Voice of the BC Tourism Industry
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Photo credit: John Entwistle
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The older you get the harder it is to learn a new language, especially one that you might not use very often. However, given today’s primary communication channels, it seems we’ve all had to learn a new language of sorts…a butchered form of English referred to as net-speak or cyber-slang that relies on complex acronyms, abbreviations or emoji to communicate in character increments.
Because my fingers work like oven mitts when I’m typing on my mobile phone, I tend to respond to texts or emails with emoji or as few words as possible. Chances are you’ve received a thumbs-up or smile sign from me on occasion.
At the same time, the one word I tend to use the most may not in fact be an actual word. It’s simply the letter
h followed by multiple
m’s complemented by a question mark to spell
hmmm? I generally use
hmmm? when I don’t know the answer to a question, can’t recall something and am stalling in hopes of remembering, or if I’m completely perplexed by how to respond to the actions someone has taken.
Such was the case when several TIABC members texted to inform me that Victoria City Council had passed a motion a number of weeks ago to endorse participation in a class-action lawsuit against oil and gas companies for contributing to the impacts of climate change. Aside from
hmmm?, I was curious to know what this lawsuit was all about. Why would they consider this course of action?
In this space I’m not going to get into a debate on the merits of the lawsuit and to what degree oil and gas companies are culpable for climate change along with consumers who rely on fossil fuels to travel. However, where it concerns TIABC and the tourism industry in general is the immediate impacts that actions like this have on our visitor economy.
In Victoria’s case, news of a pending lawsuit has reached clients in certain business sectors, as well as potential visitors from throughout Alberta who have cancelled vacation and meeting bookings in the provincial capital. What’s more, several other island communities are considering following Victoria’s lead, which could ultimately result in a similar consumer backlash.
While I have not yet spoken to Victoria’s council, a number of TIABC members and directors have and they still aren’t clear on what the proposed lawsuit will accomplish.
In no way am I defending oil and gas companies, denying the impacts of fossil fuels on climate change, or discounting the costs to communities in dealing with climate change ramifications. However, there are likely more productive and effective ways to move toward mitigating these impacts and creating a sustainable community for both residents and visitors including working with, rather than suing, powerful and well resourced oil and gas companies.
As you are aware, the BC tourism industry is engaged in multiple environmental sustainability initiatives while at the same time cognizant of the environmental footprint caused by the reliance on fossil fuels for various modes of travel. In fact, some progressive companies have already announced plans to convert their entire fleet of vehicles to electric power. However, there is much more that can and will be done by BC’s tourism operators to ensure future generations will enjoy a healthy and sustainable environment.
In the meantime, TIABC will join Tourism Victoria, Tourism Vancouver Island, the Victoria Chamber of Commerce and others to send a letter to Victoria City Council to encourage them to drop the notion of a class action lawsuit in favour of finding other options to achieve their sustainability goals.
To be sure, there is more to this issue that requires analysis and understanding by all sides, something our board and Policy Committee will be grappling with in the coming weeks. Suffice it to say, we have enough challenges in our industry that need to be addressed so let’s be careful not to shoot ourselves in the foot again by instigating boycotts and cancellations.
JMO. BTAIM, IANAL but I hope someone will ELI5 how this council’s CTA will deliver ROI to Victoria’s visitor economy.
If you know what I’ve just said, congratulations… you’ve mastered a new language.
Walt Judas
CEO, TIABC
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Federal Budget 2019 - Industry Updates
The federal budget was released March 19th by Minister of Finance, the Honourable Bill Morneau. This budget is the last presented by the incumbent government before the next federal election.
TIAC Update
TIABC's national counterpart, TIAC has prepared a summary document to assist industry stakeholders in understanding the measures put forward by government in Budget 2019 and how they relate to the tourism economy. TIAC outlined its priorities to the government in their
Pre-Budget submission
in August, and throughout the year in numerous forums and meetings with government decision-makers.
Here is a snapshot of budget measures that relate to our industry:
- Recognizing Tourism as an Economic Engine
- Industry Development
- Helping travellers visit Canada
- Labour and Skills Development
- Marketing
- Border and Airport Security
- Other measures
Read the full Tourism Industry Association of Canada update at:
tiac-aitc.ca
BC Wine Industry Update
The recent federal budget announcement included the Government’s commitment to the removal of interprovincial trade barriers to alcohol. The budget clearly stated that the Government intends to remove the federal requirement that alcohol moving from one province to another be sold or consigned to a provincial liquor authority. If the 2019 budget passes, the change will come into effect. The next step in final implementation are national consultations on this issue in spring, leading up to Federal-Provincial-Territorial Internal Trade Ministers meeting in Nova Scotia in late May.
