C-19 BULLETIN - August 28, 2020
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Commentary by Paul Nursey
Destination Greater Victoria
It’s Time For The Province To Act On Behalf Of Tourism
I have written in previous columns about the precarious state of the Greater Victoria visitor economy. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on our industry. The discouragement of travel by government and health officials, as well as closure of the Canada/US border as meant fewer visitors and travellers to our destination. The financial situation for many businesses is dire. Greater Victoria has amazing hotels, restaurants and attractions that need to remain solvent as we move into the shoulder and off-peak season, and into the 2021 high season.
On a positive note, the British Columbia visitor economy has shown tremendous cooperation and collaboration as we push provincial and federal governments for help. The result of this hard work was the Tourism Industry Association of BC’s submission to the provincial government on July 21st. The proposal was for $680 million – immediate and vital assistance for the sector hardest hit by COVID-19 and travel restrictions.
The long-term economic outlook for the sector is the bleak. Best-case projections would still see a $14.8 billion (69%) province-wide decline in tourism revenue from $20.4 billion in 2018 to $6.7 billion in 2020. This severe loss in revenue, which could be significantly greater, will have reverberating impacts on jobs, government revenues through taxes, and the ability to re-invest in the sector for a more resilient, sustainable future.
In Greater Victoria, our Tourism Rescue and Recovery Task Force has worked hard on concrete policy proposals to help local business operators. These proposals included extending the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, measures to prevent insolvency, and addressing shortfalls of the Regional Relief & Recovery Fund (RRRF) program.
Destination Greater Victoria is foursquare behind TIABC’s submission to the provincial government. I hear daily what tourism businesses are facing – the lack of customers, worries about revenue and the need for help from provincial and federal governments.
The COVID-19 health and safety policy response were necessary. But is has had negative economic effects as well. And tourism – with its need for movement of people and open borders – has borne the brunt of the economic downturn. Now is the time for the Province to act on the roadmap for rescue and recovery provided by Tourism Industry Association of BC.
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Potential Changes to the Labour Relations Code
Regarding Recall & Lay-offs Rights
The Hotel Association of Vancouver has written a letter outlining their opinion that the BC provincial government should not intervene in the lay-off and recall criteria in the Employment Standards Act. Interfering in the substance of the collective bargaining process is disruptive and complicates the already challenging environment to achieve collective agreements. The Hotel Association of Vancouver's unionized hotels have bargained with their unions in good faith and in compliance with the Labour code as part of the collective bargaining process and it is their opinion that it is wrong for the government to intervene.
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Gathering and Events Guidance
There has been a lot of misinformation and confusion around acceptable meetings and events within hotels. The BC Hotel Association (BCHA) has developed this guide in consultation with the Ministry of Health. The following is a sample of information contained within the guide.
Best Practices
Communication
- Communicate from the beginning of the event sales cycle. Develop a high-level event guide for your prospective clients and get progressively more detailed as you move the client through the process. Include information on what the client can expect during site inspections, in your contract and on BEO’s. Support everything with signage during the event.
- Develop an internal guideline to events inside your building. Include your entire team in the plan and help them understand why it is so important to familiarize themselves with the protocols. Use the links to the Public Health Orders and the FAQ below. Help them understand the “why’s” and “why not’s” of the procedures.
- The final communication piece is with the client. Build some extra time into your workflow to ensure the client is on the same page with hotel. We all have a greater responsibility to each other in this day and age and the client is no different.
Over Arching Event Principles
Focus all of your planning and communication around these principles:
- 50 guests maximum. Employees and vendors are not included in this count.
- Contact tracing procedures are mandatory.
- Physical distancing at all times.
- Masks should be worn when physical distancing is not possible.
- Use barriers or protective equipment wherever possible.
Download the Gathering & Events Guidance guide here
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Contact Your MLA Today!
Destinations, communities and tourism businesses in BC are continuing to write to their local MLAs to share stories of the impact of COVID-19, and to ask government to support TIABC's Recovery Stimulus Proposal. See a copy of Tourism Squamish's letter to MLA Jordan Sturdy.
Download Tourism Squamish's letter here.
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BC Chamber of Commerce
A Three-Part Plan for Economic Recovery
Big Thinking for Small Business: BC Chamber’s Recommendations for Economic Recovery
The BC Chamber of Commerce completed its recommendations for BC’s Economic Recovery Plan on behalf of its 36,000 members, and submitted this report to government on July 21st. This submission will help the Province design a plan to support BC’s businesses and our economy as we move out of crisis and toward recovery.
