The year has certainly not started as we all had hoped. However, there is hope that Omicron may mark the beginning of the end of the pandemic and we can look forward to a new normal world in spring.
Upcoming Tourism Conferences
There are a number of events that we all look forward to attending and hope that we will be able to spend the time face to face, in person or virtually.
Check the websites to learn about when to register, early bird rates, and other opportunities to get involved.
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada's (TIAC) Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held Wednesday, January 19, 2022 from 10:30 am. to 1:30 p.m. PST virtually – details still to come.
Join Indigenous Tourism Canada (ITAC) for a focused conversation on how the Indigenous tourism sector reunites and begins to rebuild from the impacts of COVID-19. The theme of the conference is “Building Back Better,” a call to action to operators, funding partners, and industry supporters to join ITAC for a focused conversation on how the Indigenous tourism sector reunites and begins to rebuild from the impacts of COVID-19.
The Tourism Industry Association of BCand the BC Hotel Association are excited to bring you the second annual BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference in Richmond, B.C with the theme of Kickstarting the Comeback. Gather together to learn, tackle issues, forge new relationships, and work toward resiliency in the face of one of the hardest years for the tourism sector.
The British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) is presenting its 2022 Annual BC Economic Summit in a virtual format with the theme of Reconciliation and Resiliency - A Future for BC.
This is an opportunity to highlight success stories, lessons learned, share cutting-edge ideas, and engage your colleagues at the premier event for economic development practitioners in British Columbia.
The lineup of speakers includes leading economic development experts and peers, panel discussions and interactive discussion forums, exhibits, BC Economic Development Awards, and virtual networking opportunities.
IMPACT is a collaborative national dialogue on innovation. The dream to create a legacy for sustainable and regenerative tourism in Canada is stronger than ever, and your voices are needed.
Join in on a national conversation on sustainable tourism, as delegates and speakers explore and compare models for tourism recovery. Hear from some of the most creative and innovative experts in the business and address our new reality of higher expectations, for and of visitors.
On January 7, 2022, the provincial health officer announced an order requiring employers to re-activate their COVID-19 Safety Plans. Further details on the order are expected within the week. WorkSafeBC provides templates, guidelines, and business support.
This replaces the previous requirement for employers to have communicable disease prevention plans in their workplaces. While communicable disease prevention plans and COVID-19 Safety Plans share some of the same fundamental principles, COVID-19 Safety Plans are formal, written plans with more rigorous controls and are more appropriate for periods of elevated risk, such as the one currently faced by B.C. workplaces by the Omicron variant.
COVID-19 Safety Plans provide employers with important measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at their workplace. All employers are required to develop or update their COVID-19 Safety Plans to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in their workplace.
Many employers had COVID-19 Safety Plans earlier in the pandemic, and others may have maintained all or many of the measures from their COVID-19 Safety Plans. All employers are advised to review their COVID-19 Safety Plans to ensure that they are current and aligned with all guidance and orders from the provincial health officer.
The Province of B.C. has introduced the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant aimed at assisting BC businesses that were mandated to temporarily shut down through public health orders because of the surge in COVID-19 cases. The fund will provide monies to help affected businesses alleviate some financial pressures and help with expenses including rent, employee wages, insurance, maintenance, and utilities.
Applications for the grant will begin in January with the application process open until the end of February 2022. Businesses can email questions to: covid@smallbusinessbc.ca
With the intention of keeping businesses open and employees safe, the Province of B.C. has launched Safe Screen BC to provide businesses with the toolkits, resources, and guidance to access rapid antigen tests and set up onsite rapid COVID-19 workplace screening programs for employees.
Organized in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), Safe Screen BC will guide businesses through the required application process for provincially available test-kits and support businesses in the set-up of onsite rapid workplace screening programs for employees.
Program Eligibility
Safe Screen BC supports businesses interested in offering voluntary screening for employees without symptoms in close contact settings.
