Message from President & CEO | Ingrid Jarrett
The first few weeks of 2023 have confirmed with some certainty that the work we are doing on behalf of our industry is valued, and important for our industry as well as our provincial and federal economy.
I am very pleased to have met with our new Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, Minister Lana Popham, we have much work to do, and her clear commitment to working together is very promising.
We are seeing a resurgence of the group/corporate market which is very encouraging, and the winter resort destinations are also reporting an increase in international visitation and strong visitor numbers. Domestic leisure travel has continued to grow in 2022, and Pace for 2023 is encouraging. The safe, clean, friendly communities in BC remain very attractive for our domestic market. I am pleased to be hearing that bookings of 2023 for international group and corporate conferences and corporate travel are also seeing growth year over year.
Our team is working diligently on our corporate strategy, and will be holding a governance and orientation for our board at the beginning of February. I am exceptionally proud of our board and nomination committee, as well as leaders in our industry who have stepped up to sit on the BC Hotel Association board of directors. Meeting the 50/30 challenge significantly ahead of plan is an achievement worth celebrating. I am honoured to be working on your behalf. Meet our Board of Directors here. The wisdom and guidance they provide is so important to our work, and success.
Our resolve to advocate on your behalf remains our first priority. Workforce shortages, affordable housing, short term rental policy and rental housing supply, MRDT, Tourism Renewal Initiative, Immigration reform both provincially and federally, greening our industry and providing specific tools for you to save energy as well as save money, and to support hiring and retention of hospitality workers. We will continue to work with Symphony Tourism Services on the research, pace, and analysis that will deliver data and research to you in order to support your strategic decision making for the coming year and years to come. Our work with the Alberta Hotel Association on Captive Insurance continues, with the intention to provide an alternative to the current hard market and high costs of insurance. Stay tuned for information regarding this important work. The Tourism Growth Strategy will also be our focus to identify key hotel/infrastructure projects for the province in support of the Federal commitment to grow the economy in rural and urban areas of our country.
I’d like to acknowledge our partners at go2HR, Krista and her team have done an extraordinary amount of work on the Labour Market Research and strategy, last week industry leaders gathered to prioritize and take stock of the opportunities we have to promote and grow the workforce for hospitality and tourism as well as retain and mentor/develop the current hospitality workforce. For young people this is such an exciting time to be joining the hospitality sector, we look forward to delivering our new narrative which tells the story of how amazing it is to work in our industry.
All the best for the remaining winter months – and thank you for being such a marvelous contributor to your community, and our industry. We couldn’t do what we do without you.
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Book Your Accommodation for the BC THC in Prince George |
Heading to Prince George for the BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference, March 1-3? Take advantage of the room blocks secured at The Coast Prince George Hotel and The Courtyard by Marriott Prince George before Jan.29, 2023.
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Meet the Team | Dylan Tomlin |
Meet BCHA's Steward of Sustainability! Dylan offers BCHA members a wealth of expertise and works hand in hand with operators to do a comprehensive energy audit. Dylan provides solutions for accommodators to save energy, water, and money! Reach out to him and gain support on how to be more green at dylan@bcha.com.
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Reminder | Submit Award Nominations for BCHA Awards |
Nominate an exceptional member of BC’s accommodation community by Feb. 3 for the BCHA Awards of Excellence!
Awards include: Housekeeping Excellence; Recruitment Award; Hotelier of the Year; People’s Choice | Hotel or Accommodation of the Year; Leader of the Future; Supplier of the Year; Heart of Hospitality | Culinary Excellence.
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BC Hospitality Foundation | Scholarship Applications Open |
The BC Hospitality Foundation has a strong scholarship program. Since 2009 it has awarded 322 scholarships to future leaders in the hospitality industry amounting to over $394,000.
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Changes to Work Permits for Temporary Foreign Workers |
The pace of Canada’s economic recovery has made it hard for employers, including those in the tourism industry, to find the workers they need. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism, announced that Canada is extending work permits to family members of temporary foreign workers, expanding the eligibility for work permits to family members accompanying the principal applicant to Canada.
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Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association is Hiring |
Kootenay Rockies Tourism is hiring for a Director, Destination Development and Sustainability. As part of the Destination Management division, the Destination Development team drives partner engagement and development through leading and supporting the creation and implementation of long-term, integrated development strategies for areas within the Kootenay Rockies region.
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Get Green This New Year & Discover Money-Saving Solutions |
BCHA has a number of sustainability programs aimed to help your property become more sustainable and save tens of thousands of dollars at the same time. Reach out to BCHA Energy Specialist, Dylan Tomlin at Dylan@bcha.com to get a FREE energy analysis or sign up for EcoFund today!
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Enhance Your Offerings with David Roberts Food Corp. |
For more than 30 years, David Roberts Food has been the leading supplier of nuts, dried fruits, snacks and baking ingredients to meet the needs of the Food Service Industry, Retailers and hungry consumers across Canada. David Roberts offers a complete line of products to meet the needs of the Food Service, Industrial, and Retail Consumer Markets.
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Enroll in STR's Forward Star Program |
Our partner, STR, has launched Forward STAR in North America. And participation is FREE! This forward-looking benchmarking tool allows hoteliers to get ahead of recovery, strategize more effectively, and complete the overall performance picture.
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Register National Tourism Town Hall |
Register for the BC Tourism Town Hall taking place Jan.27 and delivered by Tourism Industry Association of Canada. The event will provide an opportunity to better understand advocacy efforts undertaken nationally and discuss local tourism issues; and offers a forum for open dialogue, discussion, and constructive debate.
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BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference
March 1-3, 2023
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Wednesday, February 22, 2023
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2023 International Indigenous Tourism Conference
March 8-10
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BCHA Summit Returns!
May 1-2, 2022
Kelowna
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The BCHA would not exist without the support of our members and we are incredibly grateful for their continued loyalty.
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Choice Hotels joins world-leading hotel companies, becoming one of the largest members of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance |
Choice Hotels International, Inc., one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world, has joined the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, a global network for responsible hospitality which unites world-leading hotel companies to build a more sustainable future.
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THE BCHA INDUSTRY UPDATE IS PRESENTED BY |
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