Canadian Business Travel to U.S. Declines Sharply

Canadian business leaders are increasingly cancelling trips to the United States, a trend that mirrors a significant decline in overall Canadian visitor numbers to American cities. This shift is attributed to ongoing geopolitical tensions, impacting not only tourism but also business-related travel. Data from the University of Toronto School of Cities, published earlier this year, revealed a 42% year-over-year median decline in Canadian visits to U.S. metropolitan areas based on cell phone activity analysis. This substantial decrease extends beyond traditional tourist destinations like Orlando and Las Vegas, affecting major industrial and financial hubs such as Dallas and Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Las Vegas, a city heavily reliant on tourism, experienced a notable drop in Canadian visitors. In 2025, the city welcomed just under 1.2 million Canadian tourists, a decrease from 1.4 million in 2024, representing a 17.4% decline according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). This trend is not isolated to Las Vegas; overall Canadian government data indicates a 25% year-over-year drop in visits from Canadians to the U.S. in 2025. The new data further highlights a sharper decline in Canadian travelers, with business leaders also curtailing their travel.

The impact on industrial and financial centers is particularly telling. Dallas, for instance, saw a nearly 50% year-over-year drop in Canadian visitors. This city is a significant hub for Canadian business, with Scotiabank opening a regional headquarters there in early 2026, joining other major Canadian financial institutions like Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal, and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce that already have a presence. Similarly, Grand Rapids, Michigan, which has strong ties to Canada's automotive industry and recently named Vaughan, Ontario, as a sister city, experienced a 53% decrease in Canadian visitors.

Karen Chapple, a co-author of the University of Toronto analysis, stated that these numbers indicate a broader impact beyond just tourist travel, affecting other forms of travel as well. The decline suggests that geopolitical factors are influencing travel decisions for both leisure and professional purposes, leading to a significant reduction in Canadian presence across various U.S. urban centers. The implications of this trend could affect local economies and cross-border business relationships.