For current updates on issues impacting the hotel community follow BCHA: |
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Dear Accommodation Community,
The steady rise in Covid-19 cases across British Columbia have given many of us a reason to pause. With it being clear that the recent surge is mainly attributed to larger-scale gatherings, earlier this week, Dr. Bonnie Henry issued a public health order limiting gatherings at private homes to members of the household and six guests.
Further to this, Dr. Bonnie Henry advised that the expectation is people will wear masks in all public places in B.C., but stopped short of mandating them. We are left wondering if this also includes outdoor public place such as sidewalks and parks. What we are certain of is that for business operators, we must always err of the side of caution and prioritize the protection of our guests and employees. While many of you have already taken steps to implement mandatory mask use at your properties, this is quickly becoming the expectation, especially amongst employees. We encourage our members to consider this in any updates done to their safety plan.
In light of the recent advisory and rapid increase in cases in the Fraser Health region, they have released a new guideline for employers on updating your COVID safety plan. Download here.
This week we launched the "Venture West This Winter" campaign in partnership with Tourism Vancouver Island. Through this partnership we created a resource guide, featuring over 80 accommodators, to assist those looking to visit the island. The guide aims to educate travellers while promoting visitation to the region. Should you wish to be involved in this program, we encourage you to reach out to Mike Macleod, Director and Member and Business Development at membership@bcha.com.
We have been made aware that fraudulent reservation attempts have been making the rounds again in western Canada in recent weeks. Please alert your reservations, front desk and sales teams to be wary of reservation requests that seem to good to be true or just plain abnormal. Most commonly these attempts involve paying a large advance deposit only to have the booking cancel later and a demand to return the deposit to a different account or credit card than originally provided. Please report suspected fraudulent activity to your local authority.
Finally, this week we also hosted our second presentation in our webinar series with Canada West Ski Areas Association. We focused on the transition to online training with a guest presentation from go2HR. Watch the presentation and sign up for our next webinar in the series below. All webinars are accessible on our website, www.bcha.com
Stay safe,
Ingrid Jarrett
President & CEO
BC Hotel Association
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Tourism Task Force | The Future of Travel: Positioning BC to Accelerate Recovery and Growth
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On September 18, 2020, the BC Government appointed eleven business and industry leaders to a Tourism Task Force, focused on identifying actions to help support B.C.’s tourism businesses and workers impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic and put the sector on a path to sustainable recovery and growth.
Government has allocated $50 million to implement actions that arise from the task force’s final report, due on Dec. 31, 2020. Recommendations will focus on strategies and actions to help address short-term challenges through the 2021 tourism season, while also considering what changes could be made to enhance British Columbia’s long-term competitiveness.
Tourism Task Force members met regularly in October to gather information to help inform their deliberations. This included assessing B.C.’s competitive position prior to COVID-19 and reviewing estimates of the pandemic’s impact on the sector over the short term. In 2018, British Columbia’s tourism sector was outpacing growth in the provincial economy, with increasing revenues, employment, wages and number of visitors. As we all know, B.C.’s visitor economy has been hit hard by the pandemic, and Destination BC estimated in May 2020 that the province’s $21.5 billion annual tourism industry could see a reduction down to $6.7 billion in 2020.
The Task Force also sought to gain an understanding of how countries and regions have approached their support of tourism. Jurisdictions around the world have taken varying approaches to dealing with the fallout of the pandemic on their visitor economies, with different strategies for helping the many businesses and workers who rely on it for their livelihoods. Members also analyzed existing research and information compiled from industry groups and sector associations throughout the pandemic, to identify any gaps that remain in supports provided to date by the B.C. and Canadian governments.
The Tourism Task Force will now focus on engaging with select stakeholders that broadly represent key sectors of the industry in a series of focused roundtable discussions through November. Task Force members recognize how deeply the tourism sector has been impacted and the urgent need for support, and that is why the Task Force will prioritize roundtable discussions on topics where they have specifically identified a need for further information. Task Force members are committed to keeping industry informed as their work progresses towards the final report in December.
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Recommendations Offered to Government on Changes to Criteria for the Small And Medium-sized Business Recovery Grant |
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BCHA, TIABC, ABLE BC and Restaurants Canada recently sent a brief to the Province with several recommendations on how to amend the criteria for tourism and hospitality businesses to qualify for the Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant.
The letter points out several criteria that make it difficult for many tourism and hospitality businesses to complete the application and be considered for grants. For example:
Criteria: Employs between two and 149 people in for BC for at least four months of the calendar year.
This requirement excludes a significant number of tourism businesses, including sole proprietors and those that hire contractors to perform services (e.g. guide outfitters).
Read the full October 16th letter here.
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COVID-19 Meetings & Incentive Travel Industry Intelligence |
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There is a wealth of third-party research and commentary being published as our industry regroups to recover from COVID-19.* Destination Canada researchers are compiling a compendium of the latest MICE industry intelligence spanning the corporate, association and incentive marketplace to ensure we are best-placed to support Canada in its recovery.
Highlights from the most recent edition include:
· The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) wants to trial a pilot scheme with COVID-19 based testing at the airport, followed by a second test a few days later to enable travel between major financial hubs.
