A Message from BCHA President & CEO Ingrid Jarrett |
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Good Afternoon Hotel and Accommodation Industry;
Often different industries are stand alone sectors such a mining, fishing, and forestry. While their contribution is immense, it differs greatly from the hospitality and tourism sector, where the interconnectedness of our industry means we both depend on and benefit from one another. Without somewhere to safely rest and renew overnight, the entire eco-system of tourism and hospitality is not whole.
There is an inherent responsibility and desire to work to develop partnerships, experiences and proudly share the local stories of history, geography, local flavours, and profile what others contribute to the travel experience. From transportation and accommodation, to dining and entertainment, the travel experience starts when someone leaves their home and ends upon their return. Across these industries, we are symbiotic.
This is why this time of uncertainty and crisis is so alarming, so stressful and so filled with anxiety and uncertainty. We care deeply about our neighbours, our partners, and our industry. We also are completely committed to the joy that travel brings to our communities and to individuals.
Let’s all work over the next month to stop this virus in its tracks, to reach out to our partners and offer support if needed, to hold the precious ecosystem of hospitality and tourism close so we can all recover together.
Recovery, however, requires a plan. One clear message we are sending is that we need a plan – there needs to be an understanding of the benchmarks that will allow travel to resume – for a scaled reopening. With lead times for booking business, and time and investment to ramp up, hire, train, purchase inventory, and reopen, any specifics on the staged approach that can be planned and communicated is required.
I am pleased that we have a seat at the table discussing the current situation and acknowledge the open frank dialogue we are having with Dr. Bonnie Henry and the Ministry. A working group has also been formed on the communications plan needed to support growing consumer sentiment and ensuring our industry rebounds and recovers when the time is right. Finally, the provincial budget will also be announced next week, so we will be keenly watching the outcomes and for the needs of our industry.
TIABC and BCHA will co-host a webinar on April 27th to further explain the latest as it relates to reopening and the provincial budget, I encourage you to join Walt and myself for this important update.
Stay Safe,
Ingrid Jarrett
President and CEO
British Columbia Hotel Association
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Today's update includes:
- Federal and provincial advocacy update
- Upcoming Webinar: BCHA &TIABC Tourism & Hospitality Industry Update
- Tell Us Your Story - Deadline Extended
- Large Operator Survey
- Tourism & Hospitality Conference Survey
- Rocky Mountaineer Update: Operations in June
- BCHF #HospitalityHustle
- Statistics Canada: 2021 Census is Coming
- In the News
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For any questions please reach out to our team.
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FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL ADVOCACY |
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This week, BCHA was present at several important sessions:
- Tourism Roundtable: Tourism Sector officials met with Dr. Bonnie Henry, Minister Melanie Mark and deputy ministers within the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture on Monday.
- Topics of discussion included:
- Vaccine protection timelines in the general population
- Gathering sizes for summer and fall
- Domestic and International Travel
- Continued restrictions through April at least
- The Coalition of BC Tourism & Hospitality Businesses
- Large Tourism & Hospitality Operators
Federal and Provincial budgets are due next week and we will expecting that our advocacy voices have been heard and actioned. We are grateful for the individual support provided by our sector in elevating the concerns and the need.
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Upcoming Webinar: BCHA & TIABC Tourism & Hospitality Industry Update |
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BCHA President & CEO, Ingrid Jarrett and TIABC CEO, Walt Judas will provide an update on the state of the tourism & hospitality industry.
The webinar will be 45 minutes in length with a 15 minute open forum for any questions. Please submit any questions you have here. Proudly Sponsored by Integral Services Group!
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Tell Us Your Story
Deadline Extended
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A growing coalition of tourism and hospitality businesses and sectors from around the province is adding its voice to a BC version of the “Hardest Hit” campaign to compel federal and provincial governments to work with our sector on a restart plan that includes the lifting of travel restrictions for immunized people and for those that have tested negative for the COVID-19 virus.
As part of our advocacy efforts, we’re aiming to collect information in the form of stories from businesses like yours to inform government on the extent of the impact that travel restrictions have had on the visitor economy since the start of the pandemic.
We encourage you to write your story using the format (template) below to a maximum of two pages. Be as candid as you feel comfortable. By telling your story, you give us permission to share the information with government. We may also call on you to tell your story through social and/or traditional media channels, as well as via industry communiques.
Background: Business name; location/s in BC; date established; ownership structure; # of full and/or part-time employees.
Primary Customers: Where your customers are from; demographics; who your booking partners are; what primary marketing channels you use.
Revenue Base: State pre and post-COVID revenues (actual or range & % drop); how much longer you can afford to remain in operation; support programs you’ve applied for and either received or been rejected (state reasons for rejection).
Tourism Supply Chain: List other tourism businesses or other sectors that you work with and how your business supports these enterprises.
Government Decisions: State how federal and/or provincial government orders, directives and measures have affected your business; provide recommendations on what government can do differently or better to lessen the impact on your business.
Community Contribution: Illustrate why your business is a key part of your community and how travel restrictions have impacted you, your employees, your business in general, as well as the community you call home.
Personal Implications: Illustrate the ways the pandemic has affected you personally, professionally, mentally, physically, emotionally or spiritually.
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The BC Hotel Association, the Tourism Industry Association of BC, and Indigenous Tourism BC have been advocating for the needs of larger BC tourism and hospitality operators. As part of that advocacy, we have been meeting with various levels of government to discuss relief and assistance measures. As a result of those discussions, we have been asked to provide additional industry level data, specific to the large operators, about your collective situation and needs.
The purpose of collecting this data is to aggregate the data for us to use in our conversations with various levels of government about the types of relief and assistance packages required for the industry and for large operators. No individual company data, nor individual responses to any of the questions will be shared with government officials or other entities. This information will be treated as confidential and only used at the aggregate level.
