Message from President & CEO
See the following message from BCHA President and CEO as she outlines the top three issues and news impacting accommodators this week. Click here or below to watch.

Today's update includes:

  • General Updates
  • Changes to Regional Restrictions | Updated Public Health Orders
  • Omicron Variant Prompts Added Testing and Travel Restrictions
  • Updates on Road Closures
  • Action Urgently Needed Regarding Bill C-2
  • BC Flooding | Fuel Restriction Remains in Place, Support Relief Measures
  • Reminder | Unvaccinated Travellers Now Barred from Planes and Trains
  • BCRTS October 2021 Report
  • REMINDER | Towneplace Suites by Marriott Selling Wheelchair Pool Lift
  • Last Chance! Receive Reimbursement for Summer/Fall Student Work Placements
  • TartanBond Shares 5 Tips for Companies Preparing to Employ a Student
  • B.C. Increased Employment Incentive – Applications close December 31, 202
  • Reminder | Access FREE Digital Marketing Courses Through DBC and Small Business BC
  • ICYMI | Upskill Team with Free Learning Resources for Tourism Stakeholders
  • Mark Your Calendars
  • Save the Date! | BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference, March 9-11, 2022
  • Info Session on Propel: A new wage subsidy
  • Comment Card | Industry Thoughts & Feedback
  • The Hon. Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism, Speaks at TIAC 2021 Tourism Congress
  • The Hon. Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, & Sport Reflects on Flooding Crisis with Aim to Support Sector
  • News
  • BCHA Inn the News
  • Hot Off the Press | Local and World News
  • Industry Trends and News
  • Tipping Our Hat to Industry!
  • Hotel Belmont Vancouver Welcomed to Accor's MGallery Hotel Collection
  • Last Laugh | A Little Something to Make Members Smile
Changes to Regional Restrictions | Updated Public Health Orders
Changes to health restrictions in both the Northern and Interior Health Regions, were announced earlier this week by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry in the wake of shifting COVID-19 transmission and case rates.
NORTHERN HEALTH
The restrictions in Northern Health have been officially published and have been extended to the entire Northern Health region, now expiring on January 31, 2022.

Please read the updated regional order and provide-wide orders listed above.
 
The updated restrictions for Northern Health include:
 
  • Indoor Events (Seating Required)
  • Defined as a gathering of more than 10 participants in an inside place for the purposes of entertainment, musical, business (lectures, presentation), weddings (ceremony and reception), funerals (ceremony and receptions), ticket parties, inside sports events
  • Up to 50% seated operating capacity allowed
  • Proof of vaccination required for all participants 12 and over
  • Dance floors must be closed except for performances. Patrons must not dance.
  • COVID-19 Safety Plan required
 
  • Indoor Events (Seating Not Required)
  • Defined as a gathering of more than 10 participants in an inside place for the purposes of business (conference, convention, trade fair), choral, gambling, recreational classes, adult sports, exercise or fitness activities or classes, programs for children and youth
  • Up to 100% standing operating capacity allowed
  • Proof of vaccination required for all participants 12 and over
  • Dance floors must be closed except for performances. Patrons must not dance.
  • COVID-19 Safety Plan required
  • For more information on outdoors events and flow through events, please click here.
 
  • Restaurants, Bars, Nightclubs
  • Proof of vaccine required for all dine-in patrons
  • Proof of vaccination not required if take-out only
  • Liquor manufacturing facilities with tasting rooms may stay open
  • If a full meal service is provided, premises may stay open, but liquor service must not be served between 10:00 pm and 9:00 am
  • Dance floors must be closed
  • Nightclubs must be closed
 
Download this comparison between NH regional and provincial COVID-19 orders for more information.
FRASER HEALTH
The gatherings and events restrictions for the Fraser East health region will remain in place.

INTERIOR HEALTH
Region-specific restrictions in the Interior Health region have been repealed.
Interior Health is now subject to the same rules as the rest of the province, including: province-wide mask mandate, Food and Liquor Serving Premises public order, and Gatherings and Events public order.
Omicron Variant Prompts Added Testing and Travel Restrictions
ADDITIONAL TESTING REQUIREMENTS AT CANADIAN AIRPORTS

Concerns about the Omicron variant have prompted new testing requirements for air travellers entering Canada from a country other than the United States.

