During lunch with the owner of a high-end boutique hotel earlier this week, I observed that the place was buzzing with guests, diners, and a full complement of staff…largely the same faces I had seen prior to the pandemic. Over our meal, the proprietor proudly announced to a group of professional colleagues that her property was on track for its best-ever month. Key measures such as revenue per available room, average daily rate, and occupancy were all on target to set new records.

Notwithstanding the hotel’s outstanding reputation, I learned of the key factors that contributed to its success. For starters, even with permits in hand, the property put the emergency brake on planned renovations just as COVID started to rear its ugly head. Instead, management used funds set aside for the facelift, as well as government support programs, to retain their entire workforce even though occupancy fell below 20 percent for the better part of the last two years.

Consequently, when tourism started to rebound this year, the hotel was able to ramp up to full capacity immediately without having to go through an onerous and extensive recruiting and hiring process, onboarding new team members, and other start-up issues that multiple tourism businesses have faced on the backside of the pandemic. It was a risky but brilliant strategy that is paying off. It's important to note that few operators were in a similar position to do the same.

Many owners I speak with these days are running flat out…not only because of strong demand…but because they’re practically working at every position in their business to service guests and keep the doors open. Ironically, some don’t have time for recruiting, hiring, and training new workers.

As I’ve mentioned before, workforce challenges are not germane to the tourism and hospitality sector but will affect us for a longer period than most other industries, particularly in the context of full recovery. Fortunately, dozens of sector associations across Canada (e.g. TIAC, TIABC, BCHA, go2HR) have joined forces to implore the federal government to initiate policy or regulatory changes that could help our sector address job vacancies now and in future.

As part of its submission to government vis-a-vis the Federal Tourism Growth Strategy, Tourism HR Canada (THRC) has come up with a series of strong recommendations that TIAC, TIABC, BCHA, go2HR and other members of the Hardest Hit Coalition can stand behind as palatable solutions.

For example, THRC is calling for a comprehensive tourism immigration strategy that includes measures such as eliminating labour market impact assessments, creating a trusted employer process, and enabling a clear path for permanent residency for all skill levels.

They’re also advocating for a dedicated pan-Canadian Indigenous workforce strategy, new pilot programs for displaced individuals (e.g. Ukrainian refugees), and modernizing post-secondary tourism programs. These are but a few examples of some two dozen THRC recommendations, many of which TIABC and BCHA intend to support as part of our tourism and hospitality submission to inform the Federal Tourism Growth Strategy.

At a time when operators are also dealing with increasingly rude guests and unrealistic expectations, supply chain issues, record-breaking inflation, and myriad other challenges, it’s nice to some positive news on the difficult labour file from a member whose employees remain loyal, productive, and gainfully employed. Unfortunately, the same does not hold true for many other businesses in desperate need of government intervention and new policies.

With the aggressive targets set out in the growth strategy, the feds cannot ignore the recommendations put forward by THRC and dozens of sector associations when it comes to workforce, especially if they’re looking for more recovery stories like the one I heard from a respected hotelier this week.

Walt Judas

CEO, TIABC

Earlier this week, host and backcountry veteran Brad Harrison had the opportunity to chat with TIABC CEO Walt Judas on the state of tourism in the province.

As introduced by Brad, "Walt is one of the most influential people on the industry side of tourism in our province. We strongly recommend listening to this episode if you are involved in tourism in any fashion, be it a frontline employee, sector representative, club member, government staff, educator, owner/operator, marketer or just enjoy the many opportunities that tourism in BC presents."

Make sure you catch Walt's insightful answers to some challenging questions in the link below.

Yesterday, go2HR announced a two-year initiative that will provide a regional HR consultant to work with tourism and hospitality businesses for the six destination development areas in BC.

go2HR modelled the new Regional HR Consultants initiative after a successful pilot project in the Thompson Okanagan region that started six years ago.

The consultants are providing a wide variety of services to tourism operators in the province including recruitment strategy and planning, onboarding, retention, HR advice and more.

We encourage you to connect with your regional HR representative and will continue to share information including how our industry can benefit from this initiative as it evolves.

Learn more HERE.

The Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, the Minister of Health, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, the Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Marco Mendicino, and the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, issued an update yesterday on progress being made to reduce traveller wait times and congestion at Canadian airports.

Minister Alghabra continues to meet with senior leadership at airports and airlines of all sizes across the country to ensure ongoing collaboration that will help reduce delays and keep travellers moving. The Minister also had meetings last week with senior officials from the Edmonton, Vancouver, Kamloops and Prince George airports that included discussions on the recovery of the sector.

