Todays industry update includes:
- In The News
- TIABC "Know Before You Go"
- Meeting & Events Updates
- BC Meetings & Events Group Website
- Meetings Mean Business Canada Update
- TOTA Regional Domestic Tourism Skills Training Program
- Safety Plans
- go2HR Safety Plan Review Service
- Save the Date! BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference
- Upcoming Education
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The Westin Wall Center, Vancouver Airport, Richmond |
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For any questions please reach out to our team.
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Last week, the Premier had announced his intention to seek interprovincial border closures. The Tourism Coalition released a joint statement on Friday outlining the detrimental repercussions this would cause to the already devastated tourism & hospitality industry in BC.
Coalition members say they are not aware of or have seen any hard data to support further travel restrictions or an outright ban on non-essential travel within BC and to/from other provinces.
Coalition members are urging government to steer away from the notion of a travel ban in favour of working with the industry and communities to educate prospective visitors on their responsibilities vis-à-vis BC health and safety protocols, as well as expected individual behaviour.
Read the full release here from the Tourism Coalition.
The release was picked up by over a dozen media outlets both on a provincial and national scale over the weekend as well as generated numerous follow up interviews with BCHA President & CEO Ingrid Jarrett. Below are some examples:
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B.C. tourism industry decries premier's inquiries to...
British Columbia's tourism industry says implementing an inter-provincial travel plan would decimate what's left of the sector's operators. B.C. Premier John Horgan says he is seeking legal advice on the feasibility of a travel ban between...
Read more
www.cbc.ca
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Tourism industry says interprovincial travel ban would...
As B.C. looks into limiting interprovincial travel, representatives of the province's tourism and hospitality industry are speaking up in opposition.
Read more
bc.ctvnews.ca
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Tourism sector fears "disastrous" effects if B.C. halts...
B.C.'s tourism sector fears a major setback if the provincial government is able to somehow keep leisure travellers from crossing B.C.'s border with Alberta in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 - a move that Premier John Horgan said...
Read more
biv.com
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B.C. travel ban will harm struggling tourism sector,...
A coalition of British Columbia tourism industry groups is urging the province against considering a domestic travel ban, saying restricting travel between provinces to fight COVID-19 would only further harm the sector. The B.C.
Read more
www.prpeak.com
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British Columbia looks to create its own pandemic bubble
The B.C. government is reviewing legal advice on whether it can restrict non-essential travel across provincial boundaries as frustrations mount about non-resident visitors who ignore requests to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19....
Read more
www.theglobeandmail.com
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Hotel associations push back against any potential ban...
A major hotel association is speaking out against any possible legislative change that would ban Canadians from other provinces to travel to beautiful British Columbia. The British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA) sent out a sharply worded...
Read more
www.thestar.com
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TIABC "Know Before You Go" |
TIABC is investing in a series of videos that will act as public service announcements in the form of vignettes aimed to inform about the province’s health and safety protocols, what businesses such as our accommodation properties are doing to ensure their customers, guests and future guests are safe and protected, and to reiterate the provincial tourism marketing messaging “Know Before You Go”.
We are in need of video images, photography and B-Roll particularly from resorts and lodges by January 20th
If you are interested in participating please reach out to Mike Macleod at membership@bcha.com by January 20th.
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Meetings & Events Updates |
BC Meetings & Events Website |
COVID-19 has had tremendous impact on the Meetings and Events Industry. The primary purpose of our industry is to plan and deliver group experiences, and the global pandemic has frozen our collective ability to function.
To gather our industry together into a collective effort, to address the impact of this virus, and to develop a safe restart plan for medium and large group gatherings, a B.C. Meetings and Events Industry Working Group (BCMEWG) has been created. View their website for guidelines and updates.
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Meetings Mean Business Canada Update |
Advocacy work: As the business events community faces ongoing lockdowns and other challenges, MMBC continues to advocate to all levels of government with key messaging:
- Face-to-face events bring business leaders together to create transactional opportunities that drive the economy, jobs, and other growth opportunities.
- The business events sector has decades of proven expertise in hosting controlled, safe gatherings, including sophisticated delegate tracing systems during and after events.
- The business events community is ready and willing to assist governments in their efforts to rebuild Canada's economy.
Provincial initiatives
- MMBC is a positive partner with provincial governments to help develop protocols to reopen safe and healthy business events.
- MMBC supports the efforts of provincial leadership groups as they advocate to reopen business events at the regional level.