Read more from the BC Wine Institute at:
Indigenous Tourism Canada
Significant new funding ($58.2 million) is being invested in industry development, specifically for tourism and ITAC will continue to work closely with the regional development agencies to help leverage this funding for our stakeholders. This is a new program entitled “Canadian Experiences Fund” and one of the key priorities is Indigenous tourism.
Read more from Indigenous Tourism Canada at:
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BCTIC Supports BC Hospitality Foundation
To thank speakers at this year's conference, TIABC provided donations in their names (a total of $1,500) to the BC Hospitality Foundation.
TIABC is proud to support the BCHF and their important work in providing assistance to colleagues in the
hospitality industry facing financial crisis due to a health issue.
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Thank you to BCTIC Silent Auction Sponsors
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TIABC sincerely appreciates all the organizations and businesses who supported the silent auction at the 2019 BC Tourism Industry Conference.
Over the past 20+ years, the auction has raised over $350,000 to assist TIABC’s with its advocacy efforts..
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40 Knots Vineyard and Estate Winery
Abigail's Hotel
Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours
Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort
Andrew Petter Limited
Arts Club Theatre Company
Bard on the Beach
BC Central Reservations Ltd.
BC Ferries
BC Ferries Vacations
Britannia Mine Museum
Butzi Kids
Cable Cove Inn
Cactus Club Cafe
Capilano Group
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism
Cedar Creek Estate Winery
Chateau Victoria Hotel
Delta Hotels Marriott - Victoria Ocean
Point Resort
Delta Hotels Marriott - Grand Okanagan
Resort
Driftwood Brewery
Elements Casino Victoria
Elite Limousine Service
Energyplex
Fairmont Chateau Whistler
FlyOver Canada
Four Points Sheraton Kamloops
Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver
Grizzli Winery
Grouse Mountain
Heather Mountain Lodge and Cabins
Hotel Grand Pacific
Il Terrazzo
Jamie's Whaling Station & Adventure
Centres
Kumsheen Rafting Resort
LA Limousines
Landsea Tours & Adventures
Maple Leaf Spirits Inc.
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Marriott Victoria Inner Harbour
Milner Gardens and Woodland
Museum of Anthropology at UBC
Nita Lake Lodge
Oak Bay Beach Hotel
Old House Hotel
Pacific Coastal Airlines
Pacific Sands Beach Resort
Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier
Powder King Mountain Resort
Prestige Hotels and Resorts
Prestige Hotels and Resorts - Kelowna
Prestige Oceanfront Resort & Convention
Centre
Prince of Whales
Princeton Golf Club
Ramada by Wyndham Penticton Hotel &
Suites
Rocky Mountaineer
Rogers Chocolates
Royal BC Museum
Salt Spring Adventure Co Ltd.
Scandinave Spa Whistler
Silk Road Tea
Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa
Table Nineteen Lakeside Eatery
The Butchart Gardens
The Pedaler Cycling Tours
The View Winery & Vineyard
Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort
Thompson Okaanagan Tourism
Tourism Abbotsford
Tourism Vancouver Island
Tourism Vernon
Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge (Cape Mudge
Resort)
Uncorked Okanagan
Vancouver Island Brewing
Watermark Beach Resort
West Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa
Ziptrek Ecotours
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Get Ready for Tourism Week 2019
Mark your calendars for Tourism Week 2019.
Tourism Week is still a couple of months away, but it's time to start thinking about how to get your community, business and local government engaged. Visit our website for some ideas such as printing up your own #BCTourismMatters banner for use in your social media images.
Let us know your plans so we can be sure to share on our social media channels, and stay tuned for further updates as we get closer to May.
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BC Tourism Industry Awards 2019
TIABC congratulates all the nominees and winners of this year's BC Tourism Industry Awards. In addition we'd like to gratefully acknowledge Indigenous Tourism BC for hosting an incredible evening of celebrating BC's best during the recent BC Tourism Industry Conference.
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DMO Professional Excellence Award
Sponsored by TIAC and Resonance Consultancy
Winner: Tourism Kelowna
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Employees First Award
Sponsored by go2HR
Winner: Accent Inns
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Remarkable Experience Award
Sponsored by: Destination Think
Winner:
CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures
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Innovation Award
Sponsored by: Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture
Winner (tie): Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
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Innovation Award
Sponsored by: Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture
Winner (tie): Fishing BC
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Indigenous Tourism Award
Sponsored by: Indigenous Tourism BC and the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
Winner: Quaaout Lodge & Spa
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Customer Service Award
Sponsored by: Go RVing Canada
Winner: Jan Dobbener, Guest Experience Manager at Quails' Gate Winery in West Kelowna
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Lifetime Achievement Award
At the recent BC Tourism Industry Conference, TIABC proudly honoured an important industry partner with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Arlene Keis was recognized for her 17 years of leadership with go2HR.
