C-19 BULLETIN - October 21, 2020

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In Case You Missed It - Party Platforms for Election 2020

The following is a Top 10 list (in no particular order) of party promises for your review as we inch closer to election day (October 24). For the record, TIABC is non-partisan and the information on the platforms below is factual and for your information and evaluation.

BC New Democratic Party
  1. $100+ million to support the tourism sector through an investment of $19 million to support tourism dependent communities, $14 million for targeted tourism development partnership initiatives, $20 million for tourism infrastructure, and $5 million to Destination BC for additional marketing campaigns
  2. As part of the Economic Recovery Plan, continue with the Tourism Task Force and act on the ideas coming out of their work
  3. Permanently allow restaurants and pubs to purchase beer, wine, and spirits at wholesale cost instead of liquor store retail prices
  4. Permanently allow liquor delivery with takeout, allow expansion of patio areas, and cap take out delivery fees at 15%
  5. A 15% refundable tax credit based on eligible new payroll
  6. Deliver $300 million in recovery grants to support small and medium-sized businesses who’ve been hardest hit by COVID-19
  7. Implement a temporary 100% PST rebate on select machinery and equipment
  8. Expand provincial parks by creating new campgrounds, trails, and protected areas while increasing funding to improve infrastructure and protect park ecosystems
  9. A one-time $1,000 direct deposit to families whose household income is under $125,000 annually – with a sliding scale up to $175,000
  10. A one-time $500 direct deposit to single people earning less than $62,000 annually – with a sliding scale up to $87,000

BC Liberal Party
  1. Deliver emergency financing for BC businesses hardest hit by the pandemic through a loan guarantee program for BC’s more than 19,000 tourism and hospitality businesses
  2. Work with the tourism industry and municipal partners to support the development and growth of regional tourism hubs across BC
  3. Support hospitality businesses by permanently allowing liquor delivery with takeout, wholesale pricing from any liquor store, and streamlined approval of patio and outdoor dining
  4. Review ferry schedules with a goal of hourly service on high-frequency routes
  5. Eliminate the Small Business Income Tax entirely
  6. Take action to address sky-high property tax assessments on small business by implementing split assessments
  7. Implement a short-term commercial-rent relief plan that flows relief directly to tenants and supports small businesses unable to access current relief programs.
  8. Assist small businesses in adopting COVID-19 protections by providing support for personal protective equipment from WorkSafeBC surpluses
  9. Double the number of provincial park campsites in areas with growing demand
  10. Eliminate the 7% PST for one year, and then set it at 3% the following year

BC Green Party
  1. Retool the grant relief program and immediately work with the tourism and hospitality industry to establish criteria that make sense
  2. Accelerate the timeline to ensure grant money can start to flow immediately
  3. Work with not-for-profit tourism businesses, cultural facilities and attractions to develop a separate granting program that will ensure these signature businesses can survive COVID-19
  4. Work with the federal government to establish a repayable loan program for the hospitality sector and for tourism operators that exceed the criteria for the small tourism operator grant program
  5. Make the expanded patio program permanent, working with local governments and stakeholders to ensure that patio expansions are maintained in a safe and sustainable way
  6. Allocate $300 million to create a 6-month rent subsidy program for small businesses
  7. Cover 25% of the rental costs for qualifying businesses, using the following criteria: a) small business limited to $50,000 in monthly rent costs; b) simple, accessible criteria developed to support access to program
  8. Enhance funding for B.C. Parks and the Conservation Officer Service to a level that will improve infrastructure and ensure that our natural ecosystems are not being degraded
  9. Create more campgrounds to meet demand, ensuring that the creation of more sites is commensurate with expanding overall park land and does not cut into existing protected areas
  10. Set sectoral targets to ensure industry is contributing their fair share to emissions reductions
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Tourism Employment Tracker

Tourism HR Canada has released a dashboard that summarizes tourism employment trends by province since COVID-19.

Monthly Insight: Tourism employment increased slightly in September, a highly unusual trend. Tourism employment has dropped every September since 2001 (the first year of our customized LFS data), as student workers return to school and demand for tourism drops. The slight increase hides a significant shift in the share of full-time and part-time employment. The sector lost 92,600 full-time jobs while gaining 96,900 part-time jobs, for a total increase of 4,200 jobs.
 
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Destination Sustainability Assessment
Survey for Kootenay Rockies Tourism Businesses

Following the strategic directions laid out in the 10-year Destination Development Strategy, Kootenay Rockies Tourism (KRT) is developing a Sustainability Charter in alignment with international standards and metrics for destination sustainability.

The final set of 34 sustainability indicators include various aspects of destination sustainability, such as the:
  • economic contribution of tourism
  • employment
  • number of protected areas
  • seasonality
  • cultural preservation
  • water and energy consumption
  • waste management
  • greenhouse gas emission.
 
