Today's update includes:
- General Updates
- Province Announces Recipients of Active Transportation Planning Grants
- Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses Announces Statement on COVID-19 Support Program Extensions
- Interior Health | COVD-19 Resources
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New Funding Through Transport Canada’s Airport Critical Infrastructure Program
- Walk In Wednesday | Vax for BC
- Reminder| Free Access to Accommodation Performance Tracking Data with STR
- Know Before You Go | Tourism Resources
- go2HR | Tips to Protect Workers from the Heat
- Apply Today | Tourism & Hospitality Relief
- Survey | BCHA Crises Survey
- Upcoming BCHA Webinar | Managing Risk Presented by Western Financial Group
- Searching for Employees? Integral Hospitality Offering Outsourced Workers!
- Help the Tourism & Hospitality Industry Return to a New Normal & Win $1500
- 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
- Hiring in the Fall? Student Work Placement Program | FREE Information Session Aug 4
- Fore the Love of Tourism 15th Annual TIP Invitational Golf Tournament 2021
- Tipping Our Hat to Industry!
- Brenda Baptiste is one of 16 people that has been named to the Order of British Columbia!
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Congrats to Nataley Nagy who was named Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Top 40 over 40 presented by BDO.
- In the News
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2021 is Halfway Complete. How Far Has the Hotel Industry Made It Back? - By David Eisen, August 2, Hotel News Resource
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The Travel Agent Is Back. Here’s How to Know if You Need One, July 30, Bloomberg
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New Research from Expedia Group Reveals Price No Longer Primary Driver of Travel Decisions, July 28, Hotel News Resource
- Comment Card | Industry Thoughts & Feedback
- Last Laugh | A Little Something to Make Our Members Smile
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Province Announces Recipients of Active Transportation Planning Grants |
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The Province is providing more than $404,000 to help local governments include active transportation in their community planning.
Since the Active Transportation Planning Grant launched, intakes in October 2020 and May 2021 have provided funding to 22 communities with the goal of encouraging British Columbians to choose walking, cycling, skateboarding and other active methods to get to their destinations.
The recipients include:
- Capital Regional District: $20,000 – Active Transportation Plan for Southern Gulf Islands
- Central Saanich: $16,865 – Official Community Plan update
- Chetwynd: $20,000 – Official Community Plan update
- Cumberland: $18,790 – Transportation Master Plan – Active Transportation Foundations
- Houston: $20,000 – Official Community Plan update: Active Transportation Plan
- Islands Trust: $17,500 – Ferry to Village Project Scoping: Safe Connectors for People of all Ages and Abilities
- Kitimat: $20,000 – Active Transportation Network Planning and Analysis
- Ladysmith: $19,900 – Official Community Plan: Active Transportation Engagement and Policies
- North Coast Regional District: $13,625 – Strategic Official Community Plan Policy Update for Active Transportation in District D
- Osoyoos: $10,000 – Official Community Plan Policy Update
- Peachland: $10,000 – Trail of the Okanagans-Peachland Connections
- Port Alberni: $19,654 – Official Community Plan update: Active Transportation Strategy
- Powell River: $20,000 – Sustainable Official Community Plan update: Bicycle Strategy
- Prince Rupert: $20,000 – Integrated Transportation Master Plan
- Princeton: $19,500 – 2008 Official Community Plan Review and Update
- Nanaimo Regional District: $20,000 – Official Community Plan for Electoral Area G
- Rossland: $20,000 – Official Community Plan Active Transportation Integration
- Sayward: $18,617 – Active Transportation Planning
- Sidney: $20,000 – Official Community Plan Active Transportation Objectives and Policies
- Strathcona Regional District: $20,000 – Cortes Island Active Transportation Planning Research and Data Collection Project
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Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses Announces Statement on COVID-19 Support Program Extensions |
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Our industry applauds the Government for extending CEWS & CERS, but a longer term survival plan is needed for Canada's #HardestHit Businesses. The Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses has released the following statement. We encourage each of you to share this message and amplify within your network.
We have a long road forward. Click here for more information.
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Interior Health | COVD-19 Resources |
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As of July 29, additional regional measures have been put in place by Interior Health, for Kelowna and the Central Okanagan, to help reduce COVID-19 transmission. Visitors and residents have been asked the follow to follow these guidelines to keep our community and each other safe.
Interior Health has shared the following COVID-19 and vaccine resources:
For more information about the current COVID-19 restrictions in place in the central Okanagan, please click here
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Walk In Wednesday | Vax for BC |
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On Wednesday, August 4, all clinics are offering walk-in doses. You don't need to register online or phone before you arrive.
Dose 1 eligibility: All people aged 12+
Dose 2 eligibility: All people vaccinated before June 16
Bring photo ID to the clinic. You'll get either Pfizer or Moderna.
