Businesses anticipate boost from Winter Fair

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This article was published 23/03/2024 (908 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Businesses are eagerly anticipating the economic opportunities that the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair will bring as it returns to Brandon on Monday.

The event, set to run through March 30, is a major stimulus for hotels, restaurants and other establishments.

Holiday Inn Express and Suites Brandon general manager Suzanne Rowley said the impact of the Winter Fair cannot be overstated.

“We see an uptick in occupancy with the Winter Fair, especially due to our location,” Rowley told the Sun in an email. “It contributes to the revenue and profitability of the hotel, as do other events that come to Brandon. Hotels rely on all events, but the Winter Fair does give a boost to an otherwise soft March.”

Manitoba Hotel Association president Michael Juce said the return of the Winter Fair has a positive impact on the association’s members and many other sectors of the economy.

“This event is great for our members, as major events like this not only benefit hotels but also contribute to the prosperity of the entire community,” Juce told the Sun. “Globally, only about 30 per cent of tourism spending is on accommodation itself, with the remainder going to areas such as restaurants, retail and entertainment.”

Juce underscored the importance of tourism to Manitoba’s economy, saying, “Tourism represents close to three per cent of Manitoba’s GDP, making it critical for our shared prosperity. While it is great that hotels are full for the Winter Fair, attracting more events to Brandon will bring greater economic benefits for many stakeholders and businesses.”

Despite the economic boost, he said, hotels are still struggling with the enduring challenges caused by the pandemic.

“The pandemic has left lasting impacts that continue to affect all our members,” Juce said. “Most hotels were forced to take on additional debt to navigate through the pandemic, and now they face the burden of renewing that debt at higher interest rates.”

Beyond hotels, restaurants like Komfort Kitchen are also gearing up for the Winter Fair’s return.

Owner Derek Woychyshyn expressed optimism about the event, anticipating a record number of attendees.

“We’re prepared for the fair, with the right amount of inventory in the back, and I always keep my staffing levels at full volume just in case,” Woychyshyn told the Sun. “Though our restaurant is a bit farther away from the centre of the fair, there are still patrons who make it part of their day before heading to the fair.”

Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Lois Ruston said the economic impact of the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair is far-reaching, noting not only are hotels and restaurants full, but many other businesses are also busier as people from across the region come to visit and do business in Brandon at the same time.

“Every time we can welcome over 100,000 people to our community, it shines a light on the importance of this multifaceted facility to our community, province and region,” Ruston told the Sun.

The Winter Fair, she said, also provides an accelerator to some important needs in the community, making sure the city puts its best foot forward for visitors. She encouraged all chamber members, and the community at large, to take their service to the next level in welcoming visitors to the fair.

Ruston said many people she meets from across the country connect Brandon with two things — the Wheat Kings and the Winter Fair.

“The nostalgia and ‘royal touch’ that this event brings to Brandon can never be understated,” she said. “As we work to build new, collaborative partnerships such as Grow Brandon, the deep history of the Provincial Exhibition and the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair creates a great roadmap for us to follow.”

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