As Ontario's hospitality sector proves it’s far more than just restaurants and hotels by employing over half a million people and fueling nearly 5% of the province's GDP, these surprising statistics reveal an industry that is dynamic, diverse, and central to our economic recovery.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Ontario's hospitality sector employed 512,300 individuals, accounting for 13.2% of total provincial employment
- Full-time employment in Ontario hospitality reached 285,400 jobs in Q4 2023, up 4.5% from 2022
- Part-time workers comprised 47% of Ontario hospitality workforce in 2023, totaling 240,900 employees
- Ontario hospitality sector generated $18.7 billion in revenue in 2022, representing 4.8% of provincial GDP
- Foodservice revenue in Ontario reached $22.4 billion in 2023, up 9.2% from 2022
- Accommodation revenue totaled $6.8 billion in Ontario 2023
- Ontario had 28,450 restaurants and foodservice outlets in 2023
- 4,920 hotels and motels operated in Ontario as of 2022, totaling 145,200 rooms
- Bed and breakfast establishments: 1,850 in Ontario 2023
- Ontario welcomed 148 million overnight trips in 2023, 42% involving hospitality stays
- International visitors to Ontario: 12.4 million in 2023, spending $10.2B on hospitality
- US overnight visitors: 8.7 million to Ontario 2023
- Ontario hospitality sustainability adoption: 72% of establishments certified green by 2023
- Digital booking penetration: 68% of reservations online in Ontario hospitality 2023
- Contactless payment usage: 89% in Ontario restaurants 2023
Ontario's growing hospitality sector provides diverse jobs and crucial revenue to the province.
Employment
1In 2022, Ontario's hospitality sector employed 512,300 individuals, accounting for 13.2% of total provincial employment
Verified2Full-time employment in Ontario hospitality reached 285,400 jobs in Q4 2023, up 4.5% from 2022
Verified3Part-time workers comprised 47% of Ontario hospitality workforce in 2023, totaling 240,900 employees
Verified4Average hourly wage in Ontario hospitality was $21.45 in 2023, 12% above minimum wage
Directional5Youth employment (15-24) in hospitality was 112,000 in Ontario 2022, 22% of sector total
Single source6Female workers made up 54.3% of Ontario hospitality employees in 2023
Verified7Visible minorities represented 28.7% of hospitality workforce in Ontario 2022
Verified8Indigenous employment in hospitality: 12,500 jobs in Ontario 2023
Verified9Hospitality job vacancy rate in Ontario was 7.2% in 2023, highest in service sector
Directional1045,200 new hospitality jobs created in Ontario from 2021-2023
Single source11Ontario hospitality turnover rate averaged 32% annually in 2022
Verified12Training programs enrolled 18,900 hospitality workers in Ontario 2023
Verified13Unionized hospitality workers: 78,400 in Ontario 2022 (15% of total)
Verified14Remote work in hospitality admin roles: 8% of Ontario jobs in 2023
Directional15Seasonal employment peaked at 95,000 in Ontario summer 2023
Single source16Hospitality employment growth in GTA: 6.8% YoY in 2023
Verified17Northern Ontario hospitality jobs: 28,400 in 2022
Verified18Eastern Ontario hospitality workforce: 42,100 employees 2023
Verified19Average tenure in hospitality jobs Ontario: 4.2 years in 2022
Directional20Disability employment rate in hospitality: 4.1% of Ontario workforce 2023
Single source21Hospitality overtime hours averaged 3.2 per week in Ontario 2022
Verified22Immigrant workers: 192,000 in Ontario hospitality 2023 (37.5%)
Verified23Student workers in hospitality: 56,700 during academic year 2022 Ontario
Verified24Senior workers (55+): 78,900 in Ontario hospitality 2023 (15.4%)
Directional25Hospitality employment recovery post-COVID: 92% of 2019 levels by 2023 Ontario
Single source26Freelance hospitality roles grew 12% to 15,200 in Ontario 2023
Verified27Mental health leave taken by 11% of Ontario hospitality workers 2022
Verified28Diversity training reached 65% of Ontario hospitality managers 2023
Verified29Hospitality apprenticeships: 9,200 active in Ontario 2023
Directional30Gender pay gap in hospitality: women earned 88% of men's wages Ontario 2022
Single sourceEmployment Interpretation
Ontario’s hospitality sector is a vibrant, underpaid, and precarious engine of the provincial economy—staffed largely by women, youth, and immigrants who pour their effort into an industry still racing to recover from pandemic losses while struggling with high turnover and low wages.
