Message from President & CEO Ingrid Jarrett
Good afternoon accommodation community,

After months of advocacy, research, and collaboration, I am delighted to share that in a press release distributed this afternoon, the provincial government outlined further details on the Tourism Recovery Initiatives Action Plan that includes a strategic investment of more than $9.5 million over the next two years for recovery of the meetings, conference, and events sector, and to support with our workforce recovery strategy.

This has been an incredible piece of work led by the BC Hotel Association, go2HR, and a collection of our tremendous industry partners that include Destination Vancouver, Tourism Richmond, and Destination Greater Victoria. I would like to thank each organization along with each of you who have worked over the past weeks to detail the workability and eligibility of this critical investment. Your expertise, time, and strategic thinking has been incredibly valuable. Thank you.

To offer further clarity on the investment, the funds will be allocated in two streams:
 
  • Rebuilding our business meetings, conferences, and events sector:
  • The Business Events and Conferences Restart Fund will provide up to $5 million this fiscal year and up to $3 million next year to help restart business travel with funding to community destination management organizations (CDMO) that were significantly involved in attracting and hosting business events, conferences, and exhibitions before the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible CDMOs will be invited to submit proposals to access this funding.

  • This investment will allow our DMO community to attract large-scale events, putting our province back into this highly competitive international market. Through this, we can generate economic activity by drawing international visitors who tend to spend more, and often travel to other smaller destinations once their business travel is complete. British Columbia’s meetings, conferences, and events sector sustains a significant network of businesses across the province – including hotels, food services, audio-visual companies, event rental companies, event planners, and transportation companies – and will subsequently benefit from the return of large conferences to the province.

  • Prior to the pandemic, British Columbia was known across the globe for being a leading meetings, conferences, and events destination. We have suffered two years of incredible losses, but this meaningful support will help us restore that world-class reputation once again as we warmly welcome delegates from across the globe.

  • Investing in solutions for our workforce crisis:
  • In response to our industry’s critical workforce shortage, the Province will also invest more than $1.5 million to fund dedicated human resources specialists in five tourism regions over the next two years. Creating strategic solutions to build workforce recovery in each region, these individuals will also offer expert advice to operators including recruitment, onboarding, compensation, training, health and safety and interpreting employment legislation.

  • It is no secret that our tourism and hospitality industry continues to face challenges recruiting and retaining workers. Access to skilled staff is the most pressing concerns for operators across British Columbia. We are delighted that our incredible partners at go2HR will be leading this initiative, and will begin recruiting on Vancouver Island, and in the Thompson Okanagan, Northern BC, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast and Kootenay Rockies tourism regions in the coming weeks. I’d like to acknowledge and thank Krista Bax, CEO of go2HR for her vision, leadership, and resolve to support our industry through this strategic investment.

Strategic investments to support the rebuild of our meetings, conferences, and events industry, and to address our workforce crisis, will be critical to our sector’s recovery and for the wellbeing of our workforce and provincial economy. The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, under Minister Mark’s leadership, has been an extraordinary consultative partner, advocating for our industry and demonstrating a heartfelt commitment to support our strategic recovery. We are very grateful to the entire Tourism Ministry team for all their hard work, and for understanding the importance of investing strategically in our mutual recovery.

Best Regards
Ingrid
Today's update includes:

B.C. Tourism Business Events, Workforce Support Receive Grants
In a press release distributed Feb.10, the Province of BC announced that business events and workforce support initiatives, such as hiring and retaining employees, in the tourism sector will receive more than $9.3 million over the next two years as part of the Tourism Recovery Initiatives Action Plan.

  • The Business Events and Conferences Restart Fund will provide up to $5 million this fiscal year and up to $3 million next year to help restart business travel with funding to community destination management organizations (CDMO) that were significantly involved in attracting and hosting business events, conferences, and exhibitions before the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • An additional $1.5 million will help fund dedicated human resources specialists in five tourism regions over the next two years.
FINAL REMINDER! | BC Tourism Accommodation & Commercial Recreation Relief Fund CLOSES MONDAY!
On Monday, Feb 14, application intake for BC Tourism Accommodation and Commercial Recreation Relief Fund will close!

This is a significant funding support that has been created to assist B.C.-owned large accommodation providers, employing more than 150 people, that may have been left out of previous pandemic supports such as the Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant.

Should you be eligible for this funding it is imperative that you apply as soon as possible as the window for access to this relief is quickly closing. Furthermore should you have any questions about the grant or surrounding your eligibility, we strongly encourage you to reach out to TACRR@gov.bc.ca as soon as possible.

