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Remember the days when many of us kept a (hard copy) diary with a record of things we did, as well as feelings on relationships, experiences, future plans, or other intimate thoughts we needed to contemplate, express, process, or reflect on somewhere down the road? It seems like ages ago that the process of literally putting pen to paper to capture an account of each day’s events, accomplishments, and emotions was the last thing people did before calling it a night.

Conversely, I’m not sure if a traditional diary is even necessary anymore given that so many of our activities and views are recorded digitally to be forever captured in the cloud. What’s more, as a society we’ve become much more deliberate about sharing opinions, ideas, goals, strategies, and even personal information such as photos and stories through multiple social media channels for our friends, family, colleagues, and the rest of the world to see.

Frankly, it’s hard to keep up with the volume of information available to us 24/7. And perhaps it’s even more difficult to discern what’s relevant and applicable to our day-to-day lives versus info that might be considered useless and time-sucking.

From a professional perspective, I find that a digital record of dialogue with colleagues, appointments, reports, presentations, events, and other information is extremely useful, not only to measure progress on a project or assignment, but also to occasionally reference for knowledge, lessons learned, and even accountability to help inform future priorities and actions needed to address issues or meet objectives.

Recently, while working on the Tourism Emergency Response Team Action Plan, I dug through some files and correspondence related to wildfires in BC over the last five years and how we as a tourism sector addressed the many challenges our industry faced as a consequence.

It was encouraging to see where we started vis-a-vis our role in the provincial emergency response system, and where we line up today as experts working side-by-side with first responders, emergency operations coordinators, provincial, civic, and regional officials, First Nations, and other stakeholders in helping to manage myriad crises including wildfires.

As I’ve mentioned before, during wildfires, flooding, and other emergencies, tourism business operators, destination management organizations (DMOs), sector associations, and ministry officials have provided everything from rescuing stranded motorists and sourcing food and accommodation, to helping guests evacuate an impacted area, and communicating with visitors about places to avoid or precautions to take while travelling through British Columbia.

Importantly, as an industry we’ve taken the hard lessons learned in previous years and applied them to new strategies and tactics to help us collectively do a better job planning for, mitigating, responding to, and recovering from various crises.

Aside from regularly evaluating and deploying tactics that worked in previous years, several tourism leaders continue to work in real time alongside a multitude of professional colleagues representing various ministries, local governments, Indigenous communities, DMOs, emergency response personnel, sector associations, and others in managing situations around the province that impact our industry.

Fortunately, all of the actions taken during various crises will be dutifully recorded and ideally shared among many tourism stakeholders for the purpose of solving problems and being better prepared for inevitable future emergencies that could seriously derail BC’s visitor economy.

I’ve never kept a personal diary but am relieved that I have extensive records of the work TIABC has done before, during, and after various crises. That said, some of my thoughts and ideas are contained in various hard-copy notebooks that I’ve kept in my office for reference.

I suppose one day I should convert my hand-written notes to digital to ensure my experiences and recommendations are readily available to those that are interested so that no one will be forced to try to interpret my indiscernible chicken-scratch somewhere down the road.

Walt judas

CEO, TIABC

The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services released its report on the Budget 2023 consultation yesterday, with 216 recommendations for the next provincial budget, including several related to the tourism sector.

To address the range of areas of consultation, Committee members emphasized the need for improved data collection and accountability to ensure better decision making that is rooted in reconciliation, equity, and inclusion.

The Committee heard 306 presentations (that included TIABC and many of its sector partners) and received 372 written, audio, and video submissions during the consultation. The Committee also received 861 responses to its survey.

Read the province's media release HERE.

Read the meeting transcripts and documents HERE. (Note: Written submissions will be available soon.)

TIABC CEO Walt Judas was a guest of Radio NL Kamloops, Paul James podcast on August 11th and provided the audience with an update on how the tourism sector is positioned this season, given the favourable conditions being experienced in most of the province.

Listen to the podcast HERE.

Canada's tourism employment saw positive gains in July, growing by 5.5%, according to a new snapshot report by Tourism HR Canada. The tourism sector added 106,300 jobs, for a total of 2,034,400 workers, according to the report. This marks the first time the first time since February 2020 that employment has topped 2 million, which it had consistently done pre-pandemic, throughout 2018 and 2019.

