I've been completing lodge and resort appraisals since 2016, and the question I hear most often from buyers right now is some version of: is this a good time to buy? The honest answer is that it depends entirely on the asset โ but the market conditions heading into 2026 are more rational than anything I observed in the 2021โ2023 period, when demand surged and some buyers paid prices that were difficult to defend on an income basis.
Reviewing the ownership breakdown across the last 100 lodge and resort assignments I've completed, roughly 84% of the properties were owner-operated. That tracks with the broader market: the typical buyer is an individual or family purchasing to operate โ not a passive investor expecting to hire a manager and clip returns. The income expectations I consistently see from owner-operators are an EBITDA return of 10% to 15% of purchase price on a well-established, viable operation.
What the Transaction Data Actually Shows
Based on lodge and resort sales I've analyzed, gross revenue multipliers (GRM) on completed transactions range from approximately 2.0ร at the low end to 6.0ร at the high end, with most viable going-concern operations trading somewhere in the middle of that range. Fly-in lodges with strong American Plan revenues tend to trade at the lower end of the GRM range โ not because they're worth less, but because their expense ratios are typically higher. Drive-in operations with road access and lower operating costs often command higher multiples, reflecting their reduced risk profile and broader financing eligibility.
One data point that surprises most sellers: across a sample of 100 lodge and resort sales, nearly half sold for less than 87% of asking price, and the most common sale-to-ask ratio landed between 87% and 97%. Overpricing is the most common mistake I see in this market, and it has a direct consequence โ extended marketing periods, buyer fatigue, and eventual price reductions. Properties priced in line with market evidence from the outset tend to perform better on both time-to-sale and final sale price relative to ask.
What Drives Value in This Asset Class
๐ฐRevenue & EBITDA Track Record
๐Crown Tenure Security
โ๏ธAccess Type (Fly-in vs. Road)
๐Fishery & Game Resource Quality
๐ Cabin Count & Condition
๐
Season Length & Diversification
๐ฆOutfitter Licence / Guiding Rights
๐Repeat Guest Rate & RevPAR
$195K โ $8M
Advertised Asking Price Range (CAD)
Listings currently advertised on this page span entry-level outpost operations to large four-season resort complexes.
2.00ร โ 6.00ร
Typical Gross Revenue Multiple Range
Going-concern lodge and resort sales observed in Canada have traded at roughly 2.00รโ6.00ร stabilized gross revenue, depending on asset quality, access, and tenure.
BC ยท ON ยท SK ยท MB
Most Active Market Provinces
The majority of lodge and resort transactions occur in these four provinces. Northern territories attract specialty buyers.
12โ24 Months
Typical Marketing Period
The buyer pool for specialty hospitality assets is smaller than for general commercial real estate, so marketing periods tend to be longer.
10% โ 15%
Typical Owner-Operator Return Threshold
Owner-operators in this sector generally require an EBITDA return of 10โ15% on purchase price for a well-established, viable operation. Higher than conventional commercial real estate โ reflecting remoteness, seasonality, and operational complexity.