Update on Proof of Vaccination Program
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT & CEO INGRID JARRETT

Dear Accommodators,

This afternoon, Premier John Horgan, Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, announced further details surrounding the BC vaccination program. As of September 13th, all individuals 12 and up will be required to show proof of vaccination for entry into certain social settings. Included below, you'll find full information on the program along with resources, but first, I'd like to clarify how this new proof of vaccination program will impact hotels and other accommodators.

Hotels were never directly listed as a setting that would require proof of vaccination. Because of this, there has been considerable confusion as many accommodators offer services that require vaccination such as gyms, pools, restaurants etc.

Following the questions and feedback that was submitted over the past week, we met with government and shared your concerns, highlighting that above all else, our industry is committed to protecting our workforce first and foremost.

Because of your voice, we were able to advocate for the following:
  • Any 'unmanned' services not open to the general public do not require proof of vaccination in a private business. This includes the use of breakfast rooms, pools, change rooms, saunas, steam rooms, and fitness centres.
  • In addition, food courts, fast foot restaurants, cafeterias, drive-through and grab and go establishments also do not require proof of vaccination.
  • Finally, meeting and events under 50 people will not require guests to show proof of vaccination either.

Over the coming days, the public health orders on Food and Liquor Serving Premises and on Gatherings and Events will be updated and posted on this website which will offer further clarity. We will let you know when these come available. We know that many of you will have further questions and we look forward to getting you the answers you need. We also will have a working group reviewing operational best practices and ensure we clarify as much as possible to support you. 

Finally, it is no secret that these past weeks have been challenging as we awaited the uncertainty of the Proof of Vaccination program and how it would impact operators. We'd like to thank everyone who submitted their feedback. The value of your stories and lived realities knew no bounds as it helped drive our conversations with government.

Please find full details on the Proof of Vaccination program below.

Sincerely,
Ingrid Jarrett
During today's address, Dr. Bonnie Henry advised that without a proof of vaccination program, further measures and restrictions would likely be needed on optional discretionary, social recreational events and activities. Instead, with the program, there is a very real possibility that we will begin to see current restrictions lift over the coming weeks.

TIMELINE:
By order of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), proof of vaccination is required to access some events, services and businesses. Key dates:

  • September 13th
  • Individuals must have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to gain entry into identified events, services and businesses and be able to show government approved proof of vaccination.
  • From September 13th - September 26th
  • The use of the BC Vaccine Card will be phased in to allow people extra time to transition to their new cards. From September 13-26, 2021, people will also be able to use the vaccination records they received at BC vaccine clinics or pharmacies as valid proof of vaccination. A full list is outlined here. Starting September 27, 2021, only the BC Vaccine Card will be accepted for people vaccinated in BC.
  • October 24th
  • Individuals must be fully vaccinated (having received your second dose at least 7 days prior) to gain entry into identified events, services and businesses.
  • January 31st, 2022
  • The requirement is in place until this time and could be extended. 

COMPLETE LIST OF CONFIRMED SETTINGS, PLACES, EVENTS THAT REQUIRE PoV:
  • Indoor ticketed sporting events
  • Indoor concerts, theatre, dance and symphony events
  • Licensed restaurants and restaurants that offer table service (indoor and patio dining)
  • NOTE: BREAKFAST ROOMS, Food courts, fast foot restaurants, cafeterias, drive-through and grab and go establishments are not included in this.
  • Pubs, bars and lounges (indoor and patio dining)
  • Nightclubs, casinos and movie theatres
  • Gyms, exercise facilities/studios, pools and recreation facilities
  • Businesses offering indoor group exercise
  • Indoor adult group and team sports for people 22 years old or older
  • Indoor organized events with 50 or more people. For example: Wedding receptions, organized parties, conferences and workshops
  • Indoor organized group recreational classes and activities like pottery, art and choir
  • Post-secondary on-campus student housing

THE PROCESS:

