Dear Accommodation Community,
This week has been a busy one, on many fronts. A key win, was our conversation with the Ministry of Health regarding the use of conference space as overflow for restaurant capacity. With the upcoming season, operating restaurants in hotels at 50% capacity, and patios due to close with the colder weather, several of our members have reached out to discuss using conference space for restaurant overflow. Today, we received confirmation from the Ministry of Health that adhering to the food and Liquor Serving Premises Provincial Health Officer order will apply for this conference space use. This is confirmed with the provincial health authority and the regional health authorities. Ultimately, this means, your conference space can operate the same way your restaurant operates.
The small business grant program was launched on Friday afternoon before the long weekend, during the election. Regretfully, as we look at the qualifiers and as we hear from you, our stakeholders and industry, it is clear, this program will not be accessible for the majority of our industry. Once again, our provincial government has not stepped up to support an industry that invests in, works in, and contributes to every community in the province of British Columbia. When we talk about jobs, and business solvency, there is no relief coming our way. It is our job to ensure we do everything we can to change this. We will be detailing the barriers to access and recommending revisions before the end of the week. Please ensure you add your voice to this important work. We need to hear from you – if you have been unable to access relief measures please send the details to us at communications@bcha.com. The details and grant application information is included below. We encourage all small businesses to apply. Grants of $10,000 to $30,000 are available if your business has experienced a revenue loss of 50 - 70%. Offering fully-funded grants to businesses that were profitable pre-pandemic, businesses can determine if they are eligible and submit an application by clicking here. We encourage you to reach out to our team should you have any questions.
As a result of our partnership with the Regional Tourism Secretariat and STR, the September report outlines insightful information on the realities affecting our industry in terms of survival and liquidity needs, along with current sentiments in comparison to previous years. Please see below for more details.
In addition to advocacy work we have also been developing two campaigns aimed at encouraging Canadians to explore British Columbia and book directly with their accommodation providers. These two programs are the October Harvest Wine Month Campaign and the upcoming Snowbirds Campaign, details of which are included below. We encourage each of you to participate in these new initiatives aimed at growing our tourism sector and putting us on a path to recovery. The snowbird pilot with Tourism Vancouver Island will launch on October 19th, and the rest of the province mid November. These campaigns are designed to drive revenue to the accommodation providers around the province without the hardship of the historic OTA commissions.
We will be hosting an upcoming webinar in partnership with CBRE, which will quantify the impacts on our industry nationally, provincially, and by community. Additional information and registration can be found here. We are also excited to be launching a webinar series in partnership with Canada West Ski Association. Through this webinar series, we will be offering training and support for best practices and protocols aimed at ski-centric accommodators as they help residents safely enjoy the slopes this Winter. Further details on the CWSA webinar series are included below or you can register here.
In the vein of education and learning, we have also included details below for STR's online Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) workshops taking place October 17th and 24th, along with select dates in November and December. These workshops offer the tools to support revenue management strategies to recovery for the accommodation industry.
Next week, I will be speaking on behalf of the BC Hotel Association during ABLEBC's upcoming virtual conference, along with the Fort St. John Chamber of Commerce's 'Boost Your Biz' panel. I look forward to sharing insights during each session and thank both organizations for inviting me to be a guest.
Stay safe,
Ingrid Jarrett
President & CEO
BC Hotel Association
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The British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat, British Columbia Hotel Association and the British Columbia Destination Marketing Organizations Association are continuing to leverage our collective business network to collect, collate and report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism businesses and to gather feedback on potential response and recovery measures.
This business intelligence was gathered through online and telephone surveys of a randomly selected list of firms across British Columbia excluding Greater Vancouver and Whistler region from September 8 – September 30. A response rate of 44% yielded 282 tourism businesses, representing a margin of error for the sample-wide questions of +/- 5%, 9 times out of 10.
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The BC Hotel Association is proud to announce our involvement with tourism regions across the province to attract Canadian Snowbirds – residents who normally travel to warmer climates during colder months. This is an opportunity for accommodators across the province to gain exposure to this market and help themselves either in the short term or as a long-term shift into this segment.
The pilot project will be live with Tourism Vancouver Island, which we are delighted to be working with behind the scenes to ensure we see British Columbia deliver outstanding snowbird experiences over the coming months.
The Campaign: BCHA will partner with tourism regions across the province and connect accommodators with the program. The tourism regions will handle the marketing and destination exposure through it's Fly West campaign while BCHA will ensure that hotels are connected via the Check in Canada booking portal. This will drive business directly to hotels reducing usage of third-party booking channels.
