Today's update includes:

  • General Updates
  • US-Canada Border Reopening | New Messaging & Resources for Operators
  • Central Okanagan Restrictions | Information & Resources
  • Vaccines | Where to Get Immunized
  • go2HR Toolkit for Employers and Vaccines
  • Surge in Participation Fuels Digital Marketing Bootcamp Expansion
  • ABLE BC Published Fall 2021 Issue of the Quarterly Pour
  • Reminder | Have Your Say on B.C.’s Permanent Paid Sick Leave
  • Propel | New Government Funded Program with Financial Assistance for Employers
  • New Member! Explore Professional Hospitality Training with The Canadian Institute for Blended Learning
  • A Cultivator of Positive Change | Meet BCHA Team Member, Mike Macleod!
  • Know Before You Go | Tourism Resources
  • Apply Today | Tourism & Hospitality Relief
  • Deadline Extended | BCHA Crises Survey
  • Upcoming BCHA Webinar | Managing Risk Presented by Western Financial Group
  • Help the Tourism & Hospitality Industry Return to a New Normal & Win $1500
  • Searching for Employees? Integral Hospitality Offering Outsourced Workers!
  • Mark Your Calendars
  • BC Hospitality Foundation | Tickets for Charity Online 50/50 Raffle on Sale Now
  • Save the Date! | BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference, March 8-11, 2022
  • Fore the Love of Tourism 15th Annual TIP Invitational Golf Tournament 2021
  • You’re invited | 2021 TIAC Tourism Congress at the Westin Ottawa on November 30 to December 1
  • Tipping Our Hat to Industry!
  • A BIG Congratulations to Destination BC's three new Board of Directors!
  • Congrats to the winners of Kostuch Media Ltd. (KML)'s 2021 Top 30 Under 30 award winners!
  • In the News
  • B.C. tourism operators cautiously optimistic as clock ticks down to U.S. border reopening | Global, August 9th
  • Hundreds line up at B.C.'s Peace Arch crossing as COVID border restrictions lift | CBC, August 9th
  • Tourism operators team up with Indigenous Nations to clean up BC’s shorelines | Victoria Buzz, August 6th
  • Comment Card | Industry Thoughts & Feedback
  • Last Laugh | A Little Something to Make Our Members Smile
US-Canada Border Reopening | New Messaging & Resources for Operators
As of August 9, 2021, Canada will now allow entry to fully vaccinated American citizens and permanent residents (currently residing in the US) for leisure travel. If they meet the entry criteria, fully vaccinated travellers do not have to quarantine upon arrival to Canada.

Destination British Columbia has put together messaging guidance for the province's tourism industry. This document includes key messaging, FAQ, and additional information.
Central Okanagan Restrictions | Information & Resources
Due to the continued rise of COVID-19 cases, and the introduction of the Delta variant, new measures have been introduced to the Central Okanagan region impacting the communities of Kelowna, West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, Peachland, and Lake Country.

These measures include:
  • Travel and Accommodation
  • Vacation rentals and accommodations (houses/houseboats included) will be limited to 5 people plus occupants
  • Recommendation against non-essential travel to the Okanagan
  • Personal gatherings
  • Outdoor personal gatherings limited to 50 people
  • Indoor personal gatherings limited to groups of five people from one other households
  • Organized gatherings
  • Indoor/outdoor gatherings limited to 50 people with COVID safety plan in place
  • Restaurants, Bars, Nightclubs, Casinos
  • Nightclubs and bars will be closed
  • Restaurants will be limited to groups of up to 6 people (not restricted to own household)
  • Liquor service limited until 10pm
  • Casinos will remain operational under current guidelines but must comply with restaurant guidance
  • Exercise Facilities
  • Indoor low intensity exercise will continue with capacity limits
  • Indoor high intensity exercise will be suspended
  • Masks
  • Mask mandate will continue to be in place for all indoor public places and is enforceable by bi-law officers in the Central Okanagan
Vaccines | Where to Get Immunized
The single most important action we can all do to protect our industry, community, and ourselves is to receive both vaccine doses and encourage others to do the same. To encourage residents of British Columbia to become fully vaccinated, the government of BC has taken the following measures:

