Whitby’s Hotel Opportunities Brochure provides an overview of Whitby’s hotel investment opportunities, market positioning, and key locations.
Hotel and Conference Centre Attraction Program
The Hotel and Conference Centre Attraction Program has two enrolled applicants - one per development opportunity - as of April 30, 2026.
One opening remains under each development opportunity.
Application intake will remain open until one of the following occurs: two enrolled applicants per opportunity successfully obtain building permits, or April 27, 2029 is reached—whichever comes first.
Supporting Strategic Hotel Investment in Whitby
The Town of Whitby is launching the Hotel and Conference Centre Attraction Program to support the timely development of new hotel accommodations that advance Whitby’s economic development, tourism, and business attraction objectives.
This time‑limited program will offer development charge deferrals to eligible hotel projects that demonstrate strong market alignment, site readiness, and the ability to proceed quickly.
Program Overview
Whitby has identified a clear market opportunity for additional hotel accommodations, including a hotel with integrated conference facilities and a stand‑alone hotel. These developments are intended to address unmet demand, support business and visitor activity, and strengthen Whitby’s role as a destination for meetings, events, and overnight stays.
The Town of Whitby is offering a targeted incentive through the Hotel and Conference Centre Attraction Program to help reduce upfront financial barriers and encourage investment in shovel‑ready hotel developments.
As of May 25, 2026, Council approved an expansion of the Hotel and Conference Centre Attraction Program to support up to four eligible projects, with two openings available under each opportunity:
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Two hotels with integrated conference centres
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Two stand‑alone hotels
Enrollment in the program will be granted on a first‑approved basis, subject to meeting all eligibility requirements.
For the full program overview, participation agreement, and eligibility requirements, please review Staff Report CAO 14-26: The Hotel and Conference Centre Attraction Program. Note: This staff report was published prior to the May 25, 2026 Council motion to expand the program to four eligible projects.
Available Incentives
Eligible projects enrolled in the program may receive:
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Deferral of the Town of Whitby’s portion of development charges (from building permit issuance to occupancy)
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No interest charged on deferred Town development charges for the first 24 months following building permit issuance
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A clear, transparent application and review process administered by the Town’s Economic Development team
This program is designed to support developments that are ready to proceed and align with Whitby’s long‑term economic priorities.
Eligible Development Opportunities
| Criteria (minimum) |
Opportunity 1 Hotel-Conference Centre |
Opportunity 2 Stand-alone Hotel |
| Development Concept | A full-service hotel with integrated conference and banquet facilities. | Stand-alone hotel. |
| Strategic Location | Distance to 400-series highways - less than 3 km. | Distance to 400-series highways - less than 2 km. |
| Hotel Size | 150 guestrooms. | 100 guestrooms. |
| Conference/Meeting Space | 11,000 sq. ft. | Not applicable. |
| Target Branding | Upscale branding. | Midscale/Upper Midscale Branding. |
| Criteria (Minimum) | Opportunity 1 and Opportunity 2 |
| Target Branding | For the purpose of the Town's Hotel and Conference Centre Attraction Program, qualifying hotel brands/affiliations for "Upscale", "Midscale", and "Upper Midscale" will be defined by the STR Chain Scales | STR Benchmark | CoStar. |
| Site and Planning Readiness | The Official Plan permits hotel and conference centre use. Zoning permits the use or requires only minor amendments. There are no known appeals or third-party approval risks. Municipal servicing capacity has been confirmed or is fully funded. |
Program Timelines
The Hotel and Conference Centre Attraction Program launched on April 27, 2026. The application form and supporting materials are available in the Application Form section below.
The program will remain open for applications for up to three years, closing on April 27, 2029, or earlier if four approved projects receive building permits (two hotel‑conference centres and two stand‑alone hotels). Applications are reviewed on a first‑approved basis, and the program is designed to support shovel‑ready developments that can advance quickly.
The program does not apply retroactively to projects that already have:
- An executed site plan agreement
- An issued building permit
- Construction underway prior to Council approval
Key Milestones for Enrolled Applicants
To remain enrolled in the program, applicants must meet the following timelines:
- Have a fully executed site plan agreement with the Town no later than 10 months after their date of program enrollment;
- Submit a building permit application for their hotel and conference centre development no later than 12 months after their date of program enrollment;
- Have a fully executed Section 27 Agreement (with fee payment) prior to the issuance of any building permit; and,
- Comply with all Building Department requirements in order to have a building permit issued no later than 14 months after their date of program enrollment.
If these milestones are not met, program enrollment will be withdrawn and the opportunity may be reassigned to the next eligible applicant. Applicants whose enrollment is withdrawn must wait six months before reapplying.
Application Form
The Hotel and Conference Centre Attraction Program Application Form is now open.
Applications are being accepted for eligible hotel developments. As of May 25, 2026, Council approved an expansion of the program to support up to four eligible projects, with two openings available under each opportunity.
The program is limited to four enrolled applicants with approved projects—two per development opportunity.
The Hotel and Conference Centre Attraction Program has two enrolled applicants - one per development opportunity - as of April 30, 2026.
One opening remains under each development opportunity.
Application intake will remain open until one of the following occurs: two enrolled applicants per opportunity successfully obtain building permits, or April 27, 2029 is reached—whichever comes first.
One opening remains under each development opportunity.
Application intake will remain open until one of the following occurs: two enrolled applicants per opportunity successfully obtain building permits, or April 27, 2029 is reached—whichever comes first.
New applicants will be placed in a queue, subject to adherence to the outlined development timelines and schedule.
Further details on development timelines can be found in the Program Timelines section above.
Supporting Resources
Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the following resources before applying:
In 2025, the Town of Whitby completed a Hotel Feasibility Study. The study provides a market analysis identifying demand, performance potential, and development opportunities for hotel projects in Whitby. Key figures and summary findings from the study are available in Staff Report CAO 11-25.
If you are interested in receiving the full feasibility study, please contact invest@whitby.ca.
CAO 14-26 - Staff Report - Hotel and Conference Centre Attraction Program
Staff Report CAO 14-26 outlines the rationale, policy alignment, and implementation considerations for the Hotel and Conference Centre Attraction Program. The report provides a background analysis, program objectives, and recommended actions to support hotel investment aligned with the Town’s economic development, tourism, and business attraction priorities.
As of May 25, 2026, Council approved an expansion of the program to support up to four eligible projects, with two openings available under each opportunity.
Explore Whitby: Discover Something New to Enjoy
Explore Whitby highlights the Town’s tourism offerings—including attractions, dining, events, and waterfront experiences—providing a snapshot of the amenities that support visitor activity and overnight demand. Hospitality investors are encouraged to visit whitby.ca/explore to learn more about Whitby’s tourism assets and visitor experience.
Contact
For questions about the program or application process, please contact:
Economic Development (Invest Whitby) – Town of Whitby
invest@whitby.ca
905.430.4312
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