The DEIR sub-committee is evaluating and working through a list of more than two dozen actions TIABC can take over the short, medium, and long-term to ensure we’re on track to achieve our objectives. For example, every director and staff member must complete go2HR’s Safer Spaces course on sexual harassment in the workplace by June. Our Governance Committee is working on proposed bylaw revisions to reflect DEIR, as well as directing efforts to achieving the 50-30 diversity challenge by or before 2024. We’re embarking on education and new partnerships, as well as a number of other initiatives either underway or about to begin. Suffice it to say, our staff and volunteer board are committed to DEIR and to addressing issues within our organization and/or the tourism and hospitality sector.

Sometimes we forget that as leaders we are always on stage so to speak…not only with our guests, staff, and suppliers, but also within our industry and our communities. In public forums, we make mistakes, some of which are mere missteps easily resolved, while others carry far greater weight and therefore take time and considerable effort to understand, evaluate and resolve. Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we don't. Regardless, leadership responsibilities can take a toll on us physically, mentally, and emotionally. If the past two months are any indication, virtually all of us have experienced the consequences of March 9th.

If you know someone that is struggling, needs forgiveness or healing, a shoulder to cry on or words of wisdom, please take a few minutes out of your busy schedule to reach out…just like our board did with each other last week.

We can and will do better by respecting each other, listening, learning, growing, and by working together to ensure the issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and reconciliation are addressed and advanced within TIABC and our industry at-large.

go2HR has just announced the completion of the BC Tourism & Hospitality Labour Market Information (LMI) research project. The project launched in January 2021 with the purpose of developing up-to-date and relevant LMI to provide the industry with the data needed to ensure a thriving workforce during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The LMI Research Project Final Report details labour demand projections, recovery scenarios, and a summary of worker and employer sentiments about the industry, as well as recommendations to plot the path forward on labour recovery.

These research findings will help inform labour strategies to support labour recovery. The tourism and hospitality workforce makes up 12% of BC employment. The sector, which is the largest employer of youth in BC and home to many diverse peoples, was shocked by the onset of the pandemic and subsequent starts and stops, shrinking employment from 350,000 in 2019 to 298,000 at the end of 2021. The industry is fully aware of the challenge to build back a thriving workforce and has recently come together to develop a comprehensive labour recovery framework that identifies targeted, prioritized solutions to advance tourism and hospitality recovery.

Industry leaders who served on the steering committee, including TIABC CEO Walt Judas, were excited by the project’s completion, noting that this critical piece of research has largely been absent prior to the pandemic.

“Accurate labour market data is a critical component to rebuilding British Columbia's visitor economy. Our industry was the first and hardest hit by the pandemic and will be one of the last to recover. The Tourism Industry Association of BC congratulates go2HR for their work on this important file which will help inform and shape the tourism workforce in the years ahead,” said Judas.

National Tourism Week launches this Sunday and runs through to June 4th. Our industry once again has the green light to regain its top spot as a GDP contributor and quality-of-life creator for BC residents.

We welcome everyone to Tourism Week 2022 with two messages - #BCTourismCounts and the national message #GreenMeansGo!

Along with our partner, Destination BC, TIABC is encouraging our industry to use the informative and valuable tools we have developed to provide you with resources and assist you in developing new initiatives and ideas to implement.

The Tourism Week 2022 Industry Toolkit provides information and resources for BC’s tourism industry. Celebrate by using the Toolkit available below!

Next week, marks the start of National AccessAbility Week in Canada. National AccessAbility Week is a time to promote accessibility and inclusion in communities and to celebrate the contributions of persons with disabilities. It is an opportunity to recognize the efforts of people who are actively removing barriers and ensuring people with disabilities have an equal chance to participate in the places we live, work, learn and play.

From May 29th to June 4th, businesses, communities and people across Canada will be acknowledging this important week by celebrating those who are making real changes in their schools, communities and municipalities. This year, the theme for National AccessAbility Week is “Inclusive from the Start”. To emulate this theme, the week focuses on:

TIABC, along with industry partners recently released a video, highlighting the "Value of Tourism to Accessibility and Inclusion". Please take a moment to view - and to share. #NAAW2022

The final business case for a new, state-of-the-art Royal BC Museum (RBCM) is now available online.

According to the May 25th media release from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport, the business case contains detailed analyses to inform decisions including project rationale, service delivery and procurement options, labour alternatives, and implementation plans and timelines. The business case resulted from extensive project evaluation during a five-year period, confirming the museum is at the end of its useful life with costs to upgrade existing buildings more than those to replace them with a new, modern facility.

