C-19 BULLETIN - January 15, 2021
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Tourism Coalition Urges Province Not to Pursue Domestic Travel Ban
BC’s beleaguered tourism and hospitality industry says a ban on inter-provincial, non-essential travel not only goes against Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, it would also further cripple a sector that is barely hanging on by a thread.
In response to Premier Horgan’s statement yesterday that the province is seeking legal advice to look at implementing a travel ban, the Tourism Industry Association of BC commissioned a legal opinion that states a travel ban would be difficult to implement because the Supreme Court of Canada has held that Canadians’ mobility rights are among the most cherished rights of citizenship that are fundamental to nationhood. These rights are so important they cannot be overridden by the notwithstanding clause. Government will be required to justify any infringement of those rights by showing they are carefully tailored to solve a real problem that other health measures that do not restrict Canadians’ rights cannot achieve.
Industry leaders have repeatedly emphasized that travel is not the culprit for the spread of COVID-19, but rather individual behaviour. Coalition members say they are not aware of or have seen any hard data to support further travel restrictions or an outright ban on non-essential travel within BC and to/from other provinces.
Coalition members are urging government to steer away from the notion of a travel ban in favour of working with the industry and communities to educate prospective visitors on their responsibilities vis-à-vis BC health and safety protocols, as well as expected individual behaviour.
Read the full release here
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go2HR Supports Tourism and Hospitality Businesses by Offering COVID-19 Safety Plan Review Service
On January 7th, the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) extended the existing orders directed at individuals, places of work and businesses in British Columbia, requiring them to continue limiting their level of social interactions and non-essential travel. The orders, originally introduced last November, are now set to remain in effect until midnight on February 5th, or as otherwise advised by the PHO.
All businesses across the province are being urged to remain vigilant, follow their COVID-19 safety plans, and update those plans as needed. It is strongly recommended that you take the time to review and update your COVID-19 safety plan without delay and incorporate the requirements of the orders, as they relate to your particular business.
With this in mind, go2HR has launched a new program to help tourism and hospitality businesses review their COVID-19 safety plans. Their health and safety experts will review your safety plan and provide recommendations and targeted feedback to help ensure ongoing compliance with current requirements. To register for this complimentary service, click here.
If you have any questions regarding these extended orders or need support with any aspect of your safety plan, please contact go2HR via phone: 604-633-9787, email: safety@go2hr.ca or visit their Maintaining Your COVID-19 Safety Plan webpage. go2HR's qualified health and safety staff are available to assist and we look forward to supporting you and your team.
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TIABC Submission re: Modernizing the Pleasure Craft Operator Competency Program
TIABC has submitted a brief to Transport Canada regarding proposed plans to eliminate the Rental Boat Safety Checklist (RBSC) as part of the proposed fee modernization review of the Pleasure Craft Operator Competency Program.
To date we have heard from countless members about the impacts such a move would have on thousands of marinas, boat rental operators, employees, communities and other tourism-related businesses across our province.
It’s important to note that when first introduced, RBSC saved thousands of businesses and the jobs they support and has since proven to contribute to an experience that continues to be a significant part of tourism and recreation in British Columbia and other parts of Canada.
TIABC supports initiatives intended to improve the safety and well-being of locals and visitors, especially when enjoying British Columbia’s waterways. From our understanding (e.g. safety statistics), the RBSC has proven to be very effective and therefore should remain in place for the foreseeable future.
Read the full letter here
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Research Roundup
Destination BC is rounding up relevant research and articles each week related to the travel and tourism industry and COVID-19.
Last week in brief:
- British Columbians remain hesitant toward welcoming most visitors
- Intentions to travel domestically are increasing for BC residents
- BC sees a decrease of -5.7% in weekly domestic overnight visitation compared to previous week
- Weekly movement in BC is down -58.7% compared to same period in 2019/20
- BC’s weekly occupancy rate (27.6%) the highest rate seen across Canada
- BC’s average daily rate ($158.81) up from the previous week
- BC residents miss visiting family and friends, restaurants, and travel
- 71% of Canadians intend to get a COVID-19 vaccine in 2021
- Almost half of Americans do not feel safe to travel, but inspiration is high
- Skift reports that nimble operators and leisure travel will outperform institutions and business
- Cirium’s Airline Insights Review 2020 says 7 key trends may emerge as a result of airline industry’s shift
- Tourism and COVID-19 dashboard and reporting resources
Download the full research document here
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Tourism Employment Losses
Nothing Short of Catastrophic
Nearly 90% of Year-Over-Year Employment Losses in Tourism
Tourism employment decreased for the third month in a row in December falling by 56,700, a 3.5% decrease from November. (Data is from the week of December 6 to 12.)