  • Step 1: Getting the BC Vaccine Card. Individuals who have received their first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine in B.C. can access their BC Vaccine Card by visiting gov.bc.ca/vaccinecard
  • To access their proof of vaccination, they will enter their:
  • personal health number
  • date of birth
  • date of vaccination (either Dose 1 or Dose 2)
  • Step 2: Save or Print.
  • The BC Vaccine Card can be saved to a mobile device or printed and will include a secure individualized QR code.
  • Individuals who can’t access the electronic BC Vaccine Card can ask a friend, family member or support person to print their BC Vaccine Card for them, visit a Service BC office, or call 1 833 838-2323 to receive a copy in the mail.
  • Step 3: Showing and Checking the Card
  • Businesses have two options for checking vaccination:
  • OPTION ONE:
  • Download the BC Vaccine Card Verifier app, which will be available next week and can be downloaded from any google or app store on a smartphone device. The business can scan the guests QR code and verify vaccination status through the app. No information will be stored. When scanning the paper or digital QR code, green means vaccinated, blue means partially vaccinated, and no record found means unvaccinated. An ID check is also required at this time.
  • OPTION TWO:
  • Verify the proof of vaccination visually through digital or paper copy, looking to confirm it is the person by also checking government issued photo ID.
  • Individuals must show proof of vaccination in the settings listed in the PHO orders, alongside one piece of government-issued photo identification for people 19+. People 12 to 18 years do not need to show identification.
  • Out of Province Visitors:
  • Proof of vaccination will also be required for people visiting from outside of B.C. using a provincially/territorially recognized official record alongside valid government photo ID.
  • For individuals visiting from outside of Canada, they will be required to show the record of vaccination they use to enter Canada and their passport.
RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES
The provincial government has set up a new webpage with resources for businesses on the BC Vaccine Card.
 


In the coming days, a call line will be set up to assist businesses directly with their questions.

Quick Links:

Today's update includes:

  • General Updates
  • Reminder New Health Measures Introduced for Northern Health Region
  • New Research | Weekly Canadian Travel Patterns & STR Report
  • go2HR | Employment Resources for Province-Wide Mask Mandate
  • Advocacy Support Needed | HAC Resources for Federal Election
  • BCHA is Coming to Vancouver Island! Register for our Live Industry Update Series
  • Reminder | Register for the Hospitality Management Hiring Fair!
  • Sign Up for a FREE GoGreen Analysis Today!
  • NEW MEMBER! | Welcome Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort
  • Ronald McDonald House | Call for Silent Auction Donations
  • Mark Your Calendars
  • Save the Date! | BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference, March 8-11, 2022
  • Don't Miss This Webinar Series! Introduction to Sustainability for Tourism Businesses
  • You’re invited | 2021 TIAC Tourism Congress at the Westin Ottawa on November 30 to December 1
  • Tipping Our Hat to Industry!
  • Thank you to our teachers!
  • Inn the News
  • B.C.'s vaccine card marks step toward province reopening with 'confidence,' premier says | CBC
  • Canada reopens borders to all foreign travellers fully vaccinated against COVID-19 today | cp24
  • Comment Card | Industry Thoughts & Feedback
  • Last Laugh | A Little Something to Make Members Smile
Reminder | Health Measures Introduced for Northern Health Region
A large rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Northern Health has prompted the B.C. government to bring in new restrictions in the health authority effective at 12:01 AM Tuesday September 7, 2021. Only additional family or five guests are allowed in homes for personal gatherings, as well, a maximum of 50 people is set for outdoor gatherings. These are the same measures that were put in place for Interior Health.

Because there has not been transmission in restaurants, no new limits were imposed in those settings. As well, there are no new restrictions regarding places of worship or recreation facilities.