  • In the coming days, all fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air from departure points other than the United States will be subject to arrival testing. Fully vaccinated travellers will be required to quarantine while they await the results of their arrival test.
  • Unvaccinated travellers, with right of entry to Canada, will continue to be tested on arrival and day 8 and quarantine for 14 days. However, those arriving by air will now be required to stay in a designated quarantine facility or other suitable location while they await the result of their on arrival test.

ADDITIONAL COUNTRIES ADDED TO TRAVEL BAN:

The Government of Canada is expanding the list of countries with entry prohibitions originally announced on November 26, 2021, to include Egypt, Nigeria and Malawi. Foreign nationals who have been in any of the following countries within the previous 14 days are no longer permitted entry into Canada:
  • Botswana
  • Egypt;
  • Eswatini;
  • Lesotho;
  • Malawi;
  • Mozambique;
  • Namibia;
  • Nigeria;
  • South Africa; and
  • Zimbabwe.
Updates on Road Closures
DriveBC is THE most current source of highway conditions. Travelers can also follow @DriveBC on Twitter. Visit EmergencyInfoBC for emergency alerts and evacuation orders. Monitor regional emergency info as well.

As of the time of distribution of this newsletter, the following road conditions are in place. The BCHA is working with our industry partners to develop solutions aimed to support the recovery of our critical transportation network.

  • Vancouver Island
  • Highway 1 – Malahat
  • OPEN – two lanes of traffic restored
  • Width limited, up to 2.6m lanes and subject to intermittent single lane alternating traffic outside peak travel hours
  • Drivers are reminded to drive to conditions, use caution and expect delays
  • South Coast
  • Highway 1 – Popkum to Hope
  • OPEN
  • Highway 1, just east of Highway 9 to Hope, is re-opened. Drivers should expect slower speed limits, delays and traffic pattern changes through the Bridal Falls area. Please avoid non-essential travel while clean up and repairs continue.
  • Highway 1 – Abbotsford – Chilliwack
  • OPEN to regular traffic. Commercial vehicles over 63,500kg licensed GVW are prohibited.
  • Expect slow traffic with reduced speed limits. No. 3 Rd interchange not accessible.
  • Highway 1 – Fraser Canyon – Hope to Spences Bridge
  • Hope to Boothroyd
  • OPEN – for local travel from Hope as far as Boothroyd (through Yale, Spuzzum and Boston Bar), with some Single Lane Alternating
  • Expect delays
  • Could close at any time
  • Boothroyd to Lytton – CLOSED
  • Lytton to Spences Bridge – CLOSED
  • Highway 3 – Hope to Princeton and east
  • Hope to Princeton – OPEN for essential travel only
  • Princeton east – CLOSED with detour for smaller vehicles. Larger vehicles are asked to detour by way of Highway 5A.
  • Highway 5 – Coquihalla
  • CLOSED – Hope to Merritt
  • Highway 7
  • OPEN – for essential travel only from Glasgow Ave at Murray Street in Mission to 1 km east of Hope
  • Highway 8
  • CLOSED from Merritt to Spences Bridge
  • Highway 11
  • CLOSED – Local detours. Flooding between Hazelwood Avenue and Townshipline Road for 2.9 km
  • OPEN – from Highway 1 south to the USA border
  • Highway 99 – Pemberton to Lillooet
  • CLOSED – New slide. Being Assessed
  • Central Coast and Interior
  • Highway 20 – Bella Coola to Anahim Lake
  • Travel Advisory. Closures may result due to flooding and rockslides. Motorists advised to avoid non-essential travel, exercise caution and expect closures on short notice.
Action Urgently Needed Regarding Bill C-2
Last week, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, introduced legislation to enact our Tourism and Hospitality Relief Program (THRP).

Talks have been underway between the government and opposition parties to expedite Bill C-2, which was introduced last week in the Commons and would provide more than $7 billion in additional pandemic benefits.

