C-19 BULLETIN - July 31, 2020

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CEO Message

I have a confession to make. I recently visited the United States for non-essential travel. Now, before you judge me or assume the worst, read on.
 
Last weekend, I spent time with my cousin at her Waterton Lakes cabin. If you’re unfamiliar with this area, two-thirds of the lake is located within Southern Alberta’s Waterton Lakes National Park, while the remainder spills into Montana’s Glacier National Park.
 
While out in the boat one morning, we casually crossed from middle to upper Waterton Lake (i.e. Canada to USA) where we cruised for about 15 minutes before circling back. At no time did we stop at a border crossing or go through any formal customs procedures...nor were we mandated to as long as we remained in the boat. For that matter, none of us was carrying a passport or Nexus card. In fact, I only learned we were in America because of an obvious clearing in the surrounding mountains marking the two sides of the border.
 
For the record, no one in our boat jumped into the lake, stepped onto US soil or had any direct contact with an American. In fact, except for one small dock and hiking trail, there is really no place to go ashore from upper Waterton lake. If we had done so, US Customs agents located at the end of the bay would have apprehended us immediately.
 
If I had shared only the second line of this story, you might have cause to call for my head. But hopefully providing some context will shield me from a pile of abuse.
 
My point in telling you this is because very few of us really know or understand an individual’s background or situation when we encounter visitors with Washington or Alberta license plates in our communities these days. If you recall, I wrote about this a couple of months ago, yet the issue of hostility towards out-of-province visitors, particularly Americans and in some cases Albertans, continues to raise its ugly head.
 
With the odd exception, many so-called ‘tourists’ from the States are actually Canadians that have returned home until the crisis subsides. For that matter, thousands of Albertans have second homes here and are often more familiar to locals in regions like the Kootenays and Thompson Okanagan than are residents from other parts of the province.
 
Please know I am not advocating that we unilaterally open the border to anyone and everyone for non-essential travel in either direction. At least not for the time being. Nor am I suggesting that every out-of-province visitor is here for legitimate reasons and following provincial health and safety protocols. But assuming the worst of every out-of-province guest is neither helpful nor smart. I’d like to think we’re better than that.
 
Along with encouraging British Columbians to travel within our province and enticing people from across Canada to visit, government and we as tourism and hospitality professionals need to remind our neighbours, friends, family, community leaders and even our colleagues to ask questions before jumping to conclusions when encountering a visitor from beyond our provincial border.
 
In case you’re wondering…my cousin has a home in Vancouver and is within my social bubble. Furthermore, while out-of-province, we took all of the proper precautions and followed BC directives for health and safety protocols.
 
The purpose for confession is to seek forgiveness. Therefore, I apologize for inadvertently venturing into US territory. At the same time, I am not sorry for briefly leaving BC to visit family in Alberta and Saskatchewan, especially my grandkids that I hadn't seen in six months.  Rest assured, I’ll be right here at home in my sterilized social bubble for the remainder of the summer supporting our industry as best I can.

Walt Judas
CEO, TIABC
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Federal Government Update

Government Announces New Extension of Rent Relief for Small Businesses
Today, Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced that the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program will be extended by one month to help eligible small businesses pay rent for August. All provinces and territories continue to participate in this initiative and collaborate with the federal government to provide rent supports to those small businesses most in need.
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Amendments to Mass Gatherings Regulations

The provincial health officer’s order on mass gatherings has been amended to limit the number of people in vacation accommodations including for house, cabin, yurt and boat rentals, as well as hotel rooms.

The number of people is limited to the capacity of the space, plus up to a maximum of five visitors. For example, if the capacity of the accommodation is four people, the maximum number of visitors allowed is five for a total of no more than nine people. It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure the order is adhered to by all guests and to ensure contact tracing information is collected for everyone – guests and visitors alike.
Province Restricts Travel to Haida Gwaii to Protect Communities

In response to a community outbreak on Haida Gwaii, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth is using extraordinary powers under the current state of provincial emergency to restrict non-resident travel to the archipelago, maintain essential goods and services for residents, and support the Haida Nation and the Province's continued COVID-19 pandemic response.

The decision to restrict non-resident travel to Haida Gwaii has been made in a government-to-government collaboration with Council of the Haida Nation, Skidegate Band Council, Old Massett Village Council and local governments, in consultation with the provincial health officer. The Province will deploy staff to support communities on the mainland and on Haida Gwaii to implement the travel restriction.

There are currently 20 cases associated with the outbreak on Haida Gwaii. According to Northern Health, all cases are believed to be related to residents who have travelled off-island, or who had contact with a resident who has travelled off-island.

Testing for the islands has been prioritized and results are being received within 36 hours. Community contact tracing is ongoing and supports are in place on the islands for those that have tested positive, including special accommodations for self-isolation if needed.

