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COVID-19 UPDATE & GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
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- This week, the provincial government announced that the changes to allow restaurants, bars and tourism operators with liquor licenses to purchase beer, wine and spirits at the wholesale price set by the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) are now in place permanently.
- The BC Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) has lifted temporary suspension for 31 tourism and hospitality occupations. On February 16, 2021, the BC PNP resumed inviting these workers to apply for permanent residency status. For more information about the policy, visit the government of BC’s website.
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ADVOCACY REQUESTS Covid-19 Tourism Impact Survey
In collaboration with the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat, the BC Destination Marketing Organization Association, BC Hotel Association, and the Tourism Industry Association of BC, Tourism Vancouver is focussed on rebuilding our industry. In support of this, we seek your input to help us understand the continued impacts the pandemic is having on our industry. You can view previous survey reports here: Resiliency Research By you completing this survey, you will be aiding us in sourcing the information that is critical to support our collective work moving forward. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey before it closes on February 28th.
Send a Letter To Your Local MP The Tourism Industry Association of Canada's (TIAC) Board and Recovery Committee Members are meeting with MPs over the next two weeks to share a recovery plan which includes sector specific needs. TIAC will be presenting their recovery plan to an All Party Tourism Caucus audience this Friday, along with Destination Canada and the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada. By simply entering your postal code, TIAC has made it easy for you to support the industry by sending a pre-populated letter to your local MP.
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS
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Help Show Your Love for Vancouver
Our #LoveVancouver campaign, is designed to celebrate what locals adore most about their beloved city. The new #LoveVancouver landing page, complete with a love letter to residents, highlights the best of the city, including specials for locals, The Arts and Exhibits on now, attractions and activities, places to stay, along with chances to win Vancouver prizes.
If you wish to be featured in the current #LoveVancouver promotion, you can do so by updating your member web listings (through the extranet) and your own business websites to ensure content is current, your status (open/re-opening soon) is clear, and to highlight whatever new or special offers are available.
This information will be pulled into the microsite from your member listing. Don’t forget to share the campaign with your own audiences, and refer to the Toolkit if you need tips for social, or image examples.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
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YVR Releases 2021 Strategic Plan
Post COVID-19 recovery will be challenging for airports. YVR's new Strategic Plan sets out immediate action steps to support our region as the gateway to the new economy and accelerate their goal to eliminate carbon from operations and be net zero by 2030. Learn more about their new plan and how they will be supporting our community.
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Downtown Vancouver BIA, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and Go2 Productions Partner on New Public Activation: BRIGHT DOWNTOWN
The Vancouver Downtown BIA, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and Go2 Productions have partnered on a new public activation called BRIGHT Downtown - a safe, visually-exhilarating projection-mapping experience. BRIGHT Downtown promises to lift spirits and light up our dark winter evenings with bright, vibrant animations. This outdoor activation will feature colourful 3D animations that can be viewed from šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square (North Plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery). The theme for this year is Tangled, which aptly explores the relationship between art and community, visually defining how art is intrinsically interwoven into every step of the human experience.
BRIGHT Downtown will run from March 6th – 12th, 2021. The audience can experience the visual spectacle between the hours of 6pm and 10pm from šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square (North Plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery).
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BC Tourism Businesses Keeping Visitors, Residents and Staff Safe
TIABC has invested in a series of videos that will act as Public Service Announcements (PSAs) educating multiple audiences about the province’s health and safety protocols, what businesses are doing to ensure their customers, guests, employees, and communities are safe and protected, and to reiterate the provincial tourism marketing messaging “Know Before You Go”.
The first of the four videos produced features the hotel sector with guidance and support from the BC Hotel Association and other partners. View the BC Hotels - keeping guest and staff safe during COVID-19 video here
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Hire a Tourism or Outdoor Recreation Student from Capilano University
Capilano University tourism co-op/practicum students are actively searching for summer work experiences! Their students are available for part-time or full-time work from May-August.