On the eve of the BC Day long weekend, travellers are encouraged to stay safe on the road by planning ahead, using extra caution and being prepared for higher-than-normal traffic volumes.

A reminder that drivers can expect delays on Coquihalla Highway 5 as portions of the highway are one lane in each direction, due to damage from the November 2021 atmospheric river and ongoing reconstruction work. The heaviest traffic volumes on the Coquihalla are anticipated from noon until 8 pm daily.

Drivers are encouraged to adjust travel plans to avoid peak times or consider using Highway 3 as an alternative route between the Interior and Lower Mainland. Drivers on other routes throughout the province should also expect higher-than-average traffic volumes and plan accordingly.

For the most up-to-date highway travel information, check @DriveBC on Twitter, or check DriveBC

With temperatures in most parts of the province expected to stay extremely high in the days ahead, residents and businesses are reminded to monitor Environment and Climate Change Canada for regular updates.

Last month, the Province released an Extreme Heat Preparedness Guide to help people prepare for extreme heat with tips about how to stay safe when temperatures rise.

The BC Wildfire Service is also closely monitoring these changing conditions and making necessary preparations with strategic aviation and crew placements. Of note is the potential for widespread lightning when the current weather pattern changes.

A reminder - Category 2 and Category 3 open fires are prohibited throughout British Columbia.

Restaurants Canada Releases Special Edition of Raise the Bar Report

Restaurants Canada has just released a special COVID-19 edition of its Raise the Bar report, evaluating how liquor policies are impacting the road to recovery for licensed establishments.

This year’s special COVID-19 edition of the Raise the Bar report highlights how liquor laws and regulations are helping or hurting hard-hit businesses still rebounding from pandemic losses.

A new provincial policy allowing restaurants to buy alcohol at wholesale prices is bumping up BC's grades when it comes to the liquor landscape for the restaurant and bar industry.

The latest report card gives the West Coast a B grade when it comes to liquor policy – tied for second with Nova Scotia. BC earned a C grade in the previous report card released in 2019.

Alberta’s B+ grade tops all provinces, while Saskatchewan trails at the back of the pack with a C-.

In the summary report, Restaurants Canada is recommending that all provinces either implement or keep in place the following measures:

New projects funded by the Province in partnership with coastal communities and Indigenous Peoples will clean as much as 1,000 kilometres of BC's coastline, remove as many as 30 derelict vessels and support local jobs.

An additional $3.8 million from the Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative Fund will be used this summer to tackle the cleanup and removal of polluting marine debris, and create 440 jobs in coastal and Indigenous communities.

Three organizations were chosen for their experience and dedication to the marine environment. Coastal Restoration Society, Ocean Legacy Foundation and Misty Isles Economic Development Society will build on their success and experience from earlier phases of the program.

Clean Coast, Clean Waters is an important part of the CleanBC Plastics Action Plan and its goal to reduce plastic pollution.

Learn more HERE.

As you may be aware, the Ministry of Forests is currently engaging the public on proposed amendments to the Great Bear Rainforest Land Use Order (GBRLUO). The 2021 preliminary review of the 2016 GBRLUO implementation effectiveness resulted in a package of proposed changes organized around four key themes:

First Nations: Increased oversight by First Nations of forest planning and harvest activity and stronger protection and stewardship of Indigenous cultural heritage and use of forest resources.

Aquatic Habitat: Strengthened requirements for protection of important fisheries watersheds, maintenance of watershed health, and stewardship of fish-bearing rivers and streams and other important aquatic habitats and riparian forests.

Biodiversity: Improvements in the way Landscape Reserve Designs (LRDs) are being created to enable First Nations to take a stronger role in their development and expedite the protection of important forest values including rare and at-risk old growth.

Wildlife: Increased requirements for the protection and stewardship of habitat for regionally important wildlife, particularly in relation to grizzly bears, Kermode (Spirit) bears and black bears.

Members of your organization may have interest in providing their feedback on the engagement prior to closure on Monday August 8th. To find out more about the Great Bear Rainforest engagement, please visit HERE.

The engagement shares the proposed amendments to the Great Bear Rainforest Land Use Order and requests written feedback submissions by email.

The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) has launched The Original Original Accreditation program that identifies market-ready Indigenous tourism experiences.