Travel to Haida Gwaii will continue to be permitted, subject to the approval of the collective Haida Gwaii communities, for the delivery of essential goods and supplies, medical appointments, urgent or emergency family matters, and for the provision of essential services as defined by the unified command structure comprised of the Council of the Haida Nation, village councils and local governments.
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BC Hotel Association Addresses Public Health Order Impacting Hotels

The BC Hotel Association (BCHA) received a positive response surrounding the recent Public Health Order which mandated time restrictions on meetings and events, requiring them to take place between noon and 11pm.

Following their  formal letter submission  to Premier John Horgan, Minister Lisa Beare, Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, BCHA received a prompt reply from Dr. Henry recognizing these concerns and confirming that limitations toward the accommodation industry were not the intent of the order.

We are currently working hand-in-hand to provide immediate clarification to this order, making appropriate recommendations to ensure there are no further restrictions on properties and businesses. Ultimately, the Public Health Order is being updated to clarify that this restriction will not apply to hotels with the amendments listed below guiding the revisions:

  • The use of the term "premises" will no longer refer to hotels. This terminology has been clarified to apply to restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, cafeterias and licensed premises, including bars, clubs, nightclubs and tasting rooms
  • The term "meeting" has been removed from the definition of events
  • Events will be allowed to happen between 5.30am and 11pm

BCHA thanks the Province and Dr. Henry for being open to discussion on this issue and for taking action to make the necessary changes in order to support the industry.
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Charting a Course to Rebuilding British Columbia’s Economy and Personal Prosperity 

As British Columbians have come together to manage the COVID-19 health crisis over the last several months, numerous leaders from BC businesses, Indigenous communities, and academia – led by members of the Business Council - have also come together to offer a bold plan to rebuild our economy and ensure families and communities benefit and thrive, as we emerge from the worst economic downturn in a century.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an economic crisis felt by families, employers and communities across BC, Canada, and the world. Over 230,000 British Columbians have lost their jobs – with the most significant impacts to women and young people. Businesses that have been shuttered or seen their revenues drop dramatically from lost sales as they protect their employees and the public, face a difficult, uncertain road and in the years ahead.

Launched earlier this week, the  Stronger Tomorrow, Starting Today  plan offers clear actions that will create the conditions necessary to build upon BC’s significant advantages. With a highly educated and innovative population; a global low-carbon advantage from natural resources and energy exports; our strong social safety nets and post-secondary institutions; and proximity to major global markets, ours is a strong foundation to a better quality of life if we act with purpose.

The plan puts forward 24 recommendations under five broad themes – the first group of recommendations is focused on getting people back to work quickly and getting public and private sector investment flowing that creates good jobs. The core of the plan is focused on building the foundations for sustained growth, through a more innovative and affordable economy that encourages investment that grows businesses and that creates new jobs in the digital age. 
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Open Letter to Prime Minister and Premiers

A joint letter signed by various airline industry and labour organizations has been sent to the Prime Minister and all Premiers asking for a more nuanced approach to reopening the economy.

"It’s time for our governments to cautiously re-open the tourism economy, allow Canadians to explore Canada this summer, and re-open our borders to other safe countries. 

The future of Canada’s travel and tourism sector depends on it."

Download the letter here
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New Business Events COVID‑19 Impact and Recovery Report

Destination Canada has released the latest  COVID-19 Impact & Recovery Report: Business Events . To date, Destination Canada estimates that the total losses (as of June 30th data) to the sector since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic are 3,053 events, 1.32M delegates and $1.16B in direct spending. These losses span business events planned between 2020-2026, including both definite and tentative events). International delegates lost represent more than 565,000 and 743.6M in direct spending.  Download the latest research report here . 
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Transmission of Communicable Diseases on Aircraft Are Rare


Air Canada has produced a fact sheet regarding the rare transmission of communicable diseases on aircraft. The reasons for the apparently low rate of in-flight transmission are not fully understood but are thought to include a combination of the lack of face-to-face contact, and the physical barriers provided by seat backs, along with the characteristics of cabin air flow. As well, at Air Canada, additional measures such as pre-flight screening questionnaires, temperature monitoring and mandatory face coverings are also seen to be effective. Download the fact sheet here
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As Part of COVID-19 Recovery, Tourism Vancouver Launches Dine Outside

August 21 – September 21
Dine outside, Vancouver style.

From patios to picnics and all the special offers in between – Tourism Vancouver invites food and drink lovers to safely and carefully savour this 21st century renaissance, our fabulous summer weather, and our city’s exceptional restaurants and pubs to not just dine out again, but to dine outside, Vancouver style. www.dineoutvancouver.com
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Tourism Richmond Update


Tourism Richmond has been hard at work behind the scenes to ensure tourism and hospitality businesses in Richmond are set up for success as BC proceeds through phase 3 of its recovery plan. Some of the new initiatives and programs they’ve recently launched to entice visitors to explore the city include:

  • Restart brand campaign: Travel Afar. Near
  • Overnight booking campaign
  • New resident engagement programs such as Pacific. Authentic. Discovery Passport and the Pacific. Authentic. Locals

Download the full update here. And watch Tourism Richmond's newest video below.
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COVID-19:
A Story of Marine Mammals

Human activities in the marine environment have many unintended impacts that are often more far reaching than we realize.

