Voice of the BC Tourism Industry
|
|
Chair's Message
Is anyone else feeling just about ready for this election to be over? That said, as much as I joke about being tired of campaign-related news and election water cooler talk, the democratic process really is incredibly important. I know this goes without saying.
While I won’t tell you who you should vote for, I will encourage you to spend some extra time this week looking at the campaign platforms of all parties, to see where each one stands on issues that matter to you. And on issues that matter to our industry.
While tourism might not be the hottest of topics this election, policy matters to our industry. Whether it’s financial support for companies operating in lesser-visited areas of our country, changes to the temporary foreign worker program, restrictions on sport fishing and whale watching, or investments in critical rural infrastructure, one thing is clear: government action has the potential to effect change – positive or negative – in our industry.
I may not be able to predict the outcome of the election, but I can give you one guarantee. You can trust that TIABC will be ready and well-positioned to advocate for your businesses no matter who forms government in a few short days
In November, I will attend TIAC's Tourism Congress in Ottawa and join our provincial and national counterparts in representing our industry's best interests. We are at a pivotal time with looming headwinds on the horizon... Geo-political tensions, predicted economic slowdowns, Brexit, just to name a few. Together we need to stay ahead of the oncoming turbulence and continue to sustain and grow tourism in British Columbia.
If you weren’t one of the 4.7 million Canadians who cast a vote in the advance polls over the Thanksgiving long weekend (a record, by the way!), don’t forget to take the time out of your day to vote on Monday, October 21st.
I look forward to seeing you at TIABC's Annual General Meeting on November 12th in Kelowna.
Alroy Chan
Chair, TIABC
|
|
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
2019 TIABC AGM
Tuesday, November 12 - Kelowna
Note - TIABC AGM will be held in conjunction with the
|
|
TIABC Welcomes New Members
A Place of Belonging for Everyone
Thousands visit the Sorrento Centre each year to engage their heart, mind, and spirit; to be inspired, meet old friends and make new ones. They come to rest and relax in a place of great beauty. Arts and culture, music, environment, theology, social and economic justice.
|
|
Previously known as the ‘Old Dutch Inn’, in 2015 it received an elegant transformation of the entire property. Today you will find 32 clean & updated rooms with outdoor access to a patio space or deck – most of them facing the ocean – Beautiful rooms with beautiful surroundings.
|
|
Take the 2019 Collective Perspectives Survey
Every year, the BC Chamber of Commerce's
Collective Perspective Survey
provides a critical snapshot of BC’s economic climate—from the perspective of BC’s diverse business community.
Results serve several purposes:
- They inform our advocacy efforts and define how we advance policies that serve BC Businesses
- Results are shared with government in preparation for the 2020 budget.
- The survey identifies evolving trends over time, and helps our members and partners see where we’ve come from, and where we’re going.
All respondents who sign up onto BCMindReader.com will be entered in a draw to win a $500 Air Canada flight voucher.
The data collected last year helped inform provincial conversations on top tourism roadblocks, CBAs, rising costs, housing supply issues …and many other themes relevant to our TIABC members.
|
|
2019 BC CEO Awards
Business in Vancouver will celebrate BC’s top leadership when it presents the BC CEO Awards November 13th at the Fairmont Waterfront hotel. Winning CEOs will be honoured at a gala dinner where each winner will share their leadership lessons to an audience of Vancouver’s business community.
Craig Richmond, Vancouver International Airport Authority CEO will be honoured with a BC CEO Award in the Not for Profit Company category.
In April, YVR was named Skytrax World Airport Awards’ top North American facility for the 10th consecutive year – an honour that has never been achieved by another airport in any Skytrax category.
|
|
Be Sure to Cast Your Vote
Canadians will elect a new government on October 21st. And if advance polls are any indication, this election is as important as any in recent memory.
It is vital that industry stakeholders connect with local candidates from all parties to inform them about any issues and barriers to growth facing British Columbia’s visitor economy. Let them know that #BCTourismMatters.
Check out TIABC’s Guide to the 2019 Federal Election for suggestions on ways for you to be directly engaged in the lead-up to the federal election to ensure tourism’s voice is loud and clear in the debates, discussions and within party platforms.
|
|
Demand for Indigenous Tourism Outpacing Availability of Staff
Keith Henry, president of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, says there has been a surge in demand for Indigenous experiences across the country.
But Henry says only 133 of Canada's 1,900 Indigenous tourism operators are
export ready
— meaning they have the expertise, staff and infrastructure to do business on an international scale.
