Today's update includes:

  • General Updates
  • ABLE BC | Best Practices for Selling to SEP Holders
  • Wines of BC Explorer App
  • Province Launches E-Transfer for Evacuees
  • Government of Canada Shares Strategies to Reduce Wait Times and Airport Congestion
  • Pulse Check | Health of BC Accommodation Industry
  • Nominations Open for Medal of Good Citizenship
  • DBC Education | How to Curate Great UGC
  • News - See more below!
  • BC | Canada News
  • World News
  • Industry Trends
  • Tipping Our Hat to Industry!
  • 12 Hotels Named Best In British Columbia by The Times UK
  • Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa Receives Top Honours!  
  • Mark Your Calendars
  • Comment Card | Thoughts and Comments from Our Industry
  • Last Laugh | A Little Something to Make Our Members Smile
ABLE BC | Best Practices for
Selling to SEP Holders
As of July 13, 2021, private liquor retailers are now permitted to sell to Special Event Permit (SEP) holders. This change corrected the long-standing unfair policy of forcing consumers to purchase only from the government's BC Liquor Stores, while also introducing a new revenue stream for BC's private liquor retailers. 
 
ABLE BC has put together some tips and best practices for selling to SEP holders. If you have questions please outreach to Ann Brydle, Manager of Membership and Communication at ann@ablebc.ca or 604-688-5560.
Wines of BC Explorer App
The Magellan Award-winning Wines of BC Explorer App offers the opportunity to explore BC's unique wine region, connecting its 15K+ users with BC's 9 unique regions, 380 wineries, and 7,800+ wines. Recently, events & lists were added as a new feature to the app. Encourage guests to click through to-do lists such as Tastings & Tours, Live Music, Food Events & Trucks and more.
Province Launches E-Transfer for Evacuees
British Columbians forced from their homes by fire, floods, earthquakes or other emergencies are eligible to receive emergency support services. Accommodators across BC have been integral in providing safe shelter for evacuees.

The Evacuee Registration & Assistance (ERA) tool is a new digital platform for Emergency Support Services. ERA is designed to increase the efficiency and speed of service delivery for evacuees across the province, including direct payment for evacuees to help meet their basic needs, including food and clothing. E-transfer is now available in many communities for people receiving ESS after being evacuated and registering with the online Evacuee Registration and Assistance (ERA) tool. To be eligible for an e-transfer, people must log in to ERA online with their BC Services Card app and register.
Government of Canada Shares Strategies to Reduce Wait Times and Airport Congestion
In a statement -- from the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, the Minister of Health, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, the Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Marco Mendicino, and the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault -- the Government of Canada outlined strategies to increase resources and streamline processes across the air system to ease airport congestion and help keep travellers moving. This includes:
  • Collaborating with air industry partners
  • Increasing staffing for security screening and customs processing
  • Streamlining customs processing at Toronto Pearson International Airport
  • Improving ArriveCAN
  • Information resource for passengers experiencing flight delays, cancellations and lost or delayed baggage

The BCHA and our industry partners continue to advocate for the removal of unnecessary barriers to travel at the border.
Pulse Check | Health of BC
Accommodation Industry
STR Summary BC & Regions July 17 - July 23, 2022  
  • British Columbia had a 79.4% occupancy from Sunday-Thursday and a 87.0% occupancy during the weekend, down -4.1% compared to the same week in 2019.
  • British Columbia had an ADR of $258.65 from Sunday-Thursday and an ADR of $293.19 during the weekend, up 13.1% compared to the same week in 2019. 
  • British Columbia had a RevPAR of $205.47 from Sunday-Thursday and a RevPAR of $255.16 during the weekend, up 8.5% compared to the same week in 2019.  
 Regional STATS the Weekend of July 22-23, 2022:
                                       OCC   ADR   REVPAR
Vancouver                 91.8   295.5   310.18
Vancouver Island             89.4   293.4  280.75
Whistler                           76.3   329.5  293.46
Thompson Okanagan      86.6   216.9   209.93
Northern BC                     73.8   135.6   108.62
Kootenay Rockies            78.1   189.0   160.23
Cariboo Coast/South BC  79.7   150.1   133.15  
Nominations Open for
Medal of Good Citizenship
British Columbians are encouraged to nominate their fellow citizens who have made outstanding contributions through exceptional service to their communities for this year's Medal of Good Citizenship. B.C.’s Medal of Good Citizenship recognizes people for extraordinary generosity, service, acts of selflessness and contributions to their community. These contributions are outside of people's paid employment or beyond the parameters of their job, and are made without expectation of remuneration or reward. 

We know so many caring and compassionate individuals in our accommodation community that have continued to step up to support BC residents. We encourage our community to consider nominations. Nominations are being accepted until Sept. 6, 2022.
DBC Education | How to Curate Great UGC
Nearly everyone has the power and ability to capture and create quality content right at their fingertips. Businesses can harness User-Generated Content (UGC) – the content created by others – to help tell your story in an authentic and trustworthy way. DBC has developed an article exploring how to best curate visual UGC for your business – by thinking like a photographer.
Industry News & Quick Links
Tipping Our Hat to Industry
12 Hotels Named Best In British Columbia by The Times UK

The Times UK recently published its list of 12 of the best hotels in British Columbia, with the Wickaninnish Inn taking the top spot. The BCHA congratulates each of the properties included on this list, along with every team member that has worked tirelessly to support BC's reputation as a world-class leader in hospitality.

1. Wickaninnish Inn, Vancouver Island
2. Sparkling Hill Resort, Okanagan Valley
3. Knight Inlet, Vancouver Island
4. Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort, Cariboo
5. Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, Vancouver Island
6. Brentwood Bay Resort, Vancouver Island
7. Emerald Lake Lodge, Yoho National Park
8. Sonora Resort, Vancouver Island
9. Summit Lodge, Whistler
10. Spirit Bear Lodge, Great Bear Rainforest
11. Alpine Meadows Resort, Clearwater
12. St Regis Hotel, Vancouver
Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa Receives Top Honours!  
 
Congratulations to the Summerland Waterfront Resort and Spa on being awarded the 2022 Travellers Choice “Best of the Best” Award. This means the resort is ranked in the top 1% of properties worldwide based on earning excellent reviews from travellers. And to make things sweeter, the resort also cracked the top 25 resorts in Canada!
 
Well done team!
Mark Your Calendars
Yes SHEF! Elevating Women in Food & Wine returns this summer in Vancouver!
August 15, 2022
More details to come! Email yesshef@worthassociation.com for sponsor / partnership opportunities
BC Hospitality Foundation’s 8th annual Victoria Golf Tournament
August 23, 2022
Metro Elects: Exploring the Region’s Top Issues and Opportunities
September 8
Comment Card
Tourism Kelowna Celebrates WineAlign National Wine Award Winners
Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimi Honoured with Order of BC
Industry Celebrates Honda Celebration of Lights
The Foundations of Teamwork
Last Laugh