Please see our recent information session recording with the Ministry of Tourism, Art, Culture, & Sport to the right.
HAC | Take Important Survey Today!
The Hotel Association of Canada is seeking 5 minutes of your time to complete an important survey. We need this data to support our media and lobbying work as we attempt to bring urgency to our asks and get the Government’s focus and attention. We have some key meetings early next week with the highest levels of Government and we need fresh data.
Please complete this 5-minute survey by end of day tomorrow (Friday, February 11). Our goal is 2,000 respondents to ensure a strong sample size.
Province Updates PHO on Food & Liquor Service Premises with Clarity on Liquor-only Establishments
Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, released an updated PHO with additional guidance on how liquor-serving-only businesses can remain open by providing meals from external sources.
 
Sector associations worked directly with the PHO to bring about these necessary changes to support members who have been ordered closed simply because they did not have kitchens.

Click below for further info on what these measures involve.
Strong Demand for Accommodation, Food Services Sector Forecast
The provincial government’s 2021 Labour Market Outlook (LMO) was released earlier this week and forecasts more than one million job openings over the next decade.

The report points to a strong demand for workers in the accommodation and food services sectors. In fact, with 65,000 job openings over the next 10 years the sector is one of five industries to account for about half of total job openings. (the other four are health care and social assistance; professional, scientific and technical services; retail trade; and construction.

In the big picture, there are 1,004,000 job openings expected through to 2031 across B.C., and 63% of them will be to replace people leaving the workforce permanently, such as retirees. The remaining 37% will be new jobs created by economic growth and pandemic recovery.

The report notes B.C.’s workforce will be required to build new skills and knowledge to keep pace with the openings. Nearly 80% of the future job openings will require some level of post-secondary education or training.

The LMO also assesses the continuation of historical productivity growth and automation trends. It incorporates the expected increase in productivity due to COVID-19 in industries including tourism and hospitality and retail, as well as other industry-specific trends.
 Government Extends Expanded Access to Local Lockdown Program and Worker Lockdown Benefit
The federal government announced that they would be extending the Local Lockdown Program amendments and the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit to March 12, 2022. 
 
Using the regulatory authority provided in Bill C-2, the government intends to propose expanding access announced on December 22, 2021 by one month, until March 12, 2022.

As a reminder, here is a complete list of available applications and supports
  1. Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program
  2. Canada Recovery Hiring Program
  3. Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program
  4. Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit
  5. Local Lockdown Program
BCHA Celebrates Supporting Local This Week with Launch of New Video!
This week the BCHA is celebrating #BCHAShopLocal week! We will be sharing information and content highlighting the benefits of supporting local, and encouraging hoteliers to connect with local business owners.

We were pleased to kickstart this Shop Local initiative yesterday with the launch of our new video featuring a collection of local suppliers across the province.

By working together businesses can support one another and help build back BC's economy stronger than ever!
Reminder | Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program
Funds 15 Tourism Infrastructure Projects
More than 50 new tourism projects are receiving a total of $21.3 million for shovel-ready infrastructure projects, the provincial government announced.

A list of all approved projects, including upgrading hiking trails, increasing signage and an Indigenous campground development, is available at: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/CERIP_Table_2.pdf

The tourism infrastructure fund will begin accepting applications in fall 2022 and again in fall 2023. More information will be released this summer. //news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022TACS0003-000124
Virtual Event | Register for the
Workforce Recovery Panel
Happening Feb.16 at 1pm!
As part of BCHA's new virtual event series, we are pleased to bring together an esteemed panel of industry experts and leaders to discuss some of the recruitment programs and opportunities currently available to employers looking to hire. During this 1 hour session, panelists will answer your most pressing questions on workforce recruitment while outlining resources such as:

  • Temporary Foreign Workers | Francophone Mobility Program, Labour Market Impact Assessment Programs
  • Domestic / In-Canada Recruitment | Mobilize Jobs
  • Contract Worker Employment | Integral Services Group
  • Training Programs and Upskilling | Hotel Operation Services Skills Training Project with WorkBC
Paid Sick Leave Survey & FAQ
As of January 1, 2022, the provincial government mandated five days of paid sick leave for employees. 

ABLE BC is seeking your voice to better understand how this new policy has impacted your business since its implementation. The information you provide will support our collective industry's ongoing engagement with all levels of government.

This survey will be open until Thursday, February 10, 2022.

ABLE BC is continuing to work with our industry partners to request logical and necessary amendments to the paid sick leave policy, including pressuring government to redefine “employment year” as a calendar year and to re-introduce the now-expired Employer Reimbursement Program for COVID-19 related sick leave wages.
 
LAST CHANCE! Apply Now for Reimbursement for COVID-19 Related Sick Leave in 2021
You can still apply for reimbursement for employee COVID-19 sick leave taken between May 20, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
 
The reimbursement program will close on February 11, 2022 at 4:00 pm.
 
