Concerned that I was getting bored over the holidays, my wife handed me her Christmas gift - actor Matthew Perry’s new book entitled, Friends, Lovers, & the Big Terrible Thing - to occupy my time instead of watching entertaining but mindless hockey, basketball, and football games. After finishing the book in one day, she then gave me former US President Barack Obama’s memoir called A Promised Land.

Having been confined to reading research reports, strategies, policies, articles, position papers and other work-related literature for the better part of the last couple of years, I had almost forgotten how much I like autobiographies by entrepreneurs, executives, athletes, musicians, and even politicians. In fact, I’ve always been fascinated with how notable individuals got their start, how they were raised, why they chose a certain vocation, what motivated them to achieve great things, who helped them along the way, what lessons they learned, and what legacies they hoped to leave the next generation. The two books I tackled over the break re-ignited my passion to learn from both the mistakes and good decisions of people like President Obama and Matthew Perry.

Since returning to the office after the Christmas break, I’ve been reading several short bios of professional colleagues to learn of their career journeys and gain insight as to what drives them to do incredible things within and on behalf of the tourism industry. Suffice it to say, I am often captivated by what I discover. The level of skill, expertise, wisdom, and experience, as well as the list of accomplishments by people in our sector is remarkable…even if only summarized in a one-page bio instead of a full-blown autobiography.

So it stands to reason that when I see BC tourism leaders launching innovative projects or setting lofty goals for their businesses, organizations, sectors, or communities, I am rarely surprised. There are countless stories of where unassuming tourism professionals in British Columbia have led their organizations to set the benchmark among all business sectors for several societal priorities such environmental sustainability, reconciliation, wildlife protection, safety, accessibility, and inclusion while at the same time providing secure employment, generating revenue and economic benefits, and contributing corporately to local endeavours.

One such example is Helicat Canada’s (HC) unpretentious Executive Director Ross Cloutier (who I interviewed for my new podcast) who has an extensive and impressive track record in tourism all over the world. Earlier this week, Ross, along with President Rob Rohn and the board of HC launched their new Sightline 2030 vision focussed on the tenets of safety, stewardship, and service which aims to build upon their sector’s expertise and goals that support wildlife abundance, the transition to renewable energy sources, protection of the environment for future generations, as well as meaningful and lasting relationships with First Nations.

Sightline 2030 (more details below) encompasses specific objectives, investments, strategies and tactics in areas such as snow science and safety, social impact and responsibility, wildlife and environmental research, waste reduction, carbon neutrality, employee health and well-being, and more.

By recognizing the overall value of its sector to the tourism industry (particularly in rural BC) and given the role it plays in avalanche research and training, search and rescue, wildlife data collection, and environment stewardship, Helicat Canada in many ways has charted a new course for others to follow thanks to impressive leaders like Ross and Rob. Pay attention to the progress of 2030 Sightline in the months and years ahead.

Until my next holiday I’ll continue reading more impressive bios of tourism leaders, conference speakers, and future TIABC podcast guests…all of whom I know are accomplished and inspiring in their own right. And once I finish all 701 pages of President Obama’s book, I’ll start looking for another autobiography to enjoy.

If you’re thinking of sending recommendations, know that I refuse to read the picture book memoir published last year by another former head-of-state given my need for deeper content. Oh and by the way, on day one of my brief vacation next month I’ll be forced to make a choice between reading another autobiography sitting next to my wife at the beach or watching the Super Bowl. Please don’t text me the final score so I can view the recording when I return home.

Walt Judas,

CEO, TIABC

At a special announcement earlier this week, HeliCat Canada revealed its bold new vision for the industry’s future — Sightline 2030.

The critical goal of Sightline 2030 is to have all members of the association transition to carbon neutral by 2030.

HeliCat Canada is an association that promotes the growth of the helicopter and snowcat skiing sector. The key objectives of Sightline 2030 include achieving 100 per cent net carbon neutrality by 2030, continuing the commitment to fund avalanche research to support the safety of HeliCat members, guests and the general public, and issuing a 2025 and 2028 Social Impact and Responsibility Report to measure their inclusiveness and social contributions to society.

TIABC Launches Voice of Tourism Podcast Series

We're excited to share our latest project, 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.

Twice each month, TIABC's Voice of Tourism will feature CEO Walt Judas interviewing some of the most respected professionals in the tourism industry to learn about their career journeys, the organizations or businesses they oversee, and the issues or opportunities they're focussed on.

Now available on Spotify, or the TIABC website HERE.

Guest: Joss Penny, Executive Director, BC Lodging & Campgrounds Association

In the first message of the new year to the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) membership and industry stakeholders yesterday, president and CEO Beth Potter noted that the last 12 months have been a time of pressing challenges and much change.