The submission speaks to building a competitive BC that will support all sizes of businesses—with a focus on small businesses, and makes 54 specific recommendations that each focus on improving competitiveness, innovation, and inclusivity respectively.
The submission recommends a bold new plan that does not simply return BC to the uncompetitive business conditions that existed before COVID-19, but rather encourages entrepreneurship and investment. This strategy will not only undo the damage inflicted by the pandemic, but will also create a more competitive, resilient, and prosperous future for all British Columbians.
Learn more at:
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Leger Weekly Survey
COVID-19
- A new question this week asked people, in the event a proven COVID-19 vaccine is widely available, what will happen to the current public health measures, such as social distancing, mask wearing, hand-washing, indoor space limits, etc.? 45% of Canadians feel the measures will remain in place while 38% say the measures will not be required anymore and will be discontinued.
- On the topic of vaccines, 14% of Canadians say they would take the world’s first COVID vaccine recently announced by Russia if it was available for free. Just over two-thirds (68%) would not take it and 18% are unsure. In the US, 24% say they would take the Russian vaccine.
- Attitudinally, after a few less than positive weeks on the tracking questions, Canadians’ outlook improved slightly. Fear of contracting the virus declined 4 points to 57% of Canadians. Fear of contracting the virus is in low to mid-60% across the country from ON to BC, but much lower in QC (47%).
- On the mental health self-assessment question, 39% of Canadians rate themselves Excellent to Very Good (up 4 points from last week). In the US, this proportion is 46%.
- 58% of Canadians say it’s likely we will be need to have a lockdown similar to March-April (down from 65% last week).
- Satisfaction with various levels of governments’ handling of the pandemic crisis, which had tracked downward the last couple of weeks, ticked up this week. Satisfaction levels with the Federal and Provincial governments each tracked up by 3 points.
- Regionally, BC, ON, and QC cluster at the top in the 80% range. MB and SK are next at the high 60% to low 70% range. AB comes in at 58%.
Economic Impressions
There are worrying signs regarding how Canadians and Americans feel about the economic future:
- 43% of Canadians feel the state of the economy in Canada will be worse 12 months from now (33% among US respondents regarding the US economy).
- 31% of Canadians say the stock market will crash in the next 12 months (34% don’t know). US residents hold similar views.
- 28% of working Canadians think their company will be laying off people between now and the end of the year.
- Almost one-third of Canadians (32%) say their household is financially worse off so far in 2020 compared to 2019 (28% say this in the US).
Download the full report here. _________________________________________________________________
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TIABC and the BC Hotel Association (BCHA) will be hosting a webinar and open forum to outline the key issues and provide a reality check on the tourism and hospitality industry, our key messages, and ways we can coordinate and work together towards recovery.
Wednesday September 2nd @ 1:00pm-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.
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Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
Q&A
With the extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) until December, The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is hosting interactive question and answer sessions for eligible employers on the CEWS. These sessions will respond to general questions about the CEWS and provide resources needed to apply.
Session #22 - Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) - August 31st @ 11:00am
To register: If you are interested in participating in one of these sessions, please email Matthew Hohnsbehn (Matthew.Hohnsbehn@cra-arc.gc.ca) and indicate the session # (see above). A confirmation email will be sent containing the WebEx link and other important information.
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Small Business BC Webinar
During COVID-19, business owners have been looking at different ways to cut costs and become more efficient. What if it was possible to achieve this goal while helping to reduce transmission of COVID-19 at the same time?
Delivered by Sam Thomas, Principal and Kootenay Branch Manager of Prism Engineering, and Tiago Pereira, Energy Solutions Manager at FortisBC, attendees will learn practical steps for making the workplace safer, while also saving money in our “new normal.” We’ll also be covering tips for making your space cost-effective, COVID relief incentives for small biz and plumbing/environmental controls.
What Will I Learn?
Best practices in HVAC and safety during COVID-19 reopening
How to develop a pandemic response plan
Steps to prepare your business for a potential second wave
Identifying opportunities for increased energy efficiency in your business
Available rebates and energy saving resources from Fortis BC
Wednesday September 2nd @ 10:00am (PT)
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October 2
October 7
(call for Board Nominations open until September 11th)
October 26-27
September 21-25
November 17-18
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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.
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