C-19 BULLETIN - September 16, 2020

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TIABC Advocacy Report

The BC Tourism Industry Conference in early March was rated as one of the best ever. Close to 500 delegates left the conference in Victoria on a high, having celebrated another record year (2019) for our industry while eagerly anticipating what this new decade would bring in the weeks, months and years ahead.
 
Within days, the conference became a distant memory as government directives to help manage the COVID-19 pandemic forced most tourism and hospitality businesses to close.
 
Almost immediately, TIABC shifted its focus from policy work, strategic planning, and post-conference activities, to crisis mode working non-stop to ensure governments at all levels not only understood the impacts of COVID-19 on the visitor economy but responded with meaningful measures to support BC’s first and hardest hit sector.
 
More than six months later, TIABC, alongside our valued industry and sector partners, is still working strategically, diligently and with resolve to address issues and provide direction to decision-makers on how to help our members and stakeholders (businesses, sectors, DMOs, organizations, communities) both survive and recover from this crisis.
 
As the Voice of Tourism for British Columbia’s 19,300 businesses and 300,000+ employees, we present this Advocacy Report on our efforts to date with the caveat that our job is far from over. As long as it takes for the visitor economy to pull through, TIABC’s number one priority will be to continue to advocate on your behalf. 
Walt Judas
CEO
Vivek Sharma
Chair
View the full report on our website at: www.tiabc.ca
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Industry Responds to Recent
Public Health Order

TIABC and the Metro Vancouver Tourism and Hospitality Response and Recovery Task Force have written to Premier Horgan, Dr. Henry and various ministers regarding the recent Public Health Order on pubs, bars and restaurants.

The letter outlines the concerns expressed by our respective members regarding the Province’s recent public health order that compels pubs, bars and restaurants to stop serving alcohol after 10 p.m. and in the case of liquor primaries, close their premises by 11 p.m. until further notice.

Download the letter here.

All our COVID-19 correspondence, submissions, and government responses can be viewed on our website at: www.tiabc.ca/advocacy-policy-development/covid-19-updates
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State of Emergency Extended

The BC government has formally extended the provincial state of emergency, allowing Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, to continue to use extraordinary powers under the Emergency Program Act to support the Province's COVID-19 pandemic response.

The state of emergency is extended through the end of the day on September 29th to allow government to continue to take the necessary actions to keep British Columbians safe and manage immediate concerns, such as recent outbreaks in some areas of the province.

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BCHA Update

As we face the current and potential future impacts of COVID-19, we continue to work with all levels of government, along with our key partners and industry stakeholders, to support the needs of our industry.

Since the initial impact of the virus was felt, we've been regularly collecting data and tracking progress to quantify this changing landscape. In order for us to better understand the ramifications the pandemic has had and action relevant change, we must continue to update this information.

Below is a 5 minute survey that we ask for your participation in as we conduct this vital pulse check. Your responses will help us continue to advocate for the issues that matter most to you and allow us to spotlight the severe impact COVID-19 has had on our industry, actioning real change.


Please submit your response by Wednesday, September 23rd at 12pm PT

As always, we appreciate your continued participation in these surveys.

Furthermore, we are waiting for the provincial government to announce their support for business recovery tomorrow. We delivered a submission recovery plan to the government in August, and also submitted our official recommendations on property tax and BC Hydro relief. Once the announcement is made, we will send through further details and our position.

Ingrid Jarrett
President & CEO, BC Hotel Association 
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TIAC Update

Tomorrow night, Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) President & CEO, Charlotte Bell, will be a part of a panel on CBC’s Power and Politics to discuss the need for an extension of the CEWS program in the upcoming budget. The segment can be viewed on CBC News Channel or through CBC Gem.

TIABC's national partner TIAC and the Hotel Association of Canada are leading a new industry coalition, which will officially launch its efforts tomorrow morning with a press conference at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier. The Coalition of the Hardest Hit Businesses (CHHB) is made up of 50+ organizations in tourism, arts, and cultural industries, and aims to have the CEWS program extended into 2021 for businesses with ongoing losses of over 50%. More details will be available tomorrow via TIAC’s social channels. 

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Additional Indigenous Tourism Businesses
Receive Needed Financial Assistance

Leveraging the support announced earlier this summer by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is continuing to provide COVID-19 development stimulus funds to Indigenous tourism businesses across Canada.

ITAC received over 800 applications from Indigenous tourism businesses from across Canada during 2 intakes of the development stimulus fund. These funds are being used to help Indigenous entrepreneurs and their businesses stay afloat during the shutdown of the global tourism industry as a result of COVID-19, while continuing to support domestic visitors.

ITAC hopes the stimulus founding program will help businesses to prepare for future tourism seasons by allowing them to focus on market awareness, training qualified staff and designing sustainable business growth strategies.

