New health restrictions come into effect for the Fraser East region on Wednesday in recognition of rising COVID-19 case numbers.
The impacted area includes Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Agassiz Harrison, Hope and Mission.
The new restrictions, announced by Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, include:
- Private indoor gatherings capped at five additional people, or one additional household, and outdoor gatherings limited to 10 people unless all participants are vaccinated.
- Organized events limited to 10 people indoors or 50 outside unless all participants are fully vaccinated.
- Outdoor sports limited to 50 participants unless all are fully vaccinated.
- Ticketed events, gyms, and fitness classes require full vaccination.
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In the rest of BC, people are only required to be partially vaccinated until Oct 24. That deadline has been moved up in the Fraser East region.
- Masks required in all indoor workplaces, unless someone is alone, behind a barrier or able to distance appropriately.
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On Sunday, government announced they will be extending the food delivery fee cap, which limits the total fees food delivery companies can charge. The cap will be extended until Dec. 31, 2021.
The order continues to limit fees charged to restaurants from food delivery companies to 15%, and 5% for other related fees, such as online ordering and processing fees.
Small-delivery service businesses that serve less than 500 restaurants will continue to be exempt from the order, which also prohibits delivery companies from reducing compensation for their drivers.
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On Thursday, September 30th, the BC Hotel Association will close our doors to join millions of Canadians in recognizing the first ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Held around the time when Indigenous children would have been taken from their homes to residential schools each fall, the day will be observed to honour the victims and survivors of the schools, as well as to reflect on how their legacy has impacted Indigenous communities.
WONDERING HOW TO HONOUR THE DAY?
LOOKING FOR AN EVENT IN YOUR AREA?
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The BC Hotel Association is seeking your voice to inform advocacy work that is critical to the ongoing recovery of our sector. This survey addresses a number of key elements impacting industry including 1. BC Vaccine Card 2. Paid sick leave program 3. Federal benefit programs 4. Workforce issues
We want to know how you have been impacted in recent months. Note: individual and business information will be kept confidential.
THE SURVEY WILL CLOSE AT THURSDAY OCTOBER 7TH AT 5PM PDT
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Both the BCHA & TIABC invite you to join us, along with our keynote speakers, at our respective Annual General Meetings.
Join us for a state of the industry update, with a focus on recovery and trends. Gain critical insights into the work each organization has led, programs and benefits, and network with industry colleagues.
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DATE & TIME
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
LOCATION
Delta Hotels by Marriott Kamloops
AIR CANADA FLIGHT CODE
NTP code: DCZUV3V1
Discount: 15%
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BOOK YOUR HOTEL | DELTA HOTELS BY MARRIOTT CODE
November 15th—19th 2021
Group block : BCH
Simple Steps to Book your Room
1. Visit www.marriott.com/ykade
2. Select dates & special rates
4. Select & Enter your booking code
- Single Kings (BCHBCHA)
- Two Queens (BCHBCHB)
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Destination BC is helping tourism businesses across the province to “Power Up” through a new digital mentorship program which will award successful applicants a digital service package valued at up to $5,000.
The Power Up! application-based program will provide 75 eligible BC-based, small and medium sized tourism businesses, sole proprietors, and non-profits across the province with free access to digital audit and technical services designed to improve their digital marketing activities and use of technology.
“Power Up is the latest digital program to be added to Destination BC’s suite of industry development opportunities,” said Richard Porges, President and CEO of Destination BC. “Strong digital expertise is increasingly important as virtually all travellers are online before, during, and after their trips. The program will bolster digital capabilities on a one-to-one basis with each qualifying tourism business, offering tailored digital support where each business needs it most.”
Successful applicants will be given access to a digital subject matter expert in a service area of their choice, who will work with them to improve their online capabilities. The service costs will be directly covered, up to a maximum of $5,000 per participant, and will include educational resources for further learning and ongoing implementation.
The application intake opened on September 20, 2021 at 9:00 am PST and will remain open until 85 applications are received, at which point the intake will close and applications will be reviewed based on eligibility criteria in the order they are received.