· There is no cost to participate.
· Once connected to Check in Canada hotels will provide their own specials, packages and offers on their own website.
· The program will roll out, region by region. Please stay tuned for information specific to your area of the province.
The Opportunity:
Step 1: Let us know you are participating by answering the short registration:
Step 2: If you are not yet signed on with Check in Canada click here:
If you are already connected to Check in Canada, no additional work is necessary.
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Greater Vancouver Board of Trade Updates |
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B.C. Provincial Election Dashboard Goes Live |
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In advance of the 2020 provincial election, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade partnered with Mustel Group to collect the opinions of our region's business community. The results provide a unique insight into our Members' priorities and challenges, as well as other ballot box issues. The resources and other valuable election information can be found at boardoftrade.com/dashboard.
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Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant |
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If you are a small or medium-sized business, you may qualify for the Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant program recently launched by the B.C. government. Grants of $10,000 to $30,000 are available if your business has experienced a revenue loss of 50 - 70%. The program provides fully-funded grants to businesses that were profitable pre-pandemic and meet various conditions. Visit here to determine your eligibility and contact policy@boardoftrade.com if you have questions.
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Look no further than our beautiful backyard for your 2021 adventures! The BC Hospitality Foundation is proud to announce our primary fundraiser for 2020, an online lottery, with a focus on supporting local hotels, wineries, breweries, restaurants, tourist attractions, and of course, their staff – the heart and soul of our hospitality industry. Featuring prizes from some of BC’s most remarkable destinations, we aim to fill your 2021 with safe and local explorations of our own, beautiful BC backyard.
Our beloved industry has worked hard to adapt to these trying times, with safety at the forefront of every experience, and this lottery supports the hospitality industry by endorsing a strong start to 2021!
Like many charities, the BCHF’s fundraising model, which relies almost entirely on events and social engagements, has been turned completely upside down. It is an unforgiving reality that will likely last well into 2021, and so we strategically revised our entire course of action for 2020. This online lottery will help us continue working to support hospitality workers in a financial crisis due to a health condition. Thank you to everyone for purchasing your BCHF lottery tickets and helping us finish off 2020 with determination and grace! Good Luck!! Tickets on sale from October 13 to November 1st, 2020
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All of us at the BCHA are saddened to learn of Michael Willingham’s passing. We share the below communication from the BC Hospitality Foundation as we reflect on Michael’s legacy and commitment to our industry:
The story of the BC Hospitality Foundation began in the Fall of 2006 when long-time wine agent Michael Willingham had a brain aneurysm. It caused partial paralysis, left him unable to swallow, and damaged his lungs’ ability to breathe while sleeping. He wasn’t expected to survive, but surprised everyone by fighting back to a point where he could walk short distances on his own. Unfortunately, there was no clear medical solution, and the financial hardship he incurred was severe. Willingham's colleagues in the wine industry rallied and raised an initial $50,000 to help with his situation.
Willingham was deeply touched, but his experience made him realize how many people in the service industry —servers, cooks, baristas, concierges, brew masters, and more—exist precariously, often one missed paycheque or surprise health diagnosis away from financial disaster. He accepted the support, but with the recommendation that his colleagues set up a charitable organization that could provide similar help for others in the hospitality industry. They agreed, and thus the BC Hospitality Foundation was born.
Together, they created BCHF as a registered charity that raises funds to support those in the hospitality industry facing financial crisis due to a serious health condition. Each year, hospitality workers across B.C. face financial challenges and have nowhere else to turn. The BCHF helps them when all other options have been exhausted. We are the ONLY charity of its kind in Canada.
The BCHF, its founders, friends and many beneficiaries are forever grateful to Michael, who not only inspired the foundation’s genesis but also continued to support its activities even as he struggled with his own ongoing challenges. Truly, Michael Willingham made a difference in the lives of many people. He will be always in our thoughts.
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ABLE BC: 2020 Virtual BC Liquor Conference |
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Hosted by ABLE BC, the advocate for BC’s pubs and liquor stores, this year’s conference will take place virtually and will feature BCHA President & CEO Ingrid Jarrett
No matter where you are in the province, tune in and get the actionable steps and knowledge you need to adapt and survive COVID-19. Plus get liquor industry data, trends, and policy updates you can’t get anywhere else.
