourism manager Paul Pepe notes he’s fielded plenty of questions about the waterfront property.
“So now there’s more options in the neighbourhood, more clusters. It actually creates an opportunity for all the hotel properties, with the convention space, with the meeting space, to collaborate more too.”
Pepe adds having the Delta hotel name in this city is powerful.
Even before the new waterfront hotel opened, he noted that name’s reputation across Canada was driving people to look to Thunder Bay.
“Travel media, tour operators, corporate clients, have been asking for this property for 3-4 years now in our office.”
The city’s tourism boss is also excited with a number of other hotels opening recently in Thunder Bay, as well as some under renovation.
He says there is a demand.
“But our hotel occupancy rate in July and August exceed 90%, some of the highest rates in Canada. So having more inventory is needed.”
But there’s also the winter time in Thunder Bay, which the tourism manager notes is also growing.
