Often when travelling on business, I set aside at least one night on my own to take in a sporting event, theatre production, or concert after work. Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Billy Elliot in London, hockey games at Madison Square Garden, a Rolling Stones concert in Seattle, and dozens of other entertainment-related events all over the world.

Generally I’ll begin my evening with dinner at a local neighbourhood diner, followed by a brief visit to either a museum, attraction, or store before attending the main event…all the while racking up charges on my Visa card.

Many business travellers like me contribute to what’s known as the nighttime economy (NTE)…which for all intents and purposes encompasses social, cultural, and economic activity that happens after dark. Although much of this so-called nighttime economy is fuelled by local residents, a significant portion of after dark spending is generated by leisure visitors or more importantly, road warriors attending conferences, trades shows, or meetings. It goes without saying that the NTE is a vital part of the broader tourism eco-system.

When the business events sector (otherwise known as MC&IT – meetings, conventions & incentive travel) ground to a halt during COVID, so did much of the NTE in British Columbia and across the country. For the better part of two years, producers, tourism and hospitality operators, retailers, and countless others lamented the absence of conference delegates, especially given the amount of money business travellers typically spend in a destination (3-5 times higher spend than an average tourist).

In Canada, MC&IT generates about 40 percent of visitor spending in a normal year. So it stands to reason that many cities and entertainment sectors across the country remain concerned that recovery for business events appears to be lagging compared with other segments of the tourism industry.

The average booking pace nationally for international events scheduled in Canada is at 55 percent of what it should be, while the years 2023 to 2028 show pace to be at just 47 percent. According to several colleagues I spoke with at the TIAC Congress in Ottawa this week, the sector lost considerable momentum due to a number of factors including the length of time it took Canada to scrap ArriveCan and re-open its border.

Thankfully in British Columbia we’re bucking the trend somewhat. Many event planners are extremely busy. Booking pace is ahead of the national average. Places like Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler, Kelowna, Nanaimo, and other centres have performed well this year, largely due to domestic business and those international conferences that were rescheduled for 2022 after postponing their meetings during the pandemic.

Yet in spite of our seemingly strong performance, we still need to be mindful that the MC&IT sector is not out of the woods yet and could very well be the last segment of BC’s visitor economy to fully recover. As you can appreciate, there is stiff competition and many American cities got a running start on Canadian destinations to scoop up lucrative international conferences (including US) for the aforementioned years ahead. What’s more, industry experts at the TIAC Congress noted that many meeting planners and delegates still perceive Canada to be difficult to get into, notwithstanding other issues that have recently emerged including the impending recession, supply chain obstacles, and the new CBSA requirements imposed by the CARM program that we referenced in last week’s Voice of Tourism newsletter.

I take some comfort in knowing that BC’s business events sector has the skills, expertise, venues, destinations, and services that clients and delegates from around the world have come to respect and appreciate. That said, several colleagues insist that collectively we need to specifically prioritize MC&IT here and across the country now as part of tourism recovery efforts or we could be reeling down the road. One simple tactic is to dial up messaging that COVID restrictions have been lifted and Canada is open for business, especially considering that many international clients still believe otherwise.

Earlier this year, in response to a Tourism Task Force recommendation, the province provided some $8 million over two years to 11 community destination management organizations (DMO) to be used for convention development and marketing. The funds are helping DMOs secure new business for both the short and long-term and are most certainly keeping many BC convention destinations ahead of the national booking pace.

Along with theatres, concert venues, restaurants, and other sectors that comprise the nighttime economy, hotels, convention centres, attractions, transportation companies, meeting planners, suppliers, retailers, adventure tourism operators, and even rural communities (that welcome post-conference visitors), all depend on a strong and healthy business events industry to generate revenues and keep people employed. As congress delegates heard this week, it’s also key to a full tourism industry recovery in BC and across Canada.

Thankfully business travel is over for me until Q1 next year. And since I didn’t get a chance to support Ottawa’s nighttime economy as much as I would have liked to, I’ll gladly boost Vancouver’s NTE over the Christmas season even if it means getting dragged to the Sound of Music by my wife.

Walt Judas

CEO, TIABC

Earlier this week, Destination Canada published its latest Tourism Outlook Forecast that notes that while challenges prevail, the recovery trajectory for Canada’s tourism sector is bolstered by the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and resilience in travel demand.

Leisure travel is now expected to recover to 2019 levels by 2024, one year earlier than the prior forecast (Spring 2022).  Highlights of the forecast are as follows:

Domestic tourism will continue to lead the sector’s recovery with strong spending providing a foundation for brisk recovery to 2019 levels. Domestic travel market spending is expected to reach 92% of 2019 levels by the end of 2022 and fully recover in 2023.

The recovery of the US market, which is Canada’s biggest opportunity, is poised to accelerate in 2023, with spending reaching 91% of 2019 levels as lifted border restrictions and a strong US dollar encourage recovery.

Overseas markets, however, are expected to recover at a slower pace, as challenges including an imminent recession, reduced flight capacity, and weaker travel sentiment weigh on longer haul travel.