Reimbursement applications must be submitted online through WorkSafeBC.
 
If you have questions, please email LBR.COVIDPaidSickLeave@gov.bc.ca or call 1-888-PAY-4C1
GoGreen Tip of the Week!
Sign up for a FREE energy analysis!
2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality
Conference | In Memoriam Submissions
At this year's BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference, we will be paying our respects through an "In Memoriam" slideshow tribute that honours all of those who have passed since we last met in person. We need your help to ensure that each of our industry friends are included.

How to Submit:
  • Please send direct submissions to info@bctourismandhospitalityconference.com
  • In your submissions, please detail the individual's:
  • First and last name
  • Title and company from their latest role
  • An image or headshot

We will be accepting submissions until Friday, February 11th. 
REMINDER | Planning to Install a Patio This Summer? TESA Applications Expiring!
If you are planning to install a patio this summer, you need to take urgent action now. TESA applications from last year are expiring soon and do not provide approval for patios this coming summer.
 
On June 15, 2021, the LCRB extended the deadline for currently approved Temporary Expanded Service Areas (TESAs) to expire on June 1, 2022.

This means that if you have not made the service area under your TESA permanent by applying for a permanent structural change (e.g., applying for a patio), your TESA will expire on June 1, 2022 and you will not be able to sell or serve liquor in the expanded space.
Take Advantage of Go2HR's Complimentary Safety Plan Review Service
B.C.’s provincial health officer announced an order requiring employers to re-activate their COVID-19 safety plans. This new order replaces the previous requirement for employers to have communicable disease prevention plans and does not have an expiration date.
 
go2HR is offering a complimentary COVID-19 Safety Plan Review Service to B.C.’s tourism and hospitality employers.
 
 
For other templates, signage, guidelines, and business support visit:
Industry News & Quick Links
BCHA INN THE NEWS

In response to the workforce shortage impacting British Columbia’s hospitality industry, the British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA) has taken matters into its own hands. For the first time in the organization’s 105-year-old history, it has created an administrative position dedicated to recruitment. Read more.

The British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA) is pleased to launch a new video encouraging the province’s accommodation sector to invest in local businesses and help build back BC’s economy stronger than ever. Read more.

Its Business Events and Conferences Restart Fund will provide up to $5 million in the fiscal year that ends March 31, and another $3 million next year to cities' destination management organizations, such as Destination Vancouver. Read more.


HOT OFF THE PRESS

The Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable is joining a group of doctors to demand the federal government end all COVID-19 testing requirements for passengers. Read more.

Tourism operators on P.E.I. say the three-step plan for easing out of COVID-19 restrictions announced by the provincial government Tuesday is welcome news. Read more.
INDUSTRY TRENDS AND QUICKLINKS

A collection of tools and articles on hotel revenue management from Cendyn Read more
 
The Future is Trust: a People-first Approach for the New Era of Hospitality - By Lize De Kock So much has changed in the hospitality industry, but one thing is certain to stay the same. In fact, at TrustYou we have spent the last months talking to hundreds of independent and enterprise hoteliers, as well as destination marketers, about the power of trust. The conversations typically take the same direction: quality, communication, relationships. It has never been more important to make that human connection. Read more

With both TikTok and Reels capturing outsized attention among social media users, we’ve created a comparison chart so you can fully leverage both of these popular platforms in your hotel marketing strategy. Read more
Tipping Our Hat to Industry
Have news to share? Email kelsey@bcha.com
143 BC Hotels Recognized for being the Best in the Country!

It’s official: BC has the second-highest number of top hotels and resorts in the country with 143, cementing its place as a prime vacation — or staycation — destination.

The ranking was chosen by U.S. News & World Report, which uses analysis of industry awards, hotel star ratings, and user ratings to draft the list.

For more information click here - congrats to all the named hotels!
Mark Your Calendars
May 8, 2022 – May 11, 2022

IMPACT is a collaborative national dialogue on innovation. The dream to create a legacy for sustainable and regenerative tourism in Canada is stronger than ever, and your voices are needed.
 
Join in on a national conversation on sustainable tourism, as delegates and speakers explore and compare models for tourism recovery. Hear from some of the most creative and innovative experts in the business and address our new reality of higher expectations, for and of visitors.
 
BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference
Richmond Conference Centre | March 9-11

Registration is now open for the 2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference, taking place in-person at the Richmond Conference Centre from March 9-11, 2022.