FURTHER DETAILS INCLUDE:
New NH orders:
  • Personal gatherings in your home – one additional family or 5 guests
  • Personal gatherings outside your home – maximum 50 people
  • Indoor events – have a safety plan (the organizer should have a safety plan, but is not required to submit one for approval)
  • Outside events – when more than 200 people, then have a safety plan
  • Sporting events with spectators, indoor & outdoor – have a safety plan
Currently in Step 3 of BC restart plan and still in place:
In the Restart step 3 and current PHO order on gatherings and events:
  • Indoor events - maximum of 50 people or 50% capacity, whichever is greater
  • Outside events – maximum of 5000 people or 50% capacity, whichever is greater
  • Outdoor spectator events: 5000 people or 50% capacity
  • Indoor spectator event: 50 people or 50% capacity  
Not restricted by either NH order or restart step 3/PHO order:
  • All indoor fitness classes allowed, normal capacity
  • Gyms and recreation facilities, normal capacity
  • Restaurants, bars, pubs and nightclubs (except for socialization between tables or dancing)
  • worship services or educational activities (K to 12 and post-secondary)
These measures will remain in place until Northern Health experiences lower cases and higher vaccination rates.
New Research | Weekly Canadian Travel Patterns & STR Report
Canadian Travel Patterns Highlights Aug 23-29, 2021:
  • Average Domestic Overnight Visitation to BC for Week 34 (August 23-29, 2021) is down -14.7% compared to the same week in 2019.
  • All regions saw a decrease in visitation when comparing Week 33 (August 16-22, 2021) to Week 34 (August 23-29, 2021).
  • British Columbia decreased by 19% when comparing Week 33 (August 16-22, 2021) to Week 34 (August 23-29, 2021).

STR Report Aug 22-28, 2021:
  • British Columbia had a 72.4% occupancy from Sunday-Thursday and a 78% occupancy during the weekend, up 39.9% compared to the same week in 2020.
  • British Columbia had an ADR of $195.59 from Sunday-Thursday and an ADR of $216.71 during the weekend, up 31% compared to the same week in 2020.
  • British Columbia had a RevPAR of $141.71 from Sunday-Thursday and a RevPAR of $169.06 during the weekend, up 83.2% compared to the same week in 2020.
  • Regional Stats Weekend Aug 27/28
  • Cariboo Chilcotin Coast: OCC 84% ADR $155.88 REVPAR $130.99
  • Kootenay Rockies: OCC 66.3% ADR $183.83 REVPAR $121.83
  • Northern BC: OCC 67.1% ADR $124.78 REVPAR $83.71
  • Thompson Okanagan: OCC 73.9% ADR $199.87 REVPAR $147.62
  • Vancouver Island: OCC 78.3% ADR $264.30 REVPAR $206.88
  • Vancouver: OCC 84.8% ADR $220.73 REVPAR $187.20
  • Whistler: OCC 64.2% ADR $359.48 REVPAR $230.7
go2HR | Employment Resources for Province-Wide Mask Mandate
go2HR has free resources to support tourism businesses with the announcement of the B.C. mask mandate, including printable mask mandate posters to display in workplaces, a new script on how to respond to guests who refuse to wear a mask, and communicable disease prevention plans support services.

As a reminder, masks are required in all public indoor settings for all people born in 2009 or earlier (12+). 
This includes:
  • Malls, shopping centres
  • Grocery and liquor stores
  • Airports
  • Coffee shops
  • On public transportation, in a taxi or ride-sharing vehicle
  • Libraries
  • Clothing and retail stores
  • Areas of office buildings where services to the public are provided
  • Common areas of sport and fitness centres when not engaged in physical activity
  • Common areas of post-secondary institutions and non-profit organizations
  • Inside schools for all K to 12 staff, visitors and students in grades 4 to 12
  • Drug stores
  • Community centres
  • Recreation centres
  • City Halls
  • Restaurants, pubs and bars when not seated at a table

RESOURCES
Advocacy Support Needed | HAC Resources
for Federal Election
Ahead of the federal election, there is an urgent need to communicate the needs of our sector to ensure we a tailored survival program is supported by all parties. Detailed below are steps and key talking points to advocating on behalf of industry. 
 
