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July 07, 2021

Tourism Vancouver
Tourism Vancouver

DESTINATION VANCOUVER’S MANDATE

To support Vancouver's tourism industry in developing their experiences, and promoting Vancouver in target Canadian, US, and International markets.


We invite you to learn more about Destination Vancouver’s new expanded mandate: https://www.tourismvancouver.com/about/brand/destination-vancouver/

The team will be taking a phased approach to introducing Destination Vancouver in the coming weeks and months. Starting in August, we will be switching our website domain to www.destinationvancouver.com.

If you have questions about Destination Vancouver’s new name and mandate, please reach out to our Membership team:

Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses - Letter Writing Campaign

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) have been critical lifelines for our sectors and employees throughout this pandemic. However, over the coming months, our industry is facing a perfect storm. As outlined in the most recent federal budget, the CEWS and CERS support is being aggressively wound down while events, tourism experiences, and business and convention travel will be close to non-existent. 

Our latest Coalition survey revealed that without sustained access to government relief programs through to the end of 2021, almost 60% of respondents will be unable to stay in business.

The government needs to know that tourism and hospitality businesses will not survive without more support, resulting in business closures and substantial job losses. 

Our collective voices are needed now more than ever to amplify this message to parliamentarians.  

We have three critical asks of you:

  1. Send a letter to your local Member of Parliament. It is already written, you simply need to press send! Please do so on our microsite: HardestHit.ca / DurementTouches.ca
  2. Meet with your local Member of Parliament and tell them your business and employees will not survive without continued support. We need hundreds of meetings this summer and are relying on the mass of our coalition networks to build a deafening noise level. 
  3. Spread the word on social media
    • About the Press Conference:
      • The Coalition of #HardestHit Businesses is calling on the federal government to protect travel and tourism in Canada. Watch the press conference live at 11:15 a.m. EDT: https://facebook.com/TIACAITC
    • About our call for more support:
      • Canada’s #HardestHit businesses will need help over the upcoming months, and particularly the September-May period for some, through continued wage and fixed cost support. Learn More: HardestHit.ca
    • Encourage your network to send a letter:
      • Send a letter to your Member of Parliament to ask them to roll out sector-specific support at the earliest opportunity for Canada's #HardestHit businesses to ensure their survival into the fall and winter. Visit: HardestHit.ca 

Images for social media can be downloaded here

MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES

Reminder! Update Your Sightseeing, Tour or Attraction Experience on Viator to Participate Automatically in the Viator and TransLink Promotion 

Destination Vancouver, in partnership with TransLink, has launched a new component to the #LoveVancouver campaign. 

TransLink Press Release

Supported on TripAdvisor’s viator.com website, residents and visitors to the Vancouver area receive 25% off local tours, sightseeing, and adventure bookings using the promo code at checkout: LOVETRANSIT. This 25% is over and above any existing discounts or offers members may already have on Viator. Independent attractions can participate in this promotion as well. This offer is being made available by TransLink and Viator. There is no additional cost to the members; all you need to do is have your experience listing activated and bookable on the Viator website by July 15th

This program was developed to provide locals and visitors the best possible offer and encourage their trips into and around Vancouver, while supplies last. The offer will be promoted through digital, traditional, social media, and partnership communications programs on behalf of both Destination Vancouver and TransLink. 

IMPORTANT:

Member businesses currently with products available on Viator and who would like to be included should ensure 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. It’s up to each individual supplier to update availability within the Viator platform. We do not control availability at all. Each supplier knows best when they would be open/have availability.

To update your product pricing and inventory on Viator, please log in 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 new TransLink and Viator promotion, email alexis@wearepatio.com

Members Who Create a Value-Add to TransLink Compass Card Holders will be Promoted through Summer Campaign

TransLink would like to use their channels to promote any extra offers to visitors who flash their Compass Card during the summer. If you would like to add extra value to Compass Card holders (such as a free beverage, a percentage off gift shop purchases, or a buy-1-get-1 offer for a future visit), please email alexis@wearepatio.com.

Submit your Special Offers! #LoveVancouver #LoveToExplore

Destination Vancouver's #LoveVancouver campaign is going strong as we ramp up the summer season, and we want you to be involved! We invite our attraction, event, hotel, and restaurant members to share special offers for this promotion, by emailing your Membership Specialist.

Please also ensure your member listings are up-to-date, including the COVID-19 Amenity updates (via the Member Extranet).