The NDP and the Conservatives insist they will not fast-track the legislation through the Commons and have called on the Liberals to swiftly reform parliamentary committees so that MPs can study the bill.

A motion was passed in the House of Commons earlier today that would see the Commons finance committee reconstituted to consider Bill C-2 no later than Monday, Dec. 6. The same vote also brought back the other committees of the House of Commons.
YOUR ACTION IS REQUIRED:

There is a risk that this Bill may get held up by opposition parties in Committee. If that happens, it will not pass before Christmas and there will be a disruption in subsidy support for several months. And although the support is retroactive, it will be challenging for members to manage the disruption in cash flow. This is a serious matter that requires your attention.
 
Please send an email, a tweet, or better yet, call your opposition MP (Bloque, Conservative or NDP) and impress the importance of passing this Bill before Christmas.
SAMPLE SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGING | PLEASE SHARE:

  • Thank you @JustinTrudeau, @cafreeland, and @R_Boissonnault and all Members of Parliament for standing behind Canada’s tourism, hotel, and event businesses in their ridings and in the House. #HardestHit
  • The Coalition of #HardestHit Businesses applauds the government for their commitment to protecting tourism, hotels, and events businesses and the 2 million+ workers our sectors employ.
  • Thank you @JustinTrudeau and @cafreeland for hearing the concerns of Canada’s #HardestHit businesses and keeping your promise to take meaningful action to protect our sectors. We look forward to working with @R_Boissonnault to continue to create the conditions for a full sector recovery.
BC Flooding | Fuel Restriction Remains in Place, Support Relief Measures
While threatening weather has begun to subside, there are a number of important orders that remain in place.


Provincial State of Emergency, Fuel Order Extended
With coastal and southwestern BC facing heavy rainfall while recovering from severe flooding, the Province has extended the temporary measure to prioritize fuel for essential vehicles and the provincial state of emergency until the end of day on December 14, 2021.


Ways to Help
Businesses can help by sharing information and resources with staff, guests, and neighbours. You can also volunteer with Emergency Support Services (ESS).

If you are able and wish to make a donation to support impacted communities, both the Federal and BC Provincial governments have indicated they will match every dollar donated to the Canadian Red Cross’ British Columbia Floods & Extreme Weather Appeal. This means that every $1 donated will become $3 to support those affected by the floods.
Reminder | Unvaccinated Travellers Now Barred from Planes and Trains
Unvaccinated travellers over the age of 12 won't be able to board a plane or passenger train in Canada beginning today, and a negative COVID-19 test will no longer serve as a substitute for most people.

The policy came into effect on Oct. 30, but the federal government allowed a short transition period for unvaccinated travellers who could board as long as they provided a negative molecular COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before their trip.

The stringent new requirement comes into effect as Canada reacts to the emergence of the new, Omicron variant of COVID-19.
BCRTS October 2021 Report
The BCRTS has released its latest report for the month of October 2021. Please see below for highlight from the report:
Highlights:
  • Weekly visitation data:  Domestic overnight visitor volume for the month of October, 2021 has been relatively consistent over the five weeks of the month, on average just below 2019 numbers, while dipping at the end of the month to -7% compared to the same week in 2019.
  • Hotel Performance:  Looking at real occupancy for the month of October 2021 compared to October 2019, BC's average was -15% (57% occupancy in Oct 2021 vs 67.5% occupancy in Oct 2021).  The YTD Oct 2021 RevPAR is still quite behind 2019 YTD, at -45% on average in BC; -60% (Whis), -58% (Van), -20% (VI), -15% (KR), -17% (TO), -14% (NBC), and -6% (CCC).
  • Tourism Resiliency Program: The challenges of labour shortages continued to be the main challenge, and support for digital marketing the area most requested for adaptation.
REMINDER | Towneplace Suites by Marriott Selling Wheelchair Pool Lift
TownePlace Suites by Marriott West Kelowna is selling a brand new wheelchair pool lift: 

Details
  • Brand new and never-before-used wheelchair pool lift!
  • Purchaser to pick up items
  • Reason for selling: does not fit seller's space
  • Originally priced at $5,200 | Asking $4,000 