· In the October 2020 Northstar Meetings Group survey we learnt that Planners’ primary focus remains rescheduling events (36%) and given the option, nearly one-third report they are not currently planning live events. Research also shows that Q3 2021 is when planners begin expect to get back to in-person events. Read more here.
· 75% of travelers said they would travel by car in the next 6 months
· 35% of people said they would take a domestic business trip in the next 6 months
· 51% COVID-19 vaccine
· 12% Government permission
· 10% COVID-19 therapy
*Destination Canada does not endorse or validate third-party research.
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In the next webinar in our series, we looked at Tips & Best Practices for Training your Employees Virtually. Many of the principles of effective in-person classroom training apply to virtual training, there are some important differences. In this webinar we discussed tips and best practices on how to transition your classroom content online and deliver an engaging training session. |
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Date & Time: Wednesday, Nov 4 , 2020 1:00PM PDT
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About: A discussion and review of issues related to public areas in the accommodation sector including hot tubs & pools as well as dining areas. Best practices for Housekeeping service specifically in dealing with guest interactions, staffing and cleaning protocols.
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Register: click here
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Last week, TIAC’s Vice-President, Stakeholder Relations & Business Development held a meeting with policy makers in the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss the sector’s needs over the next few months.
TIAC's Vice-President, Stakeholder Relations & Business Development also participated in a meeting with the Associate Deputy Minister of Innovation Science and Economic Development (ISED) to discuss the ongoing state of the industry.
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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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BCHA, Member & Industry News |
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VANCOUVER AIRPORT MARRIOTT NAMED 2019 'HOTEL OF THE YEAR' BY MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL |
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The Vancouver Airport Marriott has been awarded the title of '2019 Hotel of the Year' by Marriott International among all Classic Premium brand Marriott hotels in Canada.
Marriott International’s Classic Premium brands include Delta Hotels, Marriott Hotels, and Sheraton Hotels. The criteria included the hotel’s guest and event satisfaction scores, financial performance, associate engagement; its performance in brand strategy, leadership, culture, overcoming challenges and integration; and executing its brand promise while in compliance with brand standards.
"We are truly honoured and proud to receive the 2019 Hotel of the Year award. This achievement would not have been possible without the passion and dedication of our entire team and it’s a privilege to work with them every day to provide an exceptional guest experience,” said Yannick Simovich, Vancouver Airport Marriott General Manager.
The Vancouver Airport Marriott Hotel had been reimagined through a $14-million renovation completed in early 2019. It included a complete transformation of all the public areas, 236 guest rooms, event space and restaurant. In 2020, as part of Marriott’s Commitment to Clean, the hotel reinvented themselves again to meet the changing needs of their guests. A variety of new protocols and elevated practices were implemented keeping with their high standards of cleanliness and commitment to providing excellent service.
The hotel is located in the heart of Richmond, B.C., less than five kilometers from Vancouver International Airport and accessible via complimentary shuttle. Area attractions including the Richmond Olympic Oval and CF Richmond Centre are close by and downtown Vancouver is easily accessible via the SkyTrain.
About Vancouver Airport Marriott
The Vancouver Airport Marriott offers 236 redesigned rooms and suites with 55-inch flat-screen TV’s featuring premium channels and Netflix, 5,000 square feet of meeting space and The M Club Lounge. Additional hotel amenities include an onsite restaurant and bar - 75 West Coast Grill, featuring the best the Northwest has to offer, a 24-hour complimentary airport shuttle, a heated outdoor pool and a whirlpool spa both open year-round and a fully equipped, state-of-the-art fitness center. For more information, visit www.vancouverairportmarriott.com.
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Vancouver Island tourism firms target snowbirds amid...
VICTORIA -- Tourism Vancouver Island and the British Columbia Hotel Association have launched an initiative to welcome Canadian snowbirds to Vancouver Island this winter season. Tourism Vancouver Island president Anthony Everett says many...
Read more
vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca
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The Cassandra Hotel
The Cassandra Hotel is located in the historic Collingwood area, which is more popularly known as the ‘Gateway to Vancouver.’ Whether you’re traveling on business or traveling for fun, we know that having a great place to stay is important to you. Cassandra Hotel offers our guests a comfortable experience at a great price in one of Vancouver’s most diverse and unique neighbourhoods.
Staying at the Cassandra Hotel also means that access to major bus routes and Vancouver’s famous Sky Train is close at hand. From here, you can quickly travel to nearby Metrotown and shop till you drop or head off to catch a professional soccer game at nearby Swangard Stadium. On foot, you can explore the many interesting and unique shops and restaurants in the Collingwood area, or head down to downtown Vancouver and explore all of the exciting attractions that make Vancouver one of the best places on Earth.
When you return after a busy day of exploring the city, de-stress in our cozy sauna and whirlpool, get some exercise in our fitness room, or simply relax in front of the TV in your room. While your comfort is our top concern, your security is also an important concern for us. We offer secured underground parking for free and our accommodations area is card key secured, which means only registered guests have access to rooms beyond the main lobby. On your next trip to Vancouver, become our guest and stay at Vancouver’s most comfortable and connected three star hotel, stay at the Cassandra Hotel.
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