Establishments
1Ontario had 28,450 restaurants and foodservice outlets in 2023
Verified24,920 hotels and motels operated in Ontario as of 2022, totaling 145,200 rooms
Verified3Bed and breakfast establishments: 1,850 in Ontario 2023
Verified4Licensed bars and taverns: 6,200 in Ontario 2022
Directional5Campgrounds and RV parks: 1,200 sites with 45,000 campsites Ontario 2023
Single source6Banquet halls and convention centers: 950 venues Ontario 2022
Verified7Fast-food chains: 5,600 outlets in Ontario 2023
Verified8Independent restaurants: 18,700 comprising 66% of total Ontario 2022
Verified9Craft distilleries with public tasting rooms: 120 in Ontario 2023
Directional10Wineries open to public: 180 in Ontario 2022
Single source11GTA restaurant count: 12,800 establishments employing 250,000 in 2023
Verified12Niagara Falls hospitality cluster: 2,100 hotels/motels and 1,500 eateries 2023
Verified13Ottawa hospitality venues: 3,450 restaurants and 620 hotels 2022
Verified14Average restaurant seating capacity Ontario: 85 seats per venue 2023
Directional15New hospitality establishments opened: 1,240 in Ontario 2023
Single source16Closures in hospitality: 890 outlets Ontario 2022 due to economic pressures
Verified17Pubs with live entertainment licenses: 1,100 Ontario 2023
Verified18Glamping sites: 350 operators with 8,500 units Ontario 2022
Verified19Food trucks permitted: 2,400 active licenses Ontario urban areas 2023
Directional20Resort properties: 420 full-service resorts Ontario 2023
Single source21Coffee shops and cafes: 4,200 standalone in Ontario 2022
Verified22Microbreweries: 320 with on-site pubs Ontario 2023
Verified23Fine dining establishments with Michelin recognition potential: 45 Ontario 2023
Verified24Cottages and cabins for rent: 12,500 units across 850 operators Ontario 2022
Directional25Vegan/plant-based only restaurants: 210 in Ontario 2023
Single sourceEstablishments Interpretation
While Ontario's hospitality landscape is a sprawling ecosystem of 28,450 places to eat, 145,200 hotel rooms, and a surprising 350 glamping sites, it’s ultimately a high-stakes relay race where 1,240 hopeful new entrants annually try to outrun the 890 closures nipping at their heels.
