Industry Update

Today's update includes:

General Updates
Information Session Tomorrow, July 6! Complimentary Training Program
Preparing for Emergencies | Resources
Are You an Accommodator in BC? Take our Accommodation Survey and Help Us Help You!
Drive Better Leads to Your Website
Update on Proposed Improvements to the Certificate of Recognition Program
New Air Travel Refund Requirements to Take Place September 8
Missing Edmonton Girl, Lila Smith, Found Safe and Returned to Family
News - See more below!
BC | Canada News
World News
Industry Trends
Tipping Our Hat to Industry!
Teresa Marshall Awarded Fairmont Empress Leader of the Month
Mark Your Calendars
Comment Card | Thoughts and Comments from Our Industry
Last Laugh | A Little Something to Make Our Members Smile

Information Session Tomorrow, July 6!

Complimentary Training Program

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.

Attend the registration session happening Wed, 6 July 2022 at 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PDT
For more information please contact Claudia Tran at 604.596.7722 ext. 177; claudia.tran@pics.bc.ca

For hotels who may be interested in candidate recruitment during the final phase of the 23 week program, please contact Alison Langford at alison@bcha.com

Learn More

Preparing for Emergencies | Resources

With the changing weather and greater risk of natural disasters, now is a timely opportunity to review emergency preparedness resources. Destination BC has a page dedicated to these resources, including preparedness guides, key agencies, and newly updated messaging & action guidance with shareable responsible travel graphics.

The hub also includes specific resource guides from PreparedBC such as:

Visit DBC Emergency Preparedness

Are You an Accommodator in BC? Take our Accommodation Survey and Help Us Help You!

As the voice of British Columbia's accommodation sector, the British Columbia Hotel Association is looking to hear from our provincial accommodation community to understand how we can better serve you! We are conducting an accommodation engagement survey that is the first of its kind for our association.

The survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete
It is open to all accommodation providers in BC | we will be releasing a separate Supplier and Vendor Partner Survey as well in the coming weeks!
It will remain open until Friday, July 8th at 5pm
There are skip or N/A options for questions you are unsure of
Share your name and email with us to be entered for a chance to win a $50 gift card to the Keg Steakhouse & Bar!

We greatly appreciate your time in helping us and we look forward to using the information you provide to better assist you.

Take Survey

Drive Better Leads to Your Website

Destination BC works with tourism businesses across the province to help drive more leads to their websites. By placing tags on your website, view-through visits from Destination BC’s marketing efforts - which can total 90% of visits and subsequent conversions - can be measured.

Capturing this data can inform better decision-making and help you understand what content and channels are most effective in converting leads into sales. Best of all, participation is fast and easy! Explore more below.

Learn More

Update on Proposed Improvements to the Certificate of Recognition Program

WorkSafeBC is proceeding with the next step in its gradual, phased implementation of proposed improvements to the Certificate of Recognition (COR) program after extensive consultation, research, development, and testing of a new health and safety management audit standard.

As a next step, WorkSafeBC will be making minor revisions to the new health and safety management audit standard and refining its implementation plan based on the results of the proof of concept and feedback from our stakeholders. WorkSafeBC will be taking a multi-year, phased approach to implementing the improvements to ensure a smooth transition and to allow for additional opportunities for stakeholder engagement.

If you have general questions about the COR program, please contact your certifying partner. Otherwise, please reach out to WorkSafeBC Partners Program (partners.program@worksafebc.com) if you have any questions.

Learn More

New Air Travel Refund Requirements to Take Place September 8

Over the Canada Day long weekend, flight delays and cancellations caused incredible strife for travellers all across Canada, leaving passengers stranded and without compensation. Thankfully, earlier this month it was announced that as of September 8th that new amendments to the Air Passenger Protection Regulations will take place, courtesy of The Canadian Transportation Agency.

These new regulations require that refunds be provided for cancelled flights or lengthy delays in all types of situations outside an air carrier’s control and regardless of the type of ticket that was purchased. The changes will apply to future flights that are cancelled for uncontrollable reasons including major weather events, a pandemic, as well as situations where it is not possible for the air carrier to complete the passenger’s itinerary within a reasonable timeframe. These new requirements provide clarity around timing, cost coverage, method of payment, and deadlines to refund travellers in such situations.

Read Here

Missing Edmonton Girl, Lila Smith,

Found Safe and Returned to Family

Last week, we shared news that 13 year old Lila Smith went missing from Edmonton, asking our hotel community to print and share posters of the missing teen at their property. We are relieved to announce that Lila Smith was found safe in Oregon on July 2, 2022 and has since been reunited with her family.

We greatly thank all hotel members who played a key role in raising awareness to support Lila and her family. If you put up copies of the poster at your property, please take them down.

Thank you again for helping to find Lila!

Industry News & Quick Links

BC & CANADA

WORLD NEWS

INDUSTRY TRENDS

Tipping Our Hat to Industry

Teresa Marshall Awarded Fairmont Empress Leader of the Month

Fairmont Empress Director of Marketing, Teresa Marshall was awarded the coveted title of Leader of the Month from the historic hotel. Having already made her mark since joining mere month ago, Teresa had this to say: "I am incredibly grateful for the recognition I have received for my hard work and dedication to this amazing brand! Thank you all!