Learn more at:
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Leger Weekly Survey

COVID-19 – Social Distancing
  • We listed many of the more commonly practiced public health measures introduced to slow the spread of the virus and asked whether people have relaxed these measures over the past month. Overall, 57% of respondents said they had relaxed the practice of at least one of the measures. The incidence of a measure not being as rigorously practiced are highest in MB/SK (66%) and QC (65%).
  • Measures most frequently identified as being relaxed/less practiced are:
  • Proper social distancing between others (35% of mentions)
  • Always wearing a protective face covering when going out in public (33%)
  • Gathering in large groups (31%) – 40% among 18 to 34 year old respondents
  • Always wearing a face mask while inside public spaces such as a grocery store (30%)
  • Frequent handwashing (30%)
  • In the US, 61% say they have relaxed at least one of the public health measures listed.
  • With above noted, 77% of Canadians feel the threat and necessity of health protection measures is real and not being exaggerated by government and health officials as it relates to the COVID-19 virus.
  • 23% of Canadians say the protective measures and threat are being exaggerated by government and health officials. Four in ten (41%) feel this way in the US.
 
COVID-19 Tracking
  • A number of indicators have taken an alarming turn this week, perhaps reflecting the rising infection rates in several provinces and perhaps back to school kicking into high gear.
  • 80% of Canadians say they expect a 2nd wave of the virus to hit Canada and 34% say they think we are already in the 2nd wave.
  • 65% of Canadians feel there will be another lockdown similar to March/April, up 5 points from last week.
  • The number of Canadians who self-assess their mental health as either excellent or very good declined for the 2nd straight week to 39%.
  • Fear of contracting the virus experienced its largest increase since we began tracking, up 7 points to 63%. Fear of contracting the virus increased in all provinces/regions across Canada—the highest in QC (up 8 points from last week) and the lowest in Atlantic Canada (up 4 points).
  • In the US, 60% say they fear contracting the virus.
  • The proportion of Canadians who say the worst is still to come is at 45% (up 5 points from the end of August). 26% say the worst of the crisis is behind us.
  • Satisfaction with governments’ handling of the pandemic remained stable this week: Provinces =75%; Federal government= 72% and Municipal government =70%.
  • Regionally; QC, ON and SK are at the top in the mid-to-high 70s; BC is next (74%) followed by MB and AB in the low 60s. Most provinces improved their overall satisfaction numbers slightly this week.

Download the full report here.
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Sport Fishing Institute
Summer Run Raffle - September 21st

If you haven't checked out the Sport Fishing Institute's Summer Run Raffle please get your tickets before the midnight deadline on September 21st and the final draw the next day at 12:00 on September 22nd.

Odds are excellent for a chance at the Grand Prize, a Kingfisher boat, Yamaha power and Scotty downrigger package valued at $55,000.00 and for trips to Langara Fishing Adventures, Vancouver Island Lodge and Nootka Marine Adventures in 2021. All for just $20.00/ticket.

Funds will be used to help secure a better future for BC's fishery and the resources it depends upon. Supporting the activities of the SFI will assist Canadians in accessing and enjoying public fisheries in BC. sportfishingbc.rafflenexus.com
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Comox Valley Farm Cycle Tour

The 10th annual Comox Valley Farm Cycle Tour is going to look very different for 2020.

Throughout this week September 14 – 20 Discover Comox Valley will be sharing samples of “self guided” rides on Facebook for you and your “family bubble” to participate in safely while enjoying socially distanced visits to the Comox Valley farmland areas and its farms, growers and producers which are open to visitors.

Learn more at:
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RRU

Shifting Operations: Perspectives from Three Hoteliers
Session Details:
  • Thursday September 24th 1:30pm PST
  • Free access is here
  • 45 minutes in duration

Topics that will be covered:
  • Responsibilities and challenges for a small-scale operation in a rural area (Stephen Senini, Owner/Operator, Secret Cove Tree House, Sunshine Coast)
  • Shifting service culture while maintaining value (Trina White, General Manager, The Parkside Hotel and Spa, Victoria)
  • Implementing a mask policy for staff and guests (Kimberley Hughes, General Manager, Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa)

This panel discussion is organized by Royal Roads University’s Resource Forum for Tourism and Hospitality, staffed by a volunteer team of academic and industry professionals and students. If you would like to join the forum for free to access resources and online discussions, please contact Geoffrey Bird at Geoff.2bird@royalroads.ca for instructions.
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Manage your Online Presence: Tripadvisor and HelloBC.com
September 30th and January 13th
Walk through the process step-by-step to claim, create, and optimize your business listings on Tripadvisor and HelloBC.com. 

Get Your Local Business on Google Search and Maps
October 7th and January 20th
Explore Google My Business and connect with customers through Google Search and Maps. Get hands-on help creating or updating your business profile in this Grow with Google Webinar. 

Get the Most Out of Your Website
October 14the and January 27th
Whether you’ve had a website for 10 years or you’re just getting started, discover how to create a search-friendly website that drives user action and supports your goals. 
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October 2nd

October 7th
(call for Board Nominations open until September 11th)

CCCTA/TOTA AGM & Conference
October 26th-27th

September 21st-25th

November 17th-18th
TIABC's C-19 Bulletin is 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.