C-19 BULLETIN - March 24, 2021
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Tourism, Hospitality Industry
Supports BC Immunization Efforts
A new partnership will employ more than 1,400 tourism and hospitality workers in mass vaccination clinics — creating hundreds of jobs for BC’s hard-hit tourism, hospitality and sport sectors.
Tourism and hospitality businesses have already begun to call and train hundreds of staff who have been laid off due to the pandemic. Workers from these industries will provide their expertise and logistical support as non-clinical staff at immunization clinics to help move people through the clinics efficiently and safely. Many of these workers bring additional language skills as well.
Community partners in this program include:
- Air Canada
- B.C. Pavilion Corporation
- Ceres Terminals Canada
- Canadian Red Cross
- Fraser Valley Bandits
- Pacific Destinations Services
- Pacific National Exhibition
- Tourism Whistler
- Vancouver Canucks
- Vancouver Giants
- Vancouver International Airport
- WestJet
Municipal venue owners are also helping operate some clinics with contributions of staff, furniture and supplies.
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CALL TO ACTION
Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses Campaign to Extend & Enhance CEWS & CERS
Yesterday, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced that the Government will table a budget on April 19th. This is a critical week to influence the upcoming Federal Budget and ensure that Government continues to provide much-needed support to our sector.
The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) have been critical lifelines for our sectors and employees throughout this pandemic. However, these programs are set to come to an end on June 5th. It is critical that we see an extension and expansion of both these programs in the upcoming Federal Budget to ensure we can make it to the other side of recovery.
This morning the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses (TIABC is a member) held a press conference calling on the Federal Government to continue to provide this much-needed support to our sector. This was accompanied by an open letter to Minister Freeland, which can be viewed here.
Press Release:
Press Conference:
This is a critical week to influence the Federal Budget and we are relying on the mass of our coalition networks to make as much noise as possible. In April’s budget, we need to hear a clear commitment that the Government will support our hard hit sectors through until the end of 2021 and the very end of this pandemic.
Today, we have three critical asks for you:
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Call (or email) your Champion MPs and tell them the wage subsidy and fixed costs support is critical and must continue until the end of 2021, and share our Key Recommendations for Budget 2021 [Download here: ENG | FR].
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Send a letter to your local Member of Parliament. It will take less than 1 minute to send. You can send a letter on our microsite: HardestHit.ca / DurementTouches.ca.
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Spread the word on social media. Pre-written social media content can be found on our microsite: HardestHit.ca/social.
The time to act is now. Thank you for supporting this effort.
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Dear Tourism Partners,
A year into the global COVID-19 pandemic Canada continues to grapple with its ongoing impacts.
But the path forward for recovery and the economy, remains shrouded in uncertainty, with the Government yet to provide clear answers on the way forward.
Canadians, businesses, and especially the tourism industry require a clear path forward and realistic solutions for the future. We all need to work together to ensure that the economy and the vital tourism and hospitality sector comes back stronger and more successful than before.
This is why my Conservative colleagues and I are pushing the Government for clarity, and specifically a plan for the path forward.
Wednesday, the House of Commons will debate an Opposition Motion put forward by the Conservatives asking the government to table a clear, data driven plan to support the economy opening in a safe, gradual way. You can see the text of the full motion below:
That, given that,
(i) COVID-19 restrictions have had serious economic and mental health impacts on Canadians,
(ii) COVID-19 restrictions have been advised by the federal government, including specifically by the Prime Minister on three separate occasions in November of 2020, as temporary measures to alleviate pressure on the public healthcare system,
(iii) public health tools, such as rapid tests, shared data on how COVID-19 spreads and vaccines, have not been positioned as permanent solutions to replace COVID-19 restrictions by the federal government, including in areas of federal competency like air travel and border restrictions,
(iv) the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom have both released public plans for economic reopening, while Canadian officials have not yet given Canadians clarity on when regular economic and social life will be able to resume, the House call on the government to table within 20 calendar days, following the adoption of this motion, a clear data-driven plan to support safely, gradually and permanently lifting COVID-19 restrictions.
This motion will come to a vote in Parliament this week. But, we need your help to ensure it passes. Please email your MP to urge them to vote for this vital motion. Canadians, and especially the tourism and hospitality sector needs clarity and a plan.
You can find the contact information to write to your Member of Parliament by entering your postal code on this website. You can see sample email below:
Dear MP,
Canadians and especially the tourism and hospitality industry need clarity and a plan for recovery, and we need it now.
I urge you to vote in support of the Conservative Opposition Motion calling on the government to table a clear, data driven plan to support the economy opening in a safe, gradual way, within 20 calendar days.
I look forward to hearing back from you confirming your support.
Sincerely,
<ENTER YOUR NAME>
Together, we can ensure a safe, controlled and successful recovery post pandemic, As always, your thoughts and suggestions are imperative for the path forward for the recovery of the tourism industry. I always appreciate your input. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any thoughts or concerns you may have.
Sincerely,
Blake Richards, MP
Banff-Airdrie
Official Opposition Whip
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BC Hotel Association Provides Updated Events Order:
Training in the Workplace
The BC Hotel Association (BCHA) has received inquiries from many of their accommodation members in regards to the guidelines for hosting training at properties. In response to BCHA's request, updates were made last week in the gathering and events order – which allows in person training for onboarding, in preparation for the spring/summer season.
The Gatherings and Events order has been updated on page 12 to explicitly mention that health, safety and rehiring training is included in the occupational training exclusion i.e.
- 1. Subject to the provisions of this Part, a person may permit a place, other than a private residence or vacation accommodation, to be used for, or may organize or host:
- f. occupational training, including health, safety or re-hiring training, which cannot be provided virtually.