  • The ask: 
  1. For all industry colleagues to schedule meetings with their local candidates 
  • It is critical that we keep the pressure on and ensure that your local candidates know that without targeted support, you will not survive, and your employees’ jobs will be at stake.  
  1. What we need from each party: 
  • Last week the Liberal Party pledged to support Canada’s hardest hit businesses, we need to tell the Liberals that this was an important pledge and that we support it. 
  • We need to continue to push the Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois for a more detailed plan for the hardest hit 
  • We need the NDP to understand that without a bridge support program, the livelihoods of your employees will be at risk. 
  • All parties need to know this is an important issue for their constituents so they can move swiftly with legislation in the fall. If you have close allies with opposition party members, please reach out directly to them and push this message! 
  • To support you in your meetings, here are some suggested talking points: 
  1. Liberal Party: 
  • Thank you for the targeted bridge program supporting the Hardest Hit Businesses in the Tourism Sector. This will be critical to getting us through the fall and winter seasons. 
  1. Conservative Party: 
  • Thank you for your support. The ‘Explore and Support Canada’ as well as the ‘Job Surge Plan’ may help, but as we cannot yet recover, we need a plan that will help us survive until we can get to recovery. The industry will need a tailored support program for the hardest hit to get through the difficult fall and winter months. Can we count on the support of your party for a tailored plan? 
  1. NDP: 
  • Thank you for your commitment to extending CEWS and CERS until the pandemic is over. However, if CEWS and CERS are extended at 20%, it will not be enough for the industry and to keep our employees. The reality is we have not been able to recover at the same pace as others. This is why we will need a tailored bridge support program to ensure that we make it through the difficult fall and winter months, and into recovery next spring. Can we count on the support of your party for a tailored plan? 
  1. Bloc Québécois: 
  • Thank you for acknowledging and recognizing the need for continued support for those who are the hardest hit. Those of us within the <tourism/travel/events/etc.> sector cannot yet recover, and we will need a tailored bridge support program that will help us survive the fall and winter months, and into recovery next spring. Can we count on the support of your party for a tailored plan? 
  • How to do it 
  1. Find your local candidate here https://www.elections.ca/Scripts/vis/FindED?L=e&QID=-1&PAGEID=20. 
  • Note that these are the key swing ridings in BC: Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam, Vancouver Granville, Cloverdale-Langley City, Surrey South-White Rock, Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge, Steveston-Richmond East 
  1. Send an email detailing your struggles and share this link to the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses federal proposal detailing our ask. Request a meeting to discuss this in person or over the phone. 
  2. Report your meetings here so the HCC can continue to track progress and have you featured on the leader board: https://www.hardesthit.ca/report-meetings.  
  3. Continue to Tweet, following the Liberal pledge! It’s important to acknowledge and thank the Liberals for their support, but also important to avoid appearing partisan. Click here to send a pre-written message from your Twitter account. Don't forget to tag your local Liberal candidate and the Liberal Leader 
BCHA is Coming to Vancouver Island! Register for our Live Industry Update Series
As part of our commitment to engage and hear from members and colleagues across British Columbia, we will hosting four in-person information & networking sessions geared to accommodators across Vancouver Island.

During these FREE sessions our hospitality colleagues and associates will have opportunity to hear directly from our team while voicing their own perspectives and priorities as we shift to recovery.
  • These sessions will be tailored to each region and will include:
  • Updates on advocacy efforts both provincially and federally
  • Information on emerging issues and ways to mitigate risk
  • Tools, resources, and benefits available to our members
  • Recovery strategies for the tourism and hospitality sector
  • A Q&A session
  • Along with a networking portion with food and drinks provided

Please see below for further information on each event and register for the session of your choice!
TOFINO
  • Tuesday, October 5th, 2021 | 10am – 1pm 
  • Wickanninnish Conference Hall at the Best Western Plus Tin Wis | 1119 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino, BC V0R 2Z0