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Braemar group has a large selection of goods available to sell as complete renovation is taking place within a Kelowna/ West Kelowna Property:
Details
- Items have not been priced - so all offers will be considered
- Purchaser is to pick up items
- Large volume of items are available
- Items include all linens and draperies, furniture and chairs, fitness equipment, pool equipment and more!
If interested please contact Tanis at:
250-469-4935
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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.
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BC Vaccine Cards Now Required When Showing PoV | COVID-19 Quick Links |
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As of September 27th, all individuals 12 and up are required to show proof of vaccination for entry into certain social settings through their BC Vaccine Card. 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.
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Wondering how to properly respond to difficult guest situations? go2HR has updated their scripted guest messaging guidance. |
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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.
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COVID-19 Rapid Tests for
Screening in Workplaces
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The Government of Canada, some provincial/territorial governments and distribution partners are providing free rapid COVID-19 tests to organizations. These tests are to be used for regular workplace screening of employees. Read More
As well, Safe Screen BC helps B.C. businesses access rapid antigen tests and set up onsite rapid COVID-19 workplace screening programs for employees. Safe Screen BC will guide businesses through the required application process for provincially available test-kits and support businesses in the set-up of onsite rapid workplace screening programs for employees. Read More
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BCHA GoGreen Tip of the Week! |
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Join a community of hoteliers making steps toward sustainability. Sign up for the GoGreen program and receive a FREE Energy Analysis |
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TIABC Call for Nominations |
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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:
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From the DMO category one (1) is required for a two-year term.
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From the Sector Association category two (2) are required for a two-year term.
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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
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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
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- Tuesday, October 5th, 2021 | 10am – 1pm
- Wickanninnish Conference Hall at the Best Western Plus Tin Wis | 1119 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino, BC V0R 2Z0
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- Wednesday, October 6th, 2021 | 10am – 1pm
- Ballroom at Crown Isle Resort | 399 Clubhouse Dr, Courtenay, BC V9N 9G3
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- 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
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- Thursday, October 7th, 2021 | 10am – 1pm
- Opera & Harbour Rooms at Best Western Dorchester | 70 Church St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5H4
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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.
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The BC Hotel Association has partnered with Bliss Hospitality and Cornerstone International Community College of Canada (CICCC) to bring you the Hospitality Management Hiring Fair!
All candidates are pre-screened and highly-skilled; they are Opera PMS certified, food safe certified, able to perform tasks and duties related to the position, and can communicate fluently in English.
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Date: Saturday, October 9th
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Time: 10am – 2pm
- *in-person attendance for the duration of the event is required – please arrive at 10am sharp
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Location: Cornerstone International Community College Management Campus | 609 West Hastings Street, Vancouver BC, V6B 4W4 Canada
- Important things to know:
- How the Event Will Work:
- The event will include a thirty-minute welcome reception beginning at 10am. Following this, you will enter your designated screening area where you will conduct the first phase of interviews.
- All interviews are 5 minutes in length with a one-minute buffer in between.
- There will be a short break, followed by the second phase of interviews, and a networking opportunity.
- Students will come prepared with their CVs – they are Opera & Food Safe certified and have been hand-picked by the college for their work ethic and skill.
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What to Bring: Please bring your laptop and business cards
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Parking: The Management Campus is located directly across from the Waterfront Skytrain Station. Paid parking is also available nearby at Station East Parking - Lot #531 and at Harbour Centre - 500 W Cordova - Lot #123.
Are you interested in participating or learning more information? Click below to register. Registration closes this Friday!
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Reminder - go2HR Resources | Employment Tracker, Workplace Vaccinations, Survey |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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!
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Reimagining the Future of Tourism: Rebuild, Reframe, and Rethink
November 3 & 4, 2021
We invite you to come together as a tourism community to learn from everything we've been through and think differently about how we can co-create a vibrant and resilient tourism industry in B.C. This 2-day virtual event will have thought provoking workshops and panels, opportunities to learn from tourism leaders from around the globe, and time to network with industry colleagues.