In addition to Walk in Wednesday, beginning on July 27, 2021, and lasting throughout the month of August, there will be:
- Community events, vax vans and mobile clinics in dozens of communities in B.C. available by walk-in or pre-scheduling
- 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
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Vancouver Airport Authority welcomed last week's announcement which confirms new federal funding through Transport Canada’s Airport Critical Infrastructure Program (ACIP) for essential airport safety and infrastructure projects.
This funding comes at a pivotal time as Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is preparing to welcome back travellers and help lead the region’s economic recovery.
Funding from ACIP totals $38.4 million and will support two projects at YVR, including upgrades to the airport’s Runway End Safety Area and its dyke and drainage system.
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REMINDER | Free Access to Accommodation Performance Tracking Data with STR
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Accommodation operators have a unique opportunity to learn more about the performance of B.C.'s hotel, lodge, and B&B performance, with no cost to participate.
As we all move toward recovery, it’s never been more important to strategize around pricing and understanding whether to try and recoup occupancy rates or maintain room rates.
STR’s weekly reporting tool enables accommodation providers to see how their own property is performing against those within the local market - both geographic area and class of accommodation.
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How It Works
STR collects rooms available, rooms sold, and net room revenue on a monthly, weekly, and daily basis from participating hotels. Data is then fed back to all participants in reports - and via a personal dashboard. All individual hotel data remains confidential and is never released to a third party.
Submitting data assists not only participating properties, but also the local market and the entire province. Participation is fast and easy, taking less than 5 minutes a month.
Background
Weekly and monthly STR reports that detail accommodation performance across the province are provided to the Regional DMO partners each week by Symphony Tourism Services. The aim of the BCRTS partners, BCHA, and STR is to increase hotel participation so that quality and accuracy of data increases for everyone across British Columbia.
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Know Before You Go | Tourism Resources |
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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.
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go2HR | Tips to Protect Workers
from the Heat
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As hot temperatures are predicted across the province, employers need to pay extra attention to workers who work in outdoor settings, to minimize the risk of heat stress.
Heat stress can mean heat exhaustion, or worse, heat stroke. The symptoms of heat exhaustion include dizziness, excess sweating, fainting and muscle cramps. Heat stroke symptoms include increased breathing rate, lack of sweating, confusion, seizures and even cardiac arrest.
WorkSafeBC requires employers to conduct heat stress assessments at their place of work and have a heat stress mitigation plan that trains and educates staff to recognize the symptoms of heat stress and apply appropriate controls.
Each year, WorkSafeBC accepts many work-related injury claims because of heat stress but with a bit of preparation by employers and workers, it is an easily preventable injury.
Here are some tips to help protect outdoor workers during the heatwave:
- Workers should increase their water intake, and drink one glass every 20 minutes.
- Limit strenuous physical work during the hottest hours of the day (11 am – 3 pm).
- Wear light colored, loose fitting cotton clothing and taking regular breaks in a cool, well-ventilated area.
- Workers should be aware of their own personal risk factors (pre-existing conditions or medications) and should check themselves and co-workers for symptoms of heat stress.
Employers can make appropriate modifications to mitigate the risk of heat related claims by monitoring heat conditions and changing practices or policies to limit the risk. That may mean additional workers and rotating work activities to limit prolonged heat exposure. Employers can set up cooling areas with shade and water so workers can rest and cool off during the hot weather. Ensuring that there is adequate first aid coverage and that emergency procedures are in place is another simple step employers can take to protect their workers from the additional risks of high temperatures.
If you have any questions regarding workplace health and safety, please contact us via phone: 604-633-9787 or email: safety@go2hr.ca. Our qualified health and safety staff are available to assist and we look forward to supporting you and your team.
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Apply Today | Tourism & Hospitality Relief
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Federal Programs
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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Note: Your business can only claim the CEWS OR CRHP - here is a comparison between the two programs
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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
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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).
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Survey | BCHA Crises Survey |
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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.
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Upcoming BCHA Webinar | Managing Risk Presented by Western Financial Group |
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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.
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Help the Tourism & Hospitality Industry Return to a New Normal & Win $1500 |
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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!
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REMINDER | Searching for Employees? Integral Hospitality Offering Outsourced Workers |
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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.
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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!
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Creating safe and brave workplaces for our 2SLGBTQ+ communities
Date: Thursday, August 5, 2021
Time: 12:00 PM
Members | this event is free for members
Non-member Individuals: $30 + GST
Join the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council (DLC) as they celebrate and reflect on the hard work and sacrifice our 2SLGBTQ+ communities have made in the fight for acceptance, equity, and inclusion.
This session will:
- Celebrate the diversity of the 2SLGBTQ+ community
- Explain the importance of honouring pronouns and their proper usage
- Empower employers and colleagues to build workplaces that celebrate all employees regardless of gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation
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Hiring in the Fall? Student Work Placement Program | FREE Information Session Aug 4
Looking to hire a student this Fall? f you need a little help, the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) offers a wage subsidy of up to $7,500 towards hiring a student.