"As our borders gradually reopened over 2022, it felt like the whole industry was playing catch up - making up for the lost time of the lockdown years". She also updated that the organization is in the strongest position in years with an expanded team, a solid business plan, and slew of new programs to guide the sector back to the $105 billion-industry it was pre-pandemic.

In the same announcement to industry, TIAC released its 2022 Annual Report.

‘What We Heard’ Report

In April 2022, the BC government sought input from the public on cannabis consumption spaces.

A cannabis consumption space is a general term that refers to a business, special event, or other establishment providing cannabis for sale and use on-site.

Earlier this week, government released the results of this engagement. The "What We Heard" Report summarizes feedback from the Province’s public engagement on non-medical cannabis consumption spaces. This feedback will help inform decisions made by the Province on whether to allow consumption spaces, and if so, how this should be done.

Highlights of the report include:

A meetings industry trend report released by Skift, which explores seven key trends shaping how we plan, design, and execute business events in 2023 and beyond, notes that the meetings industry has had to adapt and innovate rapidly as the forces impacting the sector continue to shift and that the only certainty is uncertainty.

Despite the challenges, recovery is in full swing, even if uneven and far from complete.

Download the full report HERE.

The annual Indigenous Tourism Awards are part of the 2023 International Indigenous Tourism Conference (IITC) being hosted in Treaty 1 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis in Winnipeg, from March 8–10.

A highlight event for the conference, the awards gala will recognize both Indigenous tourism operators and experience providers from across Canada and exceptional Indigenous experiences within the host province.

Nominations are now open and will close on Friday, January 20th. Nominees must be majority Indigenous-owned/controlled and provide tourism experiences or tourism-related services.

Visit HERE to learn more and to submit a nomination.

Destination Canada and TED are collaborating to create TED@DestinationCanada, producing 14 TED Talks from the brightest speakers and biggest change-makers connected to Canada.

The theme of the event is O P E N. Speakers have just now been announced! The talks will be available for viewing on TED.com starting in the spring.

TIABC wishes to congratulate member Kevin Smith of Maple Leaf Adventures who was named as one of the speakers.

Learn more and view the speakers list HERE.

The City of Penticton is conducting a study of the benefits and impacts of short-term rentals and wants to hear from residents and operators. A short survey is now available at shapeyourcitypenticton.ca to gather public input on this important topic. A brief handout has been prepared to provide you with basic information about short-term rentals in Penticton.

Please note a separate survey is available for anyone who operates a short-term rental in the City. The surveys will run from January 9th to 27th. Participation is anonymous and the results will be shared with City Council and made available to the public.

Learn more and take the survey HERE.

This webinar will highlight the Tourism Innovation Lab's "Spark" Mentorships & Grants Program and its development in British Columbia over the last two years.

Alex Berlyand will share experiences and examples on inspiring, supporting and enabling tourism innovation through industry partnerships and programs.

Guest speakers will include Aimee Epp from Destination British Columbia, as well as Rebecca Mason, a past 2021 "Spark" winner from the Sea to Sky area.

This inaugural position will work with the Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA) Executive Director and board to execute a New Direction for MBTA, focusing on supporting and advocating for mountain biking clubs and the sector overall on issues affecting the viability and competitiveness of the sector. The individual will be the “lead advocate” of mountain biking communities in BC, promoting its responsible development and management.

Funding is currently in place for one year of this two-year contract, and the successful candidate will work with the MBTA Executive Director and board to identify additional funding opportunities to sustain this position for the second year and into the future.

Learn more about this exciting opportunity to work with the MBTA HERE.

The Backcountry Lodges of British Columbia Association (BLBCA) is a member directed association of privately owned lodge operations, located throughout the major mountain ranges of British Columbia.

The Association supports member lodges in the areas of safety, marketing, operations, and government regulations as it strives to position the backcountry of British Columbia as one of the most rewarding adventure travel destinations in the world

Click HERE to learn more about the Backcountry Lodges of BC Association.

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.

The 2023 Tourism Town Halls are industry-wide events delivered by TIAC to reach all tourism industry stakeholders from coast to coast to coast. Tourism Town Halls will be presented in person in every province and territory, and when possible live-streamed. Each Tourism Town Hall will be recorded and available online on the TIAC website at a later date.

Tourism Town Halls will provide an opportunity to meet with TIAC representatives and partners to better understand advocacy efforts undertaken nationally as well as local tourism issues; and will offer a forum for open dialogue, discussion, and constructive debate.

The full-day TIAC event will include a morning session focused on innovation and sustainability best practices and the sharing of experiences. Delegates will also hear highlights on digitization, market-readiness programs, and training.

Following a complimentary lunch, the Town Hall will give tourism stakeholders first-hand input on issues affecting their business and an overview of the plans to reposition and grow Canada's Visitor Economy, including all verticals from leisure/business travel, travel trade, meetings and conventions, and sport tourism.

