OTTAWA — Golf phenom Brooke Henderson may be just what Ottawa’s tourism industry needs to revitalize its declining numbers.
Henderson, of Smiths Falls, Ont., is the star attraction at this week’s CP Women’s Open at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club. The most successful professional golfer in Canadian history, Henderson hopes the LPGA Tour event can help the tourism sector in the nation’s capital recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I hope a lot of people come out and we can really celebrate, not that COVID is over, but that things move on and get back to normal a bit,” said Henderson, who won the event in 2018 at Wascana of Regina. Country Club.
South Korean Jin Young Ko won in 2019 at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont., with Henderson in the final group of the fourth round. The event was scheduled to be held at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in Vancouver in 2020 and 2021, but was canceled both years due to travel restrictions stemming from the pandemic.
Ottawa Tourism reports that the tourism sector has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. A spokeswoman for the agency said hotel occupancy in Ottawa was 120% higher in June this year than in 2021 and 235% higher than in 2020. Hotel occupancy was 41, 9% higher in July than in 2021 and 130% higher than in 2020.
However, these two months of 2022 remain below 2019 occupancy levels.
Jantine Van Kregten, director of communications for Ottawa Tourism, says business travel hasn’t come back strong because the city’s biggest employer, the federal government, still has most of its staff working from home. This means people who would have come to Ottawa before the pandemic to meet staff in person can now meet virtually instead.
“The lack of staff in downtown offices is also having a ripple effect on downtown – the dry cleaners, shops and restaurants that used to meet the needs of the workforce are no longer as busy than before, which means a potentially less vibrant core for visitors, too,” Van Kregten said.
Golf Canada reports that the CP Women’s Open has already sold more than 70,000 tickets, a record for women’s golf in the country. Ottawa Tourism said the event will have an expected economic impact of $13.4 million in the region.
“The last few years have been really tough for everyone, so I think it’s amazing that the tour is back in Canada after so long,” Henderson said. “It’s amazing to see all these people out there and relatively safe enjoying great activity and great sport.”
The federal government announced a $4.4 million investment in Golf Canada’s two pro tournaments on Wednesday afternoon, with the funding to be split between the CP Women’s Open and the RBC Canadian Men’s Open, which usually takes place in the Greater Toronto Area.
Mona Fortier, President of the Treasury Board and MP for Ottawa-Vanier, made the announcement in person at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club. She said the anti-government convoy protests that seized Ottawa in February and March also hurt tourism in the capital.
“Ottawa has been hit hard, not only by COVID, but also by the convoy, which is putting a lot of pressure on trying to get people to Ottawa and show it’s a safe city,” said Fortier, who met with Ottawa Tourism and other industry organizations on how to support the reporting sector.
“We’re all working together to make sure we have events like the Women’s Open and to make sure it’s safe but also attracts tourists.”
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on August 24, 2022.
John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