The BCHA continues to advocate for the hotels that are providing safe shelter and supporting the government contracted hotels for returning Canadians to be added to the priority vaccination list in each health region.
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Cruise Lines Ready to Sail Again in the United States
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Calls for
CDC to Lift Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO)
Outdated CSO Does Not Reflect Current Conditions or Proven Effectiveness of Science-Led Protocols
Supporting Hundreds of Thousands of Passengers Sailing Outside the U.S.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which represents 95% of global ocean-going cruise capacity, today called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to lift the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) and allow for the planning of a phased resumption of cruise operations from U.S. ports by the beginning of July. The early-July timeframe is in line with President Biden’s forecast for when the United States will be “closer to normal.”
“Over the past eight months, a highly-controlled resumption of cruising has continued in Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific—with nearly 400,000 passengers sailing to date in more than 10 major cruise markets. These voyages were successfully completed with industry-leading protocols that have effectively mitigated the spread of COVID-19. Additional sailings are planned in the Mediterranean and Caribbean later this spring and summer,” said Kelly Craighead, CLIA’s president and CEO.
Following the industry’s voluntary suspension of operations one year ago, cruise lines have been prevented from operating in the U.S. by a series of “No Sail Orders” issued by the CDC. The CSO was issued last October, but since then the CDC has not released any further guidance, as called for in the CSO, to support the resumption of U.S. cruise operations. The lack of any action by the CDC has effectively banned all sailings in the largest cruise market in the world. Cruising is the only sector of the U.S. economy that remains prohibited, even as most others have opened or continued to operate throughout the pandemic.
Read the press release here
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Industry Responds to Proposed Changes to U.S. Cruise Ship Bill
Concern About Proposed U.S. Bill that Would Allow Cruise Ships to Bypass BC Ports
The federal government has banned cruise ships from docking in Canadian ports until Feb. 28, 2022.“We believe this could be the start of a lobby that grows south of the border to eliminate the act permanently, allowing cruise ships to sail from Seattle straight to Alaska,” Judas said. “That would obviously be seriously detrimental to the cruise ship sector, and by extension the whole tourism industry. This could be the start of something that may continue in the future and that would lead to even more carnage than we’re experiencing already.”
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Proposed U.S. Bill Could Be a Devastating Blow to BC's Tourism Industry
Walt Judas joined Michelle Eliot on CBC's BC Today show to discuss the proposed U.S. bill that could end BC's cruise ship industry.
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Proposed U.S. Bill Could Be a Devastating Blow to BC's Tourism Industry
Newly introduced U.S. legislation would allow Alaska bound cruise ships to skip stops in Canada. Ian Robertson of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority talks about the potential impact on B.C.’s already struggling tourism industry.
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Is it Summer Yet? COVID Uncertainty Makes BC Vacation Planning Complicated
Spring is here, but many people are already thinking ahead to a potential summer vacation. However, as Ashley Burr explains, there’s a lot of uncertainty about BC travel in the months to come. Walt Judas interviewed.
Hotel Investor Hunts For Distressed Assets
Unique new acquisition group raises $100 million as it throws a lifeline to hard-hit hotel owners
“Any organization which has a good solid balance sheet and a clean balance sheet, they will struggle, but they will get to the other side. Those assets which were under duress before because of the debt servicing load that they were under, it will really challenge those organizations to look at what their future looks like,” said Vivek Sharma, CEO of the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and board chair of the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC).
Penticton Tourism Recovery Years Away
Destination Canada is estimating four to five years to return to normal while Travel Penticton executive director Thom Tischik told council that he is expecting Penticton to take two to three years to get back to 2019 levels.
BC Hotels Not Hopeful for Bounce Back in 2021 Despite Vaccine Rollout
As events, weddings and overall travel are restricted or discouraged, Ingrid Jarrett, the president and CEO of the BC Hotel Association says it will still be a while before the industry sees a bounce back in a post-COVID world.
Sun Peaks and Kamloops Well Positioned to Meet Pent Up Demand, According to Local Stakeholders
In Kamloops, Tourism Kamloops chief executive officer Beverley DeSantis, noted that products such as golf and wine tours are already seeing high demand for the summer season.
“People are going to want those outdoor experiences where they don’t have to worry about a lot of protocols,” said DeSantis, who currently chairs the Tourism Industry Association of BC’s policy committee.
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You're invited:
Monthly Q&A with ABLE BC
ABLE BC members and industry colleagues are invited to join us at our next monthly Q&A with Executive Director Jeff Guignard tomorrow: Thursday, March 25 at 10:00am (PT).
A Zoom link will be provided once you RSVP.
The meeting will not be recorded.
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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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Growing Agritourism Webinar
Thursday, March 25th at 8:00am PT (9:00am MT)
Exceeding Expectations Webinar
Wednesday, March 31st at 8:00am PT (9:00am MT)
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CITAP Spring Thaw Regional Education Sessions
The BC and Alberta event takes place March 31st at 9am to 11:30am (PT)
As the snow starts to melt, the cherry blossoms bloom, and vaccination campaigns move to the next stages, our thoughts turn to travel recovery. CITAP continues to be innovative and is offering members a complimentary education and networking function this March and April, to help reconnect after 2020’s long “Tourism Freeze”.
Paid RTO Members will be invited to attend complimentary organized Zoom presentations provided by “Pods” of Seller Members in the form of regional educational sessions. Q&A networking opportunity will be at the end of each of the 30-minute sessions.
Registration deadline is March 25th. Register here
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Impact Conference 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.
Wednesday March 31st
8:30am - 10:00am PT
Registration is free but all participants must register.
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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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