  • Community events, vax vans and mobile clinics in dozens of communities in B.C. available by walk-in or pre-scheduling. Search by community to find a drop-in event near you. Events are organized by each health authority. 
  • Interior Health
  • People who live in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland, Lake Country and on Westbank First Nations lands (Central Okanagan Local Health Area) can get their second dose 28 days after dose 1, opposed to 48 days.
  • Fraser Health
  • Vancouver Coastal
  • Island Health
  • Northern Health
  • Gradual refocus of vaccine efforts from mass clinics onto programs targeting the hard to reach people where the need is greatest. A full list of Vax for BC events happening throughout the province is available online: gov.bc.ca/vaxforbc
go2HR Toolkit for Employers
go2HR Toolkit for Employers:
Get practical information, up-to-date resources and downloadable tools to help answer your questions related to COVID-19 vaccinations in the workplace. Prepared by go2HR, the toolkit includes a wide array of tools and support to help you navigate this aspect of COVID-19. In it, you’ll find an overview of BC employment legislation, legal and mental health articles to help support employee mental health, information to help employers consider vaccination policy and sample employee policies.
Surge in Participation Fuels Digital Marketing Bootcamp Expansion
The Digital Marketing Bootcamp, a free program for small-and medium-sized businesses that teaches digital marketing skills, has been expanded to add 3,400 more seats, the provincial government announced.

Thirty percent of the new seats will be reserved for Indigenous, Black and people of colour, as well as rural businesses.

The bootcamp is open until March 31, 2022 to businesses with one to 149 employees. Firms must be British Columbia-based and registered to do business in B.C.
ABLE BC Published Fall 2021 Issue
of the Quarterly Pour
Feature articles in this issue:
 
Reminder | Have Your Say on B.C.’s Permanent Paid Sick Leave
Public consultation on the development of paid sick leave is now underway.

In addition to outreach to key stakeholders and Indigenous partners, a public consultation process is now open and can be accessed through government’s engagement site.

There will be two phases of consultation:
  • Phase 1 (Aug. 5 to Sept. 14) – surveys will gather information from employers and workers on the kinds of paid illness and injury leaves currently provided, and how they are meeting workers’ needs; and
  • Phase 2 (Sept. 20 to Oct. 25) – informed by the surveys, options will be prepared for various paid sick leave models, including the numbers of paid days and other supports, and will be posted for public feedback and input.

More information below:
New Member! Explore Professional Hospitality Training with The Canadian Institute for Blended Learning
The Canadian Institute for Blended Learning (CIBL) is a professional Hospitality training organization that offers certificate programs and Red Seal prep training. They often have students looking for practicum placements and employment after graduation. Please contact CIBL for your specific staff training needs.

"We'd love for members to know about our current promotion on our Red Seal Prep Program for Cooks. If any members have staff that would be interested in obtaining their Red Seal, our 40 hour, self paced, online program will introduce the exam for format, help them brush up on their technical knowledge and provide 100s of sample questions."

BENEFITS FOR BCHA MEMBERS:
Promotional pricing is currently $549.00, however if employers would like to arrange a group (3+) of registrants, CIBL is offering to give an additional 10% off each student's tuition fee. Simply contact the team and let them know that your business is a member of BCHA. 
A Cultivator of Positive Change | Meet BCHA Team Member, Mike Macleod!
Though Mike Macleod joined the BCHA August 2020, he has been a proud and enthusiastic advocate of the hospitality industry over the entirety of his 20+ year career in hotels. A true champion of all those around him, Mike's unshakeable positivity and innate leadership skills immeasurably impact those he interacts with for the better. Acting as a bridge between accommodators and industry operators, Mike notoriously goes the extra mile to ensure that membership feels understood, heard, and on a path toward success.