Please note, tickets will be sold separately for the following conference events, though you must have a conference ticket to attend the gala:

  • Rev Up! Hotel Pre-Conference Track
  • Taking place March 9 from 8am-1pm, Rev Up! tickets offer exclusive access to content tailored specifically for accommodators, with engaging presentations and panels from industry experts and leaders across Canada’s accommodation community.
  • Conference Tickets:
  • Early bird rates are available until 11:59pm PT on February 1, 2022 with member and non-member pricing options. Tickets include complete access to all three days of conference sessions, workshops, marketplace, and silent auction.
  • Awards Gala:
  • Reserve your spot for a celebratory evening that will recognize our province’s most exceptional products, services, experiences, and people, taking place the evening of Thursday, March 10, 2022.
Waterside Chat with Greater Victoria Harbour Authority
 
Join Greater Victoria Harbour Authority CEO Ian Robertson and Anna Poustie, Chair of the Victoria Cruise Industry Alliance, as they discuss the operational planning that is happening in advance of the 2022 cruise season.
 
Date: Friday, February 11th at 2:00 pm
Click here to register
The 2022 Cruise schedule is available here.
She Summits Forum | Upcoming Elevate and Ignite Events

Our friends at the She Summits Forum are hosting a free event series to support your wellbeing and ignite your untapped potential called Elevate and Ignite.

Register for free here for the upcoming events | Details on each workshop can be found here
  • February 16 from 7:00 pm PT to 8:00 pm PT: Women Creating Conscious Change - A Panel Discussion

Who is the She Summits Forum? They help self-identifying women feel confident, empowered, and valued within themselves, their workplaces, and their communities. They do this through powerful films that celebrate the female spirit, nature-based events, curated content, and real connections. Learn more.
2022 Annual BC Economic Summit
Date: April 3rd 1:30 PM  to April 5th 2:30 PM

The British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) is presenting its 2022 Annual BC Economic Summit in a virtual format with the theme of Reconciliation and Resiliency - A Future for BC. This is an opportunity to highlight success stories, lessons learned, share cutting-edge ideas, and engage your colleagues at the premier event for economic development practitioners in British Columbia.
 
Click here to learn more and to register.
BCHF | Destination Greater Victoria Lottery
 
A fundraiser for the BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF), the Destination Greater Victoria lottery offers bidders a chance to win prize packages that include transportation, fine dining, and luxury accommodation in Greater Victoria. There are four prize packages available. All prizes have been generously donated by Destination Greater Victoria members. Prize draws will take place at 12 p.m. on February 7, 2022. 
 
Register Now! Vancouver Island Tourism Conference 2022
April 12 - 14, 2022

Tourism stakeholders in the Vancouver Island region are invited to attend the in-person return of the annual Vancouver Island Tourism Conference, powered by Tourism Vancouver Island. It will be held April 12-14, 2022 in Victoria, B.C. at the Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort. This year’s conference will focus on Mindful Travel: The health of our environment; The health of our industry; The health of our people. The early bird rate is $375 until February 11th (Regular rate is $475 until March 28th). Learn more and register here.

Comment Card - #BCHAShopLocal
To celebrate #BCHAShopLocal week, in place of our regular Comment Card, we will be sharing more info on reasons to shop local!
Support Local Families

When you shop local, you help contribute to the well-being of local families in the community. Instead of shopping at chain stores and contributing to a CEO's second summer home, help a child be able to sign up for dance class or get a new pair of shoes.
Enhance Your Consumer Choice and Satisfaction

Having a wide variety of independent businesses, each serving customers’ unique tastes, creates greater overall choice for all of us. This also means business owners are able to cater to the needs and wants of their customers - they are not limited to generic corporate standards and policies.
Establish a Strong Sense of Community

A vibrant sense of community is often in part due to the casual encounters that are enjoyed at neighbourhood businesses and public spaces. Many community-building events and activities such as farmers market's are put on by local small business merchants who dedicate their time, effort, and resources to ensure community cohesiveness. Show your thanks | Shop local.
Create a Healthier Environment

Local community-serving businesses are people-sized. They consume less land, carry more locally-made products, are located closer to residents, and create less traffic and air pollution. Inspire a brighter future for our community and shop local 
Last Laugh | #BCHAShopLocal
Fresh out of business school, the young man answered a want ad for an accountant. Now he was being interviewed by a very nervous man who ran a small business that he had started himself.

"I need someone with an accounting degree,” the man said. “But mainly, I’m looking for someone to do my worrying for me.”

“Excuse me?” the accountant said.

"I worry about a lot of things,” the man said. “But I don’t want to have to worry about money. Your job will be to take all the money worries off my back.”

“I see,” the accountant said. “And how much does the job pay?”

“I’ll start you at eighty thousand.”

”Eighty thousand dollars!” the accountant exclaimed. “How can such a small business afford a sum like that?

“That,” the owner said, “is your first worry.”