Date: January 27

Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Location: Fairmont Vancouver, 900 West Georgia Street, Vancouver

Are you looking to recruit tourism students? They can't wait to meet you! Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend RiSE 2023.

Capilano University's School of Tourism Management is hosting an industry networking and alumni event. Organized by CapU's Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Student Association, RiSE celebrates the achievements and successes of CapU's tourism community. RiSE brings together our vast network of students, alumni and faculty. Students are eager to meet future employers and industry partners. Tickets include incredible food provided by JW Marriott and a complimentary beverage. Join us for this unforgettable celebration and get your $15 ticket today!

Date: Thursday, February 2nd

Time: 5:30 - 8:30 pm

Location: JW Marriott Parq, 39 Smithe Street, Vancouver

Visit HERE to learn more and to purchase tickets.

The BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association, along with special guest, Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin, are holding a post-pandemic dinner at Government House next month. Several members of the Legislature will also be in attendance.

Tickets are $175 and include a cocktail reception style dinner, open bar, entertainment at an evening to celebrate all we as an industry have accomplished and how far we've progressed over the last three years.

Date: February 16

Time: 5:00 pm (PT)

Location: Government House, 1401 Rockland Avenue, Victoria

The General Lottery for the 2023 Half Corked Marathon is now open! Enter your name for the opportunity for you and a guest to join in for this unique event the weekend of May 26th to 28th in Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country. This is the 15th anniversary weekend.

The Half Corked Marathon route weaves participants through the vineyards and valleys of our region’s iconic wine-growing areas, the Black Sage and Golden Mile Benches, as well as sections along the beautiful Okanagan River.

Visit HERE to learn more and to enter.

IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism Conference promises to deliver another provocative

and solution-based conference.

The biggest change you will see is the option of including Sunday‘s Day of IMPACT (January 22nd) into your overall registration.

The theme for the event is: O P E N. New sessions this year will address how to build careers with purpose, funding the transition to a more sustainable destination and tourism operation, how to develop effective partnerships to reach your sustainability goals and a deeper look into KPIs and metrics, while exploring ESG best practices.

Visit HERE to learn more and to register.

The Vancouver International Boat Show is fast approaching and is shaping up to be a terrific, well attended event. After a two-year break from the show due to COVID-19, consumers and exhibitors alike are eager to get back to an in-person show.

Dates: February 1-5

Location: BC Place and Granville Island

Canadian Boat Shows International is allocating booth space and making all the arrangements for a first-class event. If you have not secured your booth space yet, please reach out to Amanda Henschell, show manager at 604-882-8024 or ahenschell@canadianboatshows.com.

Learn more HERE.

This is to announce that Boating BC Association will hold its Annual General Meeting in accordance with its bylaws and constitution.

Date: Friday, February 3 @ 8:00 am (PT)

Location: Vancouver International Boat Show, BC Place Stadium, 777 Pacific Blvd., Vancouver

Breakfast and registration will begin at 7:30 am with the meeting commencing at 8:00 am. All members in good standing are welcome and encouraged to attend. One voting card per business member will be provided at registration.

Register HERE.

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is hosting the 2023 Thompson Okanagan Tourism Summit.

Date: February 21st and 22nd at Thompson Rivers University Campus (Kamloops), on the unceded territory of the Secwépemc Nation.

The Biospherology Master Class reflects the focus on continuous education for tourism professionals that will ultimately elevate visitor experiences, strengthen businesses, regenerate communities, and reduce impacts within the surrounding environments.

This Biospherology Master Class is open to all tourism stakeholders,

Click HERE for more information and to register. NOTE: Early Bird rate ends January 15th.

2023 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference Early Bird Registration Ends January 18th

The conference is guaranteed to provide a mix of discovery, education, industry insights, and networking opportunities - it is designed to offer the tools needed to forge a brighter path forward for the sector.

Visit our website to book your accommodation at one of our conference hotels and learn more about your travel options to Prince George. Plus, enjoy an Air Canada discount code. Note: Room block held until January 29th.

If you have any questions about conference registration, please contact us at registration@bctourismandhospitalityconference.com. General conference questions can be directed to info@bctourismandhospitalityconference.com.

Dates: March 1 - 3rd

Location. Prince George Conference and Civic Centre, Prince George

Learn more and register HERE.

The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is excited to announce registration is now open for the International Indigenous Tourism Conference (IITC).

This conference is designed to unite the global Indigenous tourism industry bringing together tourism operators, international delegates, members of parliament and tourism partners. IITC features collective sharing of best practices and networking as Canadian and global delegates participate in panel discussions, breakout sessions, keynote presentations and local cultural experiences.

Dates: March 8-10

Location. Treaty 1 Territory and the Homeland of the Metis - Winnipeg

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.

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!

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.