Under Arlene's leadership, go2HR has tripled in size, expanded programs to include contracts with the Industry Training Authority, WorkSafeBC and government, and established strategic partnerships with other tourism organizations. Key accomplishments include:
- establishing the first provincial tourism industry-led and -financed organization to promote tourism workforce development;
- creating an industry-specific portal website and niche job board to assist tourism businesses in recruiting, retaining and training its workforce;
- reinforcing and championing a healthy and safe culture for tourism businesses; and
- acquiring SuperHost™ customer service training from Destination British Columbia and refreshing the program to meet the current market needs.
An HR professional by trade, Arlene has over 30 years of experience at the operational, corporate, and industry levels in both public and private sectors. Arlene has a M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology from UBC and is designated as a Chartered Professional in Human Resources.
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Service For All
Your customers vary in age, race, culture, sexual identity, beliefs, economic status, needs…are you ready to accommodate all of their different needs? Are your staff prepared to interact with people from various backgrounds?
SuperHost’s new
Service For All online training is here to help. In today's diverse environment, it’s all the more important that our front-line employees be nimble and empathetic in order to create and enhance quality of service for different types of visitors, such as:
- LGBTQ/2S people
- Different generations (e.g. boomers, Gen X, millennials, etc.)
- Persons with disabilities
- Indigenous peoples
- People for whom English is a second language
- Customers from varying ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds
With engaging activities and realistic examples, employees will gain practical knowledge and tips to help them understand and deliver Service For All of your customers.
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CMH Announces $9.6 Million Investment
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The beloved Bobbie Burns lodge will undergo an $8.4 million renovation, the largest infrastructure project that CMH has undertaken since 2002, with a complete redesign and modernization of existing guest rooms. An entirely new wing will be constructed, increasing the number of single rooms and bringing the lodge capacity from 33 to 37 guests in winter.
The development will enable CMH to offer a new four-person private Heli-Skiing program at the Bobbie Burns starting December 2019. With the most sought-after Heli-Skiing trips selling out 18 months in advance, the expansion allows more guests to access the coveted destination, famous for its massive vertical and high-alpine glacier terrain.
A further $1.2 million will be spent on run development throughout CMH’s ski terrain. Approximately half of the funds will be directed toward the Bobbie Burns tenure to support the lodge expansion project with improved access and development around the lodge. The remainder will support glading, spacing and brushing activity in existing ski terrain across the other CMH locations.
For July and August 2019, the first stage of CMH’s newest experience will launch at CMH Cariboos. The lodge recently reopened in 2018 for Summer Adventures after a 10-year hiatus, and this year, thrill-seekers can put their skills to the test by navigating deep canyon ledges and rushing waterfalls on the new Zillmer Canyon Via Ferrata. The clincher – with a certified mountain guide as your lead, previous mountaineering experience isn’t required to be able to conquer this epic adventure.
CMH was a recent winner of the BC Tourism Award for Remarkable Experiences. This award recognizes a
tourism business that has developed, delivered, promoted and sold a new or improved tourism product or experience that reflects the essence of British Columbia and contributes to a remarkable visitor experience. Overall, the marketing tactics and metrics, visual imagery and the guest reviews convinced the award judges that CMH’s Summer Adventures were truly a “Remarkable Experience” for everyone who had the opportunity to enjoy one, and that they consistently surpassed visitor expectations.
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Wine BC 2030
Following another successful BC Wine Industry Insight Conference (March 12th at the Penticton Lakeside Resort), the BC Wine Institute is pleased to announce the launch of the WineBC2030 long-term strategic plan.
Bringing together more than 200 industry stakeholders and key speakers, the BC Wine Industry Insight Conference provided an informative overview of the current and future states of the wine industry from industry experts. The conference concluded with the delivery of WineBC2030 - a culmination of more than 18 months of industry engagement led by the BC Wine Institute in developing a 10-year strategic plan for the BC wine industry.
The road to WineBC2030 began in October 2017 when the BCWI board recognized the need for a long-term strategic plan. Since then, more than 30 meetings have taken place in 12 locations province-wide. More than 650 industry participants provided input into the plan via multiple platforms, including industry working groups with representation from each of the sub-regions in BC, local industry experts and key stakeholders. In addition, progress updates were regularly communicated to the industry creating opportunities for interested members of the wine community to contribute.
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Discount Code
for TIABC Members
Hosted by ABLE BC and the BC Hotel Association, the fourth annual Summit takes place
Monday, April 8 and Tuesday, April 9 at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort in Kelowna.
