C-19 BULLETIN - July 24, 2020

___________________________________________________________________
Chair's Message
 
I am both humbled and honoured to accept the position of TIABC’s Chair and work alongside a passionate and dedicated group of industry leaders.
 
Over the course of my 25+ years in tourism and hospitality, I have had the good fortune to live in seven countries.  But now as a first generation landed immigrant, my family and I are extremely grateful to call Canada home, particularly British Columbia. Even during these troubling times, there is no place that I would rather be.
 
At the same time, being part of BC’s visitor economy this year is easily the biggest challenge of my career, and no doubt, the same holds true for you. In my new role, I am deeply committed to working with our entire industry to take us to the other side of this pandemic and help rebuild our devastated sector.
 
As you are likely aware, TIABC and its 40+ sector association partners recently submitted a $680 million recovery and stimulus proposal to the Province to address the primary issue of liquidity. We desperately need to help ensure that our tourism infrastructure (i.e. supply) survives so that people can return to their jobs, businesses can rebuild, and the industry continues to provide benefits to all communities around the province.
 
With the public release of our submission, I spent considerable time this week speaking with multiple media outlets telling the story of the impacts of COVID-19 on tourism and hospitality, and importantly, explaining why our sector deserves government assistance. But I am only one voice of many.
 
We as operators and owners of tourism businesses across BC all have influence.  Therefore, it is incumbent on each of us to speak up and stand united to ensure our collective and individual voices are heard by decision-makers.
 
My request to you is to take the time to become familiar with our industry’s submission (if you haven’t already), then call, write or meet with your local MLA to reinforce the need for a recovery package that helps our industry survive.
 
In the meantime, feel free to connect with me directly. I would appreciate hearing from you on issues of concern, and ways that TIABC can assist you in our advocacy efforts. vsharma@fairmonthotsprings.com
 
One final word…on behalf of the board, staff and members of TIABC, I offer my sincere thanks to outgoing Board Chair, Alroy Chan, who provided solid leadership and guidance during his time at the helm and will be missed. We wish Alroy great success in his future endeavours.

Vivek Sharma
Chair, TIABC

To view the Recovery Stimulus Package for British Columbia’s Tourism & Hospitality Sector and media release/backgrounder, visit:

_________________________________________________________________
TIABC Board Update

As noted in our July 17th C-19 Bulletin, Alroy Chan stepped down as TIABC Chair after leaving Rocky Mountaineer. With Vivek Sharma stepping in to the chair's role, the position of vice-chair became vacant. Subsequently, a board process to nominate and affirm a new vice-chair was immediately implemented.

We are pleased to announce that JJ Belanger is now vice-chair of TIABC. JJ is the General Manager of Crystal Cove Resort in Tofino. He is also the past Chair of Tourism Tofino, and the past Chair of go2HR. JJ's current role as president of the BC Lodging & Campgrounds Association ends in October.

More information on TIABC's board of directors can be found on our website: www.tiabc.ca/about-tiabc/board-of-directors
_________________________________________________________________
New Public Health Order Issued
for Bars and Restaurants

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has just released a revised Public Health Order for all licensed premises in British Columbia.

All patrons in bars, restaurants, and nightclubs are required to be seated, alcohol self-service will not be available, and dancing as well as singing (including Karaoke) are prohibited.

Please read the new Provincial Health Officer Public Order  here .
Online Tool Speeds up Temporary Layoff Extension Application Process

Employers and workers who need to extend temporary layoffs due to COVID-19 can more easily apply for a variance using the Employment Standards Branch’s new online application.

In June, government extended the time period for temporary layoffs related to COVID-19 to a maximum of 24 weeks, expiring on Aug. 30th. This is expanded from 16 weeks to give employers and workers more flexibility.

The new online application simplifies and streamlines the process for employers and workers to jointly apply for an extension beyond August 30th by eliminating the need for hardcopy documents and signatures, while ensuring the integrity of the branch’s decision-making process.

Employers are encouraged to apply as soon as they have received worker support.
An application deadline of August 25th has been set to ensure that all applications will be processed by the expiry date.

There are now two steps. Employers must:
  • Survey their workforce to obtain more than 50% support from workers before applying. Workers will receive information about the variance, including what their rights are and can provide their support using a new online response tool;
  • Once worker support is documented, employers complete the online form and submit the document in a new portal directly to the Employment Standards Branch.
  • There are new supportive templates and tools to assist employers and workers in taking these steps.

Under BC’s Employment Standards Act, temporary layoffs related to COVID-19 can last up to 24 weeks, or until August 30th, before the layoff becomes permanent. Government recommends that employers submit their variance applications early to avoid the potential of permanent staff layoffs and compensation for length of service to eligible workers upon the expiry of the COVID-19 emergency layoff period.

The Branch is also seeking businesses that are willing to test pilot the application process and offer feedback on ways to improve the system. If you are interested in participating, please let TIABC know and we will connect you directly.

