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April 14, 2021

Tourism Vancouver
Tourism Vancouver
  • The Provincial government has opened applications for the new Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant. Eligible hospitality and fitness businesses impacted by the March 30, 2021 Provincial Health Officer (PHO) orders will receive up to $10,000 in one-time funding to help with expenses like rent, insurance, employee wages, maintenance and utilities. Applications will close on June 4, 2021 or until the funds are dispersed.
    Click here to Apply
  • Although there has been no formal announcement, ABLE BC has shared information from conversations with Dr. Bonnie Henry that it is highly likely that the current ban on indoor dining will be extended at least until after the May long weekend. We will ensure to keep our membership updated as we find out more.

  • Earlier this week several tourism and hospitality sector associations, including Tourism Vancouver, met with Dr. Bonnie Henry to discuss the state of the pandemic and learn more about a provincial restart plan, among other priorities. A few key points that she shared (for a full summary of the discussion, visit TIABC):
    • Rapid testing would not be used as a bridge to build herd immunity and allow travel to resume; rapid testing will be used for other purposes

    • There will be no international travel for some time…perhaps fall at the earliest but even that's not a given

    • By summer we could be back up to gatherings of 50 people; by fall more than 50

    • By July or August, we should be back up to where we were last summer regarding domestic travel

    • Residents can anticipate a few more weeks of tight restrictions before we start to see a breakthrough

    • Further orders may need to be issued based on increasing transmission rates

 

  • Dr. Bonnie Henry has announced an order for expedited workplace closure that delegates specific powers to WorkSafeBC prevention officers. The new powers will permit WorkSafeBC prevention officers to serve a closure order to a business where three or more employees have contracted COVID-19 and it’s determined that transmission is occurring at the workplace.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS

City of Vancouver City-Wide Planning Design Consultation on Complete, Connected Neighbourhoods

Close your eyes and imagine the future…what would a typical day be like in a complete neighbourhood? How would it look and feel? What would it mean to have more housing, shops and public spaces close by? What sorts of things would make for better neighbourly connections? What sorts of connections to the city at large would you like to see?

This is an opportunity for tourism businesses to be part of the imagination of how they might fit into the future of Vancouver neighbourhoods.  The consultation process includes a series of workshops plus opportunities to help the City understand your priorities through their Complete Neighbourhoods Survey.

Find Out More

The 2021 Census is Coming!

On behalf of Statistics Canada, we are pleased to inform you that the next Census of Population will take place in May 2021. For collective dwellings such as a hotel, motel campground, YMCA/YWCA, Ronald McDonald House, hostel or school residence, the census starts early.

The census provides a statistical portrait of Canada every five years. Information collected through the census will provide decision-makers with data needed to forecast funding requirements and plan for services such as schools, public transportation, hospitals, and residences for temporary accommodation. Since the census is an essential source of information, it must be complete and accurate. It is therefore important that everyone complete and return their questionnaire.

Participating is easy and secure.

Starting April 26th 2021, administrators of collective dwellings like yours across Canada will receive an invitation letter or email from Statistics Canada asking them to complete their online questionnaire.  The letter contains instructions about how to complete the online questionnaire for your facility and the secure access code required to complete it. It is important that you keep this document. 

Each administrator will be required to complete a short series of questions about their establishment. The census questionnaire will need to be completed via an online portal as soon as possible. The portal is easy to use and secure. If you are not the administrator but you receive the letter or email at the end of April, please ensure that you pass it on to the person responsible for administration at your establishment.

Participating is mandatory and confidential

By law, all residents of Canada must be counted in the census, including those living in an establishment such as yours. All answers are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act and will be kept strictly confidential. Statistics Canada would like to thank you in advance for completing the census in a timely and accurate manner. You will be receiving your census collective dwelling invitation letter soon. 

If you have any questions, please contact Statistics Canada by phone at 1-877-949-9492 (TTY: 1-800-363-7629*), by email at infostats@canada.ca, or consult the collectives webpage.

TOURISM VANCOUVER NEWS

2021 Dine Out Vancouver Festival Results

We are pleased to share results from the 2021 Dine Out Vancouver Festival.  This year, Dine Out needed to address the concerns, uncertainty, and the challenges posed by the restrictions resulting from the Provincial Public Health Order – which both limited indoor dining capacity, and our ability to widely promote the event across markets.  As such, Dine Out looked different for 2021 including a delayed start and longer duration (31 days instead of 17), expanded price ranges, promotion of take out and special offers, and a focus on safety, comfort, and supporting local business.

Some highlights include:

  • A record number of participating restaurants: 365
  • Total seated diners via online reservations: 29,519
  • Total estimated seated diners via all reservation methods: 461,312
  • Total website referrals to restaurants and hotels: 207,907
  • Total Hotel Room Nights Generated: 1,613
  • Estimated Minimum Total Consumer Spend in Restaurants and Hotels during Dine Out 2021: $22,836,846

You can review more detailed result outputs HERE

BUSINESS RESOURCES

Mental Health Support for Tourism & Hospitality

The B.C. Ministry of Health & Addictions has created a Hub for Workplace Mental Health where you can find links to mental health and substance use services along with access to resources and partners focused on longer-term pandemic recovery in the hospitality and tourism sectors.  This also includes business advice from the BC Tourism Resiliency Network, a long-term resiliency program led by the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat.

Learn More

St. John Ambulance officially launches lifesaving Start Me Up BC campaign

St. John Ambulance BC & Yukon has officially launched their newest campaign, Start Me Up BC, an initiative created to help British Columbians save more lives from sudden cardiac arrest.