The industry's main challenge, according to Henry, is building capacity to meet demand. That includes building better websites, training Indigenous staff and securing investment funding for infrastructure like shuttle buses and buildings.
Not having enough Indigenous-led companies has, in some cases, led to cultural appropriation and misrepresentation when large tour operators try to meet demand without enough Indigenous contribution.
Keith presented last week at the World Indigenous Business Forum in Vancouver, which attracted about 500 people from around the world.
Read the full article:
|
|
Short-term Vacation Revenues Significant
Short-term rental platform Airbnb says hosts in the city of Vancouver earned $62 million this summer.
The company said about 224,000 guests stayed in Airbnb listings in Vancouver between May 24th and September 2nd this year, with the typical booking being worth $169. The average length of stay was three nights with the most visitors coming from the U.S., Canada, the UK, Germany and Australia.
Nearly half of the guests were aged 25 to 39 years old, while about 20% were over 50.
Under the city’s bylaw, short-term rental hosts can only rent out their principal residence or single rooms, and must display a valid permit number on their listing.
According to the city, as of the end of August there were 5,866 active listings in Vancouver. Since its rules came into effect in 2018, about 73% of hosts have complied and obtained a licence, a figure it claims is among the highest rates of compliance in North America.
Approximately one-quarter of the licences have been audited or flagged for audit — a process that has resulted in a tenfold increase in licence suspensions. 116 rogue listings have been referred to the city prosecutor’s office for legal action.
|
|
BC Wine Institute Update
BCWI Board BC Liquor Stores Retail Practices Task Group
At its September 26, 2019 BCWI Board meeting, Directors struck a task group to identify specific BC Liquor Stores (BCLS) retail practice priority issues impacting the BC wine industry with recommendation to the BCWI Board of Directors regarding advocacy priorities and strategies. At its inaugural meeting, October 3, 2019, that task group identified instances of the BCLS using its market power as a monopoly wholesaler and primary retailer to drive additional profit for the BC LDB at the expense of the BC wine industry and broader economic opportunities and other government priorities, including:
- Loss of listings for long-standing BC wineries with an overall lack of shelf space and recognition of the increase in the number and brands of BC wine;
- The practice of increasing retail prices (and margins) of faster moving products – ‘flex pricing’;
- The practice of bridge buying, where the LDB takes advantage of limited time offer promotions to purchase more volume than it anticipates will sell during the promotional period at discounted rates;
- The pursuit of exclusive and private label wine despite its role as a monopoly wholesaler.
As per the task group mandate, the next step is to document specific BCLS retail practice priority issues with recommendations to the BCWI Board of Directors regarding advocacy priorities and strategies.
BC Agricultural Land Commission Policy Change
In December 2018, the ALR released a new policy covering the operation of alcohol production facilities (including wineries) located on ALR land. Impacting BC wineries is new criteria relating to the allowable "development area" for a winery on the particular parcel of ALR land upon which the winery facility is located. The policy permits a maximum of 5% of the parcel to be used for "development area" and only includes the parcel on which the production facility is located and does not extend to other land owned or leased by the winery. The definition of development area is very broad and includes all buildings, roads, parking areas and landscaping and could severely impact winery expansion.
If any BC wineries are experiencing issues with the new ALC policy, please contact Miles Prodan at [email protected].
|
|
Join Destination BC's Marketing Committee
Are you interested in playing a critical role in the long-term, sustainable growth of BC’s tourism industry?
Destination BC is accepting applications to join the Tourism Marketing Committee (TMC). The TMC requires five new representatives, one from each of the following tourism regions, to join the committee beginning January 1st, 2020:
- Vancouver, Coast & Mountains;
- Vancouver Island;
- Cariboo Chilcotin Coast;
- Northern BC; and
- Kootenay Rockies.
What does the Tourism Marketing Committee do?
The Tourism Marketing Committee (TMC) provides strategic advice to Destination BC’s Board and CEO related to:
- Marketing strategies for Destination BC
- Aligning Destination BC’s marketing strategies with tourism marketing programs across the province
- Assessing the performance of Destination BC’s tourism marketing programming, and the performance of the tourism sector (particularly against key competitors)
Each application must include the completed
Application Form
, including a resumé and any other supporting documents the candidate feels are relevant to this process.