View the progress report on the Kootenay Rockies Sustainability Charter here.

Kootenay Rockies Tourism region’s sustainability performance depends in large part on the performance of individual regional tourism businesses and organizations.

In order to assess where their tourism destination is today and to set clear goals for the future, Kootenay Rockies Tourism needs your support to gather the information required to establish a collective sustainability baseline.

If you are located in the Kootenay Rockies Tourism region, please consider taking a few minutes to communicate the current sustainability strategies and measures your business is taking through this short survey.


As a gesture of appreciation, each survey respondent will be entered in a draw
to win one of the four, $100 Visa gift cards
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UNWTO Calls for Global Coordination
to Restart Tourism

Strong coordination is needed to accelerate the lifting of travel restrictions in a safe and timely manner, to increase investment in systems that support safe travel, including testing on departure, and to sustain and support businesses and jobs

Consistent and harmonized travel protocols, enhanced safety measures and the protection of jobs and livelihoods are the main ingredients needed for the restart of tourism.

The Sixth meeting of the UNWTO Global Tourism Crisis Committee reminded participants of the need to work together as the only means of advancing the sustainable recovery of the sector. The meeting produced a commitment to create a new UNWTO Committee on Common Safety Protocols to increase confidence in international travel, as well as firm plans for enhanced consumer protection for consumers and measures to protect jobs. 

Learn more at:
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Why the Power of Connection is Critical
for Business Events

In the age of virtual interaction, human-to-human connection is critical to spark creativity, make connections and bring organizations together.

Virginie De Visscher, Senior Director of Business Development, Economic Sectors for Destination Canada Business Events, says that there is no substitute for the creativity and energy that ignites when groups of like minded people connect, brainstorm and strategize. In a recent Associations Now article, she breaks down all of the factors that result in innovation and the ability for organizations to capture lightning in a bottle when great minds virtually connect through business events.

Read the full article at:
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Tradex in Abbotsford

Tourism Abbotsford recently announced the opening of their full service studio space in their meeting facility, Tradex. They are able to host up to 50 people in the space itself, as well as broadcast out to whomever and wherever may be needed remotely.

Download more information here.
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TIAC Congress 2020

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is hosting their annual Tourism Congress, but this year it is virtual, and free. Register today at:

Walt Judas is hosting a Provincial Breakout Session as part of the Congress on November 18th from 2:00pm to 2:30pm ET (11:00am - 11:30am PT).

Join Walt for a look at how national action plans affect British Columbia, and how we’re working with TIAC to rebuild Canada’s visitor economy.

Learn more about the speakers at the upcoming TIAC Congress at:
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Small Business Week

Each October, Small Business Week pays tribute to the entrepreneurs who contribute so much to our communities. They provide well paying, local jobs within our towns and cities, they bring energy, vibrancy and uniqueness to our streets, and they form the backbone of our provincial economy. And, small businesses are a key component of BC's tourism industry.

With the COVID-19 pandemic taking a financial toll on many of these business owners, there’s never been a better time to highlight their spirit of resiliency and celebrate their achievements. As the largest resource centre for small business in our Province, we understand the vital role entrepreneurs play across BC and we stand with them during this challenging time.

Small Business Week 2020 is offering a variety of FREE education geared at equipping our small business community with the skills and resources they need to navigate the COVID economy.

Learn more at:
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Weekly Leger Survey

Leger's tracking question—the self-assessed state of one’s mental health (Excellent/Very Good)—dipped noticeably this week to 36% from last week’s 41%. The decline is most pronounced in BC (29%) and among young people age 18 to 34 (23%).

  • About two in ten Canadians (19%) say their current mental health is better compared to when the pandemic initially took hold in Canada in March/April. However, about one-quarter of Canadians (24%) say their mental health is currently worse now compared to March/April.
  • The proportion who feel their mental health is worse now is highest in BC (27%) and among those under the age of 55 (26%).
  • In the US, only 16% say their mental health is worse now compared to March/April.
  • Fear of contracting the pandemic remains relatively high at 61% of Canadians feeling this way—highest is 69% in ON.
  • 13% of Canadians feel the worst of the crisis is behind us. 44% say the worst is yet to come which is down 6 points from last week. Over one-quarter (27%) say we are in the worst of the crisis right now.
  • Satisfaction with government handling of the pandemic holds steady for the provinces overall, but declined again for the Federal and Municipal levels of government.
  • Regionally, BC has the strongest total satisfaction levels at 76%, followed by QC at 72% and ON at 69%. SK is at 65% total satisfaction while AB and MB are both under 50% over satisfaction. The latter two provinces have seen declining satisfaction for several weeks now.

Download the full report here.
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SKY Helicopters Wins 2020 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award

Reviews from millions of Tripadvisor travellers place SKY in the top 10% of attractions worldwide.