2020 conference highlights include:
· Address from the Hon. David Eby, Attorney General
· Update on ABLE BC’s liquor policy priorities
· Insights into how the pandemic has impacted liquor retail trends
· Post-COVID profitability for bars and pubs
· BC’s election and what the future holds
· Virtual happy hour and networking opportunities
The COVID-19 crisis is far from over. But together, we will weather this storm. Join us and other industry leaders at the 5th annual BC Liquor Conference, as we bring together BC’s hospitality industry and look to the future.
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STR Online CHIA Workshops |
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STR’s Online CHIA Workshops for October and November are quickly approaching. Do not wait any longer to register and join the 20,000 professionals and academics in earning this industry-recognized stamp of approval that will advance your career and industry knowledge.
The core areas of focus of the CHIA remain the same: hotel industry analytical foundations, hotel math fundamentals, property-level benchmarking, and hotel industry performance reports. But in response to the unprecedented state of global hospitality, the program’s data and guest speakers will be largely focused on performance recovery.
You can register below for the Online CHIA Workshop that works best with your schedule. Regardless of your preference, you will have direct engagement with your instructors and the opportunity to build camaraderie with attendees from around the globe.
Become a Rockstar within your organization, earn your CHIA.
October workshop*
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2 required dates: October 17th, 24th
- 3-hour sessions beginning at 9 a.m. CDT
November workshop*
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5 required dates: November 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, December 1st
- 2-hour sessions beginning at 10 a.m. or 8 p.m. CST
*Sessions will be recorded in case you need to miss one.
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Upcoming Webinars & Panels |
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BCHA & CBRE Webinar: Assessment of COVID-19 Impacts on the Canadian Accommodation Sector
The Hotel industry has been one of the hardest hit sectors in the global economy as a result of Covid-19. CBRE Hotels will be discussing the current and future top line and bottom line performance of the Canadian hotel industry. The session will include presentations on current hotel industry performance, with emphasis on BC markets. A discussion on lessons learned from previous global disruptions is included and CBRE Hotels will share their forecasts for the recovery of the industry over the next five years. The implications for BC Hoteliers on cashflow, hotel valuations, owner liquidity and lender exposure will all be addressed.
The CBRE Hotels’ session will be presented by Brian Stanford, Senior Managing Director and David Ferguson, Director.
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Fort St. John Chamber of Commerce
This year we will be running our Small Business Week – Boost your Biz – VIRTUALLY!!
Registration will open up soon and we are excited to share with you our great list of speakers and presenters - including BCHA President & CEO, Ingrid Jarrett - all here to help small businesses get back on track and even GROW!! You don’t want to miss this exciting event.
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Canada West Ski Areas Association
The BC Hotel Association has partnered with the Canada West Ski Areas Association to bring a collection of educational webinars to the ski hotel & resort community in preparation for the upcoming winter season.
Webinars include:
- Accommodation Re-Opening Guidelines, Best Practices and Building Your Safety Plan
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Date & Time: Wednesday, Oct 21, 2020 at 1pm PDT/ 2pm MDT
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About: Learn about the latest in provincial health orders related to the accommodation sector, best practices and lessons learned from summer operations and guidance for effective safety plans.
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Register: click here
- Tips & Best Practices for Training your Employees Virtually
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Date & Time: Wednesday, Oct 28, 2020 (Time TBD)
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About: While many of the principles of effective in-person classroom training apply to virtual training, there are some important differences. In this webinar we will discuss tips and best practices on how to transition your classroom content online and deliver an engaging training session.
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Register: click here
- Public Spaces and Housekeeping Protocols
- Details TBD
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Royal Roads: Hospitality & Tourism Business Recovery and Financing: Strategic and Tactical Decision-Making.
Join us online o n October 22 at 1 pm for our next panel discussion,
The Covid 19 situation has substantially changed the market for hospitality and tourism industry business owners and operators. Significant adjustments to their operations have been necessary to remain open and traditional markets have declined in most instances. Even with support measures in place by Government, the financial pressures faced by many businesses are acute. Our panel discussion will focus on the financial challenges at this time and the strategic and tactical decisions that small, medium and large hospitality and tourism industry owners and operators may face with a focus on business recovery and financial stability.
Specifically, we will discuss:
- The impacts businesses are currently facing and in particular possible financial pressures and the relationships with lenders and investors when experiencing significant revenue declines.
- The tactics that owners and operators can deploy now in their relationships with creditors and investors and the strategic decisions in the business recovery process
- If a business is facing potential insolvency or is contemplating closure, what are some of the key considerations?
Our Panelists:
Gary D. Powroznik, FCA, CIRP, LIT is the Founder and Managing Director of G-Force Group.– Focusing on the strategic and tactical decisions that businesses may face in distress situations and the options that may be available to them.
