Todays industry update includes:

  • #HardestHit Campaign Makes an Impact
  • BCHA State of the Industry Pulse Check Survey
  • BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference
  • Workshop Recordings
  • BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference Supports BCHF
  • Tourism Infrastructure Funding
  • New Member Feature - LOC International Inc.
  • Employment Opportunities | Supporting Vaccine Sites in our Communities
  • Mark Your Calendars
  • TIABC FREE Culinary Tourism Webinars!
  • Impact Conference 2021
  • BC Chamber of Commerce 2021 Virtual AGM and Conference
  • In The News
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For any questions please reach out to our team. 
#HardestHit Campaign Makes an Impact
Let’s keep the pressure on!
As part of our campaign launch, we worked with the Opposition to secure a question during the House of Commons Question Period. We are pleased to share that earlier today, Conservative MP (Niagara Falls) and Special Advisor to the Leader on Tourism Recovery, Tony Baldinelli posed a question to the Federal Government on behalf of the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses.
 
You can access the video via the links below: 
As you know, the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses, held a press event to launch a new campaign urging Government to extend and enhance the wage subsidy and fixed costs programs to the end of the year. This effort was also supported by a letter to Minister Freeland and direct outreach to every Member of Parliament with our key recommendations. 
 
With a successful launch behind us, it is critical that we keep the pressure on. There is still much work to be done before the Finance Minister tables the Federal Budget on April 19, 2021. And we will need your support. If you haven’t already, here are a few meaningful steps you can take to encourage the extension and enhancement of CEWS & CERS:  
 
  1. Call (or email) your Champion MPs and tell them the wage subsidy and fixed costs support is critical and must continue until the end of 2021, and share our Key Recommendations for Budget 2021[Download here:ENG| FR].  
  2. Send a letter to your local Member of Parliament and ask your members to do the same. It will take less than 1 minute to send. You can send a letter on our microsite:HardestHit.ca/DurementTouches.ca 
  3. Spread the word on social media. Pre-written social media content can be found on our microsite:HardestHit.ca/social 
 
Thank you for using your voice to amplify our Coalition’s message.  

Media Reach 
In total, our Coalition’s campaign earned 590+ print or digital articles and more than 100 mentions on broadcast news. Our message has been heard by more than 240 million Canadians – with coverage valued at more than $2 million. 
 
Key Highlights 
Broadcast news: 
Print: 
BCHA State of the Industry Pulse Check
We continue to work tirelessly on your behalf to ensure the provincial and federal governments understand the urgency, the need and the gaps that currently exist in the relief measures to support industry solvency. 

Once again, we ask you to share your voice as we continue to gather information on the current state of our industry and better understand your advocacy priorities and concerns.
 
These past months have been exceptionally challenging for our industry and we need your voices to help us gather important information.
 
Please take a few moments to complete the survey below!

Please Complete by 5pm March 31.
BC Tourism and Hospitality Conference
Workshop Recordings
At this years Tourism & Hospitality Conference, we offered a full day of FREE workshops presented by industry leaders and experts. These well attended presentations shared insight on topics ranging from Culinary Tourism to Hotel Financials and everything in between.

Recordings for these webinars can be found on the website at https://www.bctourismandhospitalityconference.com/free-workshops
BC Tourism and Hospitality Conference Supports the BCHF
In lieu of speakers’ gifts at this year’s BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference, a donation was made to the BC Hospitality Foundation to support hospitality employees in BC facing financial crisis due to a health condition. Thank you to everyone who made this contribution possible!
 
Photo from left to right: BCHA president & CEO, Ingrid Jarrett; BCHF Board Member Debbie Morris; TIABC CEO Walt Judas.

Learn more about the BC Hospitality Foundation at: bchospitalityfoundation.com
Tourism Infrastructure Funding
Yesterday the provincial government announced 32 tourism-dependent communities have received $19.4 million in total for tourism infrastructure.
 
A total of 46 new tourism-development projects were identified throughout the province and include updated trails for e-bikes and adaptive trikes, signage, solar electric-vehicle charging stations, sea kayak touring and picnic facilities.
 
The money comes from the Tourism Dependent Communities Initiative, and approved projects must be completed by March 2023.
 
For information on Cariboo Chilcotin Coast and Northern BC regions, please visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021TACS0022-000557
For information on the Kootenays region, please see: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021TACS0022-000558
For information on Thompson Okanagan region, please see: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021TACS0022-000559
For information on Vancouver, Coast & Mountains ; and Vancouver Island, please visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021TACS0022-000560
 
A list of all approved community projects is available here.
New Member Feature

Founded in 1988, and focusing on service & quality, LOC International has become a leader in the conception, manufacturing and distribution of products for the hospitality business. LOC International supplies electronics hotel safes, minibars & fridges, key cards, intelligent RFID door locks, LG hospitality solutions, radio-clocks, in-room phones & connectivity devices to more than 10 000 satisfied clients throughout North America, the Caribbean & Europe. Our commitment: To Excel at Client Service. Like You Do!

