C-19 BULLETIN - March 26, 2021
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Deadlines Approaching for Federal Business Support Programs
RRRF Deadline is March 31st
Administered through your local Community Futures, the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) provides loans of up to $60,000 at zero-interest if repaid by December 31, 2022. Up to $20,000 is also eligible for forgiveness.
These funds can be used for non-deferrable expenses, property taxes, utilities, interest payments, office supplies, insurance payments, and other fixed operating costs. Keep in mind that if you have already received a loan through CEBA, then you are not eligible for the RRRF.
CEBA Deadline Extended to June 30th
The deadline for Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) is being extended from March 31 to June 30, 2021. This deadline extension applies to any new applications for CEBA loans of $60,000 or to new applications from businesses that have already received the $40,000 loan and intend to apply for the additional $20,000.
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WestJet Adds BC Flights
WestJet has announced the addition of 11 new routes across western Canada almost all of which include destinations in British Columbia including routes to and from Abbotsford, Comox, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Penticton, Prince George and Victoria. Details are outlined below. These new routes will commence in late June and are purposefully selected to drive western Canadian connectivity.
On the heels of Wednesday’s announcement restoring service to Atlantic Canada, WestJet is now now turning their attention to stimulating air travel to some of the hardest hit tourism communities whose small businesses, local airports and tourism employees have been adversely affected by pandemic. It is crucial that these communities have access to domestic connectivity to drive their economic recovery and while it may be some time before international travel returns, Canadians should have the opportunity to explore their own country this summer.
WestJet knows that travel can be done safely and with the rollout of vaccines and the beautiful summer months allowing us to spend more time outdoors, it is with cautious optimism that WestJet is making this announcement.
WestJet is leading the way back so that the 1 in 10 Canadians who work in travel and associated roles can look forward to a summer without the worry that has been riding on them for the past 12 months. According to Destination Canada, If Canadians shift two-thirds of their planned spend on international leisure travel towards domestic tourism, it will make up for the estimated $19 billion shortfall currently facing our visitor economy, help sustain 150,000 jobs and accelerate recovery by one year.
WestJet has been a strong supporter of British Columbia since their first flight to Vancouver; in 2019 alone their investments sustained 14,000 associated jobs and $2.9 Billion in economic output. WestJet remains committed to working together with you to safely connect the province to the rest of Canada and restore one of the backbones of your economy.
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Earlier this month, Destination Canada released research detailing the impact of COVID-19 on Canada’s tourism economy, one year into the global pandemic.
The report outlines the unprecedented losses 2020 saw for the sector, and calls on Canadians to play a key role in bolstering the tourism economy, creating jobs and supporting local businesses by spending their tourism dollars in Canada.
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BC Tourism and Hospitality Conference
Supports the BCHF
In lieu of speakers’ gifts at this year’s BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference, a donation was made to the BC Hospitality Foundation to support hospitality employees in BC facing financial crisis due to a health condition. Thank you to everyone who made this contribution possible!
Photo from left to right: BCHA president & CEO, Ingrid Jarrett; BCHF Board Member Debbie Morris; TIABC CEO Walt Judas.
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Resources for Recruiting from Diverse Labour Pools
Are you having a challenging time finding reliable and dedicated employees? Think outside the box by hiring from diverse labour pools. Diverse labour pools provide you access to a wealth of skilled and talented people: The immigrant workforce; Canadian-born visible minorities; persons with disabilities; and Indigenous Peoples.
For example:
Working Together Program
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ABLE BC Crisis Communications Webinar
Recording Now Available
There is a right way and a wrong way to communicate a COVID-19 outbreak. Learn the 7 steps to effective crisis communications.
On March 24th, ABLE BC's Executive Director Jeff Guignard led a webinar on crisis communications for BC's hospitality industry.
COVID-19 outbreaks are a fact of life for the hospitality industry. What you do and how you communicate with the public and staff in the immediate aftermath has a significant impact on your business. There is a right way and a wrong way to communicate.
The webinar will show you what to do from a communications perspective - with your staff and customers - if something happens.
Leave with a checklist of the 7 steps to crisis communications and downloadable templates to support you in case of an outbreak. Jeff will also share tips on how to speak with the media during a crisis and how ABLE BC can support you.
ABLE BC members: please contact danielle@ablebc.ca for a complimentary copy of the webinar recording, slides, and templates.
Non-members: purchase the webinar and related materials in the online store.
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Tourism Digital Academy
Self-Guided Version
Building off the success of the Tourism Digital Academy, Destination BC is pleased to offer a self-guided version of the program to those who prefer the flexibility of working at their own pace. The self-guided option offers participants maximum flexibility as they complete a condensed version of the Tourism Digital Academy on their own time. This program is focused on providing practical, actionable guidance. From setting goals, to building a better understanding of SEO, website usability, content, email marketing, analytics and more – participants will leave the program with the confidence and knowledge to put their plans into action.
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Indigenous Tourism Launches
Working with Indigenous Communities Guide
Many non-Indigenous tourism and media organizations seek improved and more respectful partnerships with Indigenous communities. Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) has compiled information to help non-Indigenous organizations understand and improve relationships with the First Peoples of British Columbia. Note that each Indigenous Nation and Community differ in their approach to partnership. This document was developed to the best of ITBC’s knowledge to respond to common themes and questions they have received from their partners.
Learn more, and download the guide here.
Note: This guide is not a substitute for proper communication with Indigenous Nations and Communities.