Developed in 2018, the plan assessed the cost of options to repair, revitalize or replace the museum, and showed that the cost of repair or revitalization would be more than building a new museum without meeting overall project objectives. This is the first public release of a business case and concept plan for a vertical infrastructure project in BC.

Click here to read the full official government announcement.

The Port of Prince Rupert is adding 16 new vessel calls to its upcoming cruise schedule that has the potential to bring upwards of 46,000 additional cruise passengers – about a 330% increase from the previously published schedule – to the community this spring and summer. This will be a significant boost to the local tourism industry in the coming months.

A new addition to the vessel lineup is the Ruby Princess operated by Princess Cruises. She made her inaugural berth in the city on May 17th. The Rupert port will be a regular stop on the ships Alaska itinerary every 10 days. The vessel has a carrying capacity of 4,180 passengers and crew.

Between 2004 to 2019, Prince Rupert welcomed approximately 655,000 passengers with an estimated direct economic impact of over $50 million. At Prince Rupert’s modest 2019 levels of cruise activity, an estimated $1.8 million of economic revenue was brought to businesses in the community.

Read the official news release from the Port of Prince Rupert here.

The BC Employer Training Grant Program is provincial funding for financial support for worker training. The application period is now open and will remain open until March 31st, 2023. There are different streams that can help connect employers to funding opportunities to offset the cost of training.

Priority is given to first-time applicants, small businesses, applicants from disadvantaged regions and applicants from industries facing the greatest challenges acquiring skilled workers.

Click here to learn more and to apply.

On May 17th and 18th, the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS), delivered information sessions to industry about the Tourism Impact Portal - a central data portal for information on tourism development in five regions of BC.

It is built with the goal to improve the monitoring and reporting of tourism impacts at the local level in all areas relevant for sustainable development: economic, social, environmental, and governance.

The presentations are now available to view, for anyone that was unable to attend the virtual presentations.

On May 24th, FlixBus USA, whose parent company FlixMobility purchased Greyhound last year, announced a new coach connection between Vancouver and Seattle.

The service seeks to fill a void created by the cancellation of some cross-border connections during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the company in its news release.

And Amtrak, which cancelled its Canadian routes due to COVID-19 restrictions, has not resumed operations between Washington State and BC. Service was anticipated to resume in the spring, but is delayed by staffing shortages.

FlixBus’ first cross-border routes commenced yesterday between Seattle and Vancouver and will run five days per week in each direction Thursday through Monday and will also include stops in Everett and Bellingham. The bus will arrive at the Richards Street-Waterfront Station near Gastown in Vancouver around 11:30 a.m. Buses heading south to Seattle will leave around 12:45 p.m. One way fares start at $18.

Tickets are now available on the FlixBus website or downloaded through the FlixBus App.

On behalf of TIABC and Board of Directors, we are pleased to acknowledge the following member. We appreciate their support and investment in our advocacy efforts. It's a pleasure to introduce them to our industry network and readership.

Tourism Nanaimo is the official destination marketing/management organization, who works to promote the city of Nanaimo, its tourism and hospitality products, its services and amenities, and its vast recreation potential. Nanaimo has one of the longest shorelines in Canada and is located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, 113 km north of Victoria, and 55 km across the Strait of Georgia from Vancouver.

To learn more about Tourism Nanaimo, visit here.

We strongly encourage you to consider membership or renew your membership with TIABC to support our important advocacy efforts on behalf of the entire visitor economy.

There is no better example of what TIABC has done for you than in the last 27-months. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic TIABC has identified your concerns, raised your voice, championed your needs, pushing for support and programs while encouraging policy changes.

The inevitable passage of Bill 10 – which removes the democratic protection of a secret ballot vote for union certification, replacing it with a card-based system – is concerning for many about what this will mean for their organization, and employees.

To offer education, resources, and support for members, the BCHA is hosting an information session. During this session, they will provide a toolkit, while exploring actions that can be taken, both immediately and in the future, answering questions that include:

Date: June 2nd, 1pm - 2pm (PT)

Click here to register and provide your questions.

Join GreenStep’s Sustainable Tourism Team for this informative webinar to learn how your business and the planet can benefit from assessing your business’s sustainability performance.

Date: June 6th, 11am - 12:30 pm (PT) via ZOOM

Click here to learn more and to register.

TIABC would like to remind industry of the Safer Spaces course: Creating Sexual Harassment-Free Workplaces in BC's Tourism and Hospitality Industry. This free online course has been extremely well-received by industry as it addresses one of today's concerning topics and supports employers and supervisors in creating workplaces that are free from sexual harassment.

Destination BC has partnered with Small Business BC to offer free access for tourism business stakeholders across the province to online education supporting COVID-19 recovery.

You will learn how ask the right questions, collect key data and interpret that information to help you make strategic business decisions.

