Canada is adding over 6,500 hotel rooms in 2025, double last year's pace, with projects like a Sofitel in Montreal and a restored historic property in Ottawa. Booking.com is cutting ties with independent affiliates and pushing its own AI recommendation engine instead, sparking backlash from creators who relied on those partnerships.
Questions this episode answers
Episode 249.
2025.
More than 6,500 new rooms.
The 2025 total is said to be double the number built in 2024.
Blackbush Beach Resort (Prince Edward Island); a boutique conversion near Niagara Falls; Le Nouvium (Montreal); History Ottawa; Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile.
Chapters
Welcome to episode 249 of the STR Daily podcast, powered by Boostly, the industry's first AI driven show for short term rental professionals. I'm Bob, your host, bringing you the latest news, trends and insights in travel, AI and hospitality. Whether you're a host, property manager or industry expert, this podcast is your go to source for staying ahead and in the fast moving world of short term rentals. Our mission to equip you with actionable strategies and updates so you can navigate the industry with confidence. Hit that subscribe button and never miss an upload in today's episode. First up, Canada's hospitality industry is entering a fresh wave of innovation, blending sustainability, luxury and cultural storytelling to meet evolving traveler and event planner expectations. With hotel development activity hitting its Highest level since 2019, 2025 will see more than 6,500 new rooms added nationwide, double the number built in 2024. Highlights include Eco focused Blackbush Beach Resort in Prince Edward Island, a boutique conversion near Niagara Falls, and the dramatic restoration of Le Nouvium in Montreal. Meanwhile, History Ottawa, a Drake backed venue, adds star power to event space offerings and the revamped Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile reflects a broader luxury uplift. These projects represent a key shift in Canada's hospitality playbook, creating spaces that are not just visually appealing but also purpose built for modern event design, regional identity and environmental consciousness. Whether it's integrating bonfire amphitheaters or heritage architecture, these properties speak to a future where hotels aren't just places to stay, they're destinations in themselves. In contrast, the digital side of the travel industry is facing growing tension, especially in how platforms work with creators. Booking.com has sparked backlash by terminating many of its direct affiliate relationships with travel bloggers and influencers. While creators received vague emails citing a shift in strategic focus, the real story appears to be a pivot toward centralizing partnerships such as through third party affiliate network awin. Many see this as a forced migration and a sign that OTAs are deprioritizing creator led discovery in favor of AI generated content and platform owned recommendation engines. This coincides with Expedia's new trip matching feature which uses social content like Instagram reels to build travel itineraries without necessarily crediting or compensating the creators behind them. As the travel tech giants double down on AI and automation, creators are left asking is their role being reduced to unpaid data sources? For an industry that once championed influencer marketing, the shift reflects a broader trend toward platform control where inspiration, booking and content consumption all happen inside closed ecosystems, often with little room for human creatives. If you need help boosting your direct bookings, check out the Boostly website and if you'd like a shout out on the podcast, leave a review. We love hearing from our listeners and your feedback helps us improve. Also, don't forget to share this podcast with your industry peers. Tag Boostly UK on social media when you do, and we'll be sure to share it too. Thanks for tuning in. And remember, book Direct.
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