C-19 BULLETIN - April 17, 2020
Federal Government Update

The Government announced further funding measures for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) having trouble accessing funding to previously announced government programs. Regional Development Agencies  (RDAs) and the  Community Futures Network   will receive $962M in government funds to assist small businesses. A guide for contacting your RDAs found in the  links here .

If you are a member in the arts, cultural or sports sectors, $500M is being provided through Heritage Canada for income and liquidity support for individuals and organizations. While details are yet to come, we support our partners in these sectors who are part of the tourism family.

For small businesses who do not have traditional relationships with financial institutions, such as smaller rural tourism operators, $962 million will be made available to regional development agencies and Community Futures Canada networks. More details on qualifying criteria and how to access these funds will be shared once it becomes available.

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Survey on Recovery Measures for Tourism

As of this morning, over  250  tourism businesses had responded to TIAC's survey, in collaboration with McKinsey & Company and Destination Canada, to assess recovery measures to help the tourism sector when the COVID-19 crisis subsides.

Each entry is captured and reported to government officials and decision- makers daily . Your continued participation and input are vital. Thank you to everyone who already participated.

Survey links:

The survey will be open until April 23, 5:00 pm ET .
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Cruise Sailings Cancelled

The Holland America Group (HA Group) has made the extremely difficult decision to cancel all 2020 Alaska cruise and cruise tour programs, as well as all land and sea journeys. This is due to the expanding travel restrictions, extended closures of ports, limited air travel, and “stay-at-home” orders in many countries around the world. 

For the Port of Vancouver, this means the cancellation of the following homeported HA Group vessels for the 2020 season:

  • Volendam
  • Westerdam
  • Noordam
  • Maasdam
  • Royal Princess
  • Grand Princess
  • Coral Princess
  • Pacific Princess
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The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC, The BC Wildlife Federation and the BC Fishing Tourism Association (formerly the BC Fishing Resorts and Outfitters Association) jointly sent a letter to Premier Horgan dated April 8th. The letter highlights the importance of maintaining access to boat launches in recreation sites, as well as provincial parks.

The letter outlines the vital food security role fishing plays for many BC residents. Getting out to your local fishing spot and enjoying the outdoors while adhering to social distancing has many health benefits and can be conducted with little to no risk. In addition, the groups feel that residents with self-contained campers and trailers should be permitted to access provincial parks and recreation sites to enjoy the outdoors safely.

Read the full letter here
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Hear from Christine Sorensen, President of the BC Nurses’ Union, as she discusses how businesses’ can play a part in supporting health care workers during this pandemic crisis.

Monday April 20 at 1:00PM PT

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 1:00PM PT

FridayApril 24 at 1:00PM PT

The webinars will be posted on the GVBOT website and YouTube channel following the broadcast. 
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While there is no shortage of prognostications about what cities and destinations should do once “things get back to normal,” the reality is that normal is probably years, not months, away.

Resonance Consultancy has identified three broad potential recovery scenarios for travel and tourism that are likely to occur. While we can’t predict the timing for each of these, or which scenario is most probable, understanding and evaluating the implications of all three potential roads to recovery is the best way to plan for an uncertain future.

Resonance’s President Chris Fair, EVP Richard Cutting-Miller and VP, Marketing Strategy, Scott Erickson will discuss each of these scenarios and the key management and marketing implications of each for the travel and tourism industry.

Tuesday April 21 8:00AM PT
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Small Business BC (SBBC) are hosting a series of specialized free webinars to tackle the challenges faced by COVID-19. These webinars are geared at equipping businesses in our province with the skills and knowledge they need to survive the new realities of our COVID economy.



For information on additional SBBC webinars:
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Our industry is full of innovative, caring and helpful people.
Share your stories with us and we will share them here in our daily bulletin.
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April is BC Wine Month

The team at the BC Wine Institute is working hard to help keep the community safe while supporting local winemakers, grapegrowers, and their families during this difficult time. Visit the Working Together page for information on all the ways to support BC's wine industry.

We're all in this together and buying local is more important than ever right now.

Show local winemakers and grapegrowers some love:

  • Free or discounted shipping for online purchases of BC wine
  • Virtual Tastings
  • Sign up for Wine Clubs
  • Curbside delivery from BC wine shops
  • Subscribe to winery digital newsletters
  • Share BC wine photos on social media and tag us @winebcdotcom
  • Write a BC winery review
  • Stay in touch with friends, family and colleagues with a BC Wine-down video call
  • Engage on social media with BC wineries and use #BCWine
  • Stay tuned for other virtual events

Click here  for a list of BC wineries by region and their exciting offers including fee shipping, discounts and charitable donations.

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7:00 pm Cheer for the Frontline Workers

It started in Vancouver as a cheer to recognize the region's nurses, doctors and others in the industry. The noisy display of appreciation is held at 7:00 pm, the time when many are switching shifts. Making noise, honking and banging pots and pans has grown within Vancouver to communities across BC and throughout Canada.

The 9:00 O'Clock Gun in Vancouver's Stanley Park is now fired two hours earlier, joining in what has become a daily ritual across the city.

Give a Hoot on Fridays
An industry wide sounding of ships’ whistles is becoming a weekly event. The BC Chamber of Shipping is asking their members with ships alongside and at anchor to sound their ship’s whistle on Fridays at 7:00 pm. The use of the ship’s whistle should be intermittent and over a period of one minute.

CBC News video:
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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.