Dogwood Express Newsletter
December 9 2022: Issue 35
In This Issue:
  • SAVE THE DATE - BCLCA Ideas Forum Rescheduled to November 7 – 8, 2023
  • Announcing 2023 BCLCA Member Engagement Parking Lot Meetings
  • Plan to Attend the 2023 BCLCA Spring Webinar Learning Series
  • Canada Summer Jobs 2023 - Call for Applications - Deadline January 12, 2023
  • Congratulations Tourism Award Winner ERTCU Travel Group and Co-owner Kimo Linders, also a BCLCA Director
  • Grow Your Business with $2,400
  • Save Your Google Analytics
Dear BCLCA Member:

This past week Premier David Eby shuffled the cabinet, and the portfolio of Tourism sees a new minister Lana Popham and some familiar faces remaining in their portfolios such as George Heyman, Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

BCLCA would like to congratulate all new and returning Ministers. We look forward to working with the government and some of the members of the new cabinet in the coming year.

In the new year the BC Lodging and Campgrounds Association (BCLCA) is conducting the sixth annual survey of member campground and RV park operators in British Columbia. The findings will quantify the health of the camping industry.

As a valued member your participation and observations can help us to deliver services and advocate for change. We encourage members to participate here is a link to last years (2021) results.
SAVE THE DATE - BCLCA IDEAS FORUM RESCHEDULED TO NOVEMBER 7-8, 2023

After surveying the membership concerning hosting the postponed BC Lodging and Campgrounds Association Ideas Forum in spring 2023, the results revealed there was no common spring date that suited the respondents.

This being the case the BCLCA board decided to move forward and choose a date for the fall of 2023 and have landed on November 7 – 8, 2023. The event will be hosted live with a virtual component on Vancouver Island at The Grand Hotel, Nanaimo.
ANNOUNCING 2023 BCLCA MEMBER ENGAGEMENT PARKING LOT MEETINGS

On the fourth Thursday of the month until June members can gather via video to chat with the board and fellow operators about items on their mind. These 45-minute sessions allow you to grab a cup of coffee and participate actively or passively to talk/listen about what your peers are focusing on.

There is no fee to attend but registration is required.

  • Thursday, January 26, 2023 - 9:00 am – 9:45 am – discussion topic Setting Rates
  • Thursday, February 23, 2023 - 9:00 am – 9:45 am – discussion topic Cancellation Polices
  • Thursday, March 23, 2023 - 9:00 am – 9:45 am – discussion topic Waivers
  • Thursday, April 27, 2023 – 9:00 am – 9:45 am – discussion topic EV Charging Stations and Pedestals
  • Thursday May 17, 2023 – 9:00 am – 9:45 am – Wildfire Preparedness

To register for the series, you can pick the ones you plan to attend, please click here.


After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
PLAN TO ATTEND THE 2023 BCLCA SPRING WEBINAR LEARNING SERIES

The BC Lodging and Campgrounds Association hosts educational webinars for the membership in the spring of each year.

The webinars take place via the Zoom Video platform on the third Wednesday of the month with a start time of 10:00 am Pacific Standard Time and will feature two topics each.

Operators can register for the FREE webinars by clicking on the invitation link. Webinar reminders via email are sent to registrants along with the recording after the event.

  • Webinar 1 - Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - 10:00 – 11:30 am – Topics Part 1 Campground Maintenance and Part 2 Reservation Software Panel - Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__PAwKYdDS7CTiassN_qbgA
  • Webinar 2 - Wednesday, March 15, 2023 - 10:00 – 11:30 am – Topics and Registration TBC
  • Webinar 3 - Wednesday, April 19, 2023 - 10:00 – 11:30 am – Topics and Registration TBC
  • Webinar 4 - Wednesday, May 17, 2023 - 10:00 – 11:30 am – Topics and Registration TBC
CANADA SUMMER JOBS 2023 - CALL FOR APPLICATIONS - DEADLINE JANUARY 12, 2023
 
If you are looking to hire youth next summer, there is help! Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) provides wage subsidies to employers for not-for-profit organizations, the public sector, and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years.
 
The CSJ 2023 employer application period is now open until January 12, 2023 at 11:59am PST.
 
If you are interested in learning more about the CSJ program, there are information sessions happening throughout December, and one in January. Book your session here.

CONGRATULATIONS TOURISM AWARD WINNER ERTCU TRAVEL GROUP AND CO-OWNER KIMO LINDERS, AND BCLCA DIRECTOR

The annual Canadian Tourism Awards, now in their 22nd year, were presented by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) during last month's 2022 Congress. These prestigious awards recognize success, leadership, and innovation in Canada's tourism industry, and reward those people, places, organizations, and events that have gone above and beyond to offer travellers superior tourism experiences in Canada.

BCLCA extends its congratulations to ERTCU Travel Group co-owner Kimo Linders and his team for winning the “Small or Medium-Sized Business of the Year Award”. Kimo is also a BCLCA Director.
GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH $2,400

The Canadian Digital Adoption Program is awarding businesses like yours $2,400 to grow online. And the barrier to entry is pretty low - check the entry requirements here.

Once you get the grant, all you have to do is spend the money growing your business online. What does that mean, exactly? Here are some of the more worthwhile services you can spend the money on:

  • Website homepage overhaul
  • SEO audit to make your site run better
  • Graphics for a social media promotion or event
  • Google Ads campaign to find new customers
  • Help with your digital marketing strategy
SAVE YOUR GOOGLE ANALYTICS

Your business relies on its digital presence through a consumer facing website and you or your webmaster are probably aware of and use Google Analytics to track activity and trends. This free tool helps website owners by sharing important data about users, website activity and more.

But on July 1st 2023, Google Analytics is upgrading to its long-awaited new version, GA4. So if you want to retain any historical data from your site, you will need to make a plan to save the data and make the switch. 

Our suggestion is to contact your webmaster or web hosting company to help you make the switch.
BC LODGING & CAMPGROUNDS ASSOCIATION
209, 3003 St. Johns Street, Port Moody BC V3H 2C4
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