C-19 BULLETIN - June 9, 2020
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Message from the CEO


Over the past three months, TIABC has been working diligently to engage with members and stakeholders to listen to concerns and learn about the impacts of COVID-19 on tourism businesses, employees, sectors, and communities around the Province.

Importantly, we have done our very best to amplify your issues and provide specific recommendations to all levels of government to help the entire visitor economy both survive and recover from this crisis.

Information on our advocacy activities is available through our social media channels, website, presentations, and in forums such as our daily C-19 Bulletin.

Please stay connected by reaching out to TIABC's Board of Directors or staff so that we can continue to provide accurate information to government and advocate on behalf of your business or sector as we navigate through this unprecedented and enormous challenge together.
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Federal Government Update

Government of Canada creates a hub for businesses looking to find resources on buying and supplying personal protective equipment

Today, the Government of Canada launched a new  web hub  to bring together available resources for organizations buying and selling personal protective equipment (PPE). As businesses re-open, they need reliable information on how to buy and sell the necessary supplies required to keep themselves and others safe.

The Supply Hub connects Canadian organizations from coast-to-coast-to-coast with federal, provincial, territorial and other resources and information about PPE, including consumer guidance. Buyers will find PPE supplier lists, in addition to guidance to help plan their PPE purchases. As Public Services and Procurement Canada continues to engage with the partners and advisory groups, the hub will evolve to include additional resources.

Learn more at:
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COVID-19 Workplace Assessment Tool
 
go2HR’s new COVID-19 Workplace Assessment Tool   provides tourism and hospitality employers with information and resources to assist in developing a robust COVID-19 Safety Plan. The tool includes five key steps, which will help you evaluate your current set up in relation to managing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in your workplace, with suggestions on how to improve.
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Could a Pilot Project Bring International Visitors
Back to BC Sooner Than Later?

In a recent news report, TIABC discussed the notion of a pilot project that could welcome select international visitors back to British Columbia under the guise of pre-testing and strict health and safety protocols, and without any direct contact with the general population.

Although the border restrictions are not anticipated to be lifted anytime soon, there are options to welcome guests to certain parts of the province and within specific industry sectors provided the proper protocols are in place, and upon government approval.

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Registration Open for Reconnect 2020

Saturday, June 27 from 5pm-7pm
BC Event Management has partnered with the Harbour Convention Centre to host “Reconnect 2020”. The goal of the event is twofold: to showcase a new way to connect; and to raise funds for the BC Hospitality Foundation.

From meetings to events to tourism, we all need to connect. The Reconnect 2020 hybrid event will be held at the 35,000-sq. ft. Harbour Convention Centre on False Creek in downtown Vancouver on June 27th. 

Reconnect 2020 will have a small, in-person audience and large virtual audience. The online audience will have their own host engaging them from a video studio. The in-person audience will also have their own host and will be able to interact with the online audience. Both audiences will enjoy music and entertainment while they bid on amazing auction items. 

Join us at Reconnect 2020 is to raise funds for the BC Hospitality Foundation and to support the hospitality, tourism, meeting, conference and event industry.

Learn more at: www.reconnect2020.ca
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RRU Tourism & Hospitality Resource Forum

Popular topics to check out this week:
Webinars  (found in  Webinars Related to HR  folder) :
  • HR Considerations for an effective return to work – BC Tourism Resiliency Network & Chemistry Consulting
  • WorkSafeBC Health & Safety Guidelines - BC Tourism Resiliency Network & WorkSafeBC
  • COVID-19 HR and OHS Recovery Planning – Getting Employees Back to Work – go2HR
  • Employee (Re)orientations & Training – Preparing Employees for the Post-COVID-19 Workplace – go2HR

Articles  (found in  Resources & Articles Related to HR  folder):
  • Working through COVID-19 - Return to work survey – The Conference Board of Canada
  • How to support your remaining employees after lay-off - Harvard Business Review 

Other sections such as 'Current Operations' and 'Food and Beverage' have new links and some timely information. They have have also added a new page and  discussion forum  under 'Blue Sky' highlighting some of the latest in academic publications related to the future of tourism.  
Learn more at by logging in at: csonline.royalroads.ca/moodle/login
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BC Ferries Requiring All Passengers to Wear Face Masks in Certain Situations

In keeping with directives and guidance provided by Transport Canada, passengers travelling with BC Ferries will be required to be in possession of a face covering that covers their mouth and nose, and asked to wear this covering in situations when a physical separation of two metres cannot be maintained.

This directive goes into effect on June 15th for routes longer than 30 minutes and applies to all passengers over the age of two, including those passengers travelling in a vehicle. Passengers will be asked to confirm they have a face covering and are willing to wear it when necessary.
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Tourism Prince George is looking ahead as it receives provincial and federal funding for the future.

Tourism PG will receive a provincial grant for community Destination Marketing Organizations supported by the municipal and regional district tax, Destination BC funding for physical modifications at the Visitor Information Centre, and joint marketing funding from Destination BC and Destination Canada for BC’s largest community/city DMOs, including Prince George, Vancouver, Whistler, Victoria, Kelowna, Kamloops, and Tofino/Ucluelet.


Tourism Prince George is also a partner of the www.supportpg.ca initiative along with the Prince George Chamber of Commerce, the City of Prince George, Downtown Prince George, Community Futures Fraser-Fort George, Prince George Airport Authority, Women’s Enterprise Centre,
Aboriginal Business Development Corporation, College of New Caledonia, University of Northern British Columbia, and the Northern BC Tourism Association.
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Destination BC Webinars

Destination BC is hosting a series of webinars to support BC’s tourism industry in areas of response, recovery, and resilience from COVID-19. The Road to Recovery webinar series has reached over 1,700 participants since launching on May 12th.


  • June 11: Work Refusal & Other HR Challenges Amid the Restart | Register here
  • June 16: SEO in Uncertain Times: How it can Help Recovery Efforts | Register here
  • June 18: Adapting Customer Service & Guest Communication in a Pandemic Impacted Business Environment | Register here
  • June 25: Returning to Work: Protecting Mental Health | Register here
  • July 7: Revisiting your COVID-19 Safety Plan | Register here

Watch recordings of previous webinars:
  • May 12: Business After Re-opening: A Look at the Post-closure Traveller | View recording here
  • May 14: Essential Strategies to Innovate your Visitor Experience and Offerings | View recording here
  • May 19: Planning for Doors Open | View recording here
  • May 21: Managing Expectations and Reputation through Effective Communication | View recording here
  • May 26: Using Social Media to Support Re-opening | View recording here
  • May 28: Building a Digital Marketing Strategy for Re-opening | View recording here

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Destination Canada Webinar

Destination Canada is hosting regular webinars, sharing our approach amid the COVID-19 situation and providing information on available federal support initiatives. We will have industry partners, representatives from government as well as applicable businesses join to provide the most up-to-date information and resources.

Join them on June 11, 2020, for a one-hour moderated panel discussion with key US and international corporate meeting, association conferences and incentive trip buyers.

Thursday June 11 @ 9:00 am PT
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Greater Vancouver Board of Trade Webinar

The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade is hosting a virtual event about the Province’s restart plan with Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Carole James. Hear from the Finance Minister about the phased approach to restart and recovery in our province and participate in a Q&A.

Friday June 12 @ 12:00 pm PT
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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.