The Tourism and Hospitality industry includes businesses that offer entertainment and recreation opportunities, as well as activities related to arts. It also includes accommodation and food service businesses, including hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, wineries, distilleries, cideries, and breweries. When looking at the sector across Windsor-Essex, we see a growing sector that has withstood the challenges of the pandemic and has adjusted to changing customer trends for both wellness and adventure. For the purposes of this sector overview, we will focus on NAIC 71 – Arts, entertainment and recreation and 72 – Accommodation and food services.
Industries

Local Feature (Image): Caesar’s Windsor
Do
Windsor-Essex is a vibrant hub for outdoor activities and entertainment that cater to visitors seeking active, playful experiences. From the scenic riverfront parks and cycling trails to kayaking on Lake St.Clair, the region offers endless opportunities for recreation and adventure. Families and thrill-seekers can enjoy mini-golf, concerts, and outdoor festivals that celebrate Windsor’s lively arts and culture scene. These activities not only attract fun-loving visitors but also contribute to the growth of career opportunities in recreation management, event coordination, and leisure services.
In-Demand Jobs:

Local Feature (Image): Grove Motel
Stay
Windsor-Essex, with its unique position along the Detroit River and proximity to major attractions, has a thriving accommodations and hotelier industry. From luxury hotels and boutique inns to charming bed-and-breakfasts, the region offers a range of lodging options catering to both leisure and business travelers. With year-round events, festivals, and proximity to casinos, the demand for quality accommodations continues to grow. This growth supports a variety of career opportunities in hospitality, including roles in guest services, event management, and tourism-related business operations.
In-Demand Jobs:

Local Feature (Image): Rochester Place Golf Club
Play
Experience tourism has expanded over the past several years and can include a variety of activities that inspire the local weekend warrior, out-of-towner or international visitor. Windsor-Essex is a popular destination for birding, boating, fishing, and golfing with a wide range of supportive seasonal and year-round careers.
In-Demand Jobs:

Local Feature (Image): EPIC Wine Trail
Eat & Drink
Windsor-Essex boasts a thriving food and drink scene, celebrated for its rich cultural diversity and local flavors. From farm-to-table dining experiences to craft breweries and award-winning wineries, the region has become a culinary destination for food lovers and beverage enthusiasts alike. Its vibrant restaurant scene, food festivals, and artisan markets showcase everything from gourmet dishes to casual comfort foods. This flourishing sector not only attracts visitors but also supports numerous careers, ranging from chefs and sommeliers to food production, service staff, and hospitality management professionals.
In-Demand Jobs:

Local Feature: Fort Malden National Historic Site
See
Windsor-Essex offers a rich tapestry of sights and attractions for visitors to explore. From the stunning waterfront views along the Detroit River to the historic architecture of Sandwich Town, there’s something for everyone. Art lovers can immerse themselves in the region’s vibrant gallery scene, while history enthusiasts can visit the Chimczuk Museum and landmarks like Fort Malden National Historic Site. The region is also home to beautiful gardens, including the Windsor Sculpture Park, where art and nature converge along the riverfront. These attractions not only enrich the visitor experience but also support careers in tourism, cultural management, and heritage preservation.
In-Demand Jobs:
Advantages for the Sector in Windsor-Essex
Approximately 5.6 million people visited Windsor-Essex in 2023, including 1.7 million from the U.S. This annually increasing number reflects the sought after recovery the sector has been needing since 2020, with visitation rates at 98% of 2019 rates. These visitors brought $856 million into our community, supporting the thousands of local businesses in the sector. Hotel occupancy averaged at 70%, a 15% increase from 2023.1 The many advantages that the Windsor-Essex region offers as a host to the Tourism and Hospitality sector are vast. The opportunity for four-season activities provides business opportunities year-round for employers to offer, including wine tours in the fall, water activities in the summer, birding tours in the spring, and light festivals in the winter. As tourism trends point to more interest in wellness activities and climate-friendly adventure, local businesses have begun to offer more outdoor retreats and spa offerings, allowing customers to connect with nature and themselves. Our proximity to the U.S. border provides not only increased traffic to our communities, but an increase in traffic to the wider Windsor-Detroit region, with tourists dining in Windsor and seeing shows in Detroit, or vice versa. The pockets of culture that Windsor-Essex holds provide learning opportunities for tourists interested in the history of the region, including its people, food, and art traditions. Those looking for both land and water activities can benefit from the wine routes in the county and the lake activities available close by. As the interest in visiting and exploring Windsor-Essex grows, local employers are still facing challenges in recruiting and retaining staff to capitalize on these opportunities.
Resources for Students and Jobseekers
(Coming Soon)

- Tourism Economics; Oxford Economics; STR; Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island; City of Windsor; Statistics Canada; Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation; OAG.