BC health officials warned today that many BC businesses could soon be dealing with additional staffing shortages due to the rapid spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

With unprecedented levels of transmission occurring in communities, PHO Dr. Bonnie Henry urged business owners to start putting together contingency plans so they can keep operating if a significant number of employees are forced to call in sick.

Case numbers have repeatedly broken all-time records in recent weeks to the point that officials estimate actual transmission could be up to five times higher given that testing capacity is at maximum levels.

Dr. Henry said the government is not imposing any more COVID-19 restrictions yet, only urging businesses to prepare themselves for potential disruptions.

Click here to read the full story.

In case you missed it, the Province of BC has introduced the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant aimed at assisting BC businesses that were mandated to temporarily shut down through public health orders because of the surge in COVID-19 cases. The fund will provide funding to help affected businesses alleviate some financial pressures and help with expenses including rent, employee wages, insurance, maintenance, and utilities.

Relief grants of between $1,000 and $10,000 will be provided to eligible businesses based on the number of employees, following a similar formula to the previous Circuit Breaker Relief Grant that supported businesses in the spring of 2021.

Applications for the grant will begin this month with the application process open until the end of February 2022. Business advisors will be able to support and direct applicants through a dedicated call centre that will be set up in early January by the Province and Small Business BC. Businesses will also be able to email questions to: covid@smallbusinessbc.ca

The tourism and hospitality sector has been among those most severely affected by the pandemic. An article published by CBC News on December 27th, explained that the federal minister responsible for the industry, Hon. Randy Boissonnault, said the return of international travellers could still be a long way off due to the uncertainty over the persisting Omicron variant.

In Canada, domestic travellers account for 78% of tourism spending. But international visitors spend an average of $1,047 per trip, while domestic vacationers spend less than a quarter of that.

The sector has contracted by more than 50% over the course of the pandemic, falling from a $105 billion-a-year industry before the pandemic to one worth about $53 billion now. That's a drop of 40% in domestic spending and 8% in spending by international visitors.

Industry stakeholders like TIABC's national counterparts - TIAC - say that the sector faces three significant challenges over the next year.

Industry insiders say that the labour shortage is not being driven solely by slack short-term demand that will correct itself once borders reopen — that it represents a permanent move away from the sector by key workers.

The industry wants the federal government to make adjustments to the temporary foreign worker program and immigration streams to fill the demand for key workers in the sector. Stakeholders say they have to fix the damage done to the reputation of the industry as a result of the pandemic in order to attract new workers.

Read the full story here.

TIABC Members HeliCat Canada and the Wilderness Tourism Association Director spoke with CBC yesterday about how the surge in COVID-19 cases is bringing some heli-ski industry operations to a halt despite high demand from foreign visitors.

There are now worries the fifth wave of the pandemic, driven by the fast-spreading Omicron variant, will result in another lost season for adventure tourism operators, who are often booked at least a year in advance. Scott Benton, who heads the Wilderness Tourism Association, fears some of their member businesses may not survive.

According to HeliCat Canada Executive Director Ross Cloutier, about 90% of heli-ski customers are non-Canadian. He's worried any additional restrictions officials put in place will be detrimental to companies and the communities they support.

Even though they are not required, Cloutier says that resorts are using rapid tests on staff and guests once they arrive to keep them safe. He says easier access to rapid antigen tests would help and would like the province to provide them more readily.

Some other provinces and other jurisdictions around the world offer free rapid tests for anyone who wants them as a way to help limit the spread of infections. Currently the only way for most people in BC to get the tests is to buy them online.

Click here to read the full transcript.

Applications are now open for the federal Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program.

The following is a list and links to the programs available for application:

CRA has has also included detailed information on the various programs and can be found on the following link.

Effective January 1st, employees are now covered by the Employment Standards Act and are entitled to employer paid leave for personal illness and injury. This new, permanent paid sick leave entitlement, will provide up to 5 paid days and 3 unpaid days of job-protected leave each year for eligible employees.

The BC Employment Standards Branch (ESB) website provides information for employees and employers regarding the application of the new paid sick leave entitlement, including eligibility criteria and how to calculate an “average day’s pay”.

