Australian comedian Carl Barron does a hilarious bit where he makes fun of Aussies for never giving a straight answer to a question and instead saying what they’re “not” doing, feeling, or thinking. For example, ask an Aussie, When does the game start? and they’ll answer, not long now. Or…How’s it going mate? Not bad. How much was your new car? Not cheap. You get the idea.

Lately it seems I’m increasingly offering an Aussie-like response when answering questions or providing context for TIABC policies. At a YVR meeting today and during a Tourism Kamloops luncheon earlier this week, I specifically pointed out that TIABC is not against certain industries or services but acting in the best interests of its members and/or the tourism industry at-large when looking to advance regulations that impact other business sectors or communities.

For example, on the short-term vacation rental (STVR) file, TIABC is not anti-Air BnB or against homeowners generating extra income but we maintain that more government oversight is required to ensure STVRs comply with local regulations and to control the proliferation of this form of visitor accommodation which has seriously impacted the rental housing market for residents and workers. For the record, we know that some tourists prefer STVRs and in many communities there are few other choices of accommodation. We’re also aware that many of our professional colleagues and government officials operate STVRs. As long as they follow local rules, so be it.

Because we recognize there are gaps in passenger transportation services and both visitors and residents prefer options, we recognize that ridesharing is needed in other parts of the province aside from Metro Vancouver. Again, we’re not anti-ridesharing but contend that either additional regulation is required for Uber, Lyft and other operators to level the playing field with the taxi industry, or conversely, eliminate some of the regulatory burdens on cab companies that network transportation companies are obligated by.

As mentioned in this space last week, TIABC is not against mining or forestry but the tourism industry must be an equal voice at the table for land-based decisions that affect our sector, along with the need for natural resource companies to respect tourism tenures, values, and sustainability initiatives that are so vital to tourism operators.

Generally we do not oppose government’s decision to raise the minimum wage in BC to help people make ends meet. However, TIABC and many other business sectors would have preferred a more modest increase given the rising costs operators continue to face for virtually everything. At the very least, help for businesses in the form of tax breaks or other concessions would be welcome.

From my perspective, it’s good form to point out what TIABC is not against to avoid misperceptions or conflict with stakeholders that otherwise may not understand or listen to why we’re advocating for certain policy changes or direction.

Thankfully TIABC’s Policy Committee is very diligent about looking at all sides of an issue to try to find a good balance between protecting our members’ interests and those of visitors, residents, various levels of government, and other stakeholders. How we formulate policy is never easy or quick, nor are some of our positions popular with certain stakeholders, but we endeavour to advance recommendations that allow our members and the industry the best chance to prosper.

I trust you’ve had a productive and positive Tourism Week and are ready for a break (at least for those of you that work Monday to Friday). If you were to ask me what I’m doing this weekend, I’ll give you the standard Aussie answer…not much.

Walt Judas,

CEO, TIABC

Repairs to the dome at Science World and other tourism infrastructure throughout BC will receive a $50-million boost to keep building the province as a world-class tourism destination.

The Province is investing $20 million in Science World to support priority infrastructure repairs and improvements to its dome and other parts of the building. Updates will include new electrical energy efficiencies and other critical infrastructure upgrades. Science World has been a landmark tourist attraction in Vancouver since it opened for Expo 86.

The Province is also providing $30 million to enhance existing tourism infrastructure throughout the province. Projects include new tourism attractions, campground developments, incorporating Indigenous culture and language, accessibility improvements, and climate change adaptations.

Read the official government announcement HERE.

Photo left to right: Walt Judas, CEO, TIABC, Honourable Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport, Premier David Eby, Alison McKay, VP Destination Management, DBC, Clare Mason, Director Corporate Communications, DBC.

The Province announced today it will be providing $34.5 million to arts and culture organizations to support resiliency and economic recovery for people working in the sector.