_________________________________________________________________
TOTA Signs on to FoT Coalition

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) has become a founding signatory with the Future of Tourism Coalition. As world tourism begins recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the coalition shares a global mission: to place destination needs at the center of tourism’s new future.

“TOTA is committed to transforming recent challenges into positive change as we navigate the way toward long-term recovery and resilience,” said Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President and CEO. “We are truly honoured to be part of this international coalition. Healthy, inclusive communities and environmental stewardship are the keys to realizing our collective success.”

Comprised of six non-governmental organizations, the Future of Tourism Coalition has collaboratively developed and launched a set of  Guiding Principles . These outline a clear moral and business direction intended to help create a healthier tourism industry while protecting the places and people on which it depends.

“We consider Thompson Okanagan a global frontrunner in sustainable tourism with an exceptional record in creating synergies between local and Indigenous communities and businesses that work in a sustainable way,” said Albert Salman, president of Green Destinations and one of the Coalition’s founders. “We are proud to have Thompson Okanagan on board and look forward to working together with all the great people in the region.”
_________________________________________________________________
TOTA
Friday Fast Facts

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) once again brings you Friday Fast Facts providing an ongoing snapshot of how the tourism industry is being impacted as a result of COVID-19 and an overview of how things are changing as we begin moving through these first stages of recovery. 

Now more than ever it is important to provide timely data that will assist in making informed decisions, understanding how industry and consumers are responding, both in the Thompson Okanagan and the province as a whole, and that will assist tourism business operators in making adjustments to how they do business.

Watch for Friday Fast Fact bi-weekly and for more information check out  Research Spotlight  on TOTA News Centre.
_________________________________________________________________
Tourism Industry Call with
MLA Shirley Bond and MLA Mike Morris

Tourism Prince George is hosting a tourism industry COVID-19 call with MLA Shirley Bond and MLA Mike Morris, on  Monday, July 27th @ 10 am PT .

This is an opportunity for tourism businesses in the region to share their comments, thoughts, and questions directly with MLAs Bond and Morris.

For more details and the Zoom call link, visit:
_________________________________________________________________
BC Liberal Caucus Calls for Tourism Support

BC Liberals are calling for immediate tourism industry support as government inaction is pushing local tourism operators like Vancouver-based Landsea Tours & Adventures to the brink of collapse as they try to keep their doors open after the pandemic.
_________________________________________________________________
Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre
is Now Open

Tourism Vancouver is excited to announce the re-opening of their Visitor Centre at 200 Burrard Street to help future visitors plan their next trip to Vancouver.

The Tourism Vancouver team is also eager to once again be the local experts their visitors rely on to make the most of their time in Metro Vancouver and British Columbia. The team is brushing up on changes to local businesses and adapting to the shift in how visitors travel during this time. The new hours of operation are: Wednesday to Sunday 9:00am – 3:30pm; closed Monday and Tuesday.

Within the Visitor Centre there have also been some changes. Much like their member businesses Tourism Vancouver has introduced enhanced safety protocols. Some of these protocols include:

  • Creating an opportunity for one-way traffic with directional signage in the Visitor Centre
  • Encouraging mask usage and plexi-dividers between guests and members of the Tourism Vancouver team when a two metre distance is not possible
  • Hand sanitizer at entrance, exit, and each counselling station
  • Increased cleaning of high contact surfaces
  • Encouraging credit card payment to minimize contact
  • Having Wi-Fi available inside and outside the Visitor Centre, allowing guests to use their own devices to do research and purchase tickets

For the full COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan, click  here .
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Small Business BC Webinars

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the old way of doing business has been disrupted. Customers are interacting with businesses in new ways and many business owners have struggled to adapt their sales and customer service methods to keep up.

Learn about a variety of digital tools that small businesses should consider to live in the new normal. Reach consumers at home, offer pre-order/curbside pickup options, create a safe and contactless payment experience in-store, and protect your business from fraud risks resulting from this commerce evolution.

Wednesday, July 29 @10:00am (PT)
___________________________________________________
Moving Van Webinars

Moving in a Livable Region (MLR) is hosting a new series of community dialogues entitled  Moving Van: Building our Region for a New Normal .  

Monday July 27 @ 3:30 pm (PT)
Is density a bad word after COVID-19? Are we better off in sprawling communities instead? Does COVID-19 shift how we plan our cities? What does this mean for housing prices and cost of living? Is there still hope for reducing our GHG emissions?  These questions look at how the pandemic will affect our community planning in the future and will allow us to separate myths from facts when it comes to safety risks.

Friday July 31 @3:30 pm (PT)
Why was our public transit infrastructure under threat of financial collapse because of COVID-19? Are we funding our priorities sustainably? Has COVID-19 highlighted system vulnerabilities that organizations have been pointing out for years?  This event will explore how we fund our public transit system, where the dollars go, and what other funding methods exist out there that we could learn from.
_________________________________________________________________
****NOTE: TIABC's C-19 Bulletin is now published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

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.