Date: June 17th, 1pm - 4pm (PT)

Register Here using coupon code: DBC3034

Fully Funded Virtual Hospitality Training for Professionals in the Thompson Okanagan Region, provided by TOTA and Okanagan College.

Online, with practicums and work experiences on site as required.

Application Deadline: May 22, 2022

go2HR is offering a free webinar on Challenging Guest Interactions and Preventing Workplace Violence for industry associations to share with their members.

Challenging guest interactions can include worker harassment, verbal abuse and, in escalating situations, even physical violence.

The webinar is a 45-minute session and can be a stand-alone webinar or added to an existing meeting. In the webinar, your members will learn:

In addition, your members will gain access to tools, checklists and resources that they can personalize for their business and use for worker training.

Connect safety@go2hr.ca to learn more about the webinar and schedule your presentation!

Small Business BC provides practical business education tailored for small businesses right here in BC. Whether you need help starting your business, hiring employees, managing operations, or anything else, Small Business BC is here to help.

Live webinars are real-time engaging presentations with live video and chat. Have a scheduling conflict? A recording will also be available for you to stream over the next seven days so you won’t miss a thing.

Self-directed e-courses are available anytime, anywhere. Each on-demand e-course will cover bite-sized topics and help you learn through multimedia features such as readings, handouts, videos and quizzes. With course access for one full year, you can review to the course material multiple times as you progress through your entrepreneurial journey.

#HospitalityHustle is going strong. Half way through the challenge and we have more than 75 participants who have logged over 3,000 km collectively.

Join us reach our goal of 16,000 km (three times around BC). Spread the word, share how you take care of your mental and physical health and you may win one of several prizes at the finish line on May 29.

Go to the website to register your progress. The link is open throughout the Challenge!

Over the last year, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade has been offering a variety of training sessions through the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI).

The Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council (DLC) is pleased to announce our continued partnership with CCDI and the return of our Level two D&I influencer training.

The sessions are instructor-led using a virtual platform and provide participants with some of the best practices they can use to tackle pressing issues related to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Date: June 2: Race and Ethnicity in Canada

The aim of the "Gender in the Workplace" session is twofold: making participants aware of micro-inequities influenced by gender bias or stereotypes and providing them with tools and strategies to combat gender bias in the workplace.

Click here to learn more and to register.

In a world of information overload, The Art of Leadership for Women focuses on the topics and trends most critical to leaders. This unique one-day conference features a riveting collection of world leaders, business icons, academics, and bestselling authors who inspire action.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn improved ways of leveraging their value, elevating their skills, and developing the strategies required to take their leadership and their organizations to the next level. This conference is not just for women, but for anyone who wants to champion change on behalf of women. 

Date: Wednesday, June 8th

Time: 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Where: Vancouver Convention Centre, East Building - Hall A, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver

Note: TIABC Members SAVE $100 - Join us at The Art of Leadership for Women in Vancouver on June 8th for a full day of world-class learning, networking and championing change for women.

Time to block your calendars! Join the BC Chamber of Commerce on June 8-9 for their 2022 AGM and Conference, that will take place in-person in Prince George (subject to public health restrictions).

We are excited to gather together again with BC Chamber of Commerce members from across the province to hear what's on BC's mind, connect in person to discuss business priorities, and debate policies that will drive our network's advocacy efforts for the years ahead.

Date and Location: Victoria | June 13-16, 2022

This year’s conference theme is Regenerative Tourism: Building Resilience. The conference will focus on recovering efforts of the global tourism and hospitality industry and communities to regenerate tourism in the post-pandemic era and at the same time to increase resilience to crises, sustain resources, and distribute more fairly tourism benefits.

Join us in Victoria, BC, or attend virtually!

Click HERE to learn more and to register.

The culmination of WGBC activities, including marketing, communications, advocacy and more over the Fiscal Year 2022 will be reported on in the Annual Report released at the Annual General Meeting. As quorum is critical for this meeting to proceed, please add this date to your calendar.

Date: Wednesday, September 7th - 10am - 12pm

Virtual Event: Add to calendar HERE

Sport Tourism Canada and Edmonton Events have announced that Sport Events Congress 2022 will be held November 2-4 in Edmonton.

SEC22 promises to be everything that attendees know and love about Congress – interactive, educational, opportunities for business-to-business networking, evening social events (including an Edmonton Oilers NHL match-up at Rogers Place). View the preliminary schedule here.

TIABC recognizes that our members, stakeholders and staff occupy the ceded, unceded and traditional territories of Indigenous Nations across British Columbia. We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to live, work and play on the lands that our Indigenous friends and First Nations ancestors honour and care for.