C-19 BULLETIN - February 26, 2021
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CEO Message
Manitoba is the only province (including the territories) that does not have an umbrella tourism advocacy organization like TIABC. So when I meet with my provincial and territorial tourism industry association (PTTIA) counterparts every other week, the most eastern of the four western provinces is virtually absent of representation, which is clearly a problem for Manitoba’s struggling visitor economy, especially now.
I may get an argument from the odd tourism professional in BC, but I’m confident in saying that there has never been a more important time for dedicated and focussed advocacy to help tourism and hospitality operators through the most difficult period of their respective careers. I know operators in Manitoba feel that way and recognize the gaping advocacy hole.
Fortunately, a group of private businesspeople (one of whom I’m know) representing all corners of the province have now stepped up to try to figure out how to launch what I’ll call the Tourism Industry Association of Manitoba (TIAM). As part of their due diligence, the group asked if I would meet with them to provide an overview of TIABC, answer questions, and offer guidance on how TIAM could be set up to advocate on behalf of Manitoba’s tourism sector.
I was motivated to meet with them for multiple reasons, not the least of which was the prospect of having Manitoba formally a part of our national advocacy efforts and to help move Western Canadian issues forward with the federal government.
During our meeting, I talked about TIABC’s structure comprised of a 13-member Board of Directors, four committees and multiple policy sub-committees to tackle various issues. I spoke about the range of files we’ve dealt with or were focussing on prior to our primary activities vis-à-vis COVID-19. I answered questions on our advocacy approach to the pandemic and promised to share various submissions. I provided an overview of our staffing and membership structure, bylaws, strategic plan and other pertinent details to help inform their strategy for TIAM.
The final subject area revolved around TIABC’s annual operating budget. I explained that roughly 25% of our revenues normally come from memberships with the caveat that we might be challenged to meet our membership revenue targets given that so many businesses, sectors and DMOs are struggling to stay afloat, never mind being able to pay member dues. I also let my Manitoba colleagues know that 75% of our annual operating revenues are generated by the BC Tourism Industry Conference (now the BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference). In other words, our annual conference largely funds TIABC’s advocacy efforts.
As you know, this year we’re not meeting in person in Prince George as was originally intended. Instead, we’re hosting a four-day virtual event in partnership with the BC Hotel Association starting March 8th. To be sure, we will have our usual great sessions and speakers that our entire BC tourism and hospitality industry will learn from and appreciate. We might even exceed our average number of 450-500 delegates.
That said, at $99 per person and absent of substantial sponsorship, our conference revenues will be considerably less than in previous years (note – expenses are also significantly less). Please know that I’m not complaining just stating the facts. Like the vast majority of tourism businesses, organizations and associations, we expect a significant decrease in overall revenue this year and for the foreseeable future until we’re well on the other side of COVID-19.
While our balance sheet is still relatively healthy for now thanks to careful stewardship, funding from third-party sources for specific projects (e.g. COVID safety videos), and profits from our 2020 conference, expenses will far exceed revenues in 2021 for obvious reasons. At the same, the more delegates we attract to our conference next month, the better our financial prospects for the year.
Forgive me for asking you to consider registering for the conference partly to help support TIABC’s advocacy efforts for the next year. But, if you believe in the need for a strong provincial voice on behalf of the tourism industry and you have a desire to be part of the first-ever virtual tourism and hospitality conference (which will feature topics and sessions to help you with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate these trying times), know that your presence will be deeply valued and appreciated.
One more thing…you’ll also be indirectly helping the Tourism Industry Association of Manitoba become a reality, something I’ve committed to doing for the greater good of BC and Canada’s visitor economy.
Walt Judas,
TIABC CEO
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Statement from Dr. Bonnie Henry
Spring Break
We are well aware that spring break is coming. And I know that there are many families, and students, and people in our education system that are really looking forward to that break. We are having talks, about how can we support particularly young people to have safe opportunities to make up some of the challenges that they have been faced with.
In terms of travel, right now as always, we need to stay local. And we're going to be reassessing things as we move through the next weeks. And we will be talking more about March break and what we need to do in the coming days. But think small, think local.
Summer Camping in BC
I'm hopeful, cautiously optimistic! I think we need to start planning for our post-COVID lives. Obviously, we are learning as we go every week, every day, with this virus, this pandemic. We are learning a lot more information about how effective vaccines are, how we can stretch and provide immunization to protect more people in the coming months. That's a really important part of looking forward. We also know that -- at least we've learned -- there seems to be seasonality to the virus and its transmission.
I'm very hopeful that we will be able to go camping, at least in BC, and that we'll be able to experience our province in that great way. I think this is a time to start thinking about that, not to go just yet, but it's time to prepare. With our immunization program coming, if we can keep our numbers down and prevent the rapid increase in growth in the next weeks, we're going to be through a really dark winter. We'll be looking to spring to be able to have some of those really important social connections back together again.
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CERIP Helping to Fund Tourism Projects
The projects will help communities impacted by COVID-19 and support B.C.'s post-pandemic economic recovery. Eligible applicants will receive a one-time, 100% funded provincial grant to support four key streams:
- Community Economic Resilience
- Destination Development
- Unique Heritage Infrastructure
- Rural Economic Recovery
Several funding announcements were released recently:
54 new tourism projects throughout BC are receiving funding under the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program's (CERIP) Destination Development stream.
