Message from CEO & President Ingrid Jarrett
Good afternoon accommodators,

This week the Alberta Hotel Association held their 2021 Ascend conference in Edmonton, at the JW Marriott Ice District hotel, which I was delighted to attend on behalf of our association.

How wonderful it was to be reunited with industry colleagues at an event, while at the same time, feeling an overwhelming sense of safety. There were proof of vaccination checks at the door, spaced conference seating, both virtual and in-person speakers, and an exceptionally well-planned meal service.

I must acknowledge the resounding appreciation for Dave Kaiser and the Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association that every delegate possessed as a result of their decision to host an in-person conference for our industry.

The program was relevant, timely, and provided much needed insights to the state of the industry and what the experts are forecasting for recovery. There were a wide-array of insightful presentations that included the session "Understanding Experience In the Now of Work" which was delivered by Jason Averbook and Jess Von Bank of Leapgen, along with the partner keynote which outlined "How to Thrive in a Post-Pandemic Reality", presented by the IBM team.

The Hotel Association of Canada's Vice-President of Policy and Public Affairs, Alana Baker, provided insights following the federal election where she stressed the critical need for continued advocacy into the Spring of 2022. She also highlighted the short-term rental file, workforce shortages, and reinforced the importance of partnership between provincial associations in order to get our industry through this pandemic.

Next week, I will be attending the strategic planning session and board meeting for the Hotel Association of Canada in person. There, I will bring the voice of you, our industry, to the table. I have greatly appreciated the conversations I have had with each of you to better understand each operators unique challenges. Most certainly, there are two stand-out priorities that are shared by the majority of operators. They are 1.The continuation of the CEWS program until the spring of 2022 and 2.Identifying solutions to the workforce shortage.

On the topic of the workforce shortage and solutions, I did want to highlight that we will be hosting a Hiring Fair on October 9th in partnership with Bliss Hospitality and Cornerstone College. The hiring fair will take place at the CICCC campus at 816 Granville Street in Vancouver and I encourage all of who are available to attend to join us or send an HR representative from your team or region should you be a corporate brand. This is a unique hiring fair as candidates are fully-trained and ready to hire -- they are each Opera PMS certified, Food Safe certified, able to perform tasks and duties related to the position, and communicate in English fluently. Learn more and register here.

Finally, our team at the BCHA is delighted to be hitting the road and hosting four information and networking sessions in Vancouver Island from October 5th - 7th. They will take place in Tofino, Courtenay, Parksville, and Nanaimo and we strongly encourage any and all accommodators to register today. During these sessions that our small but mighty team has been hard at work organizing, we will address local priorities, provide an update on what we are working on, while also offering you the opportunity to voice your challenges and concerns. This is both a time for us to share and to listen. We have a number of incredible local guest speakers at these catered events, along with hundreds of dollars worth of prizes to be won. We are looking forward to seeing and meeting, many of you for the first time, in person. You may find more information or register here.

Best wishes,

Ingrid Jarrett
President & CEO
British Columbia Hotel Association
Today's update includes:

Eco-certified hotels rejoice! You will be getting a big boost from Google after the search engine giant launches a tool this week on its search option to find out about a hotel’s sustainability efforts.
Hotels that meet all standards of sustainability from independent organizations, like EarthCheck and Green Key, will get to flaunt an eco-certified badge next to their name. Travelers interested to know specifics about a hotel’s sustainability efforts can click on the “About” tab to check out the practices being followed by the hotel — from water conservation and waste reduction methods to sourcing sustainable materials.

As part of the initiative, Google has joined the Travalyst Coalition, the global sustainable travel community, as a partner. The non-profit organization is led by the Duke of Sussex and founded in partnership with Booking.com, Trip.com Group, Skyscanner, Tripadvisor and Visa. Google aims to create a standardized method to calculate carbon emissions for air travel and align its hotel features as per Travalyst’s standards for sustainable accommodations.

Google, which has roped in a team of experts to create the tool, has partnered with hotel chains and independent hotels, like Hilton and Accor, to make the information easily accessible.

HOW TO LOG YOUR SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS?
  • Hotel owners who already have eco-certifications or want to share sustainability methods with travelers can log in to "Google My Business" to add details and certificates.
Mental Health at Work | Tools & Resources
The Canadian Mental Health Association BC Chapter (CMHA BC) and go2HR have partnered on a new initiative to raise the awareness of mental health and wellness in the tourism and hospitality industry. As a part of our shared ongoing commitment to providing tools and resources to businesses, they'll be regularly sharing important content developed by our experts, on mental health and wellness in the workplace.
 