Post your seasonal employment opportunity to this unique group of tourism, hospitality, and outdoor recreation focused students.Click here for program details and job posting information.
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BUSINESS RESOURCES
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Latest Research Indicates Drop in Canadian Sentiment Towards Travel Safety
Destination Canada's most recent wave of national and provincial level resident sentiment research shows that Canadian resident sentiment towards travel safety has declined across all provincial source markets. Currently, 65% of British Columbians feel safe travelling to nearby communities while 45% are comfortable with travel within the province.
In terms of out of province travel, the proportion of Alberta residents that feel safe to travel has declined to 37% from 50% previously, while the proportion of residents of Ontario that feel safe travelling out of province has declined to 32% (from 39%). In Quebec, 28% of residents feel safe travelling out of province – a significant drop from 46% previously.
It is of note that we are seeing this drop in Canadian sentiment towards safety of domestic travel even as vaccination has started across the country – perhaps due to the recent increase in new virus variants. Our consumer research shows that government and media messaging have a significant impact on Canadian’s desire to travel as well. Rebuilding consumer confidence and targeting those travellers with the greatest comfort towards travel safety (Available Travellers) will be key to re-starting the tourism economy.
For more Covid-19 related research, including the full national resident sentiment survey data, please click on the link below.
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INDUSTRY EVENTS
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TIAC
State of Tourism in Canada during Covid-19 Dashboard Report Webinar
March 1 | 7am PST | Virtual
Join TIAC and Twenty31 to hear Twenty31's take on high-level findings from the ‘State of Tourism in Canada during COVID-19’ dashboard report, joined by special guests to hear how they addressed some of the challenges and opportunities highlighted in the current report.
The webinar will be presented in English and panelists include:
- Saran, Michele A, CEO, Tourism Nova Scotia
- Sisa Ntshona, CEO, South African Tourism
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TIABC
Free Culinary Tourism Webinars
March 12-31 | Various Times | Virtual
TIABC has partnered with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and the Culinary Tourism Alliance to offer free Culinary Tourism webinars in March. These webinars are supported by the Canadian Experiences Fund, in partnership with the Government of Canada.
Attracting Culinary Tourists Webinar
Friday, March 12th at 9:00am PT (10am MT)
Multisensory Experience Development Webinar
Tuesday, March 16th at 10:00am PT (11:00am MT)
Partnering For Success Webinar
Thursday, March 18th at 9:00am PT (10:00am MT)
Growing Agritourism Webinar
Thursday, March 25th at 8:00am PT (9:00am MT)
Exceeding Expectations Webinar
Wednesday, March 31st at 8:00am PT (9:00am MT)
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City of Vancouver
Future Economy: Prosperous, Sustainable and Resilient
February 25 | 8:00am - 10:00am | Virtual
While Vancouver has transitioned from a boom and bust economy to a diverse and knowledge-based one, many residents and workers still struggle to make ends meet. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified these concerns and further exposed the vulnerabilities in Vancouver’s economic situation. The pandemic has also required many businesses to fundamentally change the way they operate. City planning and economic policies need to support a new economic landscape not just in the present, but into the future.
Join the City of Vancouver as they discuss what is required to transition to a city of economic health and diversity at the fourth event of The Future We Want: The Change We Need series. Their panel will bring diverse perspectives on the future of Vancouver’s economy. We’re also looking forward to hearing your ideas on how to ground equity, reconciliation and sustainability in the local economy for Planning Vancouver Together.
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Meetings & Conventions – A Fresh Perspective on Engagement
MPI Chicago Area Chapter NEXT 2021
March 8 | 1:00pm - 4:00pm CST | Virtual
Join MPI-CAC’s annual education and technology conference – hosted on Convene's virtual platform – which will include sessions, tools and networking opportunities. This year’s topics and speakers will be invigorating, engaging, and will inspire you to answer the question of “What’s NEXT?” Tourism Vancouver is the CSR sponsor. Lacy Hawley will be attending on behalf of Tourism Vancouver.
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