Today's update includes:

  • General Updates
  • HAC Update | SOCAN Tariff
  • Grant Available for Indigenous Owned Businesses
  • Federal Wine Sector Support Program | Now Open
  • Sea-to-Sky Community Urges Travellers: "Don't Love It to Death"
  • Hotel Stats | STR Report Early July
  • Have You Reviewed go2HR's Health & Safety Orientation Checklist Yet?
  • BCDMOA Announces Board of Directors
  • Changes to OTA Taxation - Have Your Voice Heard!
  • Okanagan Upskilling Opportunity | Registration Available
  • News - See more below!
  • BC | Canada News
  • World News
  • Industry Trends
  • Tipping Our Hat to Industry!
  • People on the Move! New Appointments, Promotions, and Career Milestones
  • Mark Your Calendars
  • Comment Card | Thoughts and Comments from Our Industry
  • Last Laugh | A Little Something to Make Our Members Smile
HAC Update | SOCAN Tariff
We are pleased to share an update on the SOCAN tariffs. Supported by efforts from Canada's provincial accommodation associations, HAC was successful at reducing the amount of SOCAN Tariff 18 - Recorded Music for Dancing (2018-2022) by 50% for 2020 and 2021. This means you may be eligible for an offset in upcoming pay periods.  

If you have overpaid royalties in 2020 and 2021, please notify SOCAN of the following information by October 3, 2022: 
  • Your information (your name, SOCAN username and address) 
  • Royalties paid in 2019, 2020 and 2021  
  • Royalties that should have been paid to SOCAN in 2020 and 2021 (i.e. 50% of royalties paid in 2019)  
  • Estimated overpayments paid to SOCAN 

As we see the highest inflation rates we have seen in nearly 40 years, we understand the importance of countering its impact. We will continue to do what we can to support our members. 
Grant Available for
Indigenous Owned Businesses
Indigenous-owned businesses: there’s a new Indigenous Business Grant 2022 from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business is available with support from Google.

This program helps to further empower Indigenous businesses by awarding a total of 75 recipients with grants and CCAB membership. The application deadline is July 29.
Federal Wine Sector
Support Program | Now Open
Last week, the Government of Canada, announced details of a new two-year, up to $166-million Wine Sector Support Program to help strengthen the future of the wine sector. All licensed wineries in Canada that produce or contract out the production of bulk wine from primary agricultural products will be eligible for support under the program.
 
Wineries are asked to thoroughly review the application process in advance. Applications for the first year of the program can be submitted between July 4th and August 12th.
Sea-to-Sky Community Urges Travellers: "Don't Love It to Death"
A dramatic increase in litter, wildlife conflicts, environmental degradation, and illegal land use throughout the Sea-to-Sky region has prompted local communities to launch a campaign to encourage locals and visitors to tread lightly and minimize their social and environmental impacts so they “Don’t Love It To Death”.

Visit the website for useful tips on how to minimize your footprint and enjoy the outdoors in a responsible and sustainable way.
Hotel Stats | STR Report Early July
Domestic Overnight Visitors Week Ending July 3rd Highlights:

  •  (2022) is up 10.7 compared to the same week in 2019
  • When comparing Week 24 (June 13 - June 19, 2022) to Week 25 (June 20 - June 26, 2022)
  • Thompson Okanagan, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast,Kootenay Rockies, Vancouver Island, and Vancouver Coast and Mountains saw an increase in visitation.
  • Northern BC, saw a decrease\
  • British Columbia increased 22.2% when comparing Week 24 (June 13 - June 19, 2022) to Week 25 (June 20 - June 26, 2022)
 
STR Report Highlights Week Ending July 2nd:
  • British Columbia had a 71.8% occupancy from Sunday-Thursday and a 84.6% occupancy during the weekend, down -7.6% compared to the same week in 2019.
  • British Columbia had an ADR of $241.06 from Sunday-Thursday and an ADR of $301.10 during the weekend, up 11.1% compared to the same week in 2019.
  • British Columbia had a RevPAR of $173.10 from Sunday-Thursday and a RevPAR of $254.86 during the weekend, up 2.7% compared to the same week in 2019.
 
Regional STATS the Weekend of July 1-2, 2022:
  • Cariboo Chilcotin Coast: OCC 76.4% ADR $161.08 REVPAR $123.01
  • Kootenay Rockies: OCC 75.1% ADR $208.72 REVPAR $156.84
  • Northern BC: OCC 60.0% ADR $131.27 REVPAR $78.82
  • Thompson Okanagan: OCC 89.0% ADR $263.03 REVPAR $234.11
  • Whistler: OCC 69.9% ADR $401.58 REVPAR $280.60
  • Vancouver Island: OCC 86.5% ADR $331.33 REVPAR $286.7
Have You Reviewed go2HR's Health & Safety Orientation Checklist Yet?
Employers can prevent injuries by conducting a thorough orientation with all new hires. This will also allow workers to feel more confident about their tasks and be empowered to speak up and ask questions.
 