COURTENAY:
  • Wednesday, October 6th, 2021 | 10am – 1pm 
  • Ballroom at Crown Isle Resort | 399 Clubhouse Dr, Courtenay, BC V9N 9G3

PARKSVILLE:
  • Wednesday, October 6th, 2021 | 2pm – 5.30pm 
  • Grand Moriarty Conference Room at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre | 1155 Resort Dr, Parksville, BC V9P 2E3

NANAIMO:
  • Thursday, October 7th, 2021 | 10am – 1pm 
  • Opera & Harbour Rooms at Best Western Dorchester | 70 Church St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5H4
Please register no later than Wednesday, September 29th. Space is limited!

We are delighted to have the opportunity to meet with our entire hotel community in-person and hope to see you there. Interested in learning more? Reach out to Mike@bcha.com and stay tuned for more information on when we will be in your area.
Need Employees? Register for the Hospitality Management Hiring Fair, Taking Place October 9th!
In face of the greatest workforce shortage in recent history, operators are searching for ways to find highly-skilled, highly-trained individuals to join their teams.

To develop a solution to this issue, the BC Hotel Association has partnered with Bliss Hospitality and Cornerstone International Community College of Canada (CICC) to bring you the first iteration of the Hospitality Management Hiring Fair.

  • The Process:
  • Prior to meeting with potential employers, all candidates will be subject to a pre-screening process to ensure they are:
  • Opera PMS certified
  • Food Safe certified
  • Able to perform tasks and duties related to the position
  • Able to communicate in English fluently
  • Location:
  • The Fair will take place at Cornerstone College Tech Campus at 816 Granville Street
  • Date:
  • October 9th, 2021 | Time TBA

Are you interested in participating or learning more information? Click below to register.
TIP Tuesday! Sign Up for a FREE GoGreen Analysis Today!
SIGN UP FOR GOGREEN PROGRAM TODAY!

In Spring of 2020, the BCHA added Energy Analyst, Dylan Tomlin, to our roster to help hotels conduct in-depth energy analysis of their operations AT ZERO COST TO THEM. In doing this, Dylan is able to identify ways for properties to operate more sustainably while saving up to tens of thousands through cost-cutting initiatives and rebates.

Due to the overwhelming success of the program, and in recognizing the positive impact it has had on membership, the BCHA has hired two new team members to assist Dylan in this important project. We are so pleased to add another exciting chapter to this critical benefit to our members.

INTERESTED IN YOUR OWN FREE ENERGY ASSESSMENT? SIGN UP TODAY!
If you already expressed interest in an energy assessment in the past, Vanda and/or Kiera will be in touch with you!
NEW MEMBER! | Welcome Nimmo
Bay Wilderness Resort
Nimmo Bay is an intimate family-owned and operated resort located in the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia. The remote location and tailored itineraries provide guests with extraordinary wilderness and wildlife experiences by land, water, and sky.
Nimmo Bay invites guests to leave it all behind and welcome reconnection – with the wild, with each other, with themselves. Here, you will find locally inspired coastal cuisine, exceptional service, and private cabin accommodations. Whether exploring the Broughton Archipelago on the look-out for wildlife, helicopter touring above coastal British Columbia, kayaking along the calm bays and inlets, or hiking amongst the lush rainforest – the options are plenty. Add on a relaxing massage, a yoga class, a soak in the waterfall-sided hot tubs or a visit to the floating, wood-fired sauna, and you have the ingredients for a truly unforgettable wilderness experience.
The resort, tucked away at the base of 5,000-foot Mount Stephens, has grown over the years to nine spacious yet cozy cabins, all carefully constructed with the surrounding environment and the comfort of guests in mind. Running through the heart of the resort is a beautiful, cascading waterfall supplying both clean drinking water and green energy. 
As a fly-in lodge, getting to your destination is all a part of the adventure! Nimmo Bay offers 3, 4 or 7-day trips, with set arrival and departure times. Guests can choose to arrange private travel or board one of the resort’s charter options. The reservation’s team is available to assist with all options and will help to plan and organize transfers from Vancouver onwards.
Ronald McDonald House Announces Home For Dinner Campaign | Plan Your Gathering & Help BC's Vulnerable Children
Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon (RMH BC) invites you to take part in the fourth annual Home for Dinner community fundraising initiative this fall, during an evening of entertainment! Each year, the program encourages individuals across B.C. and the Yukon to host safe in-person, outdoor, or virtual dinners, while raising money to support families travelling to Vancouver so their children can receive urgent medical care.