The goal of Start Me Up BC is to install 1000 publicly accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs) across the province. The community defibrillator stands can be placed anywhere, whether it’s outside of a workplace, at a beach, park, transit hub, or a tourist hot spot. The stands are kept unlocked to ensure the public can access an AED on a 24/7 basis in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest.

Learn More

Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden Set to Re-Open!

We’ve waited a whole year for this moment! For their upcoming 35th anniversary on April 24th, Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden will finally re-open to the public with timed-entry tickets.

How to Try E-Biking in Vancouver

Feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your face  while you explore the city on two wheels… but with less effort. E-bikes have exploded in popularity over the last few years since they make cycling easy and accessible. There are lots of places to try e-biking in Vancouver by renting an e-bike or taking an e-bike tour.

Immerse Yourself in Indigenous Culture in Vancouver

In early March, Vancouver City Councilor Christine Boyle submitted a motion for the City to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). If successful, leadership from the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations – the three First Nations whose traditional territories are now called Vancouver – will gather with City representatives to develop an actionable plan to implement the declaration.

10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day in Vancouver

Occurring each year on April 22, Earth Day honors Mother Earth and is a way to demonstrate support for environmental protection. In most years, Vancouver celebrates Earth Day with festivals and a parade. While there are no planned events this year, it’s easy to plan your own celebration. Here are 10 ways to commemorate Earth Day in Vancouver.

TOURISM VANCOUVER WEBINARS & EVENTS

Recording - April 14th Tourism Vancouver Webinar: Provincial & Domestic Marketing Update

This morning we held the next webinar in our series of complimentary programming for members and partners.   This "Provincial & Domestic Marketing Update" provided highlevel results of the recent 2021 Dine Out Vancouver Festival campaign along with updates on our ongoing #LoveVancouver programming and insight into what's next for that campaign.  In addition, we shared how Tourism Vancouver is integrating with Partner campaigns and promotions.  Click here to download a PDF of the presentation slides.

To view the recording, visit the Webinar Resources page on our website or click on the link below

View Recording

Webinar: Navigating the Extranet - A Comprehensive Guide for All Users

Wednesday, April 21, 2021 | 11:00am - 12:00pm | Online via Zoom 

As we prepare to welcome visitors back to our city, it is paramount that members refresh their knowledge and understanding of Tourism Vancouver's Member Extranet. This training session will provide new member contacts with an introduction to all sections, and experienced contacts with a timely skills refresh.

RSVP

VIRTUOSO

Virtuoso Ready, Reset, Go!

April 19-22 | Virtual

Ready, Reset, Go! is a virtual event organized by Virtuoso, focused on the path to recovery. The event will include networking appointments, professional development, and a virtual Community Globetrotting event. Tourism Vancouver will participate in the Adventure Community presentations providing adventure travel training to Travel Advisors. The networking appointments will be 1:1 meetings with Virtuoso Travel Advisors based in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Tourism Vancouver member products will be promoted throughout the event. Krista Alcazar will be attending on behalf of Tourism Vancouver.

go2HR

Supporting Employers Through Difficult Times

April 15 | 11am | Webinar

Now more than ever, tourism and hospitality employers need help to access tools and resources to support themselves and their staff through challenging times. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA BC) has partnered with go2HR to offer a webinar designed to help.

During this webinar, attendees will gain practical tips, expert advice, insights, and resources for programs to help business owners and managers navigate staff reductions and/or lay-offs, maintain connections with employees who are laid-off, and support their own mental health and that of their employees.

Buy Social

Buy Social Canada Symposium

April 26 | 9AM - 2PM PT | Virtual

Buy Social Canada will host a pan-Canadian Symposium to connect, inspire and engage as we bring communities together to grow social procurement. The program will feature keynotes, panel discussions and breakout sessions on key topics: Social Procurement Today and Tomorrow, Construction and Infrastructure, Myths and Facts, Leading Municipalities, and the Social Procurement Champion Awards. There will be opportunities to network and engage with others who are helping to shape the social value marketplace.

Trails BC

BC Greenway & Trail Symposium

April 15-17 | Virtual

From April 15-17 Trails BC will host BC Greenway and Trail Symposium. Registration is free. Each day will be centered around different themes, speakers will be exploring different topics related to these themes:

  • Decolonization, race, diversity and trails
  • Indigenous perspectives on Trails
  • Trail, active transportation, and the climate.
  • Trail developments and projects in B.C. (case studies)
  • Trail and active transportation policies
  • Building relationships and partnerships
  • Advocacy

Meetings & Conventions – A Fresh Perspective on Engagement

Earth Day for Event People
April 22 | 12PM EST | Virtual

Join your fellow event professionals for a celebration of the beauty and diversity of the destinations in Canada where we host our events. This informative 90-minute session will highlight 10 popular event destinations in Canada and allows attendees to vote on who is doing the most to protect their environmental inheritance.  Sue Graham and Lacy Hawley will be attending on behalf of Tourism Vancouver.

 

Meeting Professionals International Northern California Chapter (MPINCC) Annual Conference & Expo
April 27-28 | Virtual

When it comes to education, ACE2.021 has engaged our industry’s top thought leaders to present topics that are inspirational and relevant to all audiences - suppliers and planners alike. Whether you’re looking for professional development tips as we journey into the new normal, seeking best practices for audience engagement, or preparing for a transition back to in-person meetings, ACE2.021 has options for you. Owen Chiu will be attending on behalf of Tourism Vancouver.

Below is a sneak peek of the breakout session options:

  • Audience Engagement in a Pandemic World
  • Getting the Sustainability Genie Out of Your Plastic Bottle
  • Meeting Contracts in a Post-COVID World
  • Welcome Back: Top Meeting Destinations Chart Their Comeback
  • The Day CES Made the Digital Shift
  • Women in Event Tech: From Pivots to Innovation
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