C-19 BULLETIN - June 24, 2020

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BC Begins Phase 3 of Restart Plan

British Columbians are taking the next step in BC’s Restart Plan with a gradual transition to Phase 3, including the safe and respectful return of travel and tourism within the province.

British Columbians who wish to travel within BC this summer are advised to plan ahead and be respectful while visiting communities, especially smaller and rural towns. The provincial health officer has laid out travel guidelines for everyone travelling to and within BC:
  • pre-trip planning and research on available resources at arriving destination;
  • respecting any local travel advisories to isolated and remote communities;
  • no travelling for anyone who is sick, and if symptoms develop while travelling – self isolate immediately and contact 811 for guidance and testing;
  • practising safe physical distancing of two metres at all times;
  • spending time in small groups and open spaces; and
  • practising good hygiene, including frequent handwashing and cleaning.

The government has also formally extended the provincial state of emergency , allowing Hon. Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, to continue to use extraordinary powers under the Emergency Program Act to support the Province's COVID-19 pandemic response. The state of emergency is extended through the end of the day on July 7th, allowing government to continue to take the necessary steps to keep British Columbians safe.
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Metro Van Tourism and Hospitality Response & Recovery Task Force Welcomes BC’s Phase 3 Announcement and Invites Visitors Back to the Lower Mainland 

The Metro Vancouver Tourism and Hospitality Industry Response and Recovery Task Force, an umbrella group representing almost 75 organizations in the travel and tourism sector, including TIABC, is applauding the provincial government’s announcement regarding the move into Phase 3 of BC’s Restart Plan . Among several key elements outlined, the plan states that British Columbians “can take part in smart and safe travel within the province.” 

Working collaboratively with partners including Tourism Vancouver, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, Tourism Richmond, Tourism Burnaby, and the local chapter of the national Breaking Bread Initiative, data has been gathered through a *Status of Business Operations Survey. The survey, which polled businesses directly, as well as amalgamating results from multiple sources, shows that of 878 Metro Vancouver businesses reviewed, fully 77% (675 businesses) were open and ready to serve guests. While most respondents were in the food service category, almost 90 attractions and nearly 50 retail outlets were included in the analysis. 

Read the full media release here
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COVID 19 - BC Restart and Recovery Survey & Virtual Town Halls

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged and changed our province. Across BC, we have been touched by job loss and change, health concerns, worries about how our families and communities can cope, and increasing uncertainty about the future. As we plan our recovery, the choices we make in the coming weeks and months can help us build an economy — and a province — that works for everyone.

Have your say by completing the online survey at:

The survey will be open until July 21st at 4 pm (PDT) and should take under 10 minutes to complete.


Virtual Town Hall on Building BC’s Recovery, together with Finance Minister Carole James and host MLA Bowinn MA (North Vancouver-Lonsdale)
  • Thursday, June 25th, from noon–1 p.m. (PDT)
  • Join the live event on Facebook

Virtual Town Hall on Supporting Small Business with Minister Michelle Mungall and Tom Conway – CEO of Small Business BC
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Temporary Layoff Deadline Fast Approaching
How will forced terminations and severance payouts impact your recovery?

The Province has declined to extend the 16-week period for temporary layoffs. This means that in a couple of weeks many employers in BC will be faced with the prospect of terminating employees (and delivering severance payouts) before they are fully reopen. We want to know what impact this will have on your business and team.

This survey will take under 2 minutes to complete and closes on June 26th.

Take the survey here:
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BC Hospitality Foundation Auction
Closes June 30 - Don't Miss Out!

The BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF) is pleased to announce its latest online auction is now open for bidding. Auction items include large format bottles, a large selection of premium wines, a personal tour and tasting at Mission Hill Family Estate, accommodation at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, and more. Click  here  to view the complete list of items, register on Givergy, and then place your bids!
 
The online auction is a fundraising initiative held in conjunction with  Reconnect 2020 . Organized by BC Event Management, this hybrid event includes both an interactive live-streamed element and an in-person event. It is the first event to be approved by the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Coastal Health for complying with the city’s new COVID-19 protocols and will therefore be a model for the hospitality, tourism, meeting, conference, and event industries.

You can attend Reconnect 2020 for FREE using Zoom  here , and engage via chat (no voice or visual interaction from guests). In-person attendees at Reconnect 2020 will be welcomed at the 35,000 square foot Harbour Convention Centre’s where numerous COVID-safe practices will be in effect. Their experience will include individual seating pods where they’ll enjoy a catered meal and beverages. Tickets for the in-person event can be purchased  here .

Virtual guests can watch the event FREE on youtube on the Reconnect 2020 you tube page  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpeMJyrO3cvfN-L02hrxDEQ

The online auction will accept bids until 6pm on June 30th. The auction proceeds will benefit the BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF), Canada’s only charity that assists hospitality workers during their time of need.  
 
Funds raised by the auction will help the BCHF continue to provide last-resort assistance for hospitality workers in financial crisis due to a serious health condition. The charity also offers a scholarship program that fosters the next generation of hospitality industry leaders.
 
Click  here  to purchase a ticket for the in-person event.
 
Click  here  to see more details on the event. Reconnect 2020 is a joint initiative of the Harbour Convention Centre and BC Event Management.
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A Significant Number of Workers Do Not Feel Safe Going Back to Work

As British Columbia completes Phase 2 of the provincial economic re-opening and Phase 3 begins, the latest poll shows that a significant number of workers are reluctant to return to the workplace because they are concerned about their safety from COVID-19 when they go back.

As businesses begin to comply with the provincial health authority and WorkSafe BC and begin re-opening, very few workers (20%) are ‘very comfortable’ with the prospect of returning to the workplace, with a further 43% are feeling only ‘somewhat comfortable’. At the other end of the spectrum, a large minority (37%) do not feel comfortable, including 24% who are ‘not very comfortable’ and 12% who feel ‘not at all comfortable’. There are big differences between age and gender groups. Males are far more likely to feel comfortable returning to the workspace (71% versus 58% for females). Workers who are 55 years or older are feeling less comfortable (55% are comfortable), than their counterparts in younger age groups (65% of those 19-34 years and 66% of those 35-54 years are comfortable).

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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 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
  • June 4: ExploreBC… Virtually | View recording here
  • June 9: Restart Safely: Health & Safety Essentials to Support Re-opening | View recording here
  • June 11: Work Refusal & Other HR Challenges Amid the Restart | View recording here
  • June 16: SEO in Uncertain Times: How it can Help Recovery Efforts | View recording here
  • June 18: Adapting Customer Service & Guest Communication in a Pandemic Impacted Business Environment | View recording here

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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.