In This Issue:

• BCLCA Extended Stay Licence to Occupy Best Practice Guidelines Launch
• October 1, 2024 - Federal Government Announces Significant New Support To Help Small Business Owners
• Take a Look at RV Park Search Volume and Where Demand is Headed
• Your Voice Drives go2HR’s Strategy – Take the Employer Survey Now!
• Results of Survey Sent to Leaders of BC's Top Political Parties
• New Outdoor Recreation Toolkit Available

BCLCA EXTENDED STAY LICENCE TO OCCUPY BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES LAUNCH

Join us at the BCLCA Ideas Forum in Manning Park Resort on November 5^th from 3:00 – 4:00 pm for the unveiling of the Licence to Occupy Guidelines.

Lawyers Lisa Mackie and Patrick O’Neill, the authors, will be on hand to launch the best practice guidelines and to answer Licence to Occupy vs Tenancy operational questions.

To register yourself and other delegates for the BCLCA Ideas Forum, download the form https://bclca.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ideas-Forum-Registration-2024.pdf

The cost is only $249 + GST per delegate thanks to the generosity of our sponsors - WorkSafe BC, Signature Risk, Rona, Western Financial Group, First Data and Pathfinder Ventures. 

Accommodation - provided by member Manning Park Resort who are offering rooms from $114/night plus tax. Call Front Desk 604-668-5922 and quote BCLCA AGM guest.

Check out the full agenda - https://bclca.com/ideas-forum-agenda-2024/

Background

For the past 18 months the BCLCA board have been discussing “extended stays” at campgrounds and RV Parks. This was in response to an uptick in arbitration cases brought to the Residential Tenancy Branch by seasonal campers (extended stays) seeking to be tenants rather than licence to occupy guests.

In many cases reviewed by a Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) arbitrator, the tenancy is either not recognized and/or the dispute is dismissed on the grounds that the RTB does not have jurisdiction. 

The complainant (the seasonal camper) loses the case but, in the meantime, has successfully extended living at the property by up to four months or more, and in some cases, they get away without paying increased summer rates for their camping fees.

After surveying the members, the BCLCA board decided to develop best practice guidelines and commissioned legal firm Alexander Holburn to author the guidelines.

We hope to see you at Manning Park Resort at the Ideas Forum!

OCTOBER 1, 2024 - FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES SIGNIFICANT NEW SUPPORT TO HELP SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

The Government of Canada announced October 1^st a series of new measures aimed at supporting small and medium-sized businesses, with what the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) states are “significant benefits for tourism businesses across the country.”

These initiatives are designed to reduce operational costs, provide financial rebates, and streamline payment processes.

1)   Reduced Credit Card Transaction Fees

• Lower Fees: Credit card transaction fees for small businesses will be reduced by up to 27% starting on October 19, 2024. This reduction is expected to save small businesses $1 billion over five years.
• Savings Example: A business processing $300,000 in credit card payments could save around $1,080 annually.
• Visa and Mastercard: These companies will reduce interchange fees, with the benefits applying to businesses with sales under $300,000 (Visa) and $175,000 (Mastercard).

2)   Revised Code of Conduct for Payment Card Industry



• Improved Payment Processing: Over 1 million businesses will benefit from better transparency and easier comparison of payment processor offers.
• Faster Complaint Handling: The time to resolve payment-related complaints will be reduced to 20 business days, down from 100 days, starting October 30, 2024.

3)   Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses

• $2.5 Billion in Payments: A total of $2.5 billion will be distributed to approximately 600,000 businesses by the end of 2024. Payments vary based on business size and location.
• Automatic Payment: Eligible businesses that filed their 2023 tax returns by July 15, 2024, will automatically receive payments via direct deposit or cheque by December 2024. Late filers have until December 31, 2024, to qualify.

For more information you can read the full announcement here: Government announces significant new support to help small business owners - Canada.ca

TAKE A LOOK AT RV PARK SEARCH VOLUME AND WHERE DEMAND IS HEADED

The October 2024 MC Hospitality Highlights Report takes a state by state look at search terms used by RVers who are seeking information surrounding locations for RV camping, whether that includes campgrounds, parks, or resorts. This report highlights changes in the past year among those seeking RVing locations. Although US based it shows the change in behaviour of campers and is a must read for marketing your property in the changing digital landscape.

KEY INSIGHTS

• In 2024, overall searches for RV parks and campgrounds saw a decline of 12%, while luxury RV park searches increased by 18%. The interest in the “best” RV parks also rose, with a 19% increase compared to the previous year.
• Search volume for long-term RV parks increased by 8%, suggesting a rising interest in extended stays, possibly influenced by the challenges in affordable housing and the desire for more stable, long-term travel options.

To download and read the report https://moderncampground.com/mc-hospitality-highlights-october-2024/

YOUR VOICE DRIVES go2HR'S STRATEGY - TAKE THE EMPLOYER SURVEY NOW!

go2HR is BC’s tourism and hospitality’s human resource and health & safety association.

At go2HR, it’s been our strategic priority to provide relevant and effective human resources, health & safety, and training services to tourism and hospitality businesses across BC.

Four years ago, in a time of deep crisis, we asked you what you needed to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and realize a stronger workforce and a safer workplace. You responded, we listened and we now offer relevant, practical products and services including:

• complimentary advisory services for human resources, health & safety, and mental health
• new health & safety, EDI, and mental health training
• practical turn-key business resources HR toolkit, health & safety manual template, health & safety downloadable materials for your workplace
• timely information and interpretation on workplace regulatory change
• key initiatives in subjects that impact your workplace such as immigration, sexual harassment, EDI and Immigration

In the current challenging business environment, we know there’s more work to be done. As we embark on go2HR’s next strategic planning process, we need your voice to ensure that our programs and services remain relevant and continue to meet the evolving needs of your business.

Please complete our short survey by November 1st for a chance to win $1,000 for your next BC travel adventure. The survey will just take 15 minutes of your valuable time. We will not be tracking any identifying information. Your responses are completely anonymous.

https://www.research.net/r/Go2HR-Employer_Survey

Editors Note: Did you know BCLCA was a founding member of go2HR’s predecessor in 1979 and remains a member in good standing of go2HR on behalf of our membership right up to today.

RESULTS OF SURVEY SENT TO LEADERS OF BC'S TOP POLITICAL PARTIES



Recently, 23 BC business and trade organizations that included the Tourism Industry Association of BC, sent a survey to the leaders of the province's three major political parties.

The results were published in the hard copy of The Vancouver Sun last week and are now available online.

The survey was based on economic policies — from wage growth to deficits to the cost of living. View the responses from the political leaders HERE.

NEW OUTDOOR RECREATION TOOLKIT AVAILABLE

The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC has released a new comprehensive guide and toolkit designed to help recreational groups, local governments and First Nations gather, analyze and apply data on recreational users and visitors.

The guide is a tool for educating, supporting, building capacity, and encouraging data collection by members, allies and constituents.

The guide and toolkit will help smaller organizations conduct visitor research using a "do-it-yourself" approach.

The guide provides guidance, templates, equations, examples, and resources. It also explains how to analyze results to estimate economic impact, communicate community and economic benefits, and inform management and planning.

Better understanding visitors can help organizations in many ways. Here are a few:

• Make a case for funding or community support.
• Manage existing facilities and plan for expansions or developing new ones.
• Craft and evaluate marketing campaign.
• Understand user conflicts.
• Shape and access programming
• Identify opportunities for entrepreneurship or business growth.
• Influence how visitors behave — ranging from outdoors to in communities.

Download the toolkit HERE.