It can seem overwhelming at times for today's leaders to provide appropriate support to staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether staff is working remotely or on site and concerned about possible negative interactions with the public, it is smart leaders who don't miss the opportunity to create and nurture a supportive environment at work. In today's climate, supervisors and managers often need to go beyond checking in.

Check out this excellent resource geared towards leadership from the BC Hub for Workplace Mental Health.
Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)

Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and the Provincial & Territorial Tourism Industry Association (PTTIA), that includes TIABC, have formed a task force on the issue of rising insurance premiums in the tourism industry.
 
We are continuing to hear from operators concerned with commercial insurance access, premium increase and limited liability coverage. Insurance is a fundamental element in the industry’s ability to build back stronger post pandemic.
 
To help with advocacy work on this issue, please complete this survey by September 24th. We also request that you share the survey link with members and stakeholders to ensure as robust a response as possible. Thank you for your time and input. 
Quick Links
As of September 13th, all individuals 12 and up are required to show proof of vaccination for entry into certain social settings. Details from the Provincial Government can be found here.

Hotels are an essential service, and do not require proof of vaccination in order for a guest to check-in. However, there are certain settings and facilities within an accommodation that may still require proof of vaccination. 

The BCHA has compiled full information including an updated Communications Toolkit to assist accommodators and provide all necessary resources.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We have received questions regarding conflicting orders from regional vs. provincial health authorities. Please note to closely follow regional health authority mandates should there be disparity between the two.
Wondering how to properly respond to difficult guest situations? go2HR has updated their scripted guest messaging guidance.
QUICK LINKS TO RESTRICTIONS, ORDERS, & MANDATES

New Public Orders
New requirements are being implemented through orders from the provincial health officer. New public orders for Gatherings and Events and Food and Liquor Serving Premises came into effect on September 13th. The province-wide mask mandate also remains in place.
The Fall 2021 edition of InnFocus Magazine is out now! Accommodators, learn tools and strategies for operations, recovery, and resiliency. Featured content includes:

- International Travel Trends
- Best Practices in Sustainability
- Retaining Staff
- 5 Technology Trends
- Featured Hotelier: Jamie Hackl
- Leader of the Future: Jorin McSween
... and much more!

READ AND SHARE HERE: 

DONT FORGET! There's still time to be featured in our next issue. Do you know a promising young worker who is a Leader of the Future? Is your property raising the bar in accommodating accessible operations? Have a story ideas?

Email Kelsey@bcha.com
A very big thank you to everyone who joined our Cost-savings and Sustainable Stays webinar.

During the webinar, BCHA Energy Analyst, Dylan Tomlin, was joined by Jordan Fischer of FRESCo, where each outlined two FREE and COMPLEMENTARY programs designed for hotel operators to operate more efficiently and SAVE MONEY.

Watch the recording now and sign up below
TIAB Call for Nominations
The Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) is Seeking Nominations
for its Board of Directors.
 
For the 2021-2023 term, TIABC is seeking a total of five (5) candidates:
 
  • From the DMO category one (1) is required for a two-year term.  
  • From the Sector Association category two (2) are required for a two-year term. 
  • From the Business Membership category two (2) are required for a two-year term. 
 
As per the bylaws, the Tourism Industry Association of BC requests that all nominations from members be received 45 days prior to the Annual General Meeting. All nominations for director positions therefore, must be received on or before October 1, 2021.
 
About TIABC
The Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) advocates for the interests of British Columbia’s $22 billion+ visitor economy (2019). As a not-for-profit tourism industry association, TIABC works collaboratively with its members – private sector tourism businesses, industry associations and destination marketing organizations – to ensure the best working environment for a competitive tourism industry.
 
For More Information and to Request a Board Nomination Form, please contact Deborah Kulchiski (Manager, Special Projects, TIABC) at deborah@tiabc.ca 

The BCHA is coming to Vancouver Island for four industry information and networking sessions!