The Health and Safety Orientation Checklist was developed by the health and safety team at go2HR as a template for implementing an adequate Health and Safety Orientation for new hires, specifically in a tourism and hospitality setting. It is customizable and adaptable to fit your unique workplace. This checklist includes topics that are legally required to be covered, as well as industry best practices.
BCDMOA Announces Board of Directors
The BC Destination Marketing Organization Association (BCDMOA) held their Annual General Meeting on July 27th where a summary of the year's activities were announced along with the 2022 Board of Directors.

  • Colin Carson, Tourism Prince George (newly elected!)
  • Dustin Bodnaryk, Tourism Dawson Creek
  • Allison Colthorp, Tourism Chilliwack
  • Monica Dickinson, Tourism Kamloops
  • Barrett Fisher, Tourism Whistler
  • Craig Nichols, Tourism Abbotsford (Treasurer)
  • Chris Peters, Tourism Burnaby
  • Blain Sepos, Parksville, Qualicum Beach Tourism (Past Chair)
  • Nancy Small, Tourism Richmond (Chair)
  • Denise Stys-Norman, Tourism Ucluelet

The session highlighted recent activities and challenges faced by our industry across all parts of British Columbia. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the DMO network to strengthen our accommodation and tourism sector.
Changes to OTA Taxation - Have
Your Voice Heard!
Have you been facing difficulties or do you have questions relating to the reporting of MRDT and PST on behalf of Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)? Since it was announced that effective July 1, 2022, certain OTAs must collect PST and MRDT on taxable sales and leases, we have been working with the Ministry of Finance to clarify how this change will impact accommodators.

Last week, we shared a general information toolkit and continue to relay feedback from our members to communicate the challenges and risks our accommodation sector is facing. Should you have any feedback or obstacles, please contact our Communications Manager at [email protected] and visit the toolkit below for more information.
Okanagan Upskilling
Opportunity | Registration Available
The BCHA has partnered with the Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS) and Western Community College to offer a 23 week online
“Hotel Operations Services Skills Training Program”.

This program is designed to train 30 candidates who are currently unemployed or under employed in the Okanagan area and deliver them to industry trained and ready to work. The training is fully funded and will focus on readying the candidate for meaningful work in the hotel industry

For more information please contact Claudia Tran at 604.596.7722 ext. 177; [email protected]
 
For hotels who may be interested in candidate recruitment during the final phase of the 23 week program, please contact Alison Langford at [email protected] .
Industry News & Quick Links
BC & CANADA

WORLD NEWS

INDUSTRY TRENDS  
Tipping Our Hat to Industry
People on the Move! New Appointments, Promotions, and Career Milestones

Congratulations to everyone taking an exciting next step in their tourism and hospitality career journeys!
  • Thank you to Ted Lee, CFO and VP of Destination Stewardship for Destination Vancouver, for his enormous contribution over his 29 year career! Ted has been instrumental in the success of Vancouver's tourism industry, was integral to large-scale events such as the 2010 Olympic Games, and has been a tireless leader when our industry was dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. We for all that you've done!
  • Alex Merry has been appointed to Director of Rooms at Whistler Hilton Resort & Spa.The Hilton team had this to say "Alex’s strong leadership experience, professionalism, and attention to detail will be a great asset to our rooms division team.
  • Kyla Graham has joined the team at Tourism Prince George as their Communications + Stakeholder Relations Specialist and is "very excited to take on this role with passion and purpose, alongside an incredible team." She also received a special welcome!
 
Congratulations to all!
Mark Your Calendars
Jul 19, 2022 – Jul 21, 2022 | 1:00 PM
Host: Destinations International 
Jul 31, 2022 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Host: Small Business BC
July 31 – August 2, 2022 I Nashville, TN 
Yes SHEF! Elevating Women in Food & Wine returns this summer in Vancouver!
August 15, 2022
More details to come! Email [email protected] for sponsor / partnership opportunities
Comment Card
HAC CEO, Susie Grynol, Talk Canada's Accommodation Sector
Fairmont Celebrates its Iconic Moments | Click Below to Watch
Coast Hotels Supports
ALS Society of BC
2022 BC Summer
Games Enters Final Countdown
Last Laugh | Happy Road Trip Season!