The funds will be distributed to 337 arts organizations through the BC Arts Council. The funding was provided in response to the arts and culture sector’s call for support while it continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The sector is experiencing loss of audiences, increased costs, staffing shortages and reduced revenues from sponsorships, memberships, admissions and space rentals. The Province provided similar support to the events sector in February 2023 with a $30-million investment in the Fairs, Festivals and Events program.

To support arts infrastructure projects, the Province is also providing $4.5 million in one-time funding to BC Arts Council for the Arts Infrastructure Program, which is in addition to the base budget of $4 million.

Read the official announcement HERE.

To kick off National Tourism Week, Destination BC (DBC) announced earlier this week over $6 million in funding through its Co-op Marketing Partnerships Program to support destination and activity-specific tourism marketing initiatives across BC.

The co-op program helps partners drive consumer demand and increase tourism revenues in communities throughout the province. This year’s program was expanded through additional provincial one-time funding and will support 70 initiatives for key tourism activity sectors and community consortiums. Some examples of this year’s funding recipients include:

Learn more and view the backgrounder of community and sector participants HERE.

MP Blake Richards extended a video message this week, thanking Canada's tourism sector for their hard work and dedication.

With National Tourism Week coming to a close, GreenStep is excited to recognize several BC businesses and organizations who have signed the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge!

TIABC is honoured to be included in this commitment to improve the sustainability performance of our business and our efforts to create a more sustainable future for the tourism industry. We encourage all tourism businesses and destinations to learn more about the Pledge and consider making the commitment.

go2HR has launched a small, targeted ad buy to recruit new workers from key audiences including youth, newcomers, and Indigenous Peoples. The campaign will run between now and July 30th in an effort to recruit new entrants and communicate tourism and hospitality work as a valued employment experience, as a first-time job, or a long-term career.

The call to action for assets is the go2HR job board and career explorer pages of go2HR’s relaunched website, apart from the Indigenous Peoples-specific asset which invites visits to ITBC’s website. Samples of the ad campaign are noted above.

Between May 15th and June 15th, a #mydreamjobBC contest will invite people 18+ to learn about and share unique jobs in BC's tourism and hospitality industry, which currently employs tens of thousands of people across the province.

go2HR will be measuring this campaign and will share results as they become available.

Last year, TIABC launched The Value of Tourism (VoT) initiative - a project designed to increase the understanding of tourism as a powerful engine for economic, cultural, and social well-being, and to secure cross-government support for tourism investments by describing how tourism benefits every community and region in British Columbia.

This project was also designed to increase interest in tourism as a career choice, as well as provide insight into how tourism can be a catalyst for addressing major issues and opportunities such as climate change, sustainability, reconciliation, workforce, among other priorities.

YVR has updated its content in a revised video on the Value of Tourism to Diversity & Inclusion. Check it out on TIABC's YouTube channel.

Additional videos on the Value of Tourism are readily available for your use HERE.

TIABC, along with our tourism and hospitality partners go2hr, and Destination BC, have collaborated to conduct a survey about the status of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) efforts of tourism and hospitality businesses around the province.

This DEIA survey is one initiative that supports the BC tourism industry’s continued learning journey as we collectively reflect on how we might better authentically represent communities in BC, understand how others encounter the world, and ensure tourism experiences are safe, accessible, and inclusive for everyone.

Note: This survey should only be completed by one person per business/association/organization, by an employee with the title of, or similar to: Owner, Vice President, General Manager, HR Manager, CEO, COO, or DEIA Specialist.

Please share this opportunity with your network(s) and help the survey team reach over 19,000 tourism and hospitality businesses, and various industry partners, across the province.

Congratulations are in order to Destination BC (DBC) who have joined the TravelAbility Ecosystem, an organization working within the travel industry to improve the travel experience for people with disabilities as well as providing resources for disabled travellers to find information to make their travel planning easier. Staff from DBC sit on the advisory board along with accessibility ambassadors from companies such as Princess Cruises, Marriott, Travel Oregon, Google, Expedia, Wheel the World and more.