Ocean Wise Research’s latest Ocean Watch spotlight report entitled  COVID-19: A Story of Marine Mammals  takes a closer look at three unintended consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on marine mammals:
1. Decreased marine vessel traffic
2. Impacts of plastic pollution
3. Changes in citizen science data collection

Download the full update here.
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Doing Good During COVID-19

Both the BC Tourism Resiliency Network and Indigenous Tourism BC were recently featured in BC Business' feature BC businesses and others doing good during COVID-19.

When COVID-19 the struck the BC tourism industry, Tourism Vancouver Island launched the Vancouver Island Coastal Tourism Resiliency Program with Island Coastal Economic Trust. Designed by the industry for the industry, the program supports more than 300 tourism enterprises on the Island. It also secured funding from Western Economic Diversification Canada to go province-wide as the British Columbia Tourism Resiliency Network. Led by the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Destination BC and Indigenous Tourism BC (see below), the network is now giving some 1,300 tourism businesses one-on-one support to deal with the impact of the pandemic, find ways to adapt and move toward long-term resiliency. Tourism operators are sharing their stories of resilience  here . No matter where they are on the road to recovery, businesses are encouraged to reach out for help at   TourismResiliency.ca .

Planning to explore the province this summer? ITBC’s new Indigenous BC mobile app , an interactive trip planning and educational resource, helps support the I in the BIPOC community. Highlighting Indigenous-owned tourism businesses, which have been hit hard by the pandemic, the app “immerses travellers in the cultures, traditions and raw beauty of BC’s diverse Indigenous territories,” according to ITBC. Besides enjoying digital storytelling that draws on the rich oral traditions of local First Nations, users can take language lessons on the platform and unlock geo-targeted content and recommendations as they travel.

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WildPlay Element Parks Adapts to COVID-19

For  WildPlay Element Parks , headquartered on Vancouver Island, the decision to voluntarily close their five locations due to COVID-19 was not made lightly. However, temporarily closing each park and laying off over 270 team members across North America was ultimately the most responsible decision to protect their staff, guests and the communities in which they operate. 

Prior to closure, WildPlay had already hired their seasonal staff and spent all of their marketing budget in preparation for the upcoming season. Despite these hurdles, WildPlay CEO Tom Benson’s greatest concern was his staff. “Not knowing how everyone would fare during this process, both financially and in respect to their health and wellness, has had a huge emotional impact,” Benson shared.

WildPlay registered for the  Vancouver Island Coastal Tourism Resiliency Program  on behalf of their Victoria and Nanaimo locations. Alexis Santacruz, Director of Parks, found that having a dedicated Program Advisor to help navigate the federal aid programs and a Program Expert in marketing available for consultation to be greatly beneficial. 

At all WildPlay Element Parks, additional sanitization and cleaning procedures, social distancing and the use of masks for all staff are just a few of the new health and safety procedures that have been updated to align with Provincial health orders. 

As tourism businesses are struggling to make up for lost revenue in 2020, WildPlay has also instituted a Reseller Program as a way for their partners to generate commissions while promoting another local business. By promoting WildPlay to their customers, partner businesses receive a 12% commission on tours purchased through a unique referral link. Of course, WildPlay cross-promotes all their partners in return.
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Moving the discussion beyond diversity and inclusion in the travel, tourism & hospitality industry.
Many may think that because travel is all about fun and adventure that white supremacy and racism don't exist here. Many would be wrong!

Unfortunately, anti- blackness and racism are as deeply embedded in this industry as in any other and that is deadly, painful and hypocritical...for starters.

Your Host: Lystra Sam - Change-maker, Activist, Blacktivist, Globe trotter, Travel Professional, Adventurer, Specialty Travel and Retreat Curator, Entrepreneur, Lifetime Learner and Storyteller!

Tuesday, August 4th @ 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (PT)
Cost = $50
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Join Leger for a webinar about the results of their latest study on travel and tourism, Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism in North America.

This study provides a comprehensive look at the current and future state of travel and tourism in Canada and the United States, as well as insights and recommendations to help the industry achieve success moving forward.

Thursday, August 6 @ 9:00 am (PT)
Register at:
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BCHA / Ministry of Labour Webinar

The BC Hotel Association is hosting a webinar and open forum in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and The Employment Standards Branch. The webinar will outline important information surrounding the Temporary Layoff Variance tool and how to apply. 

Thursday, August 6 @ 1:00-2:00pm PT
    
The webinar will be 45 minutes in duration, with a 15 minute Q&A to follow.

Please complete the  registration form  and a  Zoom link will be sent to you with meeting details the day prior to the webinar.
  
Register HERE
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****NOTE: TIABC's C-19 Bulletin is now 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.