Get to know Mike:

  • What is your role at BCHA? 
  • Director of Member and Business Development - Through my role, I aim to ensure an exceptional member experience, while supporting the association’s business objectives. I focus on curating meaningful and sustainable business to business relationships that will benefit all involved.
  • How do you support and serve the BCHA membership? 
  • We focus on ensuring our members receive personalized, proactive communication, and always make ourselves available to answer their questions. In addition to our communication and advocacy work, we are completely focused on helping our entire membership achieve business success and often act as a bridge between business development.
  • What do you love about our BC tourism / hospitality community?
  • As an experienced hotelier, the industry is in my blood. First and foremost, I want to help because of my deep connection to the industry but also, I sincerely appreciate and respect the stories of how and why people are invested in hotels whether as a career or as an owner.
  • Name a stand-out moment or proud accomplishment you have had working at the BCHA
  • After months of travel restrictions, last year we were afforded brief window of opportunity to visit our members in the Kootenay Rockies. Being able to speak to our members directly, understand their concerns, and tailor solutions to assist with their business and employees was an invaluable experience. In the fall, we will be launching the next iteration of our Live Industry Update series. We are looking forward to seeing many more members in person around the province.
  • Which BC destination are you keen to visit this year?
  • The region of Northern BC is so expansive with much to explore. While it isn't this year, I am looking forward to visiting Prince George in March 2022 for the BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference.


Have any questions for Mike? Reach out to him at mike@bcha.com.mike@bcha.com
Propel | Government Funded Program with Financial Assistance for Employers
Tourism HR Canada announced the launch of a federally funded Student Work Placement Program offering paid work-integrated learning opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Called Propel, this initiative provides post-secondary students with paid work-integrated learning opportunities with tourism and hospitality employers. Employers who hire students through this initiative receive a wage subsidy of 75% of the student’s wages, up to a maximum of $7,500.

This program will be a lifeline to our hardest-hit sector, providing talent and financial assistance at a time when so many employers are struggling.

This new program benefits the full spectrum of the visitor economy as it emerges from the crushing impact of the pandemic:
  • Employers acquire much-needed early talent to help with the recovery of the industry, as well as assistance with wages after an 18-month stretch of little or no income.
  • Students gain paid hands-on learning and mentoring in their field of study.
  • Post-secondary institutions complement their programming by connecting students and the workplace.

All qualifying parties—from small, independent operations to large, multi-property companies—are invited to apply for this timely support for our sector at PropelCareers.ca.
Know Before You Go | Tourism Resources
FOR OPERATORS | Emergency Preparedness

With the priority of ensuring that travelers have all the official resources they need to make informed decisions based on the latest, on-the-ground information, DBC has created and updated their Emergency Preparedness page. Consider this a fulsome resource to keep both yourself and your visitors informed over the course of the ongoing fire season and COVID-19 pandemic.

Wildfire and COVID-19 messaging guidance can be found on the webpage, along with safe and responsible travel graphics for you to use on your channels, a visitor-facing safe travel brochure (web and print version), and the links to DBC's Know Before You Go information.

FOR VISITORS | Know before you go.

Current travel restrictions, wildfire info, and other key visitor information on is available on Destination BC's consumer website, HelloBC.com. Click here to visit the Know Before You Go page and share the resource with anyone travelling within BC.
HAC | Call to Action: Meet with your MP!
We are in full gear working on a bridge subsidy program for this sector for September to May. We have rallied more than 120 business association members behind this cause through our Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses. We have finalized our proposed program which is substantiated with detailed financial analysis (more details on that next week). And now we need YOU.

Our goal is to get the Liberals to commit to more support for our sector past the Fall. It could be a further extension of CEWS and CERS or a new program altogether. But they still need to be convinced that there’s a problem.

