Dear Hotel Community,
It has been another busy week for the Association, as we continue to prepare for phase three of the province's reopening and support the needs of the hospitality industry.
Last week, we officially launched our new
sustainability programme
, which builds on the strength of Green Key Global, Green Meetings and includes two complementary initiatives with
FortisBC
and
GreenStep
. With funding through FortisBC, our new Energy Analyst, Dylan Tomlin will work directly with members, conducting an in-depth analysis of energy consumption. In identifying conservation opportunities, properties will be able to reduce their carbon footprint while cutting annual costs.
Sign up now
for this exciting program and join our webinar
tomorrow, June 17
th
at 1pm
,
where Dylan will outline the benefits of our sustainability initiatives and answer your questions.
Today, it was
announced
that the province has approved a temporary wholesale pricing model that will allow hospitality licensees to purchase liquor products at reduced cost. Effective July 20, until March 31, 2021 – when the program will be reviewed – this measure will provide tourism operators that hold liquor licenses with much-needed financial support. This is the most important and significant liquor policy change in a generation. The pricing change will help thousands of neighbourhood pubs and restaurants walk back from the brink of bankruptcy and give them a legitimate chance at surviving the COVID-19 crisis.
As part of a number of announcements from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the eligibility period for the
Canada Emergency Response Benefit
(CERB) has been extended by eight weeks. We have also learned that the U.S. Canada border will remain closed until July 21, 2020 or until further notice. Finally, eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) has been expanded and is now open to hoteliers that are sole operators, rely on contractors, or are a family-owned business that pays employees through dividends. We join the Hotel Association of Canada and our other Canadian hotel association partners in celebrating the resolution of this qualification barrier and thank our members who raised it as a concern.
Read more here.
We continue to hear from you, our hotel community that Property Tax remains one of your top concerns, therefore, we have partnered with Altus Group to host a Webinar for you to ensure you understand the opportunities and have the support of the experts in this field. Registration is below. We look forward to you signing up.
We continue to ensure we are supporting the need to save our summer, and are encouraging each of you to have your safety plans and training in place when Phase 3 opening date is announced.
Stay safe,
Ingrid Jarrett
President & CEO
BC Hotel Associatio
n
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WSBC Workers Compensation Letter
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It has been brought to the attention of the BC Hotel Association and Hotel Association of Vancouver
that there is intention to add a “Presumption” in Schedule 1 of the Workers Compensation Act for COVID-19
,
to add disease caused by communicable viral pathogens.
We are absolutely in opposition to this intention, and have voiced our concern on many platforms with several groups including the Metro Vancouver Response and Recovery Task Force, the BC Business Council, the BC Business Round Table, and have written to the Minister directly.
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BCHA and Fortis BC: GoGreen and Sustainability Webinar
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BCHA and Altus Group:
Navigating your Hotel's Property Taxation through Challenging Times
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As foodservice businesses continue to reopen their doors to patrons, Restaurants Canada is calling on all levels of government to ensure they have what they need to survive the road to recovery.
Most foodservice businesses across the country continue to operate at a loss, even as the economy is slowly restarting, according to a new survey from Restaurants Canada.
After months of significantly reduced revenue, or none at all, and now facing months of operating at reduced capacity, many restaurants need continued support to survive the road to recovery.
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Recently, we reached out with an industry pulse check survey to establish current advocacy priorities and business levels across the province. Over 220 members participated in this survey. Compiled below are some the results:
• Number of employees still laid off across BC:
55,452
•
Average expected occupancy up until Dec. 2020 less than 30% across the board
•
Most businesses indicated they have not recalled their entire team and are currently operating with minimal staffing levels and occupancy
•
Almost 40% indicated they could not recall their staff
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Advocacy Priorities:
1. Extending the 75% wage subsidy
2. Property tax relief
3.Extending 16-week temporary layoff period
4.Securing liquidity
5.Working capital to reopen
6.Additional business loans
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As part of our education pillar, BCHA continues to offer new courses and webinars from our education partners. Through our education series, BCHA members and hospitality professionals may access tools for continued growth within the hospitality industry at a significantly discounted price.
Royal Roads
Douglas College
Okanagan College
C
li
ck here
to sign up for any of the upcoming courses or webinars or
learn more
about all the education BCHA has to offer.
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BC Event Management has partnered with the Harbour Convention Centre to host
“Reconnect 2020”
.
The goal of Reconnect 2020
is to showcase a new way to connect. F
rom meetings to events to tourism, we all need to connect.
Proceeds from the Reconnect 2020
hybrid event will go to the BC Hospitality Foundation to support our hospitality family. Thanks to our sponsors no management/admin fees, venue rentals costs or AV rental costs will be incurred. The fundraiser will be a model for safe and healthy events for the hospitality, tourism, meeting and event industry.
Read more about Reconnect 2020.
BCHF is
requesting any prizes or donation
s
from anyone who is able to provide at this time. If you can donate auction items or make a cash donation, please register your donation
here
.
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BCHA Membership Food Buy Offer
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FoodBuy one of our Associate Members is offering $250 off your BCHA membership if you join their programme. FoodBuy is free to join and provides preferred pricing AND a monthly rebate cheque. Contact Terry Duzenberry at
membership@bcha.com
for
more information
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