The SWPP has changed eligibility criteria, meaning your organization can probably access funding! On Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at 1:00pm PT for an information session on how the program works, eligible positions, and how to apply.
Brought to you by the Talent MATCH Program, the SWPP Info Session will feature representatives from two SWPP delivery partners: Cheryl Serpanchy, the Regional Coordinator at ICTC WIL Digital, and Louie Di Palma, the Director of SME Programs at the Talent Opportunities Program. They will review student positions their programs can fund, employer and student eligibility criteria, and how to apply.
This info session is free, but you must register for it here.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Tipping Our Hat to Industry!
Have News You'd Like to Share? Contact Kelsey@bcha.com
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Brenda Baptiste is one of 16 people that has been named to the Order of British Columbia!
Among her many achievements, Brenda is being recognized for fostering Indigenous tourism and culture via the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Aboriginal Tourism BC and the Aboriginal Business Showcase for the Four Host Nations during the 2010 Olympics.
“As representative of the Crown in British Columbia and as Chancellor of the Order of British Columbia, I am delighted to welcome 16 new members to the order,” said Lt. Gov. Janet Austin, chancellor of the order.
“Their extraordinary leadership has been a source of strength for communities across the province. In difficult times, they have connected us through art, culture, public service and more. As we move with optimism toward the future, their achievements will be a foundation of success for future generations. It is with great honour I share congratulations to these remarkable individuals.”
The full list of recipients includes:
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• Dr. Bonnie J. Fraser Henry of Victoria
• Carol A. Lee of Vancouver
• James McEwen, OC, of Vancouver
• Andrew Petter, CM, QC, of Victoria.
• Dolph Schluter of Vancouver
• Dr. Poul Sorensen of Vancouver
• Arran and Ratana Stephens of Vancouver
• Marvin Storrow, QC, of Vancouver
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• Chief Joe Alphonse of Tsilhqot’in Nation
• Joe Average, MGC, of Vancouver
• Brenda Baptiste of Osoyoos
• Dr. Debra Braithwaite of Victoria
• Frances Belzberg, OC, of Vancouver
• Ajay Dilawri of Vancouver
• Debra Doucette (Hewson) of the District of North Vancouver
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Congrats to Nataley Nagy who was named Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Top 40 over 40 presented by BDO.
Nataley is the Executive Director of the Kelowna Art Gallery and is also a Board Director at Tourism Kelowna.
"In all of her undertakings, Nataley works to promote understanding that art is not only important in itself, but that creativity is a universal human inheritance."
Congrats Nataley!
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Gauging the global hotel industry’s recovery is a lot like poker: you play the hand you’re dealt as best you can and you never know what the next one will bring.
Just when we thought we might be out of the woods, an uptick in new cases, the Delta variant and fervent discussion over the vaccinated and unvaccinated have conspired, resulting in the return of masks in some jurisdictions and worry around the globe that this pandemic has still a ways to go.
I attended the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), in Los Angeles, last week, and—though optimism and rosiness tend to permeate industry conferences—in private, attendees expressed concern that the recovery was still slow and muddied.
From labor shortages to lack of corporate and group demand, the hotel industry’s true recovery is a wait-and-see game—a game of poker dependent on the luck of the next hand.
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Like most travel agents, Sarah Fazendin spent much of last year canceling trips for clients. The owner of Videre Travel, an agency in Denver that specializes in high-end family getaways, scrambled to secure refunds and credit vouchers and organize paperwork for travel insurance claims.
That wasn’t the worst of it. “When an airline refunded a client, they also recalled our commission,” she says. “So as I worked around the clock, I watched my revenue go from record-breaking to nonexistent.” Hers is a common story: Travel agents as a whole lost a combined $12.4 billion in 2020, according to research company Phocuswright.
The travel agent may be one of the most misunderstood professional groups around. In a world with tons of digital DIY planning tools, who needs them? But thanks to fast-changing Covid-19 testing protocols, border restrictions, shifting airline schedules, rental car scarcity, and limited hotel inventory, even the most confident jet-setters are turning to the pros for help.
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New research from Expedia Group reveals shifting views on travel, including positive sentiment on vaccine passports, increased budgets, and an enduring demand for safety and financial security. The Traveler Value Index examines the views of 8,000 people in eight countries to understand their values and expectations as the pandemic becomes more controlled in many parts of the world.
“As vaccination rates rise and borders open across the globe, people are ready and eager to travel. However, the months of uncertainty are weighing on their travel decisions and shifting the conventional belief that price is the top driver of bookings,” said Ariane Gorin, president, Expedia for Business, Expedia Group. “These insights show people want to book with trusted travel providers that will deliver on their experiences, keep them safe, and protect their financial investments.”
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