DBC was invited to join the Destination A11y Club, a consortium of forward-thinking destinations committed to proactively expanding accessible tourism in their jurisdictions. The organization was invited to join based on accessible information on the HelloBC and Destination BC’s Learning Centre. The club promotes the sharing of ideas and best practices and was created to help partners accelerate the adoption of accessibility initiatives in their destination.

The federal government is accepting applications from candidates eager to join Destination Canada’s Board of Directors. The Board comprises up to 12 individuals who oversee Destination Canada’s management by providing strategic guidance and effective oversight. Directors are appointed based on a range of skills, experience and competencies. If you are interested in joining the Board, submit your application via the Governor in Council Appointments website by May 16th.

Note: the application process for this position is managed by the Government of Canada (not Destination Canada).

Learn more HERE.

The BC Restaurant Hall of Fame was established to recognize and celebrate the individuals in the restaurant industry who have made significant contributions to the BC restaurant scene - making it the finest in Canada.

To date more than 100 individuals have been inducted in the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame - which remains the only Restaurant Hall of Fame in Canada. Nominations for 2023 inductees close April 30th.

To learn more about categories and qualifications for nominees please visit HERE.

Earlier this week, Tourism Nanaimo announced Carly Pereboom would be joining the team as Executive Director, effective May 1st. Carly brings 16 years of experience working with regional, and municipal economic development partners, the tourism sector, and businesses across various industries.

In her role, she will lead a three-year destination strategy for the Tourism Nanaimo Society and implement the new Tourism Nanaimo brand. Previous Executive Director, Jenn Houtby-Ferguson will continue to provide LGBTQ+ inclusion work, and the meetings and events sector, supporting the transition as needed.

TIABC extends congratulations to Carly and looks forward to working with her in this exciting new role!

TIABC is excited to release episode #6 in our Voice of Tourism podcast series. Host Walt Judas speaks with Jeff Guignard, Executive Director of the Alliance of Beverage Licensees (ABLE BC), about the work ABLE BC does on behalf of private liquor and cannabis operators, some of the issues they face currently, and how government can assist this sector in its economic recovery following the pandemic

TIABC's Voice of Tourism podcasts feature interviews with some of the most respected professionals in the tourism industry and have been developed to provide TIABC members and stakeholders with insightful content and a unique perspective on industry developments, policy directives, the work that sector associations are doing, and the opportunities that exist for businesses, communities, and government within the visitor economy.

Now Available on Spotify or the link below. Stay tuned for episode #7 to be released soon!

Join TIABC and the GreenStep team to learn more about taking the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge and about the importance of measuring the sustainability performance of your business or destination.

This webinar is for a business owner, manager, destination management team member, or any staff who can influence operational improvement within the organization.

Let's change the world.

Congratulations to the City of Surrey who has been featured in the May edition of Food & Wine Magazine.

Surrey has been recognized as an up and coming food destination and its "unparalleled diversity puts this city’s dining scene on the map" according to the publication. Surrey was the only North American city featured among 12 global cities that include Venice and Marseille, as well as in Mexico, Bolivia, Japan and Taiwan.

View the online publication and read the article HERE.

The 18th edition of BC's Guide to Arts & Culture is now available! The guide features creative communities in BC, artful getaways, best annual festivals & events, artists studios, galleries, heritage sites, aboriginal culture, theatres, art walks, & more!

Learn more and view the online guide HERE.

The Hotel Grand Pacific is one of the few hotels located in Victoria's picturesque Inner Harbour. The Hotel Grand Pacific offers guests everything they could dream of: world-class facilities, an unbeatable location, and access to Victoria’s most exciting experiences. From the Hotel Grand Pacific, one can walk to:

Learn more about the Hotel Grand Pacific HERE.

We strongly encourage you to consider membership or renew your membership with TIABC to support our important advocacy efforts on behalf of the entire visitor economy.