FREE FOOD AND DRINK, PLUS HUNDREDS OF
DOLLARS WORTH OF PRIZES TO WIN
  • Tuesday, October 5th, 2021 | 10am – 1pm 
  • Wickanninnish Conference Hall at the Best Western Plus Tin Wis | 1119 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino, BC V0R 2Z0
  • Wednesday, October 6th, 2021 | 10am – 1pm 
  • Ballroom at Crown Isle Resort | 399 Clubhouse Dr, Courtenay, BC V9N 9G3
  • Wednesday, October 6th, 2021 | 2.30pm – 5.30pm 
  • Grand Moriarty Conference Room at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre | 1155 Resort Dr, Parksville, BC V9P 2E3
  • Thursday, October 7th, 2021 | 10am – 1pm 
  • Opera & Harbour Rooms at Best Western Dorchester | 70 Church St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5H4
Please register no later than Wednesday, September 29th. Space is limited!

Next up? Stay tuned for details on the next stage of our Live Industry Update Series with upcoming stops in Victoria, Kamloops, Penticton, and Kelowna.
In face of the greatest workforce shortage in recent history, operators are searching for ways to find highly-skilled, highly-trained individuals to join their teams.

To develop a solution to this issue, the BC Hotel Association has partnered with Bliss Hospitality and Cornerstone International Community College of Canada (CICCC) to bring you the first iteration of the Hospitality Management Hiring Fair.

  • The Process:
  • Prior to meeting with potential employers, all candidates will be subject to a pre-screening process to ensure they are:
  • Opera PMS certified
  • Food Safe certified
  • Able to perform tasks and duties related to the position
  • Able to communicate in English fluently
  • Location:
  • The Fair will take place at Cornerstone College Tech Campus at 816 Granville Street
  • Date:
  • October 9th, 2021 | Time TBA

Are you interested in participating or learning more information? Click below to register.
Reminder - go2HR Resources | Employment Tracker, Workplace Vaccinations, Survey

As BC continues to battle the 4th wave of the global pandemic, new issues surrounding vaccination status continue to arise. Currently there is no provincial mandate for mandatory vaccination of staff outside of the health care setting. It is up to the individual business to decide on their own policy. How can an employer navigate this situation while balancing health & safety, human rights, privacy and other related legal requirements?

go2HR has compiled a comprehensive suite of resources to help employers understand the issues involved better, and to help them decide on an option that would work best for them.

The go2HR Employment Tracker reports on monthly changes in employment in the BC Tourism and Hospitality industry. The Tracker draws primarily from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), a monthly household survey conducted by Statistics Canada. The LFS is the most timely source of data on the labour market across Canada.
Final Chance! Take go2HR Industry Survey and Win

go2HR needs your help! Take a survey and be entered into a draw for prizes valued at $1,500.
 
Tell us about the impact of COVID-19 on your operations, the human resource issues you face,
and what can be done to help industry in dealing with these issues going forward.
Click here to start the survey.
Mark Your Calendars
Save the Date! | BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference, March 8-11, 2022

Mark your calendars! The 2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference officially has a date. Taking place in Prince George, March 8-11, 2022, the conference will be an informative multi-day conference aimed at supporting growth and celebrating industry.

Stay tuned for further updates coming soon!
Rapid Testing Info Session: Register Today
 
Rapid testing has long been seen as a possible tool to help employers manage COVID-19 in the workplace. However, until recently, these tests were not widely available and employers were unsure how to implement.
 
Safe Screen B.C. has been developed in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) to help businesses across the province access rapid antigen tests and set up onsite rapid COVID-19 workplace screening programs for asymptomatic employees, in support of B.C.’s Rapid Point of Care Testing Strategy.
 
Safe Screen B.C. provides businesses with the toolkits, resources and guidance to help set up onsite rapid COVID-19 workplace screening programs for employees and staff only.
At this time, Safe Screen B.C. will not be able to support companies looking to conduct screening for clients, customers, patients, visitors and family members
 
Safe Screen B.C. is offering info sessions to employers through this week. Please register to find out more about rapid testing in the workplace.
You’re invited to the 2021 TIAC Tourism Congress at the Westin Ottawa on November 30 to December 1 –
in-person & online
 
The pandemic has changed everything. But it’s also given us the opportunity to work together, adopt new ways of doing business, and reimagine what tourism looks like post-COVID-19. Come join the Tourism Industry Association of Canada at the 2021 Tourism Congress.
Tourism Digital Academy Program
 
The Destination BC Tourism Digital Academy is a free, eight-week digital marketing program for BC tourism businesses interested in building their knowledge and skills in digital marketing to an intermediate level.
 