By this point, I was hoping we would have nearly 4,000 meetings logged with MPs in the riding in this pre-election period. We are way behind that target and the election call is imminent.

Please get a meeting with your MP or write a personal email explaining your plight. Get everyone (or at least 20 people) from your company/hotel to do the same. Everything you need is in this kit.

How To Do It:

Everything you need, including key talking points, how to contact your MP, meeting guides & tips, and how report your meetings back to HAC and other ways to get involved, can be found in HAC’s Grassroots Advocacy Toolkit.

If you have already had these meetings, thank you! Please help us track our success by recording your meetings in our meetings tracker, which can be found here.

Apply Today | Tourism & Hospitality Relief
Federal Programs
  • Tourism Relief Fund (TRF): to help tourism businesses and organizations adapt their operations to meet public health requirements while investing in products and services to facilitate their future growth. The $500 million national initiative across Canada will be administered by Western Economic Diversification in Western Canada.
  • Canadian Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS): Subsidy to cover a portion of eligible expenses until September 25, 2021. Also includes an additional Lockdown Support of 25% if your business was significantly affected by a public health order. Hotline: 1-800-959-5525
  • Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP): Aimed at sectors like tourism and hospitality, hotels, arts and entertainment, and will offer 100% government-guaranteed financing and provide low-interest loans up to $1 million for up to ten years.
  • Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS): Covers part of your employee wages retroactively back to December 20, 2020 until September 25, 2021. The maximum subsidy is 75%. Hotline: 1-800-959-5525
  • Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP): The new Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP) is designed to encourage businesses to grow as the economy recovers, whether it’s due to hiring and re-hiring staff, increasing shifts, or increasing overall pay.
  • Note: Your business can only claim the CEWS OR CRHP - here is a comparison between the two programs
  • Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB): $400 per week for 13 two-week periods between September 27, 2020, and September 25, 2021 for self-employed workers and those in the gig economy. Applications are handled through the Canada Revenue Agency. Hotline: 1-833-966-2099
 
Indigenous Programs

Provincial Program
  • The Workplace Accessibility Grant program. The grant program direct supports to small business employers in British Columbia by providing direct financial assistance towards creating an inclusive work environment for persons with a disability(ies).
Survey | BCHA Crises Survey
Following over 18 months of losses, we are now in the peak of our summer season and the current workforce shortage has resulted in significant challenges for operators. On top of this, restrictions in the Central Okanagan region and an exceptionally difficult wildfire season have complicated what is historically the most lucrative time of the year for our industry.

The BCHA is seeking your voice to inform advocacy work that is critical to the survival of our sector.

  • Has the workforce shortage impacted your business?
  • Have you lost revenue due to cancellations from the wildfire season?
  • Are you struggling to adapt to new Central Okanagan COVID-19 restrictions?

Your participation offers enormous support in clarifying our industry's message and your voice continues to be needed as we shift to recovery.

SURVEY CLOSES WEDNESDAY AT 5PM
Last Chance to Register! | Managing Risk Presented by Western Financial Group
DATE & TIME
Wednesday, August 11th | 1PM - 2M PDT

WITH HOST
Rudy Penner, Director of Risk Management
Western Financial Group

Overview
With a hard market and a reduced appetite from insurers, adopting risk management strategies is more important than ever. Implementing a comprehensive risk management program at your hotel, motel or pub can help protect what matters most: your people, your property, and your livelihood.

Join the BC Hotel Association and Western Financial Wednesday, August 11th at 1pm to learn more about how to implement risk management strategies.
Help the Tourism & Hospitality Industry Return to a New Normal & Win $1500
Participate in the survey and enter into a draw for prizes valued at $1,500.
 
go2HR has been hard at work undertaking a Labour Market Information research project to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on our workforce. Even before COVID-19, the industry faced some significant human resource challenges. We know those challenges will only increase as we emerge from the pandemic. 
 