TIABC CEO Walt Judas, along with several other BC industry leaders including BCHA CEO Ingrid Jarrett, go2HR's Sarah Moseley and Ginger Brunner, and Heather Paul of the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre are featured in a new video by Tourism HR Canada aimed at encouraging people to consider a career in the sector.

DMOs, sector associations and businesses are welcome to use the video as part of their Value of Tourism and employee recruitment efforts.

The province has announced a new, more secure online service for registering and managing general partnerships and sole proprietorships for BC businesses.

Entrepreneurs launching a business will benefit from simplified online processes, including steps to reserve a business name as well as ready access to business filings and other business information. An updated business search with quick online self-serve access to view business information and filings is also available to BC OnLine users.

To access BC Registry digital services, a more secure and easier login method using the BC Services Card app is used to verify identity. This will prove who is logged in and accessing information. Using the login will give business owners more trust and assurance that their business information is secure.

Access the modernized BC Registries and Online Services application HERE.

App-based ride-hailing and food-delivery workers in the Lower Mainland are invited to provide insight on the work they do, their working conditions, the benefits and challenges of this work and any employment-standards-related changes they would like to see.

To register for one of these discussions, ride-hailing and food-delivery workers can send an email to: precariousworkstrategy@gov.bc.ca. Comments can be sent to the same email address.

To find a roundtable session in your community, visit HERE.

For workers not able to attend the in-person discussions, an online survey has been launched and a virtual event is coming soon. The survey is HERE.

BC's incredible biodiversity has attracted nature lovers, adventurers and tourists from around the world. At the Invasive Species Council of BC, the goal is to protect biodiversity by collaborating with the people who live and work in BC to address invasive species issues.

If you are a backcountry explorer, check out these free courses on invasive species identification and best practices to prevent the spread while in the great outdoors.

Learn More about the Invasive Species Council of BC HERE.

Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is seeking interest from potential organizations to co-host IITC 2025.

Any non-profit, profit, Indigenous or non-Indigenous organization or event planner is eligible to submit regardless of location or ownership from anywhere in Canada. The term of the co-host organization will commence immediately after the RFP is awarded, expected in April 2024.

In recognizing the importance of collaboration and partnership in the face of challenges over the past few years, TIABC and the BC Hotel Association have come together to host the third-annual BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference, which takes place in Prince George from Wednesday, March 1st to Friday, March 3rd, 2023.

Further details — including accommodation and program highlights — will be released later this year. Stay tuned for more and contact us with any questions you may have.

The conference is guaranteed to provide a mix of discovery, education, industry insights, and networking opportunities - it is designed to offer the tools needed to forge a brighter path forward for the sector!

The 2023 BC Tourism & Hospitality Awards are presented by TIABC and the BCHA to recognize and celebrate the excellence, leadership, and innovation in British Columbia’s tourism & hospitality industry. These Awards demonstrate a standard of excellence for operators and employees in the industry, showcasing the province’s best products, services, experiences, and people.

Nomination Deadline: December 15, 2022

Awards Gala: Thursday, March 2, 2023, Prince George Conference & Civic Centre

Visit our website to book your accommodation at one of our conference hotels and learn more about your travel options to Prince George. Plus, enjoy an Air Canada discount code!

If you have any questions about conference registration, please contact us at registration@bctourismandhospitalityconference.com. General conference questions can be directed to info@bctourismandhospitalityconference.com.

Yesterday, TIABC relaunched our Webinar Series with a session on Understanding EDI to Help Reshape

Dr. Amanda Parriag and Erin Bull of The Parriag Group, shared with participants what is generally meant by the terms equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), why it is so important from both a people and a business perspective, and how EDI are important elements in sustainable labor recovery.

Co-hosted by go2HR, the webinar provided participants with additional tools needed toward a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse tourism and hospitality industry in BC.

Stay tuned for additional webinars to be delivered by TIABC in the months ahead.

Wellness Travel BC is a collective of unique travel partners that engages wellness travel consumers to look, then book authentic experiences for renewal, rejuvenation, and re-energizing at remarkable settings throughout British Columbia.

In this recent feature, they focus on Penticton's local wellness offerings and encourage visitors to "Embrace a Holistic Getaway of Fresh Food, Outdoor Activities and Wine & Craft Beer".

Announced earlier this week by Accent Inn's Inc., effective this month all nine affiliated properties are officially Rainbow Registered with Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce.

As part of the accreditation process, establishing a Deadname Standard Operating Procedure was a key priority for Accent Inns Inc. A deadname reflects the name given to a transgender person at birth which they no longer identify with. In order to enact this revolutionary policy, Accent Inns Inc. worked with their providers to develop unique customization of their booking engine specifically to alleviate anxiety among folks whose names do not match the name on their government-issued identification.

First launched in June 2021, the Rainbow Registered Accreditation Program was created to better identify 2SLGBTQI+ friendly businesses across Canada and move the needle on 2SLGBTQI+ rights.