Designed for business owners or marketing team members, this comprehensive program provides actionable guidance that includes building a better understanding of SEO, website usability, content, email marketing and analytics.
 
Applications for the next two intakes (October 4 and October 11) are now open! Space is limited and past intakes filled up quickly. Don’t miss this free opportunity to take your marketing skills to the next level!
 
Learn more here.
Post-Election Priorities with TIAC
 
On Day 1 of the election campaign, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau made specific commitments to the hardest hit businesses.
 
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) advocated throughout the election period for all parties to work with industry on;
·   targeted support for the hardest hit;  
·   delivery of a seamless proof of vaccination certification program; and,  
·   implementation of progressive strategies to address critical issues such as the labour shortage and traveller confidence.
 
Work on your behalf is far from over. We have a wide range of priorities we must tackle to bring the industry back to where it was pre-pandemic.
 
Please join TIAC President and CEO Beth Potter for a special Member TALK to discuss TIAC's post-election priorities and action plan, how you can engage and where additional support is needed.
 
Date: October 12th, 11:00am - noon (PDT)
 
Click here for more information and to register.
Annual BC Liquor Conference
 
ABLE BC's annual BC Liquor Conference is back for a sixth year. A portion of the tickets will be available to attend in person and the remaining will be available for virtual attendance. No matter where you are in the province - tune in and get the liquor industry data, trends, and policy updates you can’t get anywhere else.
 
Date: Monday, October 25th
 
Registration opens soon! Stay tuned for more details.
Tipping Our Hat to Industry!
Have News or A Congrats You'd Like to Share? Contact kelsey@bcha.com
Congratulations to Laura-Lee Lofgren who joins the True Key Hotels & Resorts leadership team as General Manager of Harrison Beach Hotel!

Harrison Beach Hotel has a new General Manager! Laura-Lee Lofgren joins the exceptionally talented True Key Hotels & Resorts team.

In her own words: "Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia has always been a special place to me and I’m thrilled to take on the role of General Manager at the Harrison Beach Hotel."

She added, "I’m looking forward to the #adventures and continued learning opportunities with my new colleagues and industry partners!"

Congratulations to Harrison Beach Hotel and Laura-Lee for this exciting next chapter!
Industry News & Quick Links
BCHA INN THE NEWS

BCHA CEO & President Ingrid Jarrett joined spoke with Castanet News surrounding the workforce crisis. She stated that accommodators in BC are “looking for employees in every position, with many hotels having to close wings or floors of their properties … because they can’t clean the rooms".

Adding that even when hoteliers can find staff, there’s nowhere for them to live due to another shortage: rental accommodations.

“This is tragic at a time when we need the revenue more than ever before. We need the working holiday visa program to resume, which is a federal program, and we need the province to step up and support the [provincial nominee program] as quickly as possible.”

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Two U.S. bills proposed by a congressman and senator aimed at allowing Alaska-bound cruise ships to bypass Canadian ports would have a “devastating” effect on British Columbia’s economy, the head of Victoria’s harbour authority says.
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski proposed a bill Wednesday that would allow cruise ships carrying more than 1,000 passengers and bound for Alaska a permanent exemption from the Passenger Vessel Services Act. Read More.



Justin Trudeau’s Liberals won re-election on Sept. 21, 2021 and will lead for the next 18 months with a minority government. The party made dozens of promises during the 36-day campaign. This article outlines the full rundown of the Liberals’ new mandate as they lead the 44th Parliament. Read more.
INDUSTRY TRENDS AND NEWS

Rebooting Customer Experience to Bring Back the Magic of Travel - McKinsey & Company In the 2020 report, “The travel industry turned upside down,” McKinsey & Company partnered with Skift Research to document the unprecedented impact that COVID-19 had on the travel sector. One year later, we find that the travel sector is bouncing back -yet recovery still has a long way to go. Read more

Pan Pacific Hotels Group will establish a presence in key gateway cities, including London, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Dalian, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap. Read more
 
Radisson Hotel Group reached the milestone of 100 operating hotels in India with the opening of Radisson Bhopal. Read more
In this special 200th episode of the Hotel Marketing Podcast we welcome back both Stuart Butler and Melissa Kavanagh to the stage as we answer recent listener questions. Join us on a trip down memory lane as well as the expert opinions on the most pressing issues for today’s hoteliers. Read more
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