The Original Original Accreditation enables ITAC to apply consistent and fair criteria to any Indigenous business seeking formal recognition as being ‘Market Ready’. Accredited businesses will fall into three categories of Market Ready; Business Ready, Visitor Ready or Export Ready.

This accreditation program is important to travel trade associations, international tour operators, travel agents, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), local communities and others to promote a quality tourism experience. The program also enables Indigenous tourism businesses to access lucrative travel trade networks and new visitor/consumer markets.

Learn more and register for the ITAC Accreditation Program HERE.

It’s time to flex your marketing muscles as the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Marketing Association (CCCTMA) has a unique opportunity for you.

You’ve led or built successful campaigns and now it’s time for you to take the next step and show what you can do. This incredible opportunity exists in the Land Without Limits, the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Region. An amazing place of adventure to live and work.

You’ll be reporting to the CEO and working within the tourism industry with regional stakeholders to promote the development of the tourism industry to targeted markets.

The ideal candidate will have a sense of adventure that matches the region they’ll be marketing. If you’re interested in learning more, please click the link below. Concord is managing the search on behalf of the CCCTMA.

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) will hold the 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on September 29th.

On behalf of TOTA Nominating Committee Chair, Frank Antoine invites Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association voting members to put their name forward or nominate a qualified candidate to serve as a member of the TOTA Board of Directors for a two-year term, effective September 29th.

TOTA is seeking to fill eight board positions with enthusiastic and energetic tourism professionals representing a wide range of the Thompson Okanagan’s tourism sectors, communities, and perspectives. For questions and to confirm voting member and board candidate eligibility, please email TOTA Board Liaison Chelsea Travere.

Organizers of the Half Corked Marathon have just released the last few tickets and are calling runners and wine lovers.

100 special tickets to the 2022 Half Corked Marathon are available. Dates: September 9th and 10th.

The route has been updated this year to include more winery stations than ever before, both along both the Golden Mile Bench and the Black Sage Road, so that participants can sip and savour delicious wines from the region as they run through the vineyards and along the Okanagan river.

Click HERE to purchase tickets.

The 18th edition of BCs Guide to Arts & Culture is now complete and available throughout BC.

The guide is presented in a virtual format, providing the opportunity to have instant access to the diverse arts and culture scene in the province, including listings of events taking place throughout the year.

Click HERE to view the guide.

The Government of Canada, through its regional development agency Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) has become aware that phishing emails and text messages are being circulated that appear to be from the Government of Canada.

Phishing is the fraudulent practice of sending emails pretending to be from reputable companies in order to convince individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.

You have a payment of 423.51 (CAD) that needs to be collected that was issued by COVID-19 Regional Relief and Recovery Funds on Jun 10-2022. Click here: Recoveryrelief.info

Clicking on “Recoveryrelief.info” leads to a request to provide financial institution and banking information for the deposit. This is a phishing email and is an attempt to collect personal, financial and sensitive information. Do not click the links within the email as they may contain malicious viruses.

These emails are NOT from the Government of Canada and should be deleted immediately.

Produced in partnership with the Rick Hansen Foundation, Fishing BC has launched an accessibility film starring Rick Hansen.

Rick is a Canadian icon and an internationally recognized advocated for accessibility. Fishing has always been a big part of his life and he credits it with being key in his rehabilitation. Rick’s passion for angling, conservation, and accessibility are all core themes in the film.

The film features gorgeous scenes of the Fraser River and Harrison River estuaries, a glimpse of Rick catching and releasing sturgeon, and archival footage of his Man in Motion World Tour. Rick's story is beyond inspirational and on behalf of Fishing BC, we are sharing some of it with you.

Fishing BC is a sector in Destination BC’s Co-op Program. This film was developed using funding from the Co-operative Marketing Partnerships Program and produced in partnership with the Rick Hansen Foundation.

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

The Alliance of Beverage Licensees (ABLE BC) is the voice of British Columbia’s bars, pubs, and private liquor stores.

A non-profit organization funded by membership dues, their mission is to help your liquor business succeed.

On behalf of their 1,000 members, they work with all levels of government to create business-friendly policies and enhance private sector opportunities.

Learn more about ABLE BC 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. 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.

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.

We encourage everyone to join the TIABC Board and staff in completing the training and certification.

Freeride Days delivers with mountain summer fun for everyone. Free for spectators and lots of activities, tunes, tasty treats and beverages to enjoy. Freeride Days brings together some of the best riders from around the world to the Okanagan.