There are several questions that require more detailed data on BC assets, financial metrics, and employee demographics. We would recommend that you have your financial data for 2019 and 2020 available, and your employee demographics data if you collect that type of information. We have provided a preview of the full list of questions as an attachment in order for you to prepare to complete the online survey.
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Tourism & Hospitality Conference Survey |
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If you joined us for this year's conference, we would love to hear from you! Below is a post-event survey that we hope you’ll fill out with honest answers and comments. Plus, there is a chance to win an amazing prize!
Get the chance to share your story across BC! WestCoastTraveller.com and Black Press Media will work with the winner to create a story about their business or organization. The story will appear across Black Press Media's British Columbia network and on WestCoastTraveller.com – a total value of $10,000.
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Rocky Mountaineer Update: Operations in June |
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With each day that passes, and every vaccination administered, we are moving closer to tourism’s restart and recovery. However, in consideration of the continuing travel restrictions and uncertainty of when they will be lifted, Rocky Mountaineer is further delaying the start of our Canadian travel season until July 5, 2021. While we are disappointed for this delay, we remain optimistic about restarting operations in July. Our team is eagerly working to prepare our trains for operations and we all look forward to getting back to doing what we do best: hosting guests for an incredible experience on board our trains.
With the expectation that domestic travel will recover first, we have extended our exclusive offers for Canadian residents making new bookings for 2021. With the Canadian Resident Offer, Canadians can save up to $1,400 per couple on qualifying 2021 vacation packages of five days or more; or they can save $1,000 per couple on the shorter Classic Rail packages. This offer has just been extended to June 11, 2021. With the B.C. & Alberta Resident Offer, residents of British Columbia and Alberta who travel in 2021 will receive a complimentary voucher to travel again within the next five years. Residents of B.C and Alberta can take advantage of this offer until the end of the 2021 season. We hope these offers, and more to come, will encourage Canadians to consider Rocky Mountaineer and Western Canada for their 2021 travel plans.
We continue to prepare for our 2021 travel season and are implementing an enhanced program committed to health and safety across every part of our operations. We are committed to delivering world-class service with the health and safety of all who travel with us is our highest priority.
Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership as we prepare for the upcoming travel season and respond to what the future brings.
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We’re now on the “second leg” of this year’s #HospitalityHustle presented by Odlum Brown Limited. Participants are stepping up their fundraising efforts, and social media posts are climbing! If you haven’t already registered, please do so here. Join us as we get moving to promote our physical and mental wellbeing while showing support for BC’s hospitality industry.
The weather’s warming up, so this is a great time to bring your friends, family, and colleagues onboard. You can also create or join a fundraising team here – we’re well on our way to our goal of $5,000, but we need your help! We continue to award daily prizes, but you must register on Eventbrite to be eligible for the draws!
This year, we’re saving up a number of our grand prizes to be won during the online “Finish Line” dance party, co-sponsored by Ridge Vineyards and Vintage West Wine & Spirits, on Sunday, May 30th. Only registered participants who are tuned-in to this virtual event will be eligible to win, so make sure to mark your calendars and dust off your dancing shoes! We will be drawing winners LIVE during the event, so you must have registered on Eventbrite, and tune-in to hear your name to win! You won’t want to miss your chance on winning these amazing prizes:
- A magnum of wine from Ridge Vineyards
- YWCA Health + Fitness Centre downtown Vancouver location - 1 year membership with towel service - value $1,000
- Nk'Mip Cellars – 2 nights at the Spirit Ridge Resort and Spa in Osoyoos, lunch and wine tasting for 2 at Nk'Mip Estate Winery - value $750
- Wild Goose Vineyards - Lunch for up to 4, including bottle of wine at Smoke & Oak Bistro, winery tour, and 6 bottles of wine - value $500
- Qualifirst cookware set and chef’s knife - value $350
- 2 x all-access passes to the Pentastic Jazz Festival in Penticton, September 2021 - value $300
- Rumble Boxing Studio package including Rumble Retail Gear, 1 pr of Boxing Gloves, 1 x heavy bag class and $100 personal training gift certificate at Rumble Boxing Studio - value $285
- TIME Winery VIP tour, tasting, and lunch for 2 - value $250
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Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery - magnum of Reserve Meritage and premium tasting for 2 - value $150
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Statistics Canada: 2021 Census is Coming |
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The next Census of Population will take place in May 2021. For collective dwellings such as a hotel, motel campground, YMCA/YWCA, Ronald McDonald House, hostel or school residence, the census starts early.
The census provides a statistical portrait of Canada every five years. Information collected through the census will provide decision-makers with data needed to forecast funding requirements and plan for services such as schools, public transportation, hospitals, and residences for temporary accommodation.
Since the census is an essential source of information, it must be complete and accurate. It is therefore important that everyone complete and return their questionnaire.
Participating is easy and secure
Starting April 26th 2021, administrators of collective dwellings like yours across Canada will receive an invitation letter or email from Statistics Canada asking them to complete their online questionnaire. The letter contains instructions about how to complete the online questionnaire for your facility and the secure access code required to complete it. It is important that you keep this document.
Each administrator will be required to complete a short series of questions about their establishment. The census questionnaire will need to be completed via an online portal as soon as possible. The portal is easy to use and secure.
If you are not the administrator but you receive the letter or email at the end of April, please ensure that you pass it on to the person responsible for administration at your establishment.
Participating is mandatory and confidential
By law, all residents of Canada must be counted in the census, including those living in an establishment such as yours. All answers are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act and will be kept strictly confidential.
Statistics Canada would like to thank you in advance for completing the census in a timely and accurate manner. You will be receiving your census collective dwelling invitation letter soon.
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