BC Hospitality Summit brings together hospitality industry owners and managers who want to stay ahead of the competition, learn new skills and trends, forge profitable business relationships, and adapt to the changing business world.
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Earlybird Pricing Until March 31st
The International Indigenous Tourism Conference will hosted November 12-14th on the traditional territory of the Syilx Nation, in partnership with the Nlakápamux and Secwépemc Nations, Tourism Kelowna, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, and Indigenous Tourism BC.
Inspire. Transform. Unite.
This year’s conference theme is “Inspire. Transform. Unite. Accelerating Indigenous tourism growth.” Presentations will be focused on inspiring communities and entrepreneurs to explore tourism as an economic driver. Transform focuses on the impacts of Indigenous tourism on visitors and Indigenous operators alike. Unite speaks to the power of partnerships and coming together to empower the Indigenous tourism industry.
The Super-Early-Bird pricing is available now until March 31st. Visit the conference website to purchase your tickets today.
indigenoustourismconference.com
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Cheer on Team Canada
TIABC Member Discount
Thank you to
Sport Hosting Vancouver
for offering TIABC members a discount to an exciting soccer event in Vancouver.
Canada Soccer’s men’s national team will return to BC Place for a crucial international qualifying match on Sunday, March 24th against French Guiana.
Secure your seats to catch Canada’s next generation of dynamic young stars by taking advantage of an exciting ticket offer featuring a 30% discount off regularly priced tickets!
Please use promo code CANGUF to access this offer.
At stake for Canada is a place at the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, as well as entry into the top tier of the Concacaf Nations League as Canada continues the road to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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Strategic Framework for Tourism in BC
Welcoming Visitors - Benefiting Locals - Working Together
The 2019-2021 tourism strategic framework sets out a clear vision for a prosperous and sustainable tourism sector in a way that distributes benefits to people throughout the province.
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Travel & Tourism Continues Strong Growth Above Global GDP
The global Travel & Tourism sector grew at 3.9% to contribute a record $8.8 trillion and 319 million jobs to the world economy in 2018.
For the eighth consecutive year, this was above the growth rate of world GDP.
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Tourism Tofino Says Town’s Visitation Generates $240 Million Annually
An economic impact and visitation study conducted by InterVISTAS Consulting Inc. found that tourism supports 2,670 direct jobs—1,720 full-time equivalent jobs—generating $60 million in annual wages. Tofino hosted an estimated 600,000 visitors in 2018 and local businesses serving those visitors contribute over $57 million in municipal, provincial and federal tax revenues.
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BC National Parks First in Canada to Get Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Two of Canada's mountain parks have gone electric.
Glacier National Park and Yoho National Park, both along the Trans-Canada Highway in B.C., are the first parks in the country to have electric vehicle charging stations installed.
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BC Ferries Seeks Input
BC Ferries is getting ready to build new ferries to replace four of existing vessels (Queen of Alberni, Queen of New Westminster, Queen of Coquitlam, and Queen of Cowichan). This is one of the biggest projects BC Ferries has ever undertaken and they are seeking industry's input.
www.bcferries.com/about/projects/nextgen.html
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StatsCan Seeks Census Feedback
Statistics Canada is conducting a public consultation on the 2021 Census of Population.Please submit your completed questionnaire by March 31st.
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Red Mountain Resort Just Got Radder
The Topping chair expansion set for the 2019/20 season adds to RED Mountain’s stature of already being in the top 10, size-wise, for North America with total skiable acreage at 3,840.
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Northern BC Tourism Announces New Staff
Northern BC Tourism is excited to announce the recent hires of Kyle Flannagan as Media Relations Specialist and Amber Harding in the role of Marketing and Communications.
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A graduate of UNBC's Marketing Program, Kyle is a life-long resident of Prince George with experience in sustainable recreation & tourism, eco & adventure tourism, and protected area planning & management. He has logged many hours traveling the region as a sales rep, served as the media / communication lead for Service Canada, and worked as a campaign associate for the United Way of Northern British Columbia.
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Amber, a resident of Fort St. John, has over 10 years experience in marketing, communications and public affairs, most recently with the BC 2020 Winter Games Marketing Committee. She has also worked in senior marketing and communications positions for the United Way, Peace River Hydro Partners and the BC Oil and Gas Commission.
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March 28-30, Kelowna
April 8-9, Kelowna
April 24-26, Whistler
October 23-24, Nanaimo
November 12-14, Kelowna
January 19-22, 2020, Victoria
March 4-6, 2020, Victoria
Send us your event listings and we can include it on our list!
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TIABC's Recent Advocacy Issues
TIABC Board of Directors
TIABC in the News
TIABC Member Directory
Join TIABC
#BCTourismMatters
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