New York City hotel operators are pressing Washington and Ottawa to resolve the ongoing US-Canada trade dispute, warning that the conflict is damaging one of the city's most reliable inbound travel markets.

The industry call, reported by Hotel Dive, comes as hoteliers in the market watch tensions between the two countries raise costs and cloud the outlook for Canadian visitors, who have long ranked among the top sources of international demand for New York lodging.

Why does the trade dispute matter to NYC hotels?

Canada is a core feeder market for New York's hotel sector. Tariffs and the retaliatory rhetoric that accompanies a trade war tend to weigh on cross-border travel volumes, currency movements and consumer sentiment — all levers that directly affect occupancy and room-rate performance in a market where international inbound traffic carries outsized revenue weight.

For operators already managing elevated labor, insurance and debt-service costs, any softening in Canadian demand compounds margin pressure rather than presenting a isolated problem.

What are hoteliers asking for?

The sector's message is straightforward: policymakers on both sides of the border should reach a resolution before the dispute inflicts lasting damage on travel flows. Hotel operators argue that prolonged uncertainty discourages bookings, group business and leisure trips alike — segments that New York properties depend on through the shoulder seasons.

What comes next?

The industry will be watching whether trade negotiations produce a de-escalation that stabilizes Canadian travel to New York, or whether operators will need to reprice and reposition their marketing toward other international feeder markets to protect occupancy.