Arizona Turns Up the Heat for Canadian Bookings

This week as T.O. was in its deep freeze, tourism reps from the state of Arizona paid a visit, bringing with them a refreshing thaw, despite many Canadians grappling with travel plans to the United States.

Charmaine Singh, president of REACH Global Marketing, the PR agency that reps Visit Arizona in Canada, opened the afternoon’s media event by noting that a large number of Canadians, albeit incognito, are resuming travel to the U.S.

“The guts of our numbers are coming from the drive market,” she told a small gathering of local media (both trade and consumer) at the Park Hyatt’s Writer’s Room, adding that clients will be guaranteed scenery, entertainment, shopping, culinary experiences, and good weather.

Marjorie Magnusson, Media Relations Manager, Arizona Office of Tourism, revealed that MICHELIN Guide will be dropping its first MICHELIN Guide Southwest edition in 2026—a notable development for Arizona’s evolving culinary scene. “They are in the state now, somewhere,” she smiled.

Magnusson told Travel Press Today that the general attitude among Arizonans toward Canadian visitors remains welcoming despite broader geopolitical tensions.  “We love our Canadian friends and family, and quite frankly they love coming to Arizona as well,” she says and adds, “Arizona always has high season somewhere as we’re not a one-season destination.”

Desert communities like Phoenix, Tucson, and those along the Colorado River including Yuma and Lake Havasu City, are all known for warmer climates that appeal to Canadians.

Canada Strong

Canada remains Arizona’s second-largest international source market, with approximately 852,000 Canadians visiting in 2024. Compared to arrival figures with 2023, there’s been a 3.6 percent increase.

The uptick can be attributed to several factors: a stable destination, snowbirds, golf in the winter, 300 days of sunshine, and outdoor travel as some examples.

Even the airline industry in Canada has taken note of the increasing visitor arrivals. Porter Airlines, media heard, is launching flights directly to Phoenix from Ottawa and Vancouver. “The airlines must know something,” says Magnusson.

Four Pro Travel Tips

State reps from four areas (Scottsdale, Lake Havasu, Gilbert and the Navajo Nation) made brief presentations outlining tourism developments and unique offerings.

Michelle Streeter, Marketing Manager at Discover Gilbert describes this desert hub as “America’s largest town.” Only 300,000 residents, she shared how the city through a partnership with the local Audubon Society chapter now offers birding tours at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve. “We were able to track with our national tracker an American pelican…. So how is an American Pelican not on a coast? Well, here it is, the first one that we tracked in Gilbert, Arizona,” she told Travel Press on the rare finding.

The 110-acre wetland is an immersive Sonoran Desert tour where participants can use binoculars to witness migratory birds.

Tanya Pickren, PR Manager with Go Lake Havasu, whose destination was named as one of the top U.S. beaches by Conde Nast Traveler, enthused that every stone block from the famous London Bridge was shipped and rebuilt. Today, the spectacular landmark is popular for canoers and kayakers paddling beneath. “We are a giant lake in the middle of the desert,” she says of this sparsely populated desert town (only 60,000 residents strong).

Melanie Greco, a long-time PR rep for Experience Scottsdale in Canada, reflected on the enduring appeal of the Sonoran Desert as a crowd-pleaser, as are the chef-driven restaurants, beautiful hotels and landscapes. “Our planes are full,” she remarked describing one of her latest flights to Arizona.

Representing the Navajo Nation Tourism Department was William B. Raines, a tourism official with expertise in archaeology (his wife and daughter are Navajo), and Sharlene Begay-Platero who is the Division Director working with the youngest Indian leader in the United States.

Begay-Platero encouraged travel advisors to consider the iconic Grand Circle road trip. The circuitous route in southwestern U.S. traverses national parks, monuments and tribal lands. From the Four Corners Monument, which is operated by the Navajo Nation, clients can physically stand in four states (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah).

Some Key Takeaways for Advisors:

• The Spa at JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort and Spa will reopen after a $24-million transformation.
• The REMI Scottsdale is now open.
• Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale has completed an $18-million renovation.  This is the largest refurbishment project since opening in 1956.
• Opening this summer is the new International Dark Sky Discovery Center in Fountain Hills. The largest telescope in the Phoenix metro area will be open for public viewing.
• In fall, bikers can race through the Prescott National Forest competing in the new three-day race called The Rough Rider. Contestants start in the mining town of Jerome, pedaling the next day through the national forest, and on the final day, cycling to the Thumb Butte corridor before finishing at Prescott’s downtown courthouse square. (Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2026)
• Canyon De Chelly in Navajo Nation feels more intimate than the Grand Canyon—it’s enormous.
• Sierra Vista, Arizona is the “Hummingbird Capital of the U.S.” In the area two AVA (American Viticultural Areas) wineries can be found.
• A new Navajo-owned Via Ferrata experience is opening at Antelope Ridge Adventure Park on the Navajo Nation.

Expanded Air Connectivity

Porter Airlines to introduce new daily service to Phoenix starting in February from Vancouver and Ottawa.

Air Canada and Porter Airlines fly daily from YYZ to Phoenix. Air Canada also has 4 times weekly service from Montreal, and once daily departures from Vancouver.

In addition, starting on Feb. 1, WestJet will increase frequency to Phoenix (3-6x weekly) with up to two daily flights from Edmonton, and increased service from Vancouver with 4-7 times weekly. WestJet service from Calgary to Phoenix will continue to have 3 daily departures.

For more and to access travel agent training tools, go to https://traveltradeandmedia.visitarizona.com/#new_tab