Ralph R. Miller, CPA, CA, CBV, CHA, CHAE, President Inntegrated Hospitality Management Ltd. – Focusing on the operating challenges in the hospitality industry and the various measures that may be necessary to maintain market and financial stability.
Moderated by Steve Kleinschmidt, RRU associate faculty, Past Vice-Chairman Asset Management, and President of the Marco Polo Hotel Group.
Details for joining the Panel
This panel is an initiative of the Tourism and Hospitality Resource Forum of Royal Roads University, a volunteer initiative to support BC's tourism industry. For more information on joining the Resource Forum for free or about this event, please contact Geoff Bird at geoff.2bird@royalroads.ca
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Kootenay -Rockies Elevating Canadian Experiences |
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'How-To Workshops'
for Shoulder Season and Culinary Tourism Industry Operators
No Cost to Attend!
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is launching a pan-Canadian, capacity-building workshop series which will support SMEs’ in rural and secondary markets. Originally designed to help bolster Canada’s tourism expansion in potential growth areas, the COVID-19 global health pandemic has drastically changed the tourism landscape in Canada. In response, TIAC has pivoted the design of the workshops to reflect the new tourism reality for most operators.
These workshops will now assist small and medium tourism operators and other tourism organizations across the country in developing strategies to maintain their businesses, and develop winter and shoulder season and culinary experiences.
Canada has much to offer visitors in all seasons - not just the summer months - and in regions beyond our gateway cities. Canada also holds all the ingredients to be a global culinary destination but is not currently recognized as a culinary tourism leader. These workshops will be tailored for tourism operators in the winter and shoulder seasons and in the culinary sector, so that they are ready and able to attract visitors once Canada is ready to welcome them again.
Workshops for the Kootenay Rockies region will be taking place Wednesday, October 21 & Thursday, October 22, 2020. These sessions offer capacity building content and strategy development, with a focus on:
- Support for rural and secondary market tourism: Currently, only three provinces and their largest cities are the primary destination for the vast majority of visitors coming to Canada.
- Support for winter and shoulder season development: Despite Canada being known for its winters, only 1% of activities are winter-based, which creates challenges for tourism operators trying to optimize the use of talent and capital investments.
- Support for culinary tourism development: Approximately one fifth of spending by international travelers in Canada is on food and beverage. By increasing visitor demand for local food and drink, food tourism contributes to the long-term sustainability of local agriculture, food systems, communities and culture.
- With a variety of ongoing and shifting travel restrictions, there is opportunity to attract domestic travelers to destinations outside of the major urban centres - and to expand marketing to international travelers as soon as it is safe to do so.
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BCHA, Member & Industry News |
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Fairmont Chateau Whistler Named "Best Resort in Canada"...
BANFF, Alta. - Fairmont Chateau Whistler has been recognized as the "Best Resort in Canada" by Condé Nast Traveler's annual Readers' Choice Awards. Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge also ranked...
Read more
www.hoteliermagazine.com
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Hotels facing up to a decade of recovery
The seven-storey Coast Capri Hotel has closed several of its floors for the fall and winter. As the COVID pandemic lingers on, there's simply not enough demand to operate the hotel at full capacity. "The Coast Capri is faring better than most,"...
Read more
www.victorianow.com
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Book with StayVancouverHotels and get a Visa Reward card worth: $50, $75, $100, or $125 per first night booking! Plus, an additional $50 Visa Reward card each night, for up to four subsequent nights! This limited time special offer is courtesy of StayVancouverHotels and Tourism Vancouver. |
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About Curve: Established in 2009, Curve Hospitality is a leading manufacturer, interior design, and procurement company based in VANCOUVER, BC CANADA & Houston, TX. We provide a single source solution for hospitality FF&E needs and work with all major brands across North America. Our mission is to provide clients with competitive pricing while adhering to the highest quality standards and exceptional customer service. Items we provide include case goods, seating, lighting, finishes, artwork/mirrors, wall covering, carpet/tiles, window treatments, bathroom items and more.
About Andaaz:
Andaaz Manufacturing is a manufacturer of custom hospitality case goods, seating, and lighting. Our philosophy is centered on making the designer's vision a reality. We work alongside the designer, procurement agent, and GC to ensure products we create are smoothly integrated into the hospitality space. You envision it. We create it.
For more information on Curve Hospitality/Andaaz for BCHA members, please contact
Umar Rao at
604 354 8316
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