The report stated that the sector’s total labour force grew to 2,108,900, and the tourism unemployment rate for July (3.5%) improved slightly over the previous month (3.7%) with employment increasing across for all tourism industries compared to the previous month:

• Employment increased by 11.6% for recreation and entertainment, to 606,500 workers

• Employment level in travel services and food and beverage services increased by 5.0% and 4.1%, respectively, and

• Employment in accommodations (1.1%) and Transportation (1.2%) grew slightly but remained relatively flat.

However, looking at the same month pre-pandemic, this month’s overall tourism labour force accounted for 223,800 fewer workers than it did in July 2019. And, when compared to July 2019, tourism employment continues to lag, with overall employment data this month revealing a decline of -8.2%) from the pre-pandemic baseline.

In summary, the report says the July Labour Force Survey (LFS) data reveals “an eagerly anticipated positive uptick in tourism sector labour force and employment levels, with many signs of increased consumer demand for tourism products and services, job vacancies remain a significant challenge for the sector, which should anticipate the need for more workers during the summer high season.”

Leaders from across the country recently gathered in Vancouver to participate in The Art of Leadership for Women conference. A follow-up survey showed that 98% of participants said they learned actionable insights to help them become better leaders.

Presentations throughout the day included:

Their conference summary is intended to help you implement the insights into your world of work. It highlights the most pertinent concepts presented by thought leaders and will help you model new behaviour, increase team performance, and positively impact your organization's culture.

We invite you to read the conference summary and share this with your team members who could not attend the conference, so they can benefit from some of the impactful takeaways and apply them in their own leadership growth.

TIABC wishes to thank The Art of Leadership for Women for their ongoing commitment to leadership development, and for their partnership.

New Service between Penticton and Vancouver

Earlier this week, WestJet announced the airline's newest regional route with the addition of service between Penticton and Vancouver beginning in February of 2023. The route will strengthen critical intra-provincial connectivity for British Columbians and local businesses and is scheduled to operate six-times weekly on WestJet Link.

The new service will stimulate business and leisure travel between the cities with flights each day except Saturday and makes WestJet the only airline serving both Calgary and Vancouver direct from Penticton.

In the official news release, TIABC CEO Walt Judas is quoted as saying: "We are thrilled that WestJet is providing new opportunities for British Columbians to explore our beautiful province with the addition of this new exciting route. The addition of YVR to YYF is a further enhancement to both leisure and business travel across our province and brings an exciting avenue for tourists from WestJet's global network to connect to the beautiful Okanagan region from Vancouver."

Read the official announcement HERE.

Congratulations are in order to the Northern BC Tourism Association, who officially received the Biosphere Certified Destination status on July 20th from the Responsible Tourism Institute.

Northern BC has received this status, one of only 35 globally and five in Canada, demonstrating a commitment to growing and building the tourism sector in the region in alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The certification is based on established standards in areas that include climate change, environment, social, economy and culture. The certification allows a region to showcase how they take sustainability seriously, but also ensures they are accountable to make necessary and ongoing improvements.

Northern BC Tourism Association, following the strategic directions laid out in the 10-year Destination Development Strategy, recognized the need to get serious about sustainability in all aspects of the destination stewardship work across the region.

Biosphere destinations are committed to continuous improvement guided by the 17 Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations and include combating climate change, protecting the environment, supporting economic growth and respecting culture and social values.

Read the official announcement HERE.

Do you oversee hiring at your organization? Talent MATCH wants to hear from you! Take their brief survey and you’ll be entered to win one of three $50 gift cards or a donation to the charity of your choice.

Since early 2021, go2HR has partnered with ACE-WIL, the Association for Co-operative Education & Work-Integrated Learning BC/Yukon, as well as the BC Museums Association and BC Alliance for Arts + Culture to bring you the Talent MATCH program (and more recently, Talent 4 Non-Profits). These programs provide support to museums, arts, tourism, culture, hospitality, and non-profit organizations to learn more about hiring students from post-secondary schools, information on student wage subsidies, and other resources.

To be entered into the draw, the five-minute survey should be filled out by August 26th.

CMH Heli-Skiing and Summer Adventures has joined forces with the PGA TOUR Canada’s GolfBC Championship to sponsor Fan Admissions for all four days of the prestigious tournament taking place September 1st – 4th at Gallagher’s Canyon in Kelowna. This means that there will not be a cost to golf fans to watch some of the top players in the world compete for the Fortinet Cup. Admission is FREE!