Revenue
1Ontario hospitality sector generated $18.7 billion in revenue in 2022, representing 4.8% of provincial GDP
Verified2Foodservice revenue in Ontario reached $22.4 billion in 2023, up 9.2% from 2022
Verified3Accommodation revenue totaled $6.8 billion in Ontario 2023
Verified4GTA hospitality revenue: $12.5 billion in 2022, 65% of provincial total
Directional5Tourism-related hospitality revenue: $14.2 billion in Ontario 2022
Single source6Average revenue per hotel room in Ontario: $152/night in 2023
Verified7Restaurant sales growth: 7.8% YoY to $19.1 billion Ontario 2023
Verified8Event venue revenue in Ontario: $2.9 billion in 2022
Verified9Craft brewery revenue contribution: $1.2 billion from 250+ breweries Ontario 2023
Directional10Hospitality tax revenue to Ontario government: $3.4 billion in HST 2022
Single source11Revenue per hospitality employee: $36,500 average Ontario 2022
Verified12Online booking revenue: 42% of total Ontario hospitality in 2023 ($10.8B)
Verified13Winter tourism revenue boost: $4.1 billion to hospitality Ontario 2022-23
Verified14Fine dining revenue segment: $2.7 billion in Ontario 2023
Directional15Revenue loss from inflation: 5.2% adjusted for Ontario hospitality 2023
Single source16Corporate event catering revenue: $1.8 billion Ontario 2022
Verified17Revenue from international tourists: $5.6 billion Ontario hospitality 2023
Verified18Quick-service restaurant revenue: $9.8 billion Ontario 2022 (45% of F&B)
Verified19Revenue growth in Niagara region hospitality: 11.4% to $2.3B 2023
Directional20Hospitality export services revenue (e.g., training): $450M Ontario 2022
Single source21Average check size in Ontario restaurants: $28.50 in 2023
Verified22Revenue from loyalty programs: 8% uplift or $1.9B Ontario hospitality 2023
Verified23Post-pandemic revenue recovery: 105% of 2019 levels Ontario hospitality 2023
Verified24Revenue per available room (RevPAR) Ontario hotels: $128 in 2023
Directional25Bar and nightlife revenue: $3.2 billion Ontario 2022
Single source26Agri-tourism hospitality revenue: $780M from 1,200 farms Ontario 2023
VerifiedRevenue Interpretation
While Ontario's hospitality industry serves up a serious $18.7 billion slice of the provincial GDP, it's a sector meticulously built on the trifecta of a $28.50 average check, a $152 hotel pillow, and a $1.9 billion loyalty program nudge, all of which cleverly weather a 5.2% inflation hangover to toast a 105% post-pandemic recovery.
Tourism Visitors
1Ontario welcomed 148 million overnight trips in 2023, 42% involving hospitality stays
Verified2International visitors to Ontario: 12.4 million in 2023, spending $10.2B on hospitality
Verified3US overnight visitors: 8.7 million to Ontario 2023
Verified4Domestic tourists from other provinces: 45 million visits Ontario 2022
Directional5Niagara Falls annual visitors: 14.2 million in 2023, 90% staying overnight
Single source6Toronto hotel guest nights: 18.5 million in 2023
Verified7Average length of stay for tourists: 2.8 nights in Ontario hospitality 2023
Verified8Summer peak visitors: 52 million trips Ontario hospitality July-Aug 2023
Verified9Business travelers: 22% of Ontario hotel occupancy or 4.1M rooms 2023
Directional10Family vacation stays: 38% of total Ontario hospitality bookings 2022
Single source11Eco-tourism participants: 3.2 million visitors Ontario 2023
Verified12Winter festival attendees: 5.8 million at events boosting hospitality Ontario 2022-23
Verified13Cruise ship passengers: 120,000 docking in Ontario ports 2023
Verified14GTA day trippers staying overnight: 9.4 million in 2023
Directional15Ottawa tourist hotel stays: 4.2 million nights 2023
Single source16Culinary tourists: 6.7 million visiting food festivals Ontario 2022
Verified17Adventure tourism guests: 2.9 million in Ontario parks lodging 2023
Verified18Conference delegates: 1.8 million attending 450 events Ontario 2023
Verified19Repeat visitors rate: 68% of Ontario tourists in 2023 survey
Directional20Millennials as % of hospitality guests: 34% or 28M stays Ontario 2022
Single source21Luxury hospitality bookings: 1.2 million nights Ontario 2023
Verified22Rural tourism stays: 11 million nights across 200 communities Ontario 2023
Verified23Sports event tourists: 2.4 million for major games Ontario 2022
Verified24Cultural site visitors staying overnight: 7.1 million Ontario 2023
Directional25Airline arrivals driving hospitality: 16.5 million passengers Pearson 2023
Single source26Group tour packages booked: 450,000 groups Ontario hospitality 2023
Verified27Solo travelers: 12% of Ontario hotel guests or 2.1M stays 2022
Verified28Pet-friendly stays: 3.8 million pet-accompanied nights Ontario 2023
VerifiedTourism Visitors Interpretation
Ontario’s hospitality sector is a bustling, slightly chaotic but incredibly sturdy ecosystem where everyone, from business travelers on expense accounts to families herding toward Niagara Falls, is essentially just trying to secure a decent pillow for the night.