Applications must be received no later than
5:00 PM on Wednesday October 23rd
.
|
|
Kootenay Rockies Tourism
Professional Development Days
November 5 - Nelson - Prestige Lakeside Resort
November 7 - Fairmont Hot Springs Resort
(9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
AGENDA
Grow with Google - facilitated by Conner Galway on behalf of Destination BC
Lunch and Presentation by Kootenay Rockies Tourism
The Growing Opportunity of Electric Vehicle (RV) Travel - presented by Jen Grebeldinger, Community Energy Association
Sustainable Tourism - presented by Angela Nagy, Green Steps Solutions
Leveraging the Content Commonwealth - presented by Robyn Hanson, Global Social Media Specialist - Destination BC
Influencers, Brand Ambassadors, Content Creator - Making Sense of the Influencer Landscape - presented by Josie Heisig, Influencer Marketing Specialist - Destination BC
More details can be found at:
|
|
Northern BC Tourism Summit
140 delegates traveled to Prince George and attended this year's Northern BC Tourism Summit which took place October 3rd and 4th at the Prince George Conference & Civic Centre.
The Northern BC Tourism Summit aims to provide an opportunity for industry to connect, learn, and share best practices in tourism marketing and development, and this year was no exception with inspirational keynote speakers and delegate representation from across Northern British Columbia. This year’s conference featured informative sessions on a variety of industry topics including Digital Marketing, Indigenous Tourism, Destination Development and Accessibility in Tourism.
The Summit also featured updates from TIABC, Destination BC and Northern BC Tourism Association.
2019/2020 Northern BC Tourism Board of Directors Announced
|
|
Left to Right (top row): Jill Barrowman, Jared Davis, Rob Bryce
Left to Right (bottom row): Gladys Atrill, Nigel Rimmer, Jack Payne
|
|
Tourism Prince George Welcomes Camila Sanchez
Camila recently joined the Tourism Prince George team where she has assumed the role of Manager, Communications & Industry Relations. Camila has over a decade of experience in communications, research, marketing, and graphic design. Born and raised in Vancouver, she moved to Prince George to attend university in 2010 and now calls Prince George home.
|
|
Northern BC Tourism Summit Attracts Media Attention
Clint Fraser of Northern BC Tourism was featured in a news story about the recent BC Tourism Summit and how the tourism industry is evolving.
|
|
Vancouver Convention Centre Recognized
The Vancouver Convention Centre has been selected as a 2020 Center of Excellence by EXHIBITOR Magazine, recognizing North America’s best convention centres for trade shows and events. The facility, owned and operated by BC Pavilion Corporation, is the only Canadian venue to be part of the first annual Centers of Excellence list.
|
|
Tourism Whistler Predicting Slight Downturn This Winter
Tourism Whistler is predicting a “slight decline” in room-night bookings to the resort this winter due in part to a softening global economy that is impacting a handful of key international markets.
|
|
TOTA Launches New Industry Website
The new corporate website offers a new look incorporating the organization’s refreshed brand and strong visual elements that are streamlined for an industry-first focus. The navigation has been remodelled to prioritize stakeholder tools and resources to help industry partners find the information they need quickly and easily and will serve as useful, dynamic content that will evolve and develop over time.
|
|
New Partnership Aims to Boost Island's Indigenous Tourism
Indigenous Tourism BC and Tourism Vancouver Island have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote the industry. Both organizations are pledging to equip Indigenous communities and businesses with the necessary skills and resources that enable them to meet the growing demand for authentic cultural experiences.
|
|
Summer Hotel Numbers Rebound
Great summer weather was not the only important contributor to the rebound of summer visitation. Last year, Tourism Kelowna introduced key marketing campaigns to help recover revenue and restore reputation. Further, its business development team pursued summer meeting and conference business, while the visitor experience team provided travel planning assistance to visitors and encouraged them to visit more local businesses while they explored Kelowna. Stakeholders told Tourism Kelowna that lead time for hotel room bookings was reduced, but most other tourism businesses indicated ‘back to normal’ or saw growth in the number of visitors. After two years of challenging summer weather, increasing revenue to the local tourism industry and restoring the reputation of the destination was a top priority.
|
|
October 20-21, Vancouver
October 23-24, Nanaimo
October 24, 2019, Courtenay
November 1-3, Barkerville
November 3-5, Victoria
November 12, Kelowna
November 12-14, Kelowna
November 19-20, Ottawa
January 19-22, 2020, Victoria
March 4-6, 2020, Victoria
April 6-7, 2020, Kelowna
April 28-30, 2020, Whistler
Send us your event listings and we can include it on our list!
|
|
TIABC Policies
TIABC Board of Directors
TIABC in the News
TIABC Member Directory
Join TIABC
#BCTourismMatters
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