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Share Your Love for BC Contest
Ends Today
Destination BC has launched the Share Your Love for BC Contest, an engagement and advocacy initiative for British Columbia residents to re-ignite their pride of place, share their love for their province, and keep the magic of BC top of mind.
From the ability to access awe inspiring nature at our doorstep, to experiencing diverse cultures, our award-winning culinary scene, and the sense of calm that comes from the sound of a crashing coastal wave, there are countless reasons – big and small – why British Columbians feel grateful to call this province home. From now until March 26th, BC residents (ages 19+) are invited to share their own reasons why they love BC or their community by submitting a photo and brief story on ShareYourLoveforBC.com, for their chance to win one of ten prizes.
Ten residents will each win $500 in gift cards or vouchers to spend at up to three local businesses, within their own community, to further support Destination BC’s Stay Local, Support Local initiative. Winners will be selected by random draw at the end of the contest period and announced on social media. Throughout the contest, Destination BC will also share some of the submissions on its social media channels.
To enter the contest, or for more information including contest rules & regulations, please visit ShareYourLoveforBC.com.
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IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism
Last Week to Register - Wednesday March 31st
8:30 am (PST) - 10:00 am (PST)
Time is running out to register for IMPACT, presented virtually in 2021
Please join us for an incredibly impactful 1.5 hours as we take a deeper look at the tourism recovery opportunities ahead:
- Marsha Walden, President and CEO, Destination Canada
- Keith Henry, President and CEO, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and IMPACT Co-Chair
- Katie Briscoe, President, MMGY Global
Moderated by Paul Nursey, president and CEO, Destination Greater Victoria and IMPACT co-founder.
Welcome by IMPACT Co-Chair Marion Joppe, Travel & Tourism, Research Associate and Professor, University of Guelph.
Our dream to create a legacy for regenerative tourism in Canada is unchanged. Our path to achieving that legacy is currently “under construction.” Join us as we discuss strategies for recovery, review the latest research on traveller sentiment and address our new reality of higher expectations, for and of visitors.
Delegate Takeaways:
- Attendees understand the potential paths to recovery and the key milestones of which to be aware.
- Attendees have a better understanding of the key markets and types of travellers who will be the first to feel confident travelling again.
- New expectations of traveler social responsibility are understood.
- Setting clear expectations for behaviour of guests and the industry (key for building trust with communities and residents.)
- Discussion around how can Canada continue to position itself globally as a sustainable destination focused on a tourism industry that enables Canadian culture to thrive and place-based regenerative economies to emerge through travel and hospitality done exceptionally well.
Registration is free but all participants must register here by March 29, 2021.
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Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism
Gives Back to Community With Travel Vouchers
Nelson and Kootenay Lake Tourism (NKLT) has launched a unique travel voucher initiative with the slogan, Our People: Giving Back to Tourism. With the tourism sector hit hard due to travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, NKLT moved to put people first.
“Like the rest of the world during this pandemic, the tourism economy is seeing an unprecedented downturn,” says executive director Dianna Ducs. “These vouchers have been designed to help the local economy, those in tourism who have been working diligently through the pandemic, and those with reduced employment opportunities.”
NKLT allocated $50,000 to 150 local tourism businesses across the region who are 2021 members. Beginning the first week of February, businesses have been gifting these vouchers to anyone they want in the tourism industry as a way to give back and thank people for being awesome.
Learn more at:
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The Ultimate Wedding Contest
Win a Luxury Elopement Wedding Package
to the Incredible BC Backcountry!
SKY Helicopters, Young Hip & Married and Cedar and Sand Photography bring you the ultimate west coast helicopter elopement wedding contest! One lucky couple will take flight to the incredible BC backcountry for an intimate elopement wedding – uniquely yours! This fabulous prize package includes luxury helicopter transportation, personalized wedding elopement services and world class photo and video documentation.
Learn more at:
Video:
Media Release:
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Moments of Levity
As an industry that continues to face enormous challenges during COVID-19, every once in a while it's important to share a laugh, a good story, a beautiful image, or an interesting anecdote to provide moments of levity during this most difficult time. Feel free to share your photos, etc. with TIABC to be published in our C-19 Bulletin each week.
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FREE Culinary Tourism Webinars!
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada in partnership with TIABC is happy to offer free online Culinary Tourism webinars to tourism operators and organizations
Themed webinars will assist small and medium tourism operators and partners develop culinary tourism strategies to maintain their businesses and attract both domestic international visitors once Canada is ready to welcome them again.
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1 date remaining!
Exceeding Expectations Webinar
Wednesday, March 31st at 8:00am PT (9:00am MT)
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Global Meetings Industry Day 2021
There’s a light at the end of the tunnel and as an industry, it’s time to take a future forward look at where we go from here.
Join MPI BC, FVEPA, ILEA and PCMA West for Global Meetings Industry Day where we’ll be broadcasting a very timely conversation on how we can proactively plan for and contribute to the restart of the industry in BC.
Thursday April 8th 9am to 10:30am (PT)
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Conflict De-Escalation for Frontline Staff
and Customer Service Professionals
Retail workers, receptionists, hospital unit clerks, customer service professionals, and others that interact with the public on a frequent basis often experience conflict in various forms from verbal attacks to violent, physical altercations. Their safety and security are a top priority, yet few are equipped with the proper tools and techniques to safely de-fuse these incidents. Mandatory mask requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic have heightened the importance of this topic, unfortunately, as some customers refuse to comply with these policies.
Course ID: MSCD 002
April 8th 10:30am to noon (online via Zoom)
$150 plus GST
To learn more and to register:
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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. |
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