A Message from BCHA President & CEO Ingrid Jarrett |
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Dear Accommodation Community,
Today, both WorkSafeBC and the BC Ministry of Health announced updated restrictions and guidelines for spring break and St Patrick’s Day, in anticipation of increased volumes of people travelling, dining out, and enjoying time with family and friends.
With heightened inspections over this period, it is imperative that businesses, managers and our workforce ensure they understand and adhere to new guidelines along with the COVID-19 Best Practices and Protocols.
Outlined in greater detail below, restrictions surrounding liquor service in licensed establishments includes:
- Liquor sales for onsite and off-site consumption must cease between 8:00 pm on March 17, 2021 and 9:00 am on March 18, 2021.
- Unless a full meal service is provided, premises which are licensed to serve liquor must close between 9:00 pm on March 17, 2021 and 9:00 am on March 18, 2021.
- If a full meal service is provided, premises may stay open, but liquor service must not resume until 9:00 am the following day.
- Liquor must not be consumed on the premises by any person, including patrons, owners, operators or staff after 9:00 pm on March 17, 2021.
I’d like to acknowledge the Ministry of Health for ensuring there is lead time with these restrictions to allow our industry to plan accordingly, mitigate losses, and avoid heightened disappointment amongst the public.
On a more positive note, today's announcement also included revisions to the Public Health Order to allow outdoor social gatherings of up to 10 people. As Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry advised "this is slowly turning the dial, it is not flipping the switch" this offers further hope that we on a road to loosening restrictions across the province.
In terms of advocacy, our federal efforts continue to focus on extending the CEWS program. We also continue to push forward revisions to the CERS and HASCAP programs to expand eligibility to include new, recently renovated, and seasonal businesses, along with larger businesses, properties with foreign ownerships and more. Similarly, the division between renter versus owner inclusions in relief needs to be addressed.
In addition, we are advocating for direct incentives for Canadian travel – as all indicators deem that domestic travel is the short term greatest opportunity to support our Canadian businesses and travel economy.
We are now in the fourth day of the 2021 Tourism & Hospitality Conference. Although it certainly isn’t the same as all of us being together in person, I have heard from so many of you that the conference agenda, presentations and content has been exceptional, and I’d like to thank each of you for your kind comments and feedback. We enthusiastically look forward to seeing you all in person at next year's Tourism and Hospitality conference in Prince George.
We continue to look to the future, and have hope that 2021 will outperform 2020. While this remains uncertain, it is crystal clear that without government messaging encouraging safe domestic travel, and the reopening of group meetings and events, sports, tour operations, and international borders, our accommodation and tourism sector will be seriously challenged.
This acknowledgement continues to fuel our resolve along with our advocacy efforts, both provincially and federally, while driving our commitment to developing partnerships that support efficiencies and innovation for our accommodation sector. Thank you for your continued support through membership and engagement.
Stay Safe,
Ingrid Jarrett
BCHA President & CEO
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Todays industry update includes:
- 2021 Virtual Tourism & Hospitality Conference
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Register for FREE Workshops here
- WorkSafeBC Up its Workplace Presence Ahead of Spring Break, St. Patrick’s Day
- TIABC: Industry Engagement Table Sheds More Light on Government Plans
- Hiring Temporary Foreign Workers in BC
- Rocky Mountaineer: Operations Update
- Enter to Win 'Dare to Dream' Whistler Giveaway
- Destination Marketing Videos from Around the World
- Mark Your Calendars
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TIABC FREE Culinary Tourism Webinars!
- Impact Conference 2021
- BC Chamber of Commerce 2021 Virtual AGM and Conference
- In The News
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For any questions please reach out to our team.
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The 2021 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference is underway! We are in our fourth and final day of fantastic presentations from our industry experts and leaders.
There is still complimentary workshops on Friday. Its not too late to register!
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The BC Tourism and Hospitality Conference could not be made possible without the support of our generous conference sponsors. Thank you to each of our sponsors for your contribution.
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WorkSafeBC Stepping Up its Workplace Presence Ahead of Spring Break,
St. Patrick’s Day
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WorkSafeBC will have an increased presence at workplaces across B.C. ahead of the upcoming spring break period and St. Patrick’s Day to remind businesses they must have measures and controls in place to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace.