Dates: August 4th - August 6th

Place: Big White Slopestyle Centre

Visit HERE to learn more, to register - and to volunteer!

Uncork together at our reimagined wine festival, featuring Savour the Sun Wine Dinners, wine tasting in the Village, special features and live music with Andrew Allen and guests.

The weekend will bring some of the Okanagan’s most celebrated winemakers up to the popular mountain destination. Savour rare finds and terroir-expressive wines, paired with delicious food from the culinary teams at Silver Star Mountain Resort.

Dates: August 12th - 14th

To learn more and to purchase tickets click HERE.

Yes Shef returns! At this long-table dinner, guests will be served five unique courses with wine pairings.

Each course is co-created by a notable Chef and their student apprentice. Women of the wine world will select a pairing to compliment the flavour profiles. This inspirational fundraiser features the best Chefs, Sommeliers and Student Apprentices in BC. Proceeds benefit a scholarship fund for the future generation of Shefs.

Your ticket includes a welcome cocktail, five wine pairings and five unique courses created and served by the phenomenal female talent in Vancouver’s food and beverage community. For group seating requests, please email yesshef@worthassociation.com

Date: August 15th, 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Place: Chambar Restaurant, 568 Beatty Street, Vancouver

Purchase tickets here.

Sign up for BCHF’s Victoria golf tournament! Players partake in bites and beverages at many holes, there are tee prizes and putting contests, and lunch and dinner are included.

This event is a great way to connect with old friends or to expand your network, as it brings together many members of the local hospitality community. It’s been two long years: let’s get our industry together to swing together!

Date: August 23rd

Time: Noon to 9:00 pm

Location: Olympic View Golf Course, Victoria

Click HERE to register.

The 2022 Canada 55+ Games are coming to Kamloops August 23–26.

The Canada 55+ Games is a large multi-sport event with over 2500 participants competing in 26 different events.

The Games focus on the social, physical and psychological well being of the participants through participation in a multi-day event. The Games are held over four days and participants must qualify through their provincial 55+ games competitions.

The Games offer opportunities for enrichment, fulfillment and improved quality of life provided by participation in a broad variety of athletic, recreational and social events. Although the very nature of the Games is to declare a winner or winners, the aspect of winning is secondary to the social side related to reuniting with friends from Games past.

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-noon

Virtual Event: Add to calendar HERE

The MTB Tourism Symposium is a gathering of creative minds with a vested interest in advancing the future of mountain bike tourism and recreation in British Columbia.

Date: September 14th-16th

Location: Silver Star Resort

Click here to learn more and to register.

The Meaningful Travel Summit is an event connecting industry professionals with local change-makers in places around North America. The goal is to learn from one another, infuse more sustainability into our businesses with the knowledge we’ve gained and roll up our sleeves to volunteer in and with the local community.

The North America Meaningful Travel Summit provides:

Date: September 28th-30th, Victoria

Click here to learn more and to register.

Save the Date: November 2nd (pm) and November 3rd

Location: Sandman Hotel, Castlegar

More details will follow in the coming months.

The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association (CCCTA) will be holding their Annual General Meeting in person.

Date: November 3rd and 4th

Location: 100 Mile House

In order to better prepare for the AGM, they are asking for input through a short survey (less than 5 minutes) to give some important suggestions on how to improve this AGM and make it worth your while to attend! Take the survey HERE.

Visit here for more information on the CCCTA AGM.

Three world-class universities on the west coast of Canada have joined forces to offer a virtual fair unlike any other. Meet students and alumni from the top 3 universities in Western Canada - SFU, UBC & UVic.

Dates: November 2nd & 3rd, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Location: Virtual

Showcase your organization and promote your opportunities to students and alumni from a wide range of faculties and programs in one single event.This is the recruitment fair that you don't want to miss!

Visit here for more information and to register.

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

Save the DATE! IMPACT Sustainable Travel & Tourism, January 23-25 and Day of IMPACT January 22, 2023.

Registration opens in early September, and we have confirmed fees to assist you with budgeting. The biggest change you will see is the option of including Sunday ‘s Day of IMPACT (January 22nd) into your overall registration.

The theme for the event is: O P E N

When we come together with open hearts and open minds, anything is possible. We see connections everywhere. We welcome all ideas, experiences, and ways of life—because this is how we learn, grow, and change.

Feel free to send us your ideas on what information would be valuable for TIABC to share through our Bulletin going forward. Drop us a line at info@tiabc.ca.

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.