How Cottage Resorts in Peterborough & the Kawarthas Can Stay Connected, and Grow, Through Winter
When the docks come in and the boats are stored away, it’s easy to think the season’s over. But for cottage resorts in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, winter doesn’t have to mean going quiet. In fact, it can be a time to build deeper connections with your guests, attract new kinds of visitors, and set yourself up for a strong spring. At OmniWorx Design, we see the winter months as an opportunity, not an obstacle. With the right digital marketing and seasonal storytelling, local resorts can stay top of mind all year long.
Why Winter Still Matters for Local Tourism
Winter travel in Canada is quietly growing. According to Statistics Canada, Canadians took over 80 million domestic trips in the last quarter of 2024, up 7.7% from the year before. And while summer will always be peak season in the Kawarthas, winter travel remains an underdeveloped opportunity.
Locally, tourism in Peterborough & the Kawarthas generates about $300 million in visitor spending each year. The challenge (and opportunity) is capturing more of that during the colder months — when guests are craving cozy escapes, not crowded beaches.
Even across the border, travel activity tells a story. AAA projected nearly 80 million Americans traveled over Thanksgiving weekend in 2024, while Adobe reported record-breaking online shopping numbers during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Together, that paints a clear picture: late November through New Year’s is prime time for attention, and sales.
From Surviving to Growing: How to Make Winter Work for You
Here are a few ways resorts in the Kawarthas can turn the “off season” into an advantage:
Turn Holiday Moments into Marketing Moments
The stretch between U.S. Thanksgiving and New Year’s is full of opportunities.
Thanksgiving weekend: promote “early winter escapes” or extended family stays for guests looking to avoid city crowds.
Black Friday & Cyber Monday: sell gift certificates or early-bird booking vouchers instead of discounting rooms. Offer small bonuses (like “buy $200, get $25 extra”) to encourage higher spending.
Christmas & New Year’s: create limited holiday-themed stays, decorated cabins, festive meal add-ons, or “ring in the new year by the lake” experiences.
Sell Winter Experiences, Not Just Stays
The Kawarthas are beautiful year-round, remind guests of that.
Offer “cozy cabin” packages with fireplaces, hot tubs, and local food boxes.
Partner with local outfitters for snowshoe or winter-hike adventures.
Market weekday “workcation” packages for remote workers who just want a change of scenery (and good Wi-Fi).
Make Gift Cards a Big Deal
People are looking for meaningful gifts, especially local experiences. Highlight your gift certificates and e-vouchers throughout November and December. Promote them on social media, your website, and through email to past guests. Pair them with local add-ons (like a spa treatment or brewery tour) to make the gift feel unique.
Stay in Touch with Past Guests
Your best audience is the one that already loves you. Send out a “Winter at [Your Resort Name]” email that showcases the cozy side of your property. Include upcoming packages, photos of freshly fallen snow, and gift ideas. During Black Friday and Cyber Monday, send a short, time-sensitive email just for past guests, with an exclusive bonus or early booking window.
Partner Locally
Winter can be tough for local businesses too — so collaborate. Work with nearby restaurants, craft breweries, or wellness providers to create joint packages. A “Weekend of Wellness” with a local yoga studio or spa? A “Winter Warmer Getaway” with a craft beer tasting? Both are easy to promote and feel distinctly local.
Keep Telling Stories
Use your social media and website to show what winter looks like at your resort. Post short videos of steaming mugs on a frosty morning, photos of guests enjoying snowy trails, or behind-the-scenes clips of your team decorating for the holidays. Write a blog or guide such as “7 Cozy Things to Do in the Kawarthas This Winter”. It’s great for search visibility, and it reminds your audience that there’s still plenty to do when the lake freezes.
Make Booking Easy
Guests may hesitate to book in winter due to unpredictable weather. Offer flexible rebooking or “book now, change later” policies. Also make sure your website booking system works perfectly on mobile, most shoppers now book and buy on their phones, especially during the holiday season.
Measure What Matters
Keep things simple:
Track gift cards sold during Black Friday/Cyber Monday.
Monitor email open rates for your holiday campaigns.
Compare midweek occupancy and revenue per night to last winter.
Small improvements add up, especially when you carry that momentum into spring.
Design Tips from OmniWorx
If you’re updating your website or planning winter promotions, a few quick wins can make a big difference:
Create a dedicated holiday landing page for your packages or gift cards.
Update photography with warm, seasonal imagery that tells a story.
Add clear calls-to-action (“Book a Winter Getaway,” “Shop Gift Cards”).
Keep your emails and social graphics consistent with your brand — cohesive visuals build trust and recognition.
Winter in the Kawarthas isn’t a lull, it’s a chance to reconnect, rebrand, and remind guests why they fell in love with your resort in the first place. With the right creative strategy, you can keep your audience engaged from U.S. Thanksgiving through New Year’s, and be first in line when they start planning next summer’s getaway. Because when you stay connected all winter long, you don’t just survive the off-season, you grow through it.