WorkSafeBC will be inspecting and consulting with businesses throughout the month of March when many families participate in spring break activities. The initiative will focus primarily on overnight and short-term accommodation, food and leisure services, amusement facilities, sports and entertainment facilities, ski hills, and golf courses.
WorkSafeBC will also be launching an initiative focused on bars, pubs and restaurants ahead of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17.
“With spring break and St. Patrick’s Day both taking place this month, we want to ensure employers and workers are again ready for a potential increase in people coming to their workplaces,” says Al Johnson, Head of Prevention Services for WorkSafeBC. “We’re reminding businesses to make sure they have an up-to-date COVID-19 safety plan in place, that it’s understood by all staff, and that it’s being implemented effectively.”
All employers in B.C. are required to have a COVID-19 Safety Plan that assesses risks to workers and implements measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace. The plan must be reviewed and updated as conditions change.
“The vast majority of businesses in B.C. are taking COVID-19 safety very seriously and want to be in compliance,” says Johnson. “But we’ve also seen some employers let their safety plan become dated — where it no longer reflects the latest PHO orders or changing conditions — and this is an important focus area for our prevention officers.”
Employers are responsible for the health and safety of their workers, and this includes doing everything reasonably possible to ensure customer compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols and orders, including maintaining physical distance and wearing masks as required.
Key Facts
- As of March 5, WorkSafeBC had conducted 24,221 workplace inspections and 4,494 consultations related to COVID-19. A total of 2,232 orders had been issued for health and safety violations.
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In spring of last year, WorkSafeBC worked with employer groups to develop protocols for more than 30 industries to operate safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Last month, WorkSafeBC launched an awareness campaign to support workplace health and safety. The province-wide, multi-language campaign focuses on several specific actions workers and employers need to take to keep workplaces safe from COVID-19.
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TIABC: Industry Engagement Table Sheds More Light on Government Plans |
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Industry Engagement Table Sheds More Light on Government Plans
TIABC attended a (virtual) C-19 Industry Engagement Table meeting intended to provide updates to industry partners.
Updates were provided by:
· Honourable Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation
· Honourable Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
· Honourable Harry Bains, Minister of Labour
· Anne Naser, Worksafe BC President & CEO
· Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer
Upcoming holidays
With Spring Break and St. Patrick's Day on the March calendar, public awareness/prevention campaigns are in place to ensure on-going adherence to public health orders. The campaigns will focus on bars, pubs, restaurants and accommodations, including short-term rentals and will incorporate multi-channel and multi-language components.
Vaccines and Next Steps
The next 3 to 4 weeks are a critical time to keep the covid cases down so we can get back to our safe 6 and small outdoor gatherings. Vaccines are arriving and there is a chance that British Columbians could receive at least one shot by the end of June. Online booking for vaccine appointments is in progress.
Government continues to communicate that international travel is unlikely to take place this summer, while the cruise industry is likely the very last to return. TIABC continues to advocate for a restart plan that recommends government and industry work together to prepare for domestic and international visitors. The organization also continues to advocate on behalf of the cruise sector (& the entire tourism eco-system it supports) by asking the federal government to reassess its order on suspending cruise until 2022, and instead considering a review of the directive every three months.
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Hiring Temporary Foreign Workers in BC |
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Employers can hire foreign workers to fill temporary labour and skill shortages. In British Columbia, temporary foreign workers are protected by law from unfair employers and practices. Employers who hire temporary foreign workers in B.C. are required by law to register with the provincial government.
You need to register if you intend to hire a temporary worker through most federal foreign worker programs.
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Rocky Mountaineer: Operations Update |
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It seems each week brings a bit more positive momentum toward tourism’s recovery. There does, however, continue to be uncertainty of when travel restrictions will be lifted and when widespread tourism will begin again. The Rocky Mountaineer team, much like you, continues to the navigate this uncertainty as best we can. As we look to the 2021 travel season ahead, we have two updates to share:
- The inaugural season of our new U.S. route will be extended by four weeks to November 19, 2021.
- The start of our Canadian rail operations will be delayed until June 1, 2021.
U.S. Rail Routes
We have high hopes for our new Rockies to the Red Rocks route between Denver, Colorado, and Moab, Utah, which is receiving strong interest and already has some high-demand dates nearing capacity. With industry signs pointing to domestic travel recovering first, we believe this route will be an important part of Rocky Mountaineer’s business. After the challenges of the past year, we truly appreciate the support and interest we are receiving for this route.