GolfBC Championship Tournament Director Hugh Vassos commented; “We are absolutely thrilled to have CMH Heli-Skiing and Summer Adventures join us in presenting one of the top golf tournaments on the PGA TOUR Canada. To cover the cost of admission is a tremendous commitment to our event and to those who enjoy major outdoor sporting events in the Okanagan.”

Find more details on the GolfBC Championship 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 HERE. Concord is managing the search on behalf of the CCCTMA.

With temperatures in most parts of the province expected to stay high in the days ahead, residents and businesses are reminded to monitor Environment and Climate Change Canada and the recently released Extreme Heat Preparedness Guide for regular updates and preparedness.

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.

Destination BC has updated the Emergency Preparedness webpage and is available with key messaging guidance and resources to help BC's tourism industry prepare for emergencies such as wildfires.

Big White Ski Resort’s largest summer event to date, the Freeride Days Mountain Bike Festival, took place last weekend and was a huge success.

Around 3,000 people showed up to take in the action, as well as enjoy the music, food and drinks available at the base of the course in Happy Valley.

Michael J. Ballingall, Sr. Vice President, Big White Ski Resort Ltd., and TIABC Director stated "Over the last five years, this event has contributed hundreds of thousand dollars in economic tourism revenue for the central Okanagan. Athletes travelling from all over the world, accommodation, food and beverage, sponsorships and spectator spending have all contributed to this world-class event."

Read the official news release including a list of winners and photos of the event HERE.

A pair of South Okanagan women were recognized this week when Wine Growers British Columbia handed out its annual awards to acknowledge outstanding achievements and contributions to the BC wine industry.

Penticton’s Marjorie King captured the WGBC’s Industry Recognition Award, while Oliver’s Josie Tyabji took home the organization’s Award of Distinction.

King was honoured for being a pioneer of BC's VQA wine evaluation and Canadian based wine award competitions. Tyabji is a partner at Gneiss Wines at Oliver’s District Wine Village who has never wavered in her support of the BC wine industry.

TIABC wishes to congratulate both of these well-deserving recipients!

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.

Pacific Destination Services (PDS) is a strategic, award-winning event production and top destination management company in Western Canada. They design impactful experiences fueled by their clients’ brand and vision.

Operating for more than 20 years, they are a collaborative team of dedicated professionals driven by innovation and passion to reach beyond the ordinary. Their designers, creative directors, producers and operations managers create transformational events to captivate attendees and inspire connections. Each of their corporate experiences firmly plants a little piece of Western Canada in everyone’s hearts.

Learn more about Pacific Destination Services 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.

The Hotel Association of Canada and CBRE Hotels will be hosting the first presentation of CBRE's 2023 outlook, covering major markets from coast to coast to coast.

The webinar will also include an update on 2022 year-to-date performance, an updated long-term forecast, and a look at the economic and industry trends impacting the sector over the next year.

Date: Monday, September 12th at 11:00 am (PST)

Click HERE to register.

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from August 11th to September 4th they are open until 8pm. In addition to the extended hours, a 25% discount will apply to tickets starting at 5pm - with live music on Saturdays.

Learn more about the Malahat Skywalk Summer Weekends program HERE.

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.

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

Camping Appreciation Weekend will soon be here and it's a time when many Canadian campgrounds coast-to-coast say thank you to campers for their patronage.

Dates: September 9th - 11th

The weekend is organized and sponsored by the Canadian Camping and RV Council and supported by the BC Lodging and Campgrounds Association to:

There are many BC campgrounds participating - advance reservations are recommended.

Visit HERE to view the map of participating campsites.

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.

Are you interested in becoming a health and safety champion at your workplace? Save the date for an upcoming Certificate of Recognition (COR) Internal Auditor Training program coming this Fall. These interactive sessions will help you to learn what it takes to be a COR Employer.

Date: Thursday, October 13th - Virtual Event

Click HERE to learn more and to register.

Registration is now open for the 2022 Western Canadian Lodging Conference.

Dates: October 24th - 25th, 2022.

Location: Hyatt Regency, Vancouver

Join your fellow colleagues for interactive panel discussions and keynotes designed to educate and inspire. The Hyatt Regency Vancouver has been designated as the official host venue for the 2022 Western Canadian Lodging Conference. Book your room before October 11th, 2022 and receive a special rate of $279.00 for a King room.

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.

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.