We need your help! 
We need to hear from a representative sample of employers across all sectors and regions of the province. We ask for assistance in sharing the survey with a wide variety of businesses in the province, and ask you to please share this survey with your members. It takes approximately 25 minutes to complete this survey. We want to hear about the impact of COVID-19 on your member’s operations, the human resource issues they face, and what can be done to help industry in dealing with these issues going forward. Any information provided will be held confidential, used only for the purpose of this study, and reported only in summary form with the responses of other respondents. Please help us spread the word!
REMINDER | Searching for Employees? Integral Hospitality Offering Outsourced Workers
Integral Hospitality, a division of the Integral Services Group, have assisted a number of hotels throughout BC with their outsourced housekeeping needs.

Integral, a BCHA premier partner, recognizes the urgency that many accommodators are facing as we re-start domestic travel throughout the province.

Integral was able to help a BCHA member this week supplying two housekeepers to an Okanagan property within 24 hours. Please contact Brett Mollard directly at brett@integralservicesgroup.com
to learn more or visit their website here.
Mark Your Calendars
Save the Date! | BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference, March 8-11, 2022

Mark your calendars! The 2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference officially has a date. Taking place in Prince George, March 8-11, 2022, the conference will be an informative multi-day conference aimed at supporting growth and celebrating industry.

Stay tuned for further updates coming soon!
BC Hospitality Foundation | Tickets for Charity Online 50/50 Raffle on Sale Now

Tickets are on sale for the BC Hospitality Foundation's first ever online 50/50 raffle. Purchase tickets here.
 
The raffle starts with a $1000 jackpot and increases with every ticket purchased until sales close on August 16, 2021. The initiative is a fundraiser for the BC Hospitality Foundation - the only charity of its kind in Canada, with a mission of supporting hospitality and tourism workers in need.
 
 
·   5 for $10
·   20 for $20
·   150 for $40
 
The winning name will be drawn at noon on August 17. Please support our hospitality and tourism sector by purchasing tickets and spreading the word about the raffle among your friends, family, and colleagues!
 
Funds raised by the event will be used by the BCHF to support hospitality industry workers facing financial crisis due to a serious health condition experienced by themselves or a family member. The registered charity also administers a scholarship program that fosters the development of the next generation of hospitality industry workers and leaders.
 
Learn more and purchase tickets here.
Fore the Love of Tourism 15th Annual TIP Invitational Golf Tournament 2021

Join Partners in Tourism (TIP) at the beautiful Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club Friday, August 27, 2021 for the 15th Annual Fore the Love of Tourism TIP Invitational Golf Tournament.
 
 
BACKGROUND:
Partners in Tourism – TIP Society was established in 2006 with the goal of fostering future generations of tourism professionals. Never has that been more important.

We are now seeing signs of recovery and in our collective spirit of optimism, we are again gathering for the Tourism Industry Partners (TIP) Invitational Golf Tournament to raise funds to support scholarships and awards to get the next generation back in the hospitality game.
Since its inception, Partners in Tourism – TIP has provided funding in excess of $700,000 to support training, the purchase of equipment and financial assistance to hospitality students. The need has never been greater. 
Let’s TIP the scales in favour of up-and-coming tourism and hotel professionals.
You’re invited to the 2021 TIAC Tourism Congress at the Westin Ottawa on November 30 to December 1 –
in-person & online
 
The pandemic has changed everything. But it’s also given us the opportunity to work together, adopt new ways of doing business, and reimagine what tourism looks like post-COVID-19. Come join the Tourism Industry Association of Canada at the 2021 Tourism Congress.
Tipping Our Hat to Industry!
Have News or A Congrats You'd Like to Share? Contact Kelsey@bcha.com
A BIG Congratulations to Destination BC's three new Board of Directors!