TIABC would like to congratulate one of our members, SKY Helicopters, who recently announced they've received the 2020 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for Attractions worldwide. 

Based on a full year of Tripadvisor reviews, prior to any changes caused by the pandemic, award winners are known for consistently receiving great customer feedback, placing them in the top 10% of hospitality businesses around the globe. 

 “We’re honoured to be recognized with this prestigious award.” said Andrew Westlund, CEO of SKY Helicopters and The Westlund Group of Companies. “It establishes SKY as one of the world’s top helicopter experience providers.”

Based at the Pitt Meadows Regional Airport, SKY Helicopters has welcomed guests from some 68 countries worldwide and now is a leader in re-establishing the tourism industry in British Columbia. 

Learn more at:
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Tourism Job Postings

The go2HR Job Board is the leading free job board for tourism and hospitality jobs in BC. This job board is available to tourism employers that operate in British Columbia whose primary business belongs to one of the five tourism sectors: Accommodation, Food and Beverage Services, Recreation and Entertainment, Transportation and Travel Services.
Posting jobs is free on go2HR.ca.

Some example jobs currently available on job board:

Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association
Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association is seeking a part-time Destination Development Coordinator. 

Big White Ski Resort
Big White Ski Resort Seeks Central Reservations Agents
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Together with the Tourism Cafe, the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat is pleased to announce expanded support through the BC Tourism Resiliency Network. Launching this month, Ideas Labs are a series of 30 online sessions on nine original topics selected from requests from tourism operators across the province. The labs will bring small groups together in a business-to-business learning environment to address hot topics where solutions to common problems are discussed and shared, and new ideas are incubated. These are 1-hour online peer-to-peer discussions led by an inspiring industry topic specialist.

Each session is limited to only 12 participants from across the province. SPACE IS LIMITED. We ask that if you register that you participate or if a conflict arises in your schedule, please cancel your registration. 

Ideas Labs is a program created and produced by the Tourism Cafe.

Learn more at:
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RRU
Hospitality & Tourism Business Recovery and Financing: Strategic and Tactical Decision-Making

Join the Tourism and Hospitality Resource Forum of Royal Roads University, online on October 22nd at 1 pm for their next panel discussion, Hospitality & Tourism Business Recovery and Financing: Strategic and Tactical Decision-Making.

The COVID-19 situation has substantially changed the market for hospitality and tourism industry business owners and operators. Significant adjustments to their operations have been necessary to remain open and traditional markets have declined in most instances. Even with support measures in place by Government, the financial pressures faced by many businesses are acute. Our panel discussion will focus on the financial challenges at this time and the strategic and tactical decisions that small, medium and large hospitality and tourism industry owners and operators may face with a focus on business recovery and financial stability. 

For discussion:
  • The impacts businesses are currently facing and in particular possible financial pressures and the relationships with lenders and investors when experiencing significant revenue declines. 
  • The tactics that owners and operators can deploy now in their relationships with creditors and investors and the strategic decisions in the business recovery process 
  • If a business is facing potential insolvency or is contemplating closure, what are some of the key considerations? 

Panelists:
Gary D. Powroznik, FCA, CIRP, LIT is the Founder and Managing Director of G-Force Group.– Focusing on the strategic and tactical decisions that businesses may face in distress situations and the options that may be available to them.

Ralph R. Miller, CPA, CA, CBV, CHA, CHAE, President Inntegrated Hospitality Management Ltd. – Focusing on the operating challenges in the hospitality industry and the various measures that may be necessary to maintain market and financial stability.

Moderated by Steve Kleinschmidt, RRU associate faculty, Past Vice-Chairman Asset Management, and President of the Marco Polo Hotel Group.

Details for joining the Panel:

This panel is an initiative of the Tourism and Hospitality Resource Forum of Royal Roads University, a volunteer initiative to support BC's tourism industry. For more information on joining the Resource Forum for free or about this event, please contact Geoff Bird at geoff.2bird@royalroads.ca
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Tourism & Hospitality in a Time of COVID

Hosted by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade -
November 2nd, noon.

The economic rebound of British Columbia hinges on the recovery of critical economic sectors such as tourism and hospitality.

Prior to the pandemic, tourism contributed $8.3 billion to provincial GDP and employed more than 160,000 people. For our region and province to recover, it is essential that government provide support measures to help the industry overcome and rebuild from the devastating impacts of COVID-19.

The keynote speaker and panellists will discuss the short- and long-term measures, programs and priorities that will help tourism-reliant businesses survive today and transform our region for the future.
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October 21

TIAC Congress (virtual, free event)
November 17 & 18

TIABC AGM
November 25

Indigenous Tourism BC AGM
November 25
TIABC's C-19 Bulletin is published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Feel free to send us your ideas on what information would be valuable for TIABC to share through our COVID-19 Bulletin going forward. Drop us a line at info@tiabc.ca.