Highlights:
- Tourism employment declined by 56,700 in December, a decline of 3.5% from November
- On a year-over-year basis, seasonally unadjusted employment across all Canadian industries was down 3.1% compared to December 2019. In comparison, tourism employment was down 24.9% from the same month a year ago
- At 14.6%, tourism’s unemployment rate was above Canada’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate of 8.0%
- December is the fourth month in a row in which the tourism labour force declined
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2020: A Year in Review
The UNWTO has published COVID-19 and Tourism: 2020 A Year in Review, a report highlighting the impacts of COVID on international tourism.
The easy-to-read report contains are graphs and statistics highlighting the unprecedented fall of international tourism. Younger travellers and responsible, sustainable travel are forecast to lead recovery.
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Wilderness Tourism Association AGM
Thursday, January 28th, 1:00-4:00 PM
TIABC CEO Walt Judas will be a guest speaker at the upcoming AGM for the Wilderness Tourism Association of BC. The agenda can be viewed at wilderness-tourism.bc.ca.
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ABLE BC to Meet with Dr. Henry
From the January 14th ABLE BC Industry Update:
"New Year's Eve and upcoming meeting with Provincial Health Officer"
As we shared in last week's update, ABLE BC was deeply frustrated and disappointed with the surprise Public Health Order banning liquor sales past 8:00 pm on New Year's Eve. We know the order also caused many of you significant financial harm, and articulated this quite bluntly in media and with government.
As a follow-up to New Year's Eve, we will be meeting directly with Provincial Health Officer Dr. Henry very soon to discuss a new and more collaborative process that will avoid last minute public orders in the future - particularly those around major holidays and industry dates."
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In the News
Hotel Occupancy Plunges below 30%
Smaller operators “barely hanging on” as persistent pandemic upends tourism and cancels conferences
A Business in Vancouver study of the pandemic’s effect on the tourism and hospitality industry exposes an industry in crisis – and hotels are among the frontline victims. BC Hotel Association president and CEO Ingrid Jarrett has told BIV that her $3.2 billion industry, which pre-pandemic employed approximately 60,000 people to oversee 80,000 hotel rooms, has been ravaged, with occupancy of less than 30% at the end of 2020.
“That is a 60% drop from 2019,” she said. “We have 46% of properties reporting that if they don’t receive access to government-supported financing, they will not stay in business – and the timeline for that is between now and the end of March.”
Pandemic Ravages BC Tourism and Hospitality Businesses
With leisure and business travel drastically reduced, government restrictions crimping capacity and a general reticence to eat in restaurants, many businesses have been forced to close while others are in survival mode. The pain spans the sector: restaurants, hotels, destinations, convention venues, aviation-related businesses and other ventures.
BC Bus, Coachlines in Dire Condition
Wilson's Transportation, which connects communities and employs hundreds, says the government needs to offer more support for the industry.
'A Devastatingly Poor Year': Why the Outlook for Business Travel Remains Bleak
“It’s still going to be a devastatingly poor year. There’s no doubt about it,” said Dave Gazley, vice-president of meeting and convention sales at Tourism Vancouver.
He added: “There’s certainly going to be a percentage [of corporate travel] that goes away permanently. But no one knows what it’s going to be.”
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Messaging Guidance for BC's Tourism Industry
January 8th to February 5th
BC tourism businesses can refer to the Messaging Guidance for January 8th to February 5th related to the announcement on provincial restrictions.
The document includes messaging and a FAQ.
Download the Messaging document here
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Tourism Vancouver
Inspiring Future Business
Tourism Vancouver recently produced a COVID-friendly video to help promote the Vancouver Meetings and Conventions sector. It highlights:
- Vancouver inspiring us to see things differently.
- The health of our visitors comes naturally. Vancouver is relatively safe, clean, and is taking safety protocols seriously.
- The Vancouver Meetings and Conventions community having the expertise to build safe events in a controlled and effective manner.
- Vancouver is ready to meet / host when it’s safe to do so.
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The BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF)has partnered with Destination Greater Victoria on a lottery with over $3,000 in prizes. Odds are GREAT!
Prizes are redeemable in 2021 and by purchasing a ticket you not only help the BCHF, but also help Greater Victoria’s tourism and hospitality industry in this trying time.
Lottery ticket sales are now LIVE and run through to 11:59 pm Sunday, February 7th. The draw will happen at noon on Monday, January 8th.
Check out the list of prizes here
Buy your tickets here - we wish you luck!