To ensure clarity and that our industry is prepared with updated policies and training, the BC Hotel Association has prepared a comprehensive FAQ and can be reviewed here.

If you have questions please contact the ESB toll-free by telephone at: 1-833-236-3700, or visit the ESB website included.

Please note that we have extended the submission deadline to January 6th by 5:00 pm (PT). Thank you to everyone who has submitted a proposal - we appreciate your efforts and interest. For those of you who haven’t yet submitted, we encourage you to do so!

The 2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality Awards will be awarded at the Awards Gala evening during the 2022 BC Tourism and Hospitality Conference on Thursday, March 10, 2022, at the Richmond Conference Centre. For more information about each award click here.

The deadline to submit a nomination is January 14th.

If you know a business, organization, or individual who is deserving of a nomination, please submit your nomination below.

Email us at info@bctourismandhospitalityconference.com.

As an industry that continues to face enormous challenges during COVID-19, every once in awhile it's important to share a laugh, a good story, a beautiful image or an interesting anecdote to provide moments of levity during this most difficult time.

Due to the difficulties our industry has faced since early 2020, we are extending various payment options to members if required. Please contact Deborah to learn more about how we can assist you with your membership renewal, or if you are interested in becoming a member

We strongly encourage you to consider membership with TIABC to support our important advocacy efforts on behalf of the entire visitor economy.

There is no better example of what TIABC has done for you than in the last 21-months. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic TIABC has identified your concerns, raised your voice, championed your needs, pushing for support and programs while encouraging policy changes.

Destination BC has partnered with Small Business BC to offer free access for tourism business stakeholders across the province to online education supporting COVID-19 recovery.

Upcoming webinars include:

Social Media for Small Business, Date: January 12th, 2022

Get Started with Email Marketing, Date: February 2nd 2022

To access the webinars free of charge, register online here using coupon code DBC3034.

Join GreenStep Solutions for this informative webinar to learn about the technical side of carbon measurement. We will also cover carbon reduction tactics and how to offset what you can’t reduce.

By 2030 the price of carbon will increase fossil fuel-related operating costs by 30% to 100%, not including cost increases related to inflation. To get ahead of the carbon risk to your business, it will be important to understand your carbon footprint and make a plan to reduce it.

Measuring your carbon footprint is actually not that complicated, and similar to financial accounting standards, greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting standards exist.

Date: Jan 13th, 2022 10am-11am PST / 1pm - 2pm EST

To register for FREE, please visit here.

If you have any questions related to the event or have any issues with registration, please do not hesitate to contact us. There will be additional time following the presentation for questions, which you may also submit in advance by way of the registration page.

Export Navigator is offering a great seminar to kick off 2022 – Preparing for Travel & Tradeshows, that has understandably been on hiatus for the past while!

Date: Friday, January 21, 2022 @ 9:30 – 11:00 am

Join in for this FREE interactive webinar and learn everything you need to know about trade show preparation. From promoting your attendance at the trade show to creating an eye-catching booth, there are many factors that play a part in ensuring a successful experience. They will also cover upcoming BC and Canadian pavilions at trade shows around the world, and the funding that can take you there!

Learning Points:

• Learn how to prepare for a trade show, including travel and budgeting tips

• Find out how to develop trade show leads and have more successful interactions

• Learn about upcoming BC and Canadian pavilions at trade shows around the world

• Discover key etiquette and culture tips for doing business cross-culturally

Click here for more information and to register.

Join TIABC and the BC Hotel Association for the 2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference as we 'Kickstart the Comeback' and gather in-person to learn, tackle issues, forge new relationships, and work toward resiliency in the face of one of the hardest years in our sector's history.

When | March 9-11, 2022

Where | Richmond Conference Centre, Richmond

This year's conference will bring together hundreds of tourism owner/operators, hoteliers, destination marketing and management professionals, educators, government representatives, industry sectors, and other stakeholders representing all regions of British Columbia.

At the 2022 BCTHC, you can be part of an incredible opportunity to collaborate, share stories of success and resilience, acquire new research and best practices, be inspired for creative new projects and initiatives, and build bold ideas that will help kickstart the comeback of BC’s tourism industry.