The program is simple:
  • Hosts invite families, colleagues or friends to safely and responsibly gather for a meal.
  • Instead of contributing food, wine or gifts, guests instead donate to RMH BC, whose state-of-the-art House – situated on the grounds of BC Children’s Hospital – provides accommodation, community and kindness to up to 2,000 families each year

Here’s how to plan your Home for Dinner gathering:
  1. Sign up as a host. Hosts are invited as well to register to attend the virtual celebration on October 14.
  2. Plan a home-cooked meal or support your favourite local restaurant by ordering takeout. Invite your friends, family or colleagues and make sure to follow current public health guidelines and recommendations!
  3. Host Your Dinner and Fundraiseby asking your guests to donate to your personal fundraising page in lieu of wine, flowers or other contributions.
  4. Celebrate by joining RMH BC’s virtual celebration on October 14. Again this year, Home for Dinner participants and the general public are invited to join a virtual celebration with RMH BC on Thursday, October 14 at 7:00 p.m. PT. The online event will feature live entertainment, family stories and an exciting silent auction, as well as a virtual toast to fundraisers, donors and supporters across B.C. and abroad. 

Interested in donating a silent auction item and promoting your business? Connect with kelsey@bcha.com
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!
Don't Miss This Webinar Series! Introduction to Sustainability for Tourism Businesses

Date: September 21 @1:30pm
October 5 @10am

Join GreenStep for this free webinar to learn how your tourism business, and the planet, can benefit from assessing your business’s sustainability performance.

Improve your knowledge on sustainability, gain tips on creating an action plan, long-term goal setting, and how to engage your customers and staff.

Open to any tourism business globally, register for free at https://lnkd.in/gT5a5pfY
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
Thank you to our teachers!

As teachers and students across the province return to the classroom, the BCHA would like to extend a sincere thank you to every teacher and educator who has worked so hard to teach, protect, and guide our youth.

Over the past two school years, teachers have gone above the call of duty, at times, risking their own health to ensure their students receive the mental, social, and physical advantages of spending time in the classroom.

Despite continued challenges caused by COVID-19 restrictions, as front-line workers they have persevered, continuously proving their dedication to their students. Here's to our teachers! We wish them a very successful school year ahead!
In The News

British Columbia has officially launched the B.C. vaccine card, a digital or printed document residents in the province will need to access non-essential businesses, services and activities, such as restaurants, movie theatres and gyms.

Premier John Horgan, Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry explained details of the vaccine card program at a news conference on Tuesday. The move follows the introduction of vaccine passports in other provinces as a way to encourage vaccination and slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Health officials announced that the new portal will allow people to securely obtain their proof of a COVID-19 vaccination in either digital or hard-copy format.

"We have made the B.C. vaccine card easy for people to get and easy for businesses to check at a glance," Horgan said. "The card is a significant step in getting our economy running on all cylinders and returning to social events safely with the confidence that those around us are also fully vaccinated."

The federal government has added fully vaccinated foreign nationals to the ranks of travellers who are once again welcome on Canadian soil.

As of midnight Monday night, quarantine requirements were eased for non-essential international travellers who have had a full course of a Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccine.
To be eligible, travellers must have allowed at least 14 days to pass since their last vaccine shot and show proof of a negative molecular test for COVID-19 that's no more than 72 hours old.
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