- MMBC will communicate positive provincial initiatives to decision-makers in Ottawa as part of our ongoing federal advocacy work.
Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID), April 8, 2021
- Our online, Canada-wide event will focus on the topic of Reopening Business Events safely and in a controlled fashion.
- MMBC will extend personal invitations to high-level federal and provincial leaders as well as industry stakeholders.
- Key discussions include: Why business events are crucial to economic recovery in all industries; how our sector is supporting its hardest-hit members at this time; and protocols and ideas for reinstating safe events that will help drive Canada's economy forward.
Learn more at:
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TOTA Regional Domestic Tourism Skills Training Program |
TOTA is Offering a Fully Funded Skills Training Program for Tourism Workers to Start or Expand Their Career |
With many weeks before winter is truly behind us, spring and the idea of economic recovery are top of mind. This is a perfect time for individuals interested in employment in tourism to upgrade skills and take steps to be well-positioned for the tourism jobs market as it re-emerges.
TOTA has recently received funding to deliver a 13-week domestic tourism skills training program for unemployed or precariously employed individuals, designed to help entry-level seasonal, casual, or part-time employees interested in growing into full-time tourism employment.
Beginning on February 8, the program will focus on domestic tourism, including local and regional tourism priorities and identifying a potential career path. Participants will learn about Tourism and Hospitality trends, regional experiences, and the delivery of day-to-day guest service, including an overview of Indigenous tourism, accessible tourism, and sustainable tourism. Participants will receive guidance on starting a tourism career and ongoing professional development through the program's industry mentorship component and a virtual job fair.
Program delivery will be 100% "live" online learning guided by industry facilitators, tourism professionals, and guest speakers, that will enable us to support as many individuals as possible and reach those in smaller and remote communities.
All participants require is a reliable internet connection and a strong desire to expand their employment value within the tourism industry.
This is a fully funded program, and we encourage anyone interested in expanding their employability within tourism in the Thompson Okanagan region to learn more and consider registering. Priority will be given to marginalized and underrepresented groups. Anyone ages 15 and above is eligible to apply.
The February 3 deadline for applications is fast approaching, and seats are limited.
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Accommodation Safety Plans |
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The accommodation industry in BC has been a leader since the beginning of the pandemic in the creation and execution of safety plans and guidelines.
We would like to remind the industry that they MUST have a posted safety plan on their website, and it must also be posted in the business itself.
In addition, the safety plan needs to be updated as the PHO orders are updated. The audit of websites currently indicate that there are many websites that do not have a safety plan posted, which is giving an impression of non compliance for our industry.
We have worked too hard as leaders in the province to develop and implement leading best practices and protocols, and this single non compliance could result in detrimental damage to the perception of our industry. Resources for building a safety plan are available HERE, and support for assisting with safety plans are available through go2HR.
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go2HR Supports Tourism and Hospitality Businesses by Offering COVID-19 Safety Plan Review Service |
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On January 7th, the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) extended the existing orders directed at individuals, places of work and businesses in British Columbia, requiring them to continue limiting their level of social interactions and non-essential travel. The orders, originally introduced last November, are now set to remain in effect until midnight on February 5th, or as otherwise advised by the PHO.
All businesses across the province are being urged to remain vigilant, follow their COVID-19 safety plans, and update those plans as needed. It is strongly recommended that you take the time to review and update your COVID-19 safety plan without delay and incorporate the requirements of the orders, as they relate to your particular business.
With this in mind, go2HR has launched a new program to help tourism and hospitality businesses review their COVID-19 safety plans. Their health and safety experts will review your safety plan and provide recommendations and targeted feedback to help ensure ongoing compliance with current requirements. To register for this complimentary service, click here.
If you have any questions regarding these extended orders or need support with any aspect of your safety plan, please contact go2HR via phone: 604-633-9787, email: safety@go2hr.ca or visit their Maintaining Your COVID-19 Safety Plan webpage. go2HR's qualified health and safety staff are available to assist and we look forward to supporting you and your team.
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Professional and Continuing Studies at Royal Roads University
- Sales Strategies During Times of Uncertainty
External market impacts often require that companies and their sales professionals engage with traditional and new markets differently. Economic factors may have substantially changed the competitive landscape and the dynamics of the client – vendor relationship. The hospitality and tourism industry, specifically, has unique challenges during these periods and with perishable inventory, sales professionals will be under pressure to increase volume when the market may be restricted or hesitant to travel.
Course runs February 8 - March 7, 2021
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