If interested please contact Lynette Peter at:
778.754.4888 x 1003

Last Chance! Receive Reimbursement for Summer/Fall Student Work Placements
Tourism HR Canada’s Propel program offers registered Canadian businesses, startups and nonprofits related to the tourism and hospitality sector a wage subsidy of up to 75 per cent of a qualifying student’s wages, up to a maximum of $7,500.
Now is your last chance to receive reimbursement for your past summer and fall students before the fiscal year ends, and to receive funding before the winter semester begins.
The position being covered must be a work-integrated learning opportunity for a post-secondary student but can be accessed by businesses that cover all facets of the visitor economy.
Criteria for wage subsidy:
  • Full- or part-time work-integrated learning placement
  • A minimum of 20 hours a week; 4 weeks
  • Not funded by other federal grants
  • Students cannot be replacing a displaced worker or filling a role left vacant due to a labour dispute
Learn more and sign up here: www.propelcareers.ca or attend the December 9 information session at 1 p.m. ET.
TartanBond Shares 5 Tips for Companies
Preparing to Employ a Student
Advance preparation can ensure that a work placement is a win-win for the student and the host company. These five tips can help maximize everybody’s experience:

1. Plan a List of Tasks Ahead of Time
  • Provide your student with real tasks, not just busy work
2. Communicate Your Objectives and Expectations on Day One
  • Provide them with a job description and seek feedback
  • Base your appraisal around willingness to learn, not perfect execution
3. Provide Your Student with Valuable Exposure
  • Expose students to multiple leaders in various roles
4. Designate Them an Enthusiastic Mentor
  • The student’s experience will be enriched if they are mentored by an individual who makes an honest effort to interact in a meaningful way
5. Invite Your Student to Share
  • Harness your student’s enthusiasm and fresh ideas
  • Encourage them to ask questions on an ongoing basis
B.C. Increased Employment Incentive – Applications close December 31, 2021
Please be advised that applications for the B.C. Increased Employment Incentive must be received by December 31, 2021.
 
The B.C. Increased Employment Incentive is a one-time refundable tax credit for employers which encouraged the creation of new jobs for B.C. workers or increases in payroll for existing low- or middle-income employees in the last quarter ending December 31, 2020.
 
The tax credit is calculated at 15% of the amount that the employer’s eligible remuneration for the last quarter ending December 31, 2020 exceeds the employer’s eligible remuneration for the quarter ending September 30, 2020.
 
For more information, including eligibility requirements and access to the application, see below:
Reminder | Get Involved with WORTH - Call for Volunteers, Mentors, Board of Directors
Following another successful year of empowering females across the tourism and hospitality sector, WORTH Association is looking to ramp up in 2022 and it’ll be all hands on deck. They are delivering a number of information sessions.

The organization is looking for:

  • A Secretary, Director of Events & Education and Director of Advocacy to join their esteemed Board of Directors.
  • Event volunteers
  • Content creators
  • Mentors

As a volunteer-run non-profit, WORTH continues to seek out sponsors and partners to help meet objectives and they want to meet you!

Register for either of the following webinars to learn more about opportunities to get involved. WORTH is inclusive and invites any self-identifying woman or gender diverse person to connect. They welcome all levels of experience from students to senior leaders. Black, Indigenous and Women of Colour are especially encouraged to attend. Pick either date that suits your schedule: Wednesday, December 1 at Noon or Friday, December 3 at 10am.
Reminder | Access FREE Digital Marketing Courses Through DBC and Small Business BC
Eager to learn how to harness the power of social media to spread awareness and generate leads for your business? Or, are you struggling to create a standout, easily navigable website?
Destination BC has partnered with Small Business BC (SBBC) to provide tourism stakeholders across the province with free access to webinars and online education to support COVID-19 recovery and mitigate ongoing impacts. These free sessions are offered online, by phone, email, webinar or in person (if available).
CLICK HERE to access the webinar code, and see what topics are coming up next.

Examples of upcoming sessions include:
Mark Your Calendars
Save the Date! | BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference, March 9-11, 2022

Join us for the 2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference as we 'Kickstart the Comeback' and gather in-person to learn, tackle issues, forge new relationships, and work toward resiliency in the face of one of the hardest years in our sector's history.
 