Trends
1Ontario hospitality sustainability adoption: 72% of establishments certified green by 2023
Verified2Digital booking penetration: 68% of reservations online in Ontario hospitality 2023
Verified3Contactless payment usage: 89% in Ontario restaurants 2023
Verified4Plant-based menu items increased 45% in Ontario eateries 2022-2023
Directional5Labor shortage projected: 25,000 unfilled jobs by 2025 Ontario hospitality
Single source6Revenue growth forecast: 6.2% CAGR to 2028 for Ontario hospitality
Verified7AI adoption in operations: 31% of Ontario hotels using chatbots 2023
Verified8Experiential dining growth: 52% of consumers prefer in Ontario 2023 survey
Verified9Zero-waste initiatives: 41% of restaurants Ontario aiming for 2025
Directional10Ghost kitchens expansion: 1,200 active in Ontario urban areas 2023
Single source11Wellness tourism bookings up 28% to 4.5M stays Ontario 2023
Verified12Post-COVID hygiene standards: 95% maintained higher levels Ontario 2023
Verified13Local sourcing % in menus: 62% of ingredients Ontario restaurants 2023
Verified14Mobile app loyalty programs: Used by 55% Ontario hospitality chains 2023
Directional15Overtourism concerns in Niagara: 67% of operators reporting 2023
Single source16EV charging stations at hotels: 1,850 sites Ontario 2023 (up 40%)
Verified17Diversity in ownership: 23% minority-owned hospitality businesses Ontario 2023
Verified18Inflation impact on margins: 18% squeeze for Ontario restaurants 2023
Verified19Hybrid events shift: 35% of conferences now hybrid Ontario 2023
Directional20Craft cocktail bars growth: 22% increase to 850 Ontario 2023
Single sourceTrends Interpretation
While celebrating its green credentials and digital savvy, Ontario's hospitality sector is frantically mixing craft cocktails for wellness tourists, all while trying to hire a robot to help fill 25,000 empty jobs before the next wave of hungry, experience-seeking diners arrives.
Sources & References
- Reference 1STATCANwww150.statcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 2ONTARIOontario.caVisit source
- Reference 3STATCANstatcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 4JOBBANKjobbank.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 5SAC-ISCsac-isc.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 6ONTARIOTRAVELontariotravel.netVisit source
- Reference 7HOSPITALITYNEThospitalitynet.orgVisit source
- Reference 8UNIFORunifor.orgVisit source
- Reference 9RANDSTADrandstad.caVisit source
- Reference 10TORONTOECONOMICDEVELOPMENTtorontoeconomicdevelopment.caVisit source
- Reference 11TNORTHERNONTARIOtnorthernontario.caVisit source
- Reference 12EDCedc.caVisit source
- Reference 13LABOURlabour.gov.on.caVisit source
- Reference 14CANADAcanada.caVisit source
- Reference 15OAHPPoahpp.caVisit source
- Reference 16UPWORKupwork.comVisit source
- Reference 17CAMHcamh.caVisit source
- Reference 18HRPAhrpa.caVisit source
- Reference 19RESTAURANTSCANADArestaurantscanada.orgVisit source
- Reference 20DESTINATIONONTARIOdestinationontario.comVisit source
- Reference 21TORONTOtoronto.caVisit source
- Reference 22STRstr.comVisit source
- Reference 23CONVENTIONCENTRESONTARIOconventioncentresontario.comVisit source
- Reference 24ONTARIOCRAFTBREWERSontariocraftbrewers.comVisit source
- Reference 25FINfin.gov.on.caVisit source
- Reference 26IBISWORLDibisworld.comVisit source