DESTINATION VANCOUVER UPDATES

Destination Vancouver Visitor Centre June Overview

Our Virtual Visitor Centre team has been busy assisting visitors and locals through email, over the phone, and through LiveChat on our website. Here are some insights and findings from June:

  • Due to BC’s restart plan slowly opening the province to recreational travel, the number of inquiries in June (566) was more than double those of May (277).
  • This change was reflected in the visitor origin as well, most of the inquiries originated from within Canada (47%) with close to half of those from Ontario; followed by residents of Metro Vancouver (31%); then US residents (18%); and rest of the world (4%).
  • Primary inquiries from Metro Vancouver residents and those within Canada centered around:
    • Traditional travel related questions: Attractions, Sightseeing, and Adventure Recreation suggestions
    • Information on, and transportation to other areas of BC, outside of Metro Vancouver
    • Clarification on when travellers from across Canada can visit BC
    • Accommodation suggestions
  • Over half of the inquiries from outside of Canada have been about existing travel restrictions and insight into when the restrictions will be lifted. Followed by getting around and things to do.
  • For Canadians, the majority plan on travelling this Summer within a month or two of chatting with our team.
  • For United States residents, many were too optimistic planning to arrive within the month (20%), while others were planning 2-3 months in advance of proposed arrival in Vancouver (20%), with almost a quarter still planning with travel dates unknown.
  • Most potential visitors outside of North America have no travel dates in mind.

Please continue to keep our team up to date on what is going on at your business, and what is upcoming, so we can provide timely information to prospective visitors. You can send updates to visitvancouver@tourismvancouver.com  

Meetings & Conventions Sales Manager Promotion

The Destination Vancouver Meetings & Conventions team is very pleased to announce Lacy Hawley has been promoted to Manager, Meeting & Convention Sales US with the primary responsibility for the Chicago and Midwest US market. This promotion is effective as of July 1, 2021.

Lacy joined the Destination Vancouver team in May of 2018, as the Sales Associate for the Chicago Midwest and Western US markets. With the departure of our long-time in-market representative in January 2020 and the pandemic taking hold in March 2020, Lacy truly stepped up to become a respected, trusted, and valued leader for the Chicago and Midwest market on behalf of Vancouver. Working in close partnership with the VCC team and our convention hotels, Lacy took responsibility for managing all accounts and bookings as well as citywide cancelations and rebooking. Lacy also took the lead on some of our key industry partnerships. Over the past year, Lacy has been actively representing Vancouver through virtual sales and, as soon as we are able, Lacy will be in-market, live, and in-person, leading Vancouver sales efforts on a regular basis.

We look forward to Lacy now formally managing this market and supporting Destination Vancouver overall Meeting & Convention sales and marketing work in the US.

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Globe and Mail

As COVID-19 restrictions begin to lift, take advantage of summer travel deals right across Canada

With many Canadians receiving their COVID-19 vaccines and travel restrictions starting to lift, it might be time to salvage your summer with a trip. Destinations across the country are itching to have visitors back and are offering some great incentives to ensure their return.

Mugshots: A Page From Vancouver’s Past, 1912-1913

Featuring one of Vancouver’s oldest mugshot books, this exhibit takes you beyond the pages and into the lives of those who lived in Vancouver between 1912-1913.

TGS Announces Pinnacle, Canada’s First Live Esports Event Post-Pandemic, October 8-10 at the Vancouver Convention Centre

TGS Esports Inc. is pleased to announce its grand re-opening for live events, starting with Pinnacle­–Canada’s first post-pandemic live esports event–hosted at the world-class Vancouver Convention Center.

Put It On Ice: Shangri-La Vancouver Launches Exclusive Ice Cave Adventure Experience

Adventure travellers can embark on their “coolest” journey yet with Shangri-La Vancouver’s new exclusive Ice Caves Heli Adventure with private helicopter transport to Head-line Mountain Holidays base camp on an Icecap, followed by a snow machine tour to the Whistler Ice Caves, plus cold-weather activities such as glacier golf using biodegradable balls, mixology class using ice collected from the day’s journey, a three-night stay in a luxury suite and more.

July’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Mount Seymour

The hike to the summit of North Vancouver’s Mount Seymour is a summer classic. It’s a moderately challenging route through the forest and over lots of tricky rocks and roots. But the sweaty climb to get there is worth it thanks to spectacular views of the city and surrounding mountains from all three peaks.

12 Best Vancouver Area Spray Parks to Cool Off This Summer

One of the best family-friendly ways to cool off on a hot day is to visit a spray park. The Vancouver region has dozens of free community splash parks, but a few are destination-worthy. Use our list of the best spray parks near Vancouver to plan an outing for your family.

Art and Science Come to Life in the Immersive Da Vinci Experience

Prepare to rediscover the wonder and a deep appreciation for the legendary Leonardo da Vinci in a new permanent immersive experience that has officially launched at Tsawwassen Mills.

DESTINATION VANCOUVER WEBINARS & EVENTS

Destination Vancouver Webinar: Safer Spaces Start Here

July 15th | 10:00am - 12:00pm | Webinar

Join us for an informative and interactive session that explores how to create safer spaces in Tourism and Hospitality. This session will start with an overview of the go2HR programs by Judy Frankel, communications manager at go2HR, and will include go2HR's upcoming programs including the BSAFE safety certificate program. The rest of the workshop will then be facilitated by Stacey Forester from Good Night Out Vancouver and will outline the basis for their education program for the prevention of sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based violence in the hospitality industry.

