C-19 BULLETIN - June 5, 2020
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Canada’s Tourism and Travel Industry Launches Recovery Plan Campaign

With provinces advancing their reopening plans, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) today launched a broad, industry-developed recovery campaign that seeks sector-specific government support to ensure Canada has a tourism industry post-pandemic. All of TIAC’s recommendations fall into five core themes, including;
 
Championing Safety  – ensuring coordinated regulatory efforts to develop a climate of public safety and help fund costs for new health and safety requirements.
 
Sustaining Liquidity & Supporting Solvency  – ensuring the sector is positioned to survive the next 2-24 months, at present, many businesses are at risk of closing.
 
Enticing Canadians to Travel  – positive messaging, when appropriate, reassuring people it is
safe to travel
 
Repositioning Canada’s Visitor Economy  – to re-emerge a stronger and more cost competitive global tourism competitor
 
Supercharging the Canadian Economy  – fast tracking growth capital

TIAC is ready to engage in meaningful dialogue with Government on how it can collaborate on
reopening the visitor economy. TIABC and its provincial and territorial counterparts have been providing information, insights and recommendations to help inform TIAC's relief and recovery plan.

Learn more on the TourismMatters.ca website, which also provides a link for easily sending a letter to your local MP.

Read the press release here
Read the report here
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Plight of the Tourism Industry
Again Generating News

For the second straight week, Walt Judas was interviewed by CKNW's Mike Smyth on the state of the tourism industry, the impact of COVID-19, government support, and next steps in BC's restart process.


Listen to the interview, starting at 11:01 mark:

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ABLE BC Update

Update on hospitality pricing: message from Attorney General

Thank you to all members who called, emailed, and sent letters to government in recent weeks on the vital importance of hospitality pricing for on-premise licensees. 

Your voices have been heard  at the highest levels of government and are helping us keep this issue at the forefront. We understand that a decision on a hospitality pricing will be made very soon. 

ABLE BC received the following  email from Attorney General David Eby  on government's work to support BC's hospitality industry amid this crisis:

Thank you and your members, along with many others, for sharing your concerns regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality and tourism sectors, and your perspectives on allowing for the purchase of liquor product at wholesale price.
 
Please know that government recognizes the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on all British Columbians, including the hospitality sector. Together, we have worked to respond swiftly to support the Provincial Health Officer and Minister of Health in the sustained and effective response to this global pandemic.  

I know British Columbians - myself and my colleagues included - recognize restaurants and businesses for their contributions to this effort and are well prepared to support our local establishments in the economic re-start and recovery ahead.
 
As a result of our collaboration with the Business Technical Advisory Panel (BTAP) as industry advisors, our government was able to move quickly to support the hospitality sector as it worked to adapt to the parameters set out by the Provincial Health Officer. Among other measures, we introduced a regulatory change to temporarily allow all food-primary and most liquor-primary licensees to deliver sealed, packaged liquor products alongside the purchase of a meal.
 
Prior to the pandemic, government had been carefully considering and prioritizing recommendations made by BTAP, including potential changes to the wholesale liquor pricing model. The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) and ministry staff have worked as quickly as possible to prepare a plan, and work is ongoing. The implications of any and all BTAP recommendations must be, and will continue to be, considered in the context of overall provincial priorities including public health and safety.  
 
I appreciate your taking the time to write, and invite you to share this letter with your members if you feel it would be helpful. Please let them know that government will do as much as we can to support the hospitality and tourism industries that have been so impacted by this crisis.

We will be sure to notify BTAP, industry, and indeed all British Columbians of any additional relief measures made during this challenging time on an urgent basis.
 
Yours truly,
 
David Eby, QC
Attorney General

TIABC works closely with ABLE BC and as soon as government announces any decision on hospitality pricing, we will keep you informed.

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Minister's Statement on Labour Survey Results

Finance Minister Carole James has issued the following statement on the release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey for May 2020:

“The May labour force numbers show some encouraging signs amid a continuing volatile labour market across every sector and in all regions of British Columbia due to COVID-19.

“I’m pleased BC created 43,300 jobs in the month of May as people shift back into the labour market, but we have a long road ahead of us in our recovery. Total job losses since the pandemic began stand at 353,200 and BC’s unemployment rate sits at 13.4%.

“To date, more than 510,000 people have received the $1,000 BC Emergency Benefit for Workers. Additionally, we’ve worked with the federal government to expand the 75% wage subsidy and protected the hardest-hit businesses from evictions.

