FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Over a 10-day period in May 2022, more than 10,600 Manitobans took advantage of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce’s Tourism Rebate Incentive Program (TRIP), spending $2.33 million on staycations and earning $1 million in rebates.
“TRIP 2022 was a resounding success, helping to stimulate an atypical level of tourism spending prior to the May long weekend,” says Chuck Davidson, President & CEO, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. “When combined with the two TRIP phases we delivered in 2021, close to 33,000 Manitobans took advantage of the program, resulting in a significant economic impact estimated at more than $20 million for Manitoba’s beleaguered tourism and hospitality industries. That’s a return on investment of more than 6 to 1.”
In total, the three phases of TRIP generated direct, trackable spending on hotels and attractions of $7.8 million. But even more significant, TRIP participants who responded to a 2021 post-initiative survey estimated their total trip spend (hotel/attraction plus retail, restaurant, fuel, etc., but excluding the value of the rebate) at approximately $510 – for an estimated economic boost of more than $16.8 million.
The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce developed and delivered the Tourism Rebate Incentive Program (TRIP) in response to the devastating impact of the pandemic.In 2021, TRIP returned more than $2.2 million in rebates to Manitoba residents aged 18+ who embarked on road trips and overnight stays, filling hotel rooms, taking advantage of specially designed stay-and-play packages, and bolstering attraction visitation throughout the province. In May 2022, TRIP phase 3 enabled Manitobans to book and stay in a hotel/motel between May 6 to 16 and apply for a $100 rebate cheque. For those seeking a day excursion or outing only, a second rebate option of 50% off general admission at any of the province’s 31 Star Attractions with admission was also available.
“TRIP successfully stimulated tourism spending across the province during three periods when we desperately needed it. The program focused on supporting the hotel industry, which was among the pandemic’s hardest-hit due to travel restrictions, then, more recently, staffing and supply chain challenges, and now global political unrest. The past two years have been incredibly difficult for Manitoba’s tourism industry, which generates more than $1.6 billion in spending annually, representing 3% of our GDP. As they always do, Manitobans stepped up and made a real difference by participating in TRIP.”
Manitoba adults from all age ranges and from across all regions of the province took advantage of TRIP, producing excellent outcomes:
- MONEY in MANITOBANS’ POCKETS: MCC processed 22,000 rebates in 2021 and 10,600 in 2022, for a total value of $3.2 million returned to Manitobans who invested in tourism.
- BOOSTED HOTEL OCCUPANCY: Manitobans participating in TRIP paid for almost 17,800 individual hotel nights and 2,877 hotel stay & play packages (room and attraction or local activity such as golf or dining) in 2021. In 2022, Manitobans paid for 10,350 hotel nights.
- INCREASED VISITATION: Just like hotels, attractions were deeply affected by pandemic capacity and operating restrictions. TRIP rebated more than 4,700 attraction admission fees in 2021 and 700 in 2022, helping to boost visitation.
- INSPIRED TRAVEL: 56% of TRIP survey respondents said that the trip they took was not planned prior to the launch of the program. TRIP was an effective incentive.