TIABC continues to identify your concerns, raise your voice, champion your needs, and push for support and programs while encouraging policy changes at both the provincial and federal level.

Your support and engagement is vital to ensuring businesses, DMO's and sectors are united and speaking with one voice on issues that impact BC's tourism industry.

Contact info@tiabc.ca for more information, visit our website HERE or the link below.

The Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) are happy to announce an exceptional offer to TIABC members! Effective now, TIABC members in good standing can enrol in TIAC’s Associate Program FOR ONLY $25.

TIAC is the national voice for the travel and tourism sector and acts on behalf of Canadian tourism businesses promoting and supporting policies, programs, and activities that will benefit the sector’s growth, development, and prosperity.

By visiting this link, you can become a TIAC Associate Member, enjoy access to a range of TIAC benefits and add your voice to National efforts.

Note: If you are already a TIAC associate member, you will receive a renewal notice before your anniversary date. If you are currently a full TIAC member, you already get enhanced advantages. You will continue to enjoy added benefits and savings over and above what is available to associate members, including the TIAC Member Advantage program at Rendez-vous Canada.

Contact info@tiabc.ca for more information or visit our website HERE.

The BC Lodging and Campgrounds Association (BCLCA) is hosting its 2023 Auction in the month of May. The auction will be supporting Care Camps in Canada.

Care Camps are founded by campground owners and help kids with cancer get to experience the healing power of the outdoors by sending them to specialized oncology camps.

Donations can be made through the auction by visiting the website linked below, between May 1st to the 31st.

If you would like to donate a gift card or a gift certificate for the auction, please email

Darlene@bclca.com or call 604-908-5594.

Visit the website for more information HERE.

Gear into summer with leading-edge e-courses focused on product, market, and business development. The Tourism Café Canada, an award-winning training and development company, has launched 11 bilingual courses on a wide range of topics, lasting from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours.

Start with Tap Into Trends 2023; a free course for entrepreneurs looking for insights into product development trends influencing and driving change. Located on this e-learning portal, the company will continue adding unique courses built on current Canadian content and business examples in the year ahead. Each course offers a terrific opportunity for individual learning and team discussions, plus they can be incorporated into other company training or supported by coaching from the Tourism Café training team. For more information, contact Nancy Arsenault, Managing Partner.

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is pleased to offer sustainability training, workshops and support completely FREE to industry. Made possible with the generous support of the Government of Canada through the Tourism Relief Fund, TIAC has secured the services of experts in the field to deliver a valuable program.

The program will be offered in cohorts, supporting participants to go deeper in sustainability and receive guidance on how to align with the UN SDGs and find practical actions to make tourism a force for good. This is a great learning and networking opportunity, with offerings including:

Space is limited, so sign up today!

Community leaders, researchers, policymakers and employers across public and private sectors will converge. Discussions will focus on transcending cultural norms and challenging predominant narratives to advance accessibility and inclusion within workplaces and institutions.

Date: Tuesday, May 9

Time: 9:00 AM (PST)

Location: Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, 580 W. Hastings, Vancouver

Outcomes will help employers and decision makers better understand opportunities for engaging talents from different equity-deserving groups, as well as contribute toward a national framework for employment equity in Canada.

Participation from public and private sector employers, including senior business leaders, human resource managers, DEI leaders and policymakers are encouraged to attend.

For further information about registration, sponsorship or partnership opportunities, please contact connect@theinclusionproject.com. Visit the event website HERE.

The Pathway to Net Zero Carbon training MasterClass will provide participants with the key steps to measuring the carbon footprint of their organization based on the internationally accepted Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, and how to uncover the opportunities to both reduce emissions and save money. It is broken into the following three steps:

Step 1: The Carbon Challenge - review GHG accounting and reporting standards, and methods.

Step 2: How to Measure Your Carbon Footprint.

Step 3: We will help the participants on “How to Set Carbon Reduction Goals & Prioritize Actions based on a Net Zero Goal”.