Read the full statement at: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020FIN0036-001021
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BC Aviation Council Update

The BC Aviation Council's (BCAC) latest update outlines the organization's next steps:

The Council hopes to work with communities towards the submission of letters to the Federal Government supporting our essential industry. Aviation must recover for communities to recover. The Mayor of Prince Rupert was first out of the blocks on this initiative, Read his letter here .

Of particular concern is the fact that municipal airports are not eligible for the federal government's COVID support program because they are part of a municipality. About three quarters of BCAC's 45 member airports are municipal airports. Without access to the wage subsidy nor the tenant rent support programs, municipal airports are between a rock and a hard place. Municipalities are not allowed to run deficits. This combination of factors could lead to the moth-balling of some BC airports, with dire consequences for the region they serve. 

Almost always overlooked when the aviation and aerospace industry face challenges are the hundreds of small and medium sized businesses that support the industry - from printers to security firms. Several of our industry's ground handlers joined together to ensure their needs are heard by the federal government. Read their well thought out ask letter from late April here . Some progress has been made on their ask.

Read the full BCAC June 5 Update here.
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Grouse Mountain Announces Re-opening
June 22

Grouse Mountain is thrilled to share that they will begin a phased approach to safely reopening Grouse Mountain and will be welcoming annual pass holders and download only guests back to Grouse Mountain starting Monday, June 22nd. 

In this first phase of reopening, guests will experience the new operating procedures outlined in the PureClean Commitment , including:
  • Starting with Skyride capacity reduced by 70% to allow for physical distancing
  • Mandatory use of face masks while boarding, travelling on and disembarking from the Skyride (we encourage you to bring your own mask, however we will have masks available if needed)
  • Required temperature screening prior to boarding for both uphill and downhill travel
  • Additional hand sanitizing stations available throughout the Resort
  • Enhanced Skyride cleaning, sanitization and disinfection protocols
  • Mandatory advanced bookings for the Skyride
 
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7 Business Listing Tips

In an ongoing effort to remain current on various business
support programs, TIABC attended a recent webinar hosted by Google and learned about the importance of keeping business listings updated, and about some new business offerings. You can view the entire webinar at:

Ensure your business profile is up to date to connect with customers when they search Google. To create a new Business Profile, visit google.com/business

7 Business Listings Tips :
  1. Update your business description to reflect important changes due to COVID-19
  2. Update your hours of operation - days of the week and times of day - if applicable
  3. Mark your business as "temporarily closed", if necessary (instructions available at:g.co/markbusinessclosed
  4. Download the Google My Business app and set up messaging to communicate with customers
  5. Access the free Google My Business Marketing kit (free social posts, window stickers and more) at: g.co/marketingkit
  6. If needed, pause Google ad campaigns
  7. Use Google Meet for video conferencing to connect with remote teams, host meetings with clients, partners and vendors. Free version offers meetings up to 100 people with 24 hour meeting duration through September 30, 2020

Additional resources :

TIABC encourages all business to connect with their local and regional
Destination Marketing Organization for information on business support.
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Bon Voyage Inn in Prince George is offering free showers, overnight parking, restrooms and special room rates for truckers passing through Prince George.


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COVID-19 stopped air carriers and airports in their tracks, with aviation business down over 93% in the Province. Travel and tourism are two of the most impacted economic sectors. In response, air carriers and airports are developing and implementing responses in real time. This one-hour webinar, co-hosted by the BC Aviation Council, BC Economic Development Association and TIABC, allows industry professionals responding to the crisis to discuss their responses and views looking forward.

Speakers are:
  • Quentin Smith, President, Pacific Coastal, Airlines
  • Parm Sidhu, Airport General Manager, Abbotsford International Airport
  • Brant Arnold-Smith, Director, Security and Terminal Operations, Victoria International Airport

Moderator, Rob Beynon, Founder, Operations Economics Inc.

Tuesday June 9, 2020 @ 2:00 pm PT
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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 9: Restart Safely: Health & Safety Essentials to Support Re-opening | Register here
  • 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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Montridge Advisory Group Webinar

An Experts' Panel will answer your most pressing employment law, HR and employee benefits questions. As businesses start to reopen, it's important that you're prepared for the upcoming challenges.

Featured Speakers:
  • Dan Roberts - Partner, Tax, BakerTilly WM
  • Kandy Cantwell - Managing Partner, Montridge Advisory Group
  • Mike McCormack - Director of Business Development and Risk Management Services, Westland Insurance Group
  • Ryan Anderson - Partner, Mathews Dinsdale & Clark
  • Sara Bauer - Senior HR Consultant, Chemistry Consulting Group

Wednesday June 10 @ 10:00 am PT
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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
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.