Registration is set to open in early January 2022.

Visit here for more details including how to become a sponsor of the BCTHC!

Email us at info@bctourismandhospitalityconference.com

The Vancouver, Coast & Mountains team, managed by Destination BC, is collaborating with The Forum to create a tourism program tailored specifically for women-led businesses and entrepreneurs.

The two-day virtual program will provide expertise and resources to support women in tourism, delivered by The Forum and other subject matters experts in January 2022.

The free, application-based virtual program will take place over two days on January 13th and 20th.

Applications will be accepted until January 6th at 4:00pm PST or until all available spots have been filled. You are advised to apply early as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Click here for more information and to register.

Have you started thinking about your summer hiring needs? Canada Summer Jobs supports non-profits, small businesses (50 or fewer employees), and public sector employers to provide quality summer work experiences for youth aged 15 to 30 years old.

Service Canada’s Canada Summer Jobs program is an initiative of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy which aims to provide quality work experiences for youth to develop skills and gain paid work experience to successfully transition into the labour market.

Date: January 12th at 1:00 pm (PT)

Talent MATCH has partnered with Service Canada to bring you this free info session featuring Canada Summer Jobs representatives Line Noel and Melanie Greene, who will explain how the program works and how to apply. Note that the Call for Applications for the Canada Summer Jobs will open soon and close in late January, 2022.

The Talent MATCH Program is a collaboration between the BC Alliance for Arts + Culture, the BC Museums Association, go2HR, and the Association for Co-operative Education & Work Integrated Learning BC/Yukon.

This info session is free, but you must register for it here.

When: Thursday January 13th

Presentations: 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Business Meeting: 3:15pm - 4:15pm

Where: Virtual, Zoom

Join us as we share recent WTA accomplishments and areas of focus for the new year. We are pleased to be joined by Walt Judas, CEO of TIABC, and Krista Bax, CEO of go2HR, who will guide us in imagining what's next for British Columbia's tourism industry.

The afternoon will unfold as follows:

1:00 - 1:30pm Opening Remarks & WTA Accomplishments - Breanne Quesnel

1:30 - 2:00pm Rebooting BC’s Visitor Economy - Walt Judas, CEO of TIABC

2:00 - 2:30pm WTA Marketing Direction - Jessica Fremlin

2:30 - 3:00pm Staffing & Retention Challenges - Krista Bax, CEO of go2HR

3:00 - 3:15pm Break

3:15 - 4:15pm Business Meeting, President’s Report, Executive Director’s Report, Treasurer’s Report, Board Elections

Click here to register for the event. Upon registration, you will be sent a Zoom meeting link.

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada's (TIAC) Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held Wednesday, January 19th from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET virtually – please note details for the virtual call will be sent shortly.

To access the proxy vote or nomination form, click on the following:

These documents and the link to register to the AGM require you to log in to your membership account with TIAC.

If you have forgotten your login information to access benefits or renew your membership, click here and input your email address and check your inbox.

RVC+ is going hybrid in 2022! The new format will bring back in-person attendance, while also incorporating a virtual component, creating opportunities for more of industry to engage and make appointments with international buyers, travel trade media and Destination Marketing Companies.

The in-person portion of RVC+ will be a buyer-seated marketplace in Toronto, Ontario. This will be Canada’s RVC and hosted by Destination Canada and TIAC, creating an exciting opportunity to welcome international buyers back to Canada and showcase the beauty of this country, as well as the meaningful travel experiences offered across each province and territory.

Dates: May 24th - 27th, 2022

Learn more about Rendezvous Canada 2022 here.

TIAC launched its Elevating Canadian Experience (ECE) program to provide tourism stakeholders with free learning resources in culinary tourism and tools for the winter/shoulder seasons.

The ECE program provides content ranging from strategy development to practical tools and tips - all designed to help grow and adapt your tourism business as an operator and build tourism capacity in your region as a destination partner.

The latest module "Embracing Canada’s Winter and Shoulder Season" has been developed to assist tourism operators and destination partners in broadening the shoulders of your tourism season and provides valuable insights, worksheets, tips and strategies.

Click here to learn more and to download the Toolkit.