We offer special pricing & promotion for members.
Please contact us for more details.
Faizal (Max) Bakridi: FBakridi@locinternational.com
Employment Opportunities | Supporting Vaccine
Sites in our Communities
Our role as the BC Hotel Association is to support the reopening plan for the travel economy, to provide support for our workforce and industry. By working hand-in-hand with the Red Cross, we trust this opportunity will serve to keep our treasured workforce in our communities so we can all get back to the positions we have chosen as our careers before too long. 
 
The Canadian Red Cross is looking for caring and compassionate individuals to join their team to support the vaccine rollout in communities around the province as we continue to respond to COVID-19. 
 
At the request of provincial and local health authorities in British Columbia the Canadian Red Cross is preparing to hire people to provide non-clinical support for vaccination clinics.
 
The following positions are available:
  • Up to 6 months Full-Time, $20 to $25/hour 
  • This service oriented profile has for mission to contribute toward the establishment and maintenance of safe & supportive working environments for diverse populations and incorporating cultural considerations.
  • Up to 6 months Full-Time, $26 to $38/hour 
  • This leadership profile is an on-site role and will oversee/direct the work of the team to ensure a safe and consistent service delivery plan, recognize and escalate issues, barriers, hardships and strategies for service improvement. 
  • Up to 6 months Full-Time, $33.02/hour 
  • This management profile requires to organize, coordinate and align services within the geography and across Provinces engaged in similar operations and will serve as a key liaison person for external partners, agencies, and government. 
 
Full training is provided, along with travel and accommodation if required.  

Individuals will be deployed across three regions:  
  • Island: Victoria, Langford, Duncan, Nanaimo 
  • Interior: Kelowna, Kamloops, Trail, Vernon, Penticton, Cranbrook, Williams Lake
  • North: Prince George 

Mandate dates: 12 of April to end of September
 
Please click relevant job title to apply.
Mark Your Calendars
 
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada in partnership with TIABC is happy to offer free online Culinary Tourism webinars to tourism operators and organizations
 
Five themed webinars will assist small and medium tourism operators and partners develop culinary tourism strategies to maintain their businesses and attract both domestic international visitors once Canada is ready to welcome them again. 
Exceeding Expectations Webinar 
Wednesday, March 31st at 8:00am PT (9:00am MT)
 
For more details, click here
Impact Conference 2021
 
Please join us for an incredibly impactful 1.5 hours as we take a deeper look at the tourism recovery opportunities ahead:

  • Marsha Walden, President and CEO, Destination Canada
  • Keith Henry, President and CEO, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and IMPACT Co-Chair
  • Katie Briscoe, President, MMGY Global
 
Moderated by Paul Nursey, President and CEO, Destination Greater Victoria and IMPACT co-founder.
 
Wednesday March 31st
8:30am - 10:00am PT
 
Registration is free but all participants must register.
BC Chamber of Commerce 2021 Virtual AGM and Conference
Friday May 28 - Saturday May 29

Time to block your calendars — the BC Chamber of Commerce is inviting you to its virtual AGM and Conference, taking place May 28-29, 2021.
During a year where connection means more than it ever has, this event brings together Chamber members from across the province to share what's on BC's mind, connect deeply about business priorities, and debate policies that will drive the BC Chamber's advocacy efforts for the years ahead.
Watch your inbox for more event details to be shared in the coming weeks!
Save the date — don't miss out!

Save the date here
IN THE NEWS
B.C. to hire 1,400 laid-off tourism, hospitality workers ...

British Columbia is recruiting 1,400 furloughed workers in the province's hard-hit hospitality and tourism sectors to help launch mass immunization clinics in April. B.C. Premier John Horgan announced Wednesday that the province will hire workers ...

Read more
www.cbc.ca
Massive expansion of rapid testing in Alberta | Offre...

Alberta's government is offering millions of free rapid testing kits to public, private and not-for-profit employers and service providers provincewide.

Read more
www.alberta.ca
How are Squamish hotels surviving COVID-19?

Flashback to a little over a year ago, and being in the hotel business in B.C. seemed like a safe and likely lucrative bet. But then - the pandemic hit. More than a year into COVID-19 restrictions and Squamish hotels are doing well, relative to...

Read more
www.squamishchief.com
COVID-19 UPDATES ONLINE AT BCHA.COM