Stay tuned for further updates coming soon!
Info Session on Propel: A new wage subsidy
 
Need help bringing on new staff? Hiring students is a great way to build your team for short-term needs and to build a talent pipeline for the long term! And now you can access a wage subsidy of up to $7,500 through Propel, a brand new Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)!
 
Propel is offered through Tourism HR Canada, a Canadian organization with a mandate aimed at building a world-leading tourism workforce. Propel is specifically designed to support the tourism and hospitality sector.
 
Learn more about how your organization can take advantage of this federally funded wage subsidy program and how to bring on students from hospitality and tourism management, culinary arts, and other programs from across the province at this info session on Monday, November 15th at 2:00pm (Pacific).
 
Brought to you by the Talent MATCH Program, a collaboration between go2HR, the BC Museums Association, the BC Alliance for Arts + Culture, and the Association for Co-operative Education & Work Integrated Learning, this info session will feature Rachel George and Joe Baker from Propel, who will explain how the program works and how to apply.
 
This info session is free, but you must register for it here.
 
Want more information on hiring students? Visit the Talent MATCH webpage for more details or contact Project Manager Debby Reis at TalentMatch@acewilbc.ca.
Comment Card
The Hon. Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism, Speaks at TIAC 2021 Tourism Congress | Pictured with BCHA Executive Director, Vivek Sharma, and TIABC CEO, Walt Judas
The Hon. Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, & Sport Reflects on Flooding Crisis with Aim to Support Sector
Industry News & Quick Links
BCHA INN THE NEWS
Chief Operating Officer, Tanya Stroinig of Prestige Hotels & Resorts in Kelowna and Jessica Dolan of the Ramada Penticton are new board directors on the British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA) board. Bryan Pilbeam of Delta by Marriott Hotels, Kamloops is the BCHA Chair. Ingrid Jarrett is the President and CEO. Read more.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Leisure travel is back to near pre-Covid levels. This Thanksgiving marked the busiest week for air travel since the start of the pandemic. But major US airlines had been counting on a return of their most lucrative revenue sources: business and international passengers. The emergence of the Omicron variant could put those passengers on hold, according to experts. Read more

As regions and governments around the world assess the potential impact of the fast-emerging omicron variant, and therefore what actions to take, GBTA continues to encourage a clear, consistent and thoughtful approach, especially in terms of keeping country borders open to travelers. Read more

A new report from ForwardKeys reveals which destinations were the most visited since 1st November by travellers from the eight southern African countries currently designated as most at risk due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 – namely Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The data supports calls from many people objecting to immediate travel restrictions imposed on travel to and from these African countries. Read more
INDUSTRY TRENDS AND NEWS

Upselling is like a multi-functional power tool for hoteliers: It allows you to work towards several goals at once. STAAH Partner Oaky shares with us the benefits of automated upselling. Read more
The recent surge in independent hotels looking for with wider distribution has led to new and tweaked business models and a rise in conversion brands. Read more
Tipping Our Hat to Industry
Have news to share? Email kelsey@bcha.com
Hotel Belmont Vancouver Welcomed to Accor's MGallery Hotel Collection

World leading hospitality group Accor announced that as of, December 1st, 2021, Hotel Belmont Vancouver will join the Group’s global portfolio of hotels and resorts as the first Canadian property in the MGallery Hotel Collection. Located at the epicenter of Vancouver’s entertainment district, the heritage property is a cultural and artistic nexus for locals and visitors alike, making Hotel Belmont Vancouver a perfect fit for MGallery’s storied collection of individual, boutique-style hotels.

Hotel Belmont Vancouver - MGallery Hotel Collection marks the brand’s first foray into the Canadian market, joining a global network of more than 100 unique addresses, now in more than 30 countries around the world. Created in 2008, MGallery shares a new vision of accommodation: the luxury of experiencing new emotions and sensations. Today this ambition is reflected in a collection of distinct hotels chosen for their memorable character, intended for those fueled by passion, curiosity and interest in the world around them.

Congratulations on this exciting new chapter and partnership!

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