We are adding further capacity to existing dates and extending the season by four weeks to add 16 more departure dates. With this extension, the preview season for Rockies to the Red Rocks will start on August 15, 2021 and run until November 19, 2021. We look forward to deepening our partnerships in the Southwest U.S. region and welcoming guests to experience some truly incredible scenery from the comfort of our trains.
Canadian Rail Routes
As many of you know, the travel landscape is almost unrecognisable from 17 months ago when we last operated our trains. We have no choice but to postpone our Canadian rail operations until June 1, 2021, given the continuing travel and health restrictions in Canada. We are hopeful the vaccination programs underway in both the United States and Canada will soon be sufficient, so we can get back to doing what we do best, which is hosting guests for an incredible experience on board our trains. Like so many other tourism and hospitality business around the world, we will continue to monitor the ever-evolving situation to inform our business the best we can.
In anticipation of domestic travel recovering in Canada, we have extended our exclusive offers for Canadian residents. With our B.C. & Alberta Resident Offer, guests who travel in 2021 will receive a complimentary voucher to travel again within the next five years. With our Canadian Resident Offer, guests can save up to $1,400 per couple on 2021 vacation packages of five days. We hope these offers, and more to come, will encourage Canadians to consider Rocky Mountaineer and Western Canada for their 2021 travel plans.
Commitment to Health and Safety
As part of our preparation for the travel season ahead, our team has been implementing an enhanced program committed to health and safety across every part of our operations. We have extensive health screening and sanitization protocols in place, and our rail cars are equipped with high-end air filtration systems that ensure the continuous intake, disinfection, and circulation of air. We will always follow the guidelines provided by the regional government and health authorities in each region where we travel. Our team is committed to delivering world-class service with the health and safety of all who travel with us at the forefront of our priorities.
On behalf of the entire team at Rocky Mountaineer, thank you for your ongoing partnership and support as, together, we prepare for the upcoming travel season and respond to what the year ahead brings.
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Dare to Dream Giveaway: Contest Details |
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One day in the not too distant future, we will travel around the province, Canada and internationally again. In the meantime, Pan Pacific Whistler has partnered with a number of local business to give away a Whistler getaway.
Prize Package Includes
- Three nights in a spacious One Bedroom Suite at one of our two Whistler locations
- Parking for one vehicle.
- 2 Tickets to Superfly Zipline /The Adventure Group
- $100 Gift Card to Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub
- 2 bath experiences at Scandinave Spa
- Local Love welcome basket
Contest closes at 11:59pm March 12, 2021
Please note that the lucky winner can not redeem the prize package until travel restrictions are lifted.
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Destination Marketing Videos from Around the World |
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The Tourism Industry Association of Canada in partnership with TIABC is happy to offer free online Culinary Tourism webinars to tourism operators and organizations
Five 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.
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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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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BC Chamber of Commerce 2021 Virtual AGM and Conference
Friday May 28 - Saturday May 29
Time to block your calendars — the BC Chamber of Commerce is inviting you to its virtual AGM and Conference, taking place May 28-29, 2021.
During a year where connection means more than it ever has, this event brings together Chamber members from across the province to share what's on BC's mind, connect deeply about business priorities, and debate policies that will drive the BC Chamber's advocacy efforts for the years ahead.
Watch your inbox for more event details to be shared in the coming weeks!
Save the date — don't miss out!
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Province keeps B.C. moving: funding inter-city bus...
British Columbians will have continued access to essential transportation as a result of a new grant to support inter-city bus service and medical evacuation needs through regional airports. "While we can see light at the end of the tunnel, the...
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news.gov.bc.ca
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South Okanagan named top place in Canada to visit...
The South Okanagan is the place to be post-pandemic, according to Canadian online travel magazine Vacay.ca. The site has launched a list of the 20 best destinations to travel to in Canada in 2021, once restrictions lift, and the South Okanagan...
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www.castanet.net
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Hotel operators stare down ongoing uncertainty
The tsunami of COVID-19-induced insolvencies predicted at the start of the pandemic has yet to materialize, even in especially hard-hit sectors.
Read more
biv.com
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