The BCHA is delighted to celebrate the appointment of Scott Fraser, Lori Simcox, and Manoj Jasra to the Destination BC Board of Directors! Their support and leadership of our collective industry is invaluable.
Scott Fraser, Board Chair, recently retired from the BC Provincial government as MLA and Member of Cabinet and Executive Council, representing Mid-Island Pacific Rim. Scott previously served as Mayor of the District of Tofino, President of the Tofino Bed and Breakfast Association, Director on the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, and Director on the Clayoquot Sound Central Region Board. In 2019, he introduced the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as Minister of Indigenous Relations. 
Lori Simcox, Board Member, is CEO of SPAL General Constructors Inc., owned by the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, which manages partnerships in the construction industry.
Manoj Jasra, Board Member, is Chief Marketing & Digital Officer at Northland Properties Group, whose assets span hotels, restaurants, resorts, sports and construction in Canada and internationally.
Congrats to the winners of Kostuch Media Ltd. (KML)'s 2021 Top 30 Under 30 award winners!

The annual awards program recognizes the hospitality industry’s top young performers, helping to create and inspire a future generation of hospitality leaders. It also promotes self-esteem and pride for young professionals and provides exemplary role models for those forging careers in the foodservice and hospitality industry.

A special shout out to our BC winners! They include:

  • Amber Douel, Front Office Manager, Delta Hotels by Marriott – Vancouver Downtown Suites
  • Candace Kimball, General Manager, Earls Kitchen + Bar
  • Joel Kaastra, Restaurant General Manager, Fairmont Chateau Whistler – Portobello Restaurant
  • Lynsee Yee, Director of Banquets, Fairmont Empress
  • Mohsen Dastpak, Regional Director of Operations – Fraser Valley, Earls Restaurant

Congratulations to all honorees! Click here to see the full list.
In The News

The organization representing B.C.’s tourism operators says it’s cautiously optimistic as the clock counts down to the reopening of the border to U.S. tourists.

As of midnight Sunday night, fully-vaccinated Americans who show a negative COVID-19 test will be able to enter the country for non-essential reasons, 15 months after the border was shuttered.

“It’s a long time coming,” Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of B.C., told Global News on Sunday.

“A lot of operators are barely hanging on by a thread.”
Virtually no industry in the province has been hit as hard by the pandemic as tourism, while others, such as the hospitality industry, have suffered serious knock-on effects.

Hundreds of vehicles queued to cross the U.S.-Canada border from Blaine, Wash., into Surrey, B.C., Monday morning, as Americans headed to Canada after COVID restrictions were lifted or reduced for many.

Canada began allowing fully vaccinated Americans and permanent residents who currently live in the U.S. to enter Canada for non-essential travel as of Aug. 9.

Travellers must be fully vaccinated with Canadian-approved vaccines at least 14 days prior to entry and provide a COVID-19 negative test that's been taken in the past 72 hours. Canadian approved vaccines include AstraZeneca-Covisheld, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

If the traveller meets the criteria, they no longer need to quarantine or be subject to a hotel stay or eight-day testing. But Canadian citizens heading into the U.S. from Canada still face a complete closure until at least Aug. 21.

The BC government and Indigenous Nations, along with BC tourism operators, are teaming up to clean up marine debris along BC’s shorelines.

More than 1,000 kilometers of BC’s shorelines will be targeted in an effort to clean the beaches and water of marine debris and litter.

Three tourism operators will partner with Indigenous Nations to target more remote places such as Haida Gwaii and the Discovery Islands.
“As the MLA for this region and a long-time resident of a coastal BC community, I have seen first hand the problem of marine debris,” said MLA for North Coast, Jennifer Rice.

“Haida Gwaii is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and it’s great news that this area will be one of the targets of the CCCW program, returning it to a pristine state.”

The province announced that $3.6 million from the Clean Coast, Clean Waters (CCW) initiative will be spearheaded between Misty Isles Economic Development Society, Spirit of the West Adventures, and the Campbell River Association of Tour Operators.

Both tourism operators, Spirit of the West Adventures and the Campbell River Association, have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the tourism industry.
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