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Association (Tourism Sun Peaks) is a destination marketing and management organization mandated to promote the resort to the world.

Founded in 1996, Tourism Sun Peaks is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization with 1,500 members representing accommodations, attractions, restaurants, retail, and homeowners.

Purpose: To increase visitation and resort business to benefit stakeholders and members

Core activities and departments include marketing, social media, media relations, market development, events, and research.

Click HERE to learn more about Tourism Sun Peaks.

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

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic TIABC identified your concerns, raised your voice, championed your needs, pushing for support and programs while encouraging policy changes.

Your support and engagement is vital to ensuring businesses, DMO's and sectors are united and speaking with one voice on issues that impact BC's tourism industry.

Around the province, Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and communities are coming together to create shared spaces for outdoor recreation. Creating relations built on trust and mutual respect that disrupt the harmful legacy and ongoing nature of colonialism take time, patience and commitment.

In this webinar, Jordan Williams, language and culture instructor of the Lake Babine Nation, and Rachelle Van Zanten will share their lessons and experiences working together as part of Spirit North.

The presentation will be followed by a live Q&A.

Date: December 6, 7pm - 8pm

Click HERE to learn more and to register.

This year’s agenda features plenty of time for networking and reconnecting with your tourism peers in the region.

Hear from keynote speaker Tewanee Joseph, CEO of the Tewanee Group, a First Nations owned and operated company that delivers meaningful partnerships, communications strategies and planning, and training in communications and inclusivity.

Topics will also include the importance of creating a respectful workplace to retain staff, Indigenous tourism capacity building, and an update on Destination BC’s Invest in Iconics Strategy.

Date: Tuesday, November 29, 9am - 4pm (PT)

Location: Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier, North Vancouver - 138 Victory Ship Way

Register through Eventbrite, or by emailing vcm@destinationbc.ca. 

Save on registration for the International Indigenous Tourism Conference (IITC) by registering today. After December 15, registration will increase to $1,099.

Take part in breakout sessions on everything from marketing to pricing strategies to pitching your story to national media. Join tours of local Indigenous areas and businesses, delight your palate at “Taste of Turtle Island,” and partake in IITC's renowned awards ceremonies.

Date: March 8-10, 2023

Location: RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg

Visit HERE to learn more and register.

Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) celebrates 25 years of dedicated service and commitment to Indigenous businesses and communities in British Columbia.

Join us at our 2022 Annual General Meeting taking place at the Coast Coal Harbour Vancouver Hotel on the shared territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

With the support and contribution of our dedicated partners, ITBC continues to respond positively to change and commit to creating new opportunities supporting Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination and economic, social, and cultural development through tourism. Twenty-five years after its inception, BC is a recognized global leader in Indigenous tourism, with more than 488 Indigenous tourism-related businesses and 4000 directly related full-time jobs in the province.

Date: December 1

Location: Coast Coal Harbour, Vancouver

Visit HERE to learn more and to register.

IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism Conference promises to deliver another provocative

and solution-based conference.

The biggest change you will see is the option of including Sunday ‘s Day of IMPACT (January 22nd) into your overall registration.

The theme for the event is: O P E N. New sessions this year will address how to build careers with purpose, funding the transition to a more sustainable destination and tourism operation, how to develop effective partnerships to reach your sustainability goals and a deeper look into KPIs and metrics, while exploring ESG best practices.

When we come together with open hearts and open minds, anything is possible. We see connections everywhere. We welcome all ideas, experiences, and ways of life—because this is how we learn, grow, and change.

Visit HERE to learn more and to register. Early Bird registration is until November 30th.

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is hosting the 2022 Thompson Okanagan Tourism Summit.

Date: February 22, 2023 at Thompson Rivers University Campus (Kamloops).

Tourism stakeholders are invited to come together as a tourism community to learn from everything we've been through and think differently about how we can co-create a more vibrant and resilient tourism industry in BC.

Registration to be announced soon. Click HERE for more information.

The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is excited to announce registration is now open for the International Indigenous Tourism Conference (IITC).

This conference is designed to unite the global Indigenous tourism industry bringing together tourism operators, international delegates, members of parliament and tourism partners. IITC features collective sharing of best practices and networking as Canadian and global delegates participate in panel discussions, breakout sessions, keynote presentations and local cultural experiences.

Dates: March 8-10, 2023

Location. Treaty 1 Territory and the Homeland of the Metis - Winnipeg

Learn more and register HERE.

We are pleased to announce the dates for the next annual BCAC Conference. It will take place in Prince George, ("Base camp to the North" and home to YXS) at the "Courtyard by Marriott" hotel.

More information including conference theme, agenda, list of speakers, as well as hotel and travel partner recommendations to follow soon. Questions or Sponsorships? Ask Dave!

Drop us a line at info@tiabc.ca.

TIABC recognizes that our members, stakeholders and staff occupy the ceded, unceded and traditional territories of Indigenous Nations across British Columbia. We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to live, work and play on the lands that our Indigenous friends and First Nations ancestors honour and care for.