COVID-19 UPDATE & GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

• The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) ends on October 3, 2020. Those who still require income support may be eligible to transition to new benefits: Employment Insurance or Canada Recovery Benefits.

Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses

As one of the many partners of the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses, Tourism Vancouver supported a campaign to urge the Federal Government to extend the wage subsidy program until Spring/Summer 2021, and increase the subsidy rate for the hardest hit businesses to ensure Canadian jobs are protected.

We are pleased that the Government announced as part of the Throne Speech plans to “extend the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy right through to next summer”. In the next few weeks, details will be forthcoming as Government is currently reviewing the CEWS program to adjust the design.

In the meantime, please take a moment to thank Minister’s Joly, Ng, and Freeland, for their support of our industry through your channels.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS

Reminder: Share Your Winter Product Inventory

We are actively collecting information about available Vancouver Winter Product Inventory to be able to effectively market the destination to potential visitors.  For the purposes of this program, Winter is described as the period between November 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021. Please complete the following form to update us on your winter operation status.

Reminder: Viator Promotion for Members

Tourism Vancouver, in partnership with TransLink, recently launched a new component to the #VancouverComeBack campaign. Supported on TripAdvisor’s viator.com website, residents and visitors to the Vancouver area will be able to receive 25% off local attractions, sightseeing and adventure bookings using the promo code: COMEBACKTOTRANSIT at checkout.  This 25% is over and above any existing discounts or offers members may already have on Viator. There is no additional cost to the members. 

Reminder that member attractions and sightseeing businesses currently with product available on Viator should confirm as soon as possible that their best rates and inventory are currently reflected on the site to ensure locals and visitors can fully realize the additional discount supported by this offer. 

IMPORTANT:

To update your product pricing and inventory on Viator, please login to your Viator supplier account here. For support, please use the “help” button on the sign in page to chat with the supply support team.

For more information on the #VancouverComeBack campaign, please visit https://www.tourismvancouver.com/comeback/

If you would like to share this promotion, please ensure that you include the promo code COMEBACKTOTRANSIT AND a link to the viator page.

Start Me Up BC

St. John Ambulance (BC & Yukon) is empowering British Columbians to step in and help save lives in their local communities with the launch of their Start Me Up BC Campaign.  Start Me Up BC aims to deploy 1000 automated external defibrillator (AEDs) stands across the province.  They can be placed anywhere and will allow bystanders of sudden cardiac arrests to have the tools they need to step in and save a life.

This campaign officially launched October 10th, 2020 at 2pm with their first AED stand installation at Crescent Beach in White Rock, BC.   For more information or to get involved by perhaps hosting an installation location, please contact Leanne Strachan, Strategic Partnerships & Business Development; Start Me Up Campaign.

BC Hydro's Fleet Electrification Guide

BC Hydro has released guidance on transforming your fleet of vehicles to electric designed to help organizations understand their EV options and develop a charging plan that meets their needs.  It is intended for fleet managers, energy managers, sustainability leaders, or anyone else involved in fleet planning.

You can also request a facility pre-assessment to help assess your electrical infrastructure and make recommendations on how best to connect to their grid.  Click to Read More

Vancouver Is Awesome - BC Travel Guide Offer

Digital media company Vancouver is Awesome is creating a BC IS AWESOME Travel Guide that will feature staycation experiences, accommodation and eateries, hidden gems, dog-friendly travel destinations and more.  If you wish to reach an audience of 2.5 million unique BC-Wide monthly visitors, this may be an option for you.  Click Here for More Information

MEMBER ACCOLADES

YWCA Women of Distinction Award

Beth Carter, Curator of the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art is a recipient of the YWCA Women of Distinction Award in the Arts, Culture & Design category.  Beth is committed to purposeful engagement with the Indigenous Community to create meaningful exhibitions and programs and to support women and elevate Indigenous female voices.

INDUSTRY NEWS

BC Meetings & Events Industry Update #2

On the heels of very positive industry and government responses to the BC Meetings & Events COVID-10 Safe Restart Guidelines released earlier this month, the BC Meetings & Events Industry Working Group has been encouraged to use the guidelines as a foundation to submit a proposal that recommends gathering restrictions applied to the sector be lifted.  Under Section 43 of the Provincial Health Act , the Province will reconsider current health orders and restrictions under certain terms and conditions. Click Here to Read More

BUSINESS RESOURCES

Webinar - The Business Case of Food Waste Prevention

September 30th, 6:00pm | Vitrual

Presented by Rethink2Gether in collaboration with the City of Vancouver and LightBlue Consulting, this webinar will help you learn:

• How wasted food is impacting hotel and restaurant profitability
• How the PLEDGE on Food Waste has helped hospitality businesses around the world cut costs, save food and expand their brand image.
• How public decision-makers in BC are taking action towards Zero Waste

INDUSTRY EVENTS

Meetings & Conventions – A Fresh Perspective on Engagement

MPI Golden State Collaborative

October 8 | Virtual

Is California ready to re-emerge from the impact of COVID-19? Hear from the leading executives of some of the largest Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) during this keynote session, as they share with us what each of them are doing to lead and to innovate in this time of uncertainty as their destinations begin to re-open. Don Welsh, President and CEO of Destinations International, will moderate this thoughtful and insightful conversation on what destinations must do to open safely to accommodate the return of meetings and events and how they are preparing for reopening.

Note: Owen Chiu, Tourism Vancouver, will be attending.

PlanetIMEX, October Edition
October 12-16 | Virtual

Virtual learning and networking experience from the IMEX Group.  Dive into a world of wonder, community and connections.

Note: BestCities will be leading the session "Around the World in 80 Minutes.  Michelle Taylor, Tourism Vancouver, will be presenting.

MPI Chicago - Trivia Night
October 27 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm CDT | Virtual

Join us for the MPI CAC Virtual Trivia Night : Halloween Edition via Zoom. We'll be hosting this event with multiple rounds of trivia, a break out of participants into various teams, with fun themed rounds, entertainment and silent auction! Costumes are highly encouraged and we will be crowning a winner at the end of the night!

Note: Lacy Hawley will be attending on behalf of Tourism Vancouver.

MPI Ottawa - Prix Prestige Awards Gala 2020

October 29 | 5:00pm - 6:30pm EDT | Virtual

The MPI Ottawa Prix Prestige Awards are designed to recognize excellence in active chapter members for their commitment, service and involvement in the chapter or industry and community at large.  MPI Ottawa’s Prix Prestige Awards reflect the best of the best in the meetings industry and are awarded each year under the following categories: Planner of the Year, Supplier of the Year, Mentor of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Student of the Year, and Rising Star. There are also two special categories bestowed at the discretion of the President: Honourary Member, and the President’s Award.

Note: Michelle Taylor, Tourism Vancouver, will be presenting the 'Planner of the Year' award.

Vancouver Board of Trade

B.C. Election 2020 - Priorities for our transformation and growth
October 8 | 12:00pm - 1:30pm | Virtual
Now more than ever B.C. needs strong leadership to navigate these difficult economic times.  This special virtual event is an opportunity for the business community to hear directly from candidates about their vision for our provincial recovery, transformation, and growth.  Candidates include Sonia Furstenau, Leader, Green Party of British Columbia and Andrew Wilkinson, Leader, British Columbia Liberal Party