- Reference 27PHOCUSWRIGHTphocuswright.comVisit source
- Reference 28OPENTABLEopentable.comVisit source
- Reference 29BANKOFCANADAbankofcanada.caVisit source
- Reference 30MEETINGSCANADAmeetingscanada.comVisit source
- Reference 31CTC-CVCctc-cvc.caVisit source
- Reference 32QSRMAGAZINEqsrmagazine.comVisit source
- Reference 33NIAGARAPARKSniagaraparks.comVisit source
- Reference 34TRADEtrade.govVisit source
- Reference 35TOUCHBISTROtouchbistro.comVisit source
- Reference 36LOYALTY360loyalty360.orgVisit source
- Reference 37PWCpwc.comVisit source
- Reference 38HOTELSMAGhotelsmag.comVisit source
- Reference 39OHBAohba.caVisit source
- Reference 40OMAFRAomafra.gov.on.caVisit source
- Reference 41AGCOagco.caVisit source
- Reference 42CAMPINGINONTARIOcampinginontario.caVisit source
- Reference 43EVENTSONTARIOeventsontario.comVisit source
- Reference 44CORAcora.caVisit source
- Reference 45SPIRITSONTARIOspiritsontario.caVisit source
- Reference 46VQAONTARIOvqaontario.comVisit source
- Reference 47NIAGARAFALLSTOURISMniagarafallstourism.comVisit source
- Reference 48OTTAWATOURISMottawatourism.caVisit source
- Reference 49GLAMPINGglamping.comVisit source
- Reference 50RESORTSONTARIOresortsontario.comVisit source
- Reference 51STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 52CRAFTBEERASSOCIATIONcraftbeerassociation.caVisit source
- Reference 53FINEDININGLOVERSfinedininglovers.comVisit source
- Reference 54COTTAGESINCANADAcottagesincanada.comVisit source
- Reference 55HAPPY牛COWhappy牛cow.netVisit source
- Reference 56DESTINATIONCANADAdestinationcanada.comVisit source
- Reference 57GTAAgtaa.comVisit source
- Reference 58FAMILYTRAVELfamilytravel.orgVisit source
- Reference 59WINTERFESTIVALALLIANCEwinterfestivalalliance.caVisit source
- Reference 60GREATLAKESCRUISEgreatlakescruise.orgVisit source
- Reference 61METROLINXmetrolinx.comVisit source
- Reference 62ONTARIOPARKSontarioparks.comVisit source
- Reference 63CONVENTIONBUREAUSONTARIOconventionbureausontario.comVisit source
- Reference 64EXPEDIAexpedia.caVisit source
- Reference 65FORBESforbes.comVisit source
- Reference 66RTO10rto10.caVisit source
- Reference 67SPORTALLIANCEsportalliance.comVisit source
- Reference 68ONTARIOHERITAGEontarioheritage.caVisit source
- Reference 69TOURONTARIOtourontario.caVisit source
- Reference 70SOLO TRAVELERWORLDsolo travelerworld.comVisit source
- Reference 71BRINGFIDObringfido.comVisit source
- Reference 72GREENKEYgreenkey.globalVisit source
- Reference 73HOTELTECHREPORThoteltechreport.comVisit source
- Reference 74VISAvisa.caVisit source
- Reference 75PLANTBASEDFOODSplantbasedfoods.caVisit source
- Reference 76CONFERENCEBOARDconferenceboard.caVisit source
- Reference 77DELOITTEdeloitte.comVisit source
- Reference 78NIELSENnielsen.comVisit source
- Reference 79GREENRESTAURANTSgreenrestaurants.orgVisit source
- Reference 80CLOUDKITCHENScloudkitchens.comVisit source
- Reference 81GLOBALWELLNESSINSTITUTEglobalwellnessinstitute.orgVisit source
- Reference 82FOODSAFETYfoodsafety.caVisit source
- Reference 83NIAGARACHAMBERniagarachamber.comVisit source
- Reference 84PLUGSHAREplugshare.comVisit source
- Reference 85BNAABRbnaabr.caVisit source
- Reference 86CFIB-FCEIcfib-fcei.caVisit source
- Reference 87MEETINGSNETmeetingsnet.comVisit source
- Reference 88DIFFORDSGUIDEdiffordsguide.comVisit source