63 projects are receiving funding under the Community Economic Resilience stream.
$16M was allocated to the Unique Heritage Infrastructure stream of the CERIP program and Heritage BC was appointed as the program delivery partner.
The First Peoples’ Cultural Council received $4 million in Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP) funding to support Indigenous-led heritage infrastructure projects. This is the first-ever Indigenous Cultural Heritage Infrastructure Grant from FPCC for B.C. First Nations. To learn more about the approved projects, visit: fpcc.ca/stories/february-22-2021
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Friday Fast Facts
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) produces 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.
TOTA will continue to gain and share business intelligence and insights which come directly from tourism stakeholders in their region via telephone and online surveys; data from their partnership with Environics Analytics received and analyzed weekly; and additional research is sourced through the UN World Tourism Organization, Destination Canada, Destination BC, British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat, BC Hotel Association, TIABC, go2HR, Community DMO Partners, and others.
Watch for Friday Fast Fact bi-weekly and for more information please visit Research Roundup on TOTA News Centre.
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Federal Government Tourism Sector Information Hub
The Government of Canada has launched a new hub for the tourism sector containing information and resources for businesses, including the latest financial supports available for tourism businesses.
Topic areas include:
- Current travel restrictions
- Latest news for tourism businesses
- COVID-19 financial supports for business
- COVID-19 applications
- Reports
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BC Tourism & Hospitality Labour Market Information Research Project Launch
The global pandemic has wreaked havoc on the tourism and hospitality industry in BC which has seen precipitous job losses and other negative impacts since Q2 of 2020. The Province of BC is providing $290,125 to support research into the tourism and hospitality labour market today and into the future for this key driver of BC’s economic recovery.
The project is being led by go2HR, BC’s tourism and hospitality human resource and health & safety association. An esteemed governance committee comprised of BC’s industry leaders from the tourism and hospitality industry convened to launch the project on January 27, 2021 and will provide oversight throughout. The governance committee will meet periodically over the 15-month term of the project to provide valuable insight, share research and provide oversight to the research activities.
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BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference Sponsors
Our supporting partners are a big reason why our conference has been such a success in the past. Partners deliver benefits to delegates that help grow their businesses, as well as BC’s visitor economy as a whole, which is paramount this year with our industry taking the biggest hit due to the pandemic.
TIABC and BCHA wish to thank all our sponsors for supporting the 2021 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference.
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January/February 2021 BC COVID-19 Tourism Impact Survey
Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Region Only
British Columbia Regional Destination Management Organizations, in partnership with community tourism marketing organizations, the BC Hotel Association and TIABC, are working to understand the current and potential future impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on businesses throughout the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Region.
We know that the COVID-19 crisis is having a dramatic impact on all of our tourism partners. We are working with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport to ensure there is an accurate understanding of the effects of COVID-19 on your business today and hope to take a few minutes to ask you a number of questions about the current conditions and suggestions for your recovery.
This survey is for businesses in the Vancouver Coast & Mountain Region only and will take approximately 10-12 minutes to complete. Your personal information will be kept strictly confidential. Information from this survey will be anonymous and will be published in the aggregate without singling out any individual business.
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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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The Tourism Industry Association of Canada in partnership with TIABC is happy to offer these free, online webinars to tourism operators and organization on culinary tourism development. Five themed webinars will assist small and medium tourism operators and partners develop culinary tourism strategies to maintain their businesses and attract domestic visitors and international visitors once Canada is ready to welcome them again. Register today!
Attracting Culinary Tourists Webinar
Friday, March 12th at 9:00am PT (10am MT)
This webinar will be delivered Friday March 12th as part of the upcoming BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference – registration opening soon!
Multisensory Experience Development Webinar
Tuesday, March 16th at 10:00am PT (11:00am MT)
Partnering For Success Webinar
Thursday, March 18th at 9:00am PT (10:00am MT)
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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Monday, March 1st at 10am ET (7am PT)
The webinar will be presented in English and panelists include:
- Saran, Michele A, CEO, Tourism Nova Scotia
- Sisa Ntshona, CEO, South African Tourism
Register at:
Please note the webinar has a maximum capacity of 500 participants, and a recording of the webinar will be available on the TIAC Members' portal.
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A Conversation with the Honourable Catherine McKenna
In Canada, we think big. That’s because we are big.
To survive and thrive in the upper half of North America, we have always had to build. That was true when we pushed the railway across the continent. That was true when we built the Trans-Canada Highway and the St. Lawrence Seaway. We found a way. Today we call this “infrastructure.” It’s really about building what we need for the future we want.
We are moving forward with an ambitious plan for modern, sustainable infrastructure - more public transit, renewable energy, high speed broadband - to restart our economy and help create a million jobs, to support vibrant and inclusive communities, and to drive to net zero emissions and ensure a cleaner future for our kids.
Tuesday March 2nd 12:00 - 1:00 pm (PT)
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YVR’s New 2021 Strategic Plan: Gateway to the New Economy
Join Tamara Vrooman, Vancouver Airport Authority’s President and CEO, for an address to learn more about her vision and YVR’s new 2021 Strategic Plan that will guide the airport in becoming a gateway to the new economy, in service of our community.
Wednesday March 10th 12:00 - 1:00 pm (PT)
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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 - 10:00 am PT
Registration is free but all participants must 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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