Traditional all-inclusive vacations are no longer reserved for Caribbean islands, Mexican resorts or Spanish retreats anymore, but they're coming to Ontario with a bit of a catch.

That's because tourism industry officials aren't expecting the booze to flow in local travel hotspots like Muskoka and Niagara as freely as it does in sunny destinations like Mazatlan and Negril anytime soon.

They're pouring cold water on the idea of local resorts offering Caribbean-style packages that dish out unlimited drinks for a set price, largely because of the steeper price of alcohol in Canada and tighter government regulations.

"It's not possible to have it wide open like that," said Dean MacNeil, the director of food and beverage at Deerhurst Resort, located on Peninsula Lake in Huntsville. "We're still held accountable to the minimum pricing requirements and we're still held very accountable for our social responsibility regarding over-serving."

Since June 1, hotels and resorts across the province have had the green light to include alcohol in their one-price travel packages because of changes to Ontario's liquor laws. Golf courses and restaurants can offer all-inclusive packages, as well.

In the past, alcohol had to be sold separately.

Licensed establishments in Ontario are barred from selling standard-sized drinks for less than $2 or offering rock-bottom discounts on alcohol like their counterparts in warmer locales, even if the drinks are included in an all-inclusive package. They're also prevented from buying from their suppliers at bulk discounts.

"We still have to follow the regulations and we are highly regulated," said Tony Elenis, president of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association (ORHMA).

Because of this, Caribbean-style packages will be financially prohibitive, MacNeil said.

"We don't see it as something that puts us on a level playing field with a Caribbean resort because we have a much higher cost for product," he said.

Impact will be more of a ripple?

The ORHMA pushed for the laws to be loosened to help its members attract guests and corporate meetings.

Elenis said some owners and operators felt that they were losing out to competitors in Canadian provinces and U.S. states, including New York and Michigan, where all-inclusive packages were already legal.

But many in the industry believe the immediate impact in Ontario will be more of a ripple effect than a wave.

So far, few hotels and resorts appear to be advertising all-inclusive vacations that combine a room, food and alcohol. Several told CP24.com that they are holding off because they're looking into the laws to answer any lingering questions or confusion.

MacNeil said Deerhurst Resort is exploring its options.

"We would like to hit the market with some kind of all-inclusive aspect," he said.

Of those who are already offering deals, the typical package is geared towards couples, playing on the theme of a romantic weekend getaway.

One of the first to advertise the one-price-fits-all theme is the Fairmont Royal York in downtown Toronto.

For $285 and up, the posh hotel's "royal romance package" offers:

A bottle of sparkling wine

A box of chocolates

A copy of "The Progress of Love" by Alice Munro or "The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain

Breakfast in bed.

Matter of convenience

Before the liquor laws changed, advertising the bottle of sparkling wine in a package like this was verboten. Licensed businesses now have the ability to advertise alcohol products in their all-inclusive packages.

"We can now market to a higher volume of people interested in these packages and we can be more creative with our packages and themed events," MacNeil said.

For customers, the primary benefit is the convenience of a single price.

"Today's traveller, when they book a vacation they want to pay one price that includes the flight, the room, the food and the alcohol," Elenis said.

For now, overnight or weekend getaways will likely be the norm of all-inclusive vacations in Ontario as companies explore their options, Elenis said.

"This is just starting, so you will see that the operators are going to the drawing board to put this in motion," Elenis said. "This one price option allows the operator to promote packages targeted to visitors."

Golf courses, for example, are permitted to sell an alcoholic beverage and a round of golf under one price.

Timing catches some off guard

Representatives of several hotels and resorts told CP24.com that they weren't prepared to offer all-inclusive packages when the changes took effect June 1 because they were implemented so quickly.

In late February, Attorney General Chris Bentley announced the province would be holding consultations with industry members, police agencies. The McGuinty government also invited people to contact them by e-mail.

Then, on May 27, Bentley confirmed the changes would take effect five days later.

The goal, according to the province, is to scrap antiquated restrictions and to attract more customers and possibly create new jobs in the hospitality and tourism industries.

Mark Downing, the owner and operator of Fern Resort in Orillia, was among those who were caught off guard by the timing.

"This occurred quickly. I wasn't expecting it to move so fast," said Downing, a director of Resorts of Ontario.

Lack of leadership?

When he was interviewed by a reporter, Downing was still unsure about what can and can't be offered in an all-inclusive package.

He said he was hoping to receive more information and guidance from the province to mitigate any confusion.

"We appreciate the loosening of the laws and the opportunity but the timing has been a huge challenge for us," Downing said. "I think we just would have welcomed a little more leadership (from the province)."

Downing said he's unable to incorporate all-inclusive packages into his summer season because the laws changed so close to the start of it. He's hoping to have something in place for next season.

In addition to all-inclusive packages, the liquor law changes now allow the following:

Festivals and events will be able to have larger areas where people can walk around freely with drinks.

Restaurant and bar servers can carry drinks on public sidewalks to licensed area such as patios.

Special events such as weddings will be able to serve alcohol for an extra hour until 2 a.m.

Business owners will be able to give a complimentary drink to customers to celebrate a special occasion like an anniversary