March 5, 2026 – Toronto, ON
Today, Beth McMahon, President & CEO, announced a bold new era for the national voice of Canada's hotel sector: the Hotel Association of Canada is introducing a new name and brand identity—Hotels Canada.

The new name and brand identity reflect a modern, united, and forward-looking hotel industry. Hotels Canada captures the economic leadership and growth of more than 8,300 hotels operating in every community across the country, businesses that support over 300,000 jobs and contribute $12 billion in annual government revenues. This updated identity better reflects the scale and influence of a sector that plays a foundational role in Canada's visitor economy.

“The launch of Hotels Canada marks a natural evolution for an organization that has steadily expanded its role in national policy, economic advocacy, and leadership within the broader tourism sector,” said Beth McMahon, President & CEO. “This new identity reflects that trajectory: a clear, confident brand that elevates hotels as a cornerstone of Canada's visitor economy—an industry with $74 billion in assets and a powerful driver of jobs, investment, and growth across the country.”

Hotels Canada is proud to build on its strong legacy as a member-centred organization, founded in 1913 as The Hotelkeepers' Association of The Dominion of Canada, and known for providing trusted thought leadership and inspiring collective action on shared priorities. The new brand builds on this foundation while positioning the organization for the opportunities and challenges of the future.

The full implementation of the new name and brand will roll out over the coming months, including updated digital assets, member communications, advocacy materials, and sector-wide engagement.

MISSISSAUGA, ON – MARCH 5, 2026

The Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Expense Defence, introducing a value-added benefit program designed to help hospitality operators identify cost savings across key recurring expense categories.

Through this partnership, ORHMA members will gain access to Expense Defence’s specialized audit and recovery services, focused on identifying billing errors, overcharges, and pricing inefficiencies - delivering measurable savings while minimizing operational disruption.

Importantly, their savings analysis process is completely vendor-agnostic. Regardless of who a member’s current service providers are, Expense Defence conducts an independent assessment to ensure accuracy, competitive pricing, and optimal contract alignment.

The program concentrates specifically on five high-impact expense categories:

* Payment Processing

* Landline & Mobile

* Internet

* Cable

* Monitored Security

By targeting these essential operational categories, the program delivers tangible financial benefits while allowing members to maintain seamless day-to-day operations.

“Hospitality operators continue to face mounting cost pressures across all areas of their business,” said Tony Elenis, President & CEO of ORHMA. “This partnership with Expense Defence gives our members a no-risk opportunity to review core operational expenses, regardless of their current vendors, and uncover meaningful savings that directly support profitability.”

Expense Defence operates on a performance-based model, meaning members only pay a portion of savings actually received from their vendors, verified through monthly statement audits.

“We are proud to partner with ORHMA to support Ontario’s hospitality community,” said Gordon Ross of Expense Defence. “Our team takes an independent, vendor-neutral approach to reviewing recurring expenses. By focusing on these high-impact categories where billing discrepancies and inefficiencies frequently occur, we help businesses reduce costs and strengthen their financial performance without disrupting day-to-day operations.”

This new member benefit reinforces ORHMA’s ongoing commitment to delivering practical tools, strategic partnerships, and cost-containment solutions that enhance long-term sustainability for Ontario’s hospitality sector.

For more information about the Expense Defence member program, ORHMA members are encouraged to contact the association directly.

TORONTO, ON (March 4, 2026) – Inns - Canadais proud to announce the recipients of the prestigious President's Award for 2025 – a distinguished recognition reserved for properties that continually go above and beyond to deliver exceptional guest experiences.

The President's Award continues to set the benchmark for excellence across the Days Inns - Canada network. Recipients are selected through a rigorous evaluation of brand standards, operational performance, and guest feedback — putting the guest experience at the heart of every decision.

"This recognition is a reflection of the incredible dedication shown by our award-winning hotels," said Irwin Prince, President & COO of Days Inns - Canada. "The 47 properties we're honouring have made the 'Count on Me' philosophy a part of everything they do. Their unwavering commitment to guest satisfaction is what sets them apart, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements."

As part of its expanded recognition program, Days Inns - Canada also honours properties with long-standing records of consistent high standards. The Platinum Award is presented to hotels that have received the President's Award for ten or more consecutive years, while the Gold Award recognizes those achieving this distinction for five or more consecutive years — celebrating not just performance, but a legacy of hospitality that inspires guests to Seize the Days, one stay at a time.

Platinum President’s Award Winners:

Gold President’s Award Winners:

• Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Edmonton Airport, AB

President’s Award Winners:

What best practices does the Hotel Association of Canada recommend to help properties identify and prevent human trafficking, and how are frontline staff being trained to recognize and safely report red flags?

Through our national No Room for Trafficking initiative, the Hotel Association of Canada is helping establish consistent standards across the country - grounded in training, clear reporting protocols, and property-wide accountability. We encourage hotels to provide role-specific training for guest-facing teams so staff can recognize potential indicators, document concerns appropriately, and escalate safely through established procedures.

This work is rooted in awareness, consistency, and close coordination with local law enforcement and community partners. Today, more than 1,400 HAC member hotels are participating in No Room for Trafficking, committed to training all team members, alongside hundreds more properties across the broader industry. Together, we are strengthening prevention efforts nationwide.

Resources are available at hotelassociation.ca/no-room-for-trafficking, including many free training resources available in a wide range of languages. 

What metrics or benchmarks should hotels be tracking to evaluate whether their anti-trafficking and security policies are actually effective, and how can operators share best practices across the industry?

Human trafficking prevention is not a one-day campaign - it is a 12-month-a-year responsibility. Hotels should measure implementation and accountability through training completion and refresher rates, staff understanding of reporting protocols, and consistent adherence to escalation and documentation procedures. These indicators reveal whether policies are not only in place, but actively practiced across the property. Regular policy reviews and operational safeguards - including identity verification practices and security coordination - are also key indicators of program strength.

Best‑practice sharing is also essential. Through No Room for Trafficking, and through collaboration across industry associations and brand networks, hotels are sharing tools, training resources, and lessons learned to continuously strengthen standards across the sector.

At the Hotel Association of Canada, we work closely with the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, which operates the national Human Trafficking Hotline. In 2025, the Hotline received more than 5,900 calls - the highest number on record. The link between awareness and reporting is clear: as understanding grows, more potential cases are identified. Through our industry’s collective efforts, we expect that even more trafficking activity will be detected and ultimately prevented.

 The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking is a national charity that works to advance systemic change to prevent human trafficking and support victims and survivors. The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline (1-833-900-1010) is a confidential, multilingual service available 24/7/365 that connects victims, survivors, and concerned community members with local supports.