COVID-19 Information and Resources

As a leader in the tourism and hospitality community, Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island recognizes our role and responsibility in ensuring the health and safety of our partners as well as visitors to Windsor, Essex County and Pelee Island.

At this time, we are following recommendations from our municipal, provincial and federal governments to implement safety precautions and reviewing how we proceed. We are working proactively to support our region during this time, and will continue to share information as it is received from our partners.

We will continue to monitor the status of COVID-19 as it reflects upon the tourism & hospitality industry. Please see the following information for tips, updated and further information on how to keep yourself and your patrons safe.

Coronavirus Health and Safety Updates & VISITOR INFORMATION

Tourism Windsor Essex Office 

For our teams personal health and safety the Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island offices are closed,, and some staff are working remotely during this time. General inquiries can be sent to 519-255-6530, as messages will be checked frequently during regular business hours. You can also contact info@tourismwindsoressex.com for any inquiries.

Any of our remote Visitor Information Centres (including the Caesars Windsor kiosk) are temporarily closed, and will reopen at a later date.

Listings of venues and events affected by closures and postponements are being updated as they are reported. Visitors are encouraged to contact the venues directly for accurate details on each location prior to visiting. If you are a stakeholder partner that is altering their hours or event please click here to update our team with the most accurate details.

Border Crossing

For information on international border crossing and how COVID-19 is impacting travel please click crossingmadeeasy.com. Effective 12:01 am March 21, 2020, entry in to Canada is prohibited to non-essential travel, and only to residents of Canada and the United States. Entry will not be permitted to all other foreign nationals.

Current Food & Drink Options

All bars, nightclubs and restaurants in Windsor & Essex County remain closed, except those providing take-out service or delivery. Check out our helpful guides (below) on locations still open in our region offering service.

• For a list of restaurants and other establishments providing food take-out and delivery service please click here, including details on #WTakeOutTuesday.
• For a list of breweries & distilleries offering pick-up and delivery service please click here, including details on #FillUpFriday.
• For a list of wineries offering pick-up and delivery service please click here, including details on #WineOrderWednesday.

On Monday March 23rd the Province of Ontario released a mandate that all non-essential business will be closed starting the evening of Tuesday March 24th.  A list of businesses that are deemed essential is available by clicking here – but it is suggested you contact any business prior to visiting to confirm their status and/or revised hours of operation.

Local Stakeholder Partners

Major closures and notices:

• Caesars Windsor is temporarily closed
• Devonshire Mall, Windsor Crossing Premium Outlets and Tecumseh Mall are temporarily closed
• VIA Rail is operating at reduced capacity
• Windsor International Airport is temporarily closed and will reopen on May 21st, 2020. Porter Airlines service is currently discontinued until June 1st, 2020 unless otherwise stated.
• Adventure Bay Family Water Park is temporarily closed
• Transit Windsor service is suspended to Monday April 13th, 2020
• All play structures at all municipal and city park facilities are closed.
• The MV Pelee Islander will begin service between Pelee Island and Leamington on April 1, 2020 with a limit on the number of passengers to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Learn more: ontarioferries.com and 511on.ca.
• All municipally operated public facilities, including libraries, arenas and pools, are temporarily closed and will open at a later date.

This page will be updated often

Here are links to information and advice from official authorities regarding the current COVID-19 outbreak. The information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. Below are trusted sources for the most up-to-date information on coronavirus 2019.

Windsor & Essex County Local Health Authorities

• Windsor Essex County Health Unit
• Ontario Ministry of Health
• Health Canada
• Windsor Regional Hospital
• Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare
• Erie Shores Healthcare

Regional Alliance Partners

• Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation (WEEDC)
• Windsor Essex Small Business Centre 
• Windsor Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce

Tourism Windsor Essex Tourism Partners

• TIAO Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
• TIAC Tourism Industry Association of Canada
• Destination Canada
• Destinations International 

Municipal Partners

• City of Windsor
• County of Essex

• On Tuesday March 17th TIAO held an industry stakeholder conference call. A summary of the Q&A from the conference calls is available here.
• The results from the first TIAO survey on the industry impact due to COVID-19 are available. Click here to download the PDF file.
• On Tuesday March 24th TIAO held an industry stakeholder conference call. A summary of the Q&A from the conference call is available here.
• The results from the second TIAO survey on the industry impact due to COVID-19 are available. Click here to download the PDF file.
• The results from the second TIAO survey on the industry impact due to COVID-19 are available, specific to RTO 1 (Ontario Southwest including Windsor Essex). Click here to download the PDF file.
• On Wednesday March 25th Minister Lisa MacLeod held a tele-townhall for industry stakeholders. You can read the ministers statement regarding COVID-19 and funding opportunities by clicking here.

Please note that with the speed in which the news is moving, some of the details may have now been superseded by current events.

The Windsor-Essex Small Business Centre is hosting a series of webinars toto help during these challenging times, including:

• Website Building for Beginners on Tuesday April 7th at 9am. Click here to register.
• Managing Social Media During COVID-19 on Tuesday April 7th at 11am. Click here to register.
• How To Manage Your Finances and Cash Flow During this COVID-19 Crisis on Monday April 67th at 9am. Click here to register.
• Your COVID-19 Employment Questions – Answered! on Monday April 6th at 2pm. Click here to register.

Roger Brooks and the Destination Development Association recently hosted a webinar “Dealing with the Coronavirus: What to do immediately, to help save you tourism industry & downtown businesses”. You click here to view the free webinar now. We have highlighted key points from the video for you with time stamps below:

• #1 For Everyone: Stay Positive (12:28)
• #2 For Everyone: Get Involved (24:40)
• #3 For Everyone: Be Helpful: Show You Care (29:25)
• #4 Destination Marketing Organizations: Camping | RVing | The Outdoors (43:13)
• #5 Destination Marketing Organizations: Encourage Day Trips (58:07)
• #6 Downtown Associations | Chambers of Commerce (1:00:49)
• #7 Restaurants & Retailers (1:04:51)
• #8 Lodging Facilities (1:10:02)
• #9 Large Gatherings (1:13:16)
• #10 For Everyone: Apply for Help (1:17:08)
• #11 Use Your Downtown Wisely (1:18:30)
• #12 For Everyone: Stay Positive (1:22:20)

Regional Feedback and Surveys

• Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation is looking to better understand economic impacts businesses anticipate in what lies ahead. Please fill out a short survey to help with COVID-19 response strategies with focus on needs at all levels – local, provincial and federal
• WorkForce Windsor Essex is conducting a survey to evaluate how COVID-19 jas affected the regions workforce. Please fill out the survey here – survey closes on Thursday April 9th and results will be published here shortly after.

Steps To Prevent Illness

Our local health authority, The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is recommending that in order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus individuals should:

• wash hands frequently and avoid facial contact;
• avoid contact with sick individuals;
• stay home from work when ill;
• ensure to properly clean high-touch surfaces, especially in your public spaces like washrooms, restaurants, elevators and work spaces;
• where possible, consider making alcohol-based hand sanitizer available for your guests and employees.

As the situation continues to evolve quickly, we encourage you to reference the Windsor Essex County Health Unit website for the latest regional updates.

Contact Us

Please contact the Tourism Windsor Essex team with questions or concerns. Our team values the health and safety of everyone in our region – our staff, visitors, and our industry partners.

Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island is the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the regional tourism industry. We are a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting and selling Windsor, Essex and Pelee Island as a remarkable destination for tourist, convention goers and business travelers. To view our mission and mandate please click here.