Did you know that restaurants and bars have been identified by Statistics Canada as two places where Canadians are most likely to experience sexual harassment and other unwanted acts? As the hospitality and entertainment sectors are set to resume “business as usual,” the industry is uniquely positioned to open up on a stronger, safer foot than before.

This workshop will introduce some of the root causes of sexualized violence, how it shows up in these industries, and share some ideas to both prevent and respond to it, including lessons from COVID, as well as making links to municipal and provincial initiatives. This session is intended to introduce participants to these concepts and the work Good Night Out and is not considered a certification workshop.

Webinar Agenda:

  • Welcome & Introductions by moderator, Gwendal Castellan
  • Overview of go2HR safety programs by Judy Frankel
  • Good Night Out Vancouver workshop with Stacey Forrester
    • What's new? Linking this work to local and provincial policy
    • Statistics
    • Overview of Good Night Out
    • Elements / Objectives of our training
    • What the data/program evaluation on our training shows
    • Lessons from COVID
    • Mini-bystander training
    • Outline the “Safer Spaces 21 Jumpstart” program 
  • What is involved / how to sign up
  • Q&A with panelists
Click to Register

BC Hospitality Foundation

BCHF Silent Auction
until July 9 | end at 11:59PM | Silent Auction

Online Silent Auction Now Open!

The BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF) and the BC Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) are pleased to present an online silent auction featuring a host of amazing homegrown tourism and hospitality experiences.  We’re accepting bids on items including…

  • A two-night stay at the luxurious Oak Bay Beach Hotel
  • Gift certificates to a wide range of top local restaurants
  • A digital voucher for a 5-player Vancouver Outdoor Mysteries game
  • A round at the Westwood Plateau Golf & Country club
  • A virtual team building and training entertainment event
  • Helijet transportation from Victoria to Vancouver
  • A private charter of a Five Star Whale Watching vessel
  • and many more!

The auction runs until 11:59pm on July 9th, 2021. Please click here to view the complete list of auction items and to place bids.

The auction is a fundraiser being held in conjunction with the BC Chapter of MPI’s “g-ALE-a” event being held at craft breweries across BC on Wednesday, July 7th; check #gALEa21 for updates.  Tickets for the fun evening out may be purchased online.

The BCHF provides monetary assistance for hospitality industry workers facing financial crisis due to a serious health condition experienced by themselves or a family member.  The registered charity also administers a scholarship program that fosters the development of the next generation of hospitality industry workers and leaders. The BCHF is Destination Vancouver's Preferred Charitable Organization.

Meetings & Conventions – Generating Business in Today's World

PCMA EduCon 
July 7-9, 2021 | Hybrid
Community, Content & Connections will be the resounding theme throughout this conference.
For the last year, we’ve all been over-scheduled and our humanity has suffered. EduCon 2021 is designed to bring people together and will provide the appropriate time and space for all to reconnect with one’s community and oneself whether F2F or digitally.
Being together in a post-COVID world will make us better facilitators of the future. Through learnings from our year-long Recovery Discovery journey and the success of January’s Convening Leaders, EduCon will show the world how business events can be a catalyst for bringing us back together to create deeper, meaningful, and safe interactions through a fusion of both in-person and digital experiences.
As a PCMA Premier Partner, Destination Vancouver and the Vancouver Convention Centre are recognized as the Day 2 Main Stage sponsors – Driving the Future with Purpose, Diversity, and Inclusion, scheduled for Thursday, July 8 at 11:15 AM PST. 
Jackie Kavcak will be attending in person on behalf of Destination Vancouver.  Lacy Hawley, Owen Chiu, and Michelle Taylor will be participating virtually.

Destinations International 2021 Annual Convention 
July 13-15, 2021 | Hybrid
The past two years have been filled with extraordinary challenges, brought on by a global pandemic. But through a series of additional challenges, the world of destination organizations has changed. Destination leaders must look for solutions for a post-pandemic recovery by rolling up their sleeves and coming together with stakeholders to cultivate an innovative approach to solutions that will advance the good work they do on behalf of the communities they serve.
Dave Gazley will be attending virtually on behalf of Destination Vancouver.

MPI CAC Summer Knowledge Share 
July 15, 2021 – 11:30am – 12:30am CT | Virtual
After hearing many state, local and federal authorities announce the plan to fully reopen, those of us in the meetings and events industry are excited to get back to doing what we do best. As we look to emerge from this crisis and execute various meetings including hybrid, there are many questions we have as we return to business. Some of these questions are related to the anticipated profits of these live events. How will the impact on health and safety affect the budget for the client and venue? Will either side see a profit or increase in revenue? Join the Chicago Area Chapter to discuss these questions and so much more.
Lacy Hawley will be attending on behalf of Destination Vancouver.

Destination Vancouver 
200 Burrard Street, Suite 210, Vancouver, BC V6C3L6 
604.682.2222
www.tourismvancouver.com
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