This program includes three workshops:

Okanagan 2nd Annual Tournament

May 18 - Harvest Golf Club

Vancouver 13th Annual Tournament

July 17 - Westwood Plateau

Victoria 9th Annual Tournament

August 23 - Olympic View

If you want to become a sponsor for any (or all) tournaments, contact Samantha at samantha@sasparilla.ca our Event Manager or Mike Macleod, Golf Committee Chair at mike@bcha.com

The 2023 BCHA Summit will feature an array of insightful and thought-provoking sessions designed to support industry growth and excellence. Learn from the industry’s most influential thought-leaders and change-makers over the course of the two-day conference.

There is a variety of ticket options to suit each individual’s needs, including member/non-member pricing, full registration, student pricing, and Awards Gala-only ticket options.

Dates: May 1-2

Location: Delta by Marriott Hotels, Grand Okanagan Resort, Kelowna

Learn more and register HERE.

A world-class conference that connects international buyers with Canadian sellers of tourism products, this year’s Quebec City event will bring together approximately 1,700 tourism business leaders for more than 30,000 one-on-one appointments, experienced-based luncheons, exclusive breakfasts, and engaging networking opportunities. Get your brand in front of an audience with influence at RVC2023!

Dates: May 30-June 2

Location: Quebec City

Learn more and register HERE.

This year’s AGM and Conference theme is Focusing Forward… Together.

Over the course of two days, public sector, private sector and Indigenous leaders will inspire us, challenge us to think outside-the-box and take steps to work together and chart a path to a future where businesses prosper, British Columbians thrive and communities flourish.

Date: May 31-June 2

Location: Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa, Whistler

Registration is now open! View the program and register HERE.

We are pleased to announce the dates for the next annual BCAC Conference. It will take place in Prince George, ("Base camp to the North" and home to YXS) at the "Courtyard by Marriott" hotel.

More information including conference theme, agenda, list of speakers, as well as hotel and travel partner recommendations to follow soon.

Questions or Sponsorships? Ask Dave!

The Art of Leadership Women focuses on the topics and trends most critical to leaders. This unique one-day conference features a riveting collection of world leaders, business icons, academics, and bestselling authors who inspire action.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn improved ways of leveraging their value, elevating their skills, and developing the strategies required to take their leadership and their organizations to the next level. This conference is not just for women, but for anyone who wants to champion change on behalf of women.

Date: June 6

Time: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre

Learn more and purchase tickets HERE.

The 21st Annual Coast Hotels Shuhachi Naito Golf Classic will take place and will begin with a 12:00 Noon shotgun start in a Texas Scramble format. Last year, the tournament raised $80,000.00 for designated charities.

Date: July 13

Location: Tsawwassen Springs Golf Club, Delta

The two beneficiaries this year are once again the ALS Society of BC and the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre. Due to the success of this event, more than 50% of this year's playing spots have already been pre-sold.

Learn more and register HERE.

The Abbotsford International Airshow has grown to become one of the Fraser Valley’s largest and most exciting annual events.

Dates: Aug. 11, 12 & 13

Location: Abbotsford International Airport

Early Bird Tickets on Sale Now! Early Bird ticket access is EXCLUSIVE to Airshow Insiders.

Learn more about the event performers and event attractions HERE.

The BCRFA BC Restaurant Hall of Fame is returning. The BC dining scene is recognized across the country as industry and trend leading. Gather to celebrate the individuals and businesses whose vision, creativity and unbelievable hard work made this possible by inducting them into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame.

Date: October 23rd

Location: Italian Culture Club, Vancouver

Tickets to attend the Inductee Evening are now on sale and are available HERE.

Drop us a line at info@tiabc.ca.

TIABC recognizes that our members, stakeholders and staff occupy the ceded, unceded and traditional territories of Indigenous Nations across British Columbia. We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to live, work and play on the lands that our Indigenous friends and First Nations ancestors honour and care for.