Participating businesses will be asked to contribute a fee to cover the cost of the services provided by the Safe Screen BC program which include: tailored support services to apply for test kits, access to a custom-designed reporting solution, and access to training resources and additional support services to assist businesses with the implementation of onsite rapid screening.
Test kits are provided free of charge by the province via Health Canada Rapid Screening Program for employers COVID-19 rapid testing and screening in workplaces.
The TOTA team is here to help with the challenges your business is facing. As part of TOTA's Tourism Resiliency Program tourism companies can access the following free supports:
Submit a Voice Your Concerns form so TOTA can share the impacts on the tourism industry with government
Email Recovery@TOTABC.com for quick questions or to share challenges faced by your business
News Highlights
Big White "Be Kind" Video
Big White Ski Resort has released a video entitled "Be Kind." The key message is to reinforce that we must "Stay safe, be kind and enjoy, because we all want to have fun."
Congratulations are in order for GreenStep and the recent announcement of their achievement of the “Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)-Recognized Standard status.” GreenStep is the only North-American based provider of GSTC-recognized standards for Destinations. The status offers the market a proof that these standards adhere to international norms.
GreenStep Sustainable Tourism Standards are used by GreenStep Solutions in their assessment and verification programs which provide tools, resources, and consultative support to destinations and businesses across the tourism industry. The Sustainable Tourism standards enable tourism businesses and destinations to measure their sustainability performance in several key categories: management, social, economic, natural, cultural, and environmental.
Congratulations to Kelowna International Airport Director Sam Samaddar on becoming the Chair of Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) as of Jan. 1. A complete list of the ACI-NA Board of Directors and leadership is available on the ACI-NA website.
The new BC Farmers’ Market Expansion Program will support the expansion of farmers’ markets to accommodate more vendors and maintain operations during emergencies to ensure communities throughout B.C. have continued access to food. The one-time program is providing $475,000, with up to $15,000 available for each eligible applicant.
Applications will be accepted until Jan. 28, 2022 on a first-come, first-served basis or until available funding has been fully committed.
With the surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant, businesses need to develop and update contingency plans to continue operations with expectations of up to one-third of staff potentially being off sick.
Invest Kelowna has provided resources to support businesses, including templates for business continuity planning, how to address critical elements of your business to protect your cash flows and your workforce, and best practices for business operations during COVID-19.
London Drugs is offering up centre aisle shelf space in select stores to local small businesses who have been impacted by COVID-19. 100% of all sales will go back to the business or individual helping customers. Small businesses in Western Canada are welcome to submit products for consideration, including health and wellness companies.
What is your story? Stories change the world. Stories compel us to action. Stories warm us, soothe us, and teach us. A good story earns us a second interview, a second date, and the loyalty of staff, friends, and family. Your daily experiences and your biography are filled with meaningful, memorable story-worthy moments which make our experience deeper and more meaningful.
Join this series and learn story structure, the art of listening, and the power in telling a warm, beautiful, compelling story.
Registration for this four-week workshop is $30 (plus GST).
go2HR's newest restaurant safety initiative provides free resources to prevent the most common injuries in restaurant kitchens and make your kitchen a safer space.
The Réseau de développement économique et d'employabilité (RDÉE Canada) commissioned Léger to conduct a study on the evolution of Francophone and bilingual tourism in Canada almost 15 months after the start of the pandemic. The report is based on a web survey of Canadian tourism companies outside Quebec, which offer services in French and in both languages to a Francophone clientele. The results of this report will allow RDÉE Canada and its members to establish a strategy and an action plan to support tourism businesses in welcoming visitors from the French-speaking markets of Quebec, Canada, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Eastern Europe.
The Right Amount is an initiative for Canadian wineries to promote responsible consumption of alcohol, providing Canadians with tools and information to make informed and responsible decisions about alcohol, and promote drinking wine in moderation.
Wine Growers British Columbia encourages all wineries to participate, as industry-wide participation will help the campaign to be truly effective in engaging Canadian consumers and promoting the responsible consumption of Canadian wines.
