Canada's Newest Travel Experience Invites You Into a Family Home for Dinner

"In Markham, Ontario, about 20 miles north of Toronto, you could book a table for lobster risotto at a modern Italian restaurant or for a marbled ribeye at a classic steakhouse. Or, you could reserve a seat inside the warm, welcoming home of a local family."

""OpenHome really grew out of two things: the way travelers are feeling right now, and who we are as Canadians," Gloria Loree, senior vice-president, marketing strategy & CMO, Destination Canada, told Travel + Leisure. "We're living in a world that has us moving faster, scrolling longer, and often feeling a bit isolated, and we kept hearing that people weren't just looking for a beautiful place to visit, they were looking for a place to feel welcome. As Canadians, there's always room for one more at our tables.""

""When we were selected for the OpenTable experience, I really wanted to showcase that Toronto isn't only Toronto-there are a lot of suburbs around the city, and Markham is one of them," Sharon said while she set the table. "What Markham is really known for is the food.""

OpenHome is a limited-time initiative from Destination Canada and OpenTable offering American travelers complimentary dinners hosted in Canadian homes across cities from Vancouver and Montréal to Halifax, running Nov 12 through February 2026. Each experience includes a curated menu and conversation with local hosts. Guests can browse listings and reserve on OpenTable as they would a restaurant. Hosts aim to showcase local communities and hospitality, including suburban food scenes like Markham's. The program emphasizes connection, welcome, and shared stories around dinner tables. Selected hosts prepare meals reflecting local culinary identities.

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