The BCRTS Tourism Summit 2021 is open to all tourism stakeholders and GSTC members at no cost.
The BCRTS is a collaboration between the following five regional destination management organizations in B.C.: Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association, Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association, Northern BC Tourism Association, and Tourism Vancouver Island.
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Post-Election Priorities with TIAC
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.
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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.
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Tipping Our Hat to Industry!
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Tourism Kelowna Awarded Platinum Certification for Sustainability Practices
Tourism Kelowna has been awarded platinum certification through the sustainable tourism program offered by GreenStep Solutions, a BC sustainability consulting firm.
The certification means that Tourism Kelowna has committed to sustainable practices that align with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Responsible, sustainable tourism is at the forefront of our team’s day-to-day activities, and we continue to improve and further our practices, policies and processes for the betterment of our local communities,” said Chris Lewis, director of visitor experience.
“Leading by example, through the key practices we’ve implemented to date, showcases the importance of sustainability to our organization and each member of our team.”
The statement explains that this commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism practices has been developing over the past four years. Read more here.
Congrats to Tourism Kelowna for leading the charge on sustainability!
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Industry News & Quick Links |
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BCHA INN THE NEWS
BCHA CEO & President Ingrid Jarrett joined spoke with Rob Munro at Infotel news surrounding occupancy and hotel statistics in 2020 vs. 2021 for the Okanagan region.
"In 2021, coupled with the lack of demand – no meetings, no conferences, no events, no music events, no crews, no corporate travel, no government travel, no international travel, no U.S., travellers – we have lost 30% of our workforce since 2019,” Ingrid Jarrett, president and CEO of the B.C. Hotel Association told iNFOnews.ca.
The 30% number is a national figure but is reflective of what happened in B.C., she said.
“As we’re looking to recover, hoping to grow occupancy, we can’t grow occupancy because we don’t have anyone to actually clean the rooms or open the restaurants or cook in the kitchens or any of those kinds of things,” Jarrett said. “We have whole wings of hotels that are closed because we have nobody to work.”
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HOT OFF THE PRESS
Regional health restrictions will be introduced in the eastern Fraser Valley as the area deals with a spike in cases of COVID-19 and low vaccination rates, health officials announced Tuesday.
The new regional public health order covers Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope, Mission and Agassiz-Harrison. Officials said those communities are seeing a surge in the number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 — particularly those who are not vaccinated — and the caseload is putting a strain on regional hospitals. Read more.
Northern BC Tourism started investing in a research program last year through the BC Regional Secretariat. The information is gathered through the Environics Analytics Visitor View Canada Program and shows a glimpse of what's happening in tourism in Canada and its regions, including Northern BC. Read more.
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INDUSTRY TRENDS AND NEWS
In my last post, we shared data from TrustYou’s database that indicated 1 in 4 guest reviews over the past 18 months mention “cleanliness” - a huge lift compared to other keywords related to public healthy & safety! Where we left off, we wanted to understand if the underlying guest sentiments were positive or negative. The spoiler alert is already in the title of the blog, so let’s go ahead and jump right into how we made these discoveries. Read More
Hopper has emerged from the pandemic as the top travel booking app in the United States, surpassing Booking.com, which claimed the leading spot in 2020. Read more
While this year has been anything but normal, time marches on and budget season has arrived. While the past 1.5 years may be hard to use for future planning, there are certainly lessons to be learned for 2022. Let’s look at some trends and strategies to keep in mind as you begin your 2022 planning. Read more
As the worst effects of the COVID-19 pandemic ebb, many indicators point to travel coming back - with a vengeance - as people look to explore new destinations or revisit reliable favourites. In this blog, we look at the key steps hoteliers need to be taking in order to be prepared for the looming travel boom. Read more
What’s next for email marketing following Apple’s Privacy update? Read more
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