STAY CANADIAN is a site dedicated to helping the travelling public better understand the impact of their accommodation choices.

There has always been a "Buy American" or a "Buy Canadian" push in both countries, but we are experiencing something different in the accommodation industry - especially over the past decade - and that is Canadian Hoteliers joining foreign-owned franchises; we are buying Canadian, but are paying foreign firms.

How does this affect you?

Everytime we stay at this type of facility, a percentage of the room cost goes directly to the franchiser which for most of these chains is a US Corporation. This money leaves our economy; it is not used to pay employees or fund renovations. This even affects the government as it is taxed at a low rate. Millions of dollars leave Canada each year through foreign owned hospitality franchises with very little returning. There are many Canadian hotel operators that do not subscribe to foreign-owned franchises and, each time you stay at these locations, what you pay gets taxed and spent in Canada. Helping the Canadian economy can be as simple as staying across the street!