The British Columbia Hospitality Foundation is a charity that raises funds to support those in the hospitality industry facing financial crisis due to a health condition. Each year hundreds of hospitality workers across BC face financial challenges and have no where else to turn. The BCHF helps them when all other options have been exhausted. But that’s not all they do! Learn more at:
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BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference
TIABC and the BC Hotel Association will be co-hosting the BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference (virtually) during the week of March 8th to 12th, 2021.
Stay tuned for more details soon.
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Destination Canada Webinars
Virginie De Visscher, Senior Director of business development, Economic Sectors, will share details on the economic sector tactical plans and Jennifer Attersall, Director, Incentive Travel, will provide a deep dive on Destination Canada's incentive market plans.
Marketing Manager, Nancy Steward, will join both webinars to share the marketing plans, including partner co-investment opportunities. These webinars will include details on planned sales activations, how to use partner toolkits, strategic partnerships, and how the Destination Canada Business Events team will be working with Canadian partners to keep Canada top-of-mind within our audience.
Each webinar will include a presentation and ample time to answer your questions.
Economic Sector Canadian Partner Webinar
January 18th 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM (PST)
Incentive Canadian Partner Webinar
January 19th 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM (PST)
For more information and to register, click here
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What It Takes to Restart Canada’s Tourism Workforce
Tourism HR Canada has been tracking the impacts of COVID on the tourism workforce, and the fallout on GDP and consumer confidence. Other research in collaboration with the Conference Board focuses on labour projections: by sector, by region, and more. Tourism is facing staggering employment losses that far exceed the overall economy, and projections suggest these losses will hamper the sector's ability to rebound and recover from COVID.
Join Tourism HR Canada for the most up-to-date data on workforce trends, what to anticipate for labour challenges over the next year, and recommendations on policies and programs to help the sector restart its workforce. The session will be one hour in duration.
January 15th @ 11:00 AM (PST)
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Join the BC Hotel Association for their upcoming webinar with FRESCo and learn about free energy efficiency upgrades, free energy assessments, engineering support, and rebates available!
FRESCo offers a free Fortis BC Program and is now available for hotels. The program will help you improve your overall energy efficiency, save money, save resources, and maximize your return on investments.
Tuesday, January 19th at 1:00pm PST
Hosted by Jordan Fisher, President of FRESCo Building Efficiency B.Sc., LEED® AP, RPP, MCIP
This webinar will be 45 minutes in length with 15 minutes Q&A.
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Small Business Trends for 2021
What You Need to Know for the New Year
As we consign 2020 to the history books, thoughts inevitably turn to 2021 and the opportunities it will bring. There’s plenty of reasons for optimism in the coming year, with a return to normality on the horizon. What lessons can we learn from 2020? Which of our COVID-19 pivots are likely to stick around?
Join us for a fascinating panel discussion that gathers speakers from a wide variety of perspectives. Hear their insights, add your observations and expertise, and look forward to the coming year informed and optimistic about your future prospects.
What Will I Learn?
- Changes in store for how small businesses do things
- Emerging products, services, and opportunities
- Continually evolving consumer behaviours
- Interesting trends in marketing and selling
- Which 2020 trends are here to stay
Friday, January 29th
1:00pm to 2:00pm (PST)
As a valued partner of Destination BC, Small Business BC is offering free access to this January 29th webinar to BC tourism businesses with the code TRENDS2021.
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Online Training for Businesses
The Building Resilience to Thrive online training program will offer relief to businesses and help mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19.
The Building Resilience to Thrive online training program will offer relief to businesses and help mitigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by teaching them how to adapt their business models, re-engage their customers and adjust their workplace cultures. Developed in partnership with the University of Victoria, Gustavson School of Business, this program will have one hour seminars once per week for 6 weeks and will be offered three times until the end of March 2021.
Program curriculum will focus on the three key themes of Strive, Build, and Create.
Seminar topics will be:
- Power of Context – Unconscious Bias
- Emotional Intelligence
- The Power of Coaching in Business
- Hire and manage a diverse team
- Improve experiences for colleagues and customers
- Adapt your service strategy for better outcomes
The final program will be offered on the following date:
Wednesdays at 11am-12pm PST, February 24th to March 31st
Registration for Cohort 3 closes on February 18th at 4pm
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Patrick Weiler, MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country is hosting a virtual town hall discussion with the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. They look forward to covering topics of high interest in the community, and across the country, such as how federal investments are supporting social, green and public transit infrastructure.
Wednesday, February 10th at 2:00pm 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. |
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