Tourism Thunder Bay Gearing Up For Uncertain Winter

Jason Wellwood November 15, 2020 9:30 am Last Updated on July 2, 2025 5:37 am

Despite COVID times it seems like the hotels are chugging along.

Paul Pepe, the Manager of Tourism Thunder Bay, says our city’s hospitality sector had better numbers between July and September than expected.

“Overall [in the third quarter] we were down about a third from the same time period [in 2019]” says Pepe. “Going into winter, as cases rise again and the prospects of a lockdown and travel advisories loom it’s definitely going to be a lean winter.”

Pepe, who’s also a member of the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission, adds he’s already seeing travel advisories which has forced a shift in focus.

“We’re instead focusing on Northwestern Ontario market from now until Christmas,” notes Pepe.

Pepe cautions if things get worse, government assistance might be required for the hospitality industry as a whole.

Jason Wellwood

Originally from southern Ontario, Jason found his way here and fell in love with the community and music scene of Thunder Bay over twenty years ago. In between various stints on radio, television and writing, Jason is a dad, a partner and (some would consider) a zoo keeper (seriously, he has a LOT of pets).

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