Manic Monday | We Want To Hear From You

Over the course of the past several days, our TOTA team together with members of the regional Community DMO’s, have reached out to you by phone to discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on your business and to find out how you are personally coping through this time.

We appreciate your willingness to share your thoughts, questions, and concerns with our teams and want to ensure you that this collective information is being provided directly to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture as well as Destination BC.

In the coming weeks, we will continue to reach out to as many of you as possible, as well as circling back to some that we have already spoken with as the situation continues to change and unfold. If we have not yet contacted you and you would like to update us on your particular situation, please email us at recovery@totabc.com, with your name, business, and phone number and we will make sure to connect with you.

Things are moving and changing quickly, and we want to be able to assist you in getting the answers to the questions you have as quickly as possible. Please continue to reference our website and the Destination BC website.

Stay safe, stay healthy, be kind.

Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO

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MINISTER’S MESSAGE

This week’s message from our Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture – the Honourable Lisa Beare.

I want to start by thanking everyone who has provided feedback, offered support, and stayed engaged as we gather information about the impacts of COVID-19 to communities, businesses and people.

I continue to brief my Cabinet colleagues frequently and your feedback has helped me paint a fuller picture of the impacts of COVID-19 on the tourism sector. We are considering the needs of your communities at every stage of the planning process for mitigation, relief and eventually, recovery.

We are living through both a health crisis and an economic crisis, and I know people are worried about what the future holds. We have been working around the clock to protect people’s health, but we’ve also announced relief measures for businesses and people.

On March 18, the federal government announced a package for businesses and workers. These measures will offer some relief of the economic stress, but we know more will be needed. On March 23, the provincial government announced the B.C. COVID-19 Action Plan, which builds on the federal government’s strategy and represents our first step to provide relief to people and businesses in British Columbia.

The B.C. COVID-19 Action Plan has several measures that will offer some immediate relief to the tourism and hospitality sectors. These include delaying several tax filing and payment deadlines for personal income tax, EHT, PST, MRDT, motor fuel tax, and carbon tax.

Businesses will also benefit from government’s announced 50% cut in the provincial school property tax rate for commercial properties.

People who have had their income affected by the outbreak will soon be able to apply for the BC Emergency Benefit for Workers for a tax-free one-time payment of $1,000. That is in addition to the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit. As well, the federal government has introduced a temporary wage subsidy up to 75% and is providing additional business financing support through its Business Credit Availability Program.

For more information about supports for businesses and workers, click here.

As the tourism, hospitality and culture sectors are amongst the hardest-hit by this pandemic, we are working on sector-specific supports to help you come back strong in the future. I will be sharing more details about this in the coming weeks.

Tourism is one of the most resilient industries in B.C. I’ve seen you overcome great challenges like wildfires and floods. Your leadership and your swift response to this unprecedented situation is a sign of your strength and it gives me confidence that, together, we will get through this and welcome the world once again to beautiful B.C.

Take care,

Lisa Beare

Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, responsible for Sport

Manic Monday | Taking Care of Yourself Mentally and Physically

In these unprecedented times, it is more important than ever to stay connected. As we have been advising over the past few weeks, we will be updating our website and News Centre with pertinent links to information as it becomes available and we will continue to take your comments, questions, and concerns weekly to the Provincial Government and Destination BC.

Our team will be contacting many of you with a series of questions on both your current needs and thoughts for recovery initiatives and you can reach us directly on the COVID-19 situation at recovery@totabc.com

This morning, however, I really wanted to stress the importance of staying healthy, both physically and mentally, during these days and weeks of social distancing, self-isolation, and working from home.

One comment I heard, that has stayed with me, was "some people will take this time to watch shows, overeat and consume too much alcohol or similar substances while others will take the time to improve themselves."  It really is a choice we all can make.

A few good tips and reminders that I have seen for staying healthy while staying apart:

• Get outside for a walk or a bike ride, even if you only go around the block get some fresh spring air

• Limit the amount of daily information you read on the COVID-19 virus. While it is critical to know the government updates, once or twice a day will keep you informed

• Grow an Indoor Garden with your kids to keep them busy and transfer outside once the weather gets hotter

• Sign up for an online course... that one you always meant to do... or pick up that book that you have been putting off reading

• Find your inner creative self! Depending on your talents, use that part of your brain that sometimes gets neglected; create music, paint, journal, start that book you have always wanted to write

• If you are able; grocery shop for neighbours or those that are in quarantine or self-isolation

• Stay connected with family, friends, and co-workers to make sure they are doing okay.

• As simple as a phone call, using tools like Zoom, Facetime or Google Hangouts to have virtual meetups and happy hours, together!

This is not an easy time, but when it is over, and it will eventually be over, you can look back and realize all that you accomplished, or not, it really is your choice.
This situation is out of our control but how we react to it is the one thing we are able to take into our own hands.

Be safe, stay healthy, look after each other, social distance, self-isolate and remember to be kind.

Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO

Manic Monday | Crisis Management Protocols in Full Force

As we are hearing on a daily basis, these are unprecedented times for the entire world. Navigating the COVID-19 virus will test us all and I cannot say enough about the women and men on the front lines of this situation, assisting those that are unwell, potentially putting themselves directly in harm's way, as well as those that are working tirelessly to find a vaccine.

It is important that we take the direction from our public health officials seriously. We collectively have the ability to slow this virus down and flatten the curve, protecting our health care system and ensuring those that are in need of it the most have the access when they require it.

At TOTA, we have implemented our emergency planning protocols which are focused on regular communications weekly with our Provincial Leaders, Community DMO"s, and the regional tourism stakeholders.

We will be contacting many of you directly to understand how your business is being impacted and the measures you are currently taking or considering implementing. Most importantly, we will be asking for your thoughts on recovery initiatives that you believe would help get your business now and when we are through the worst of the situation. We also ask you to reach out to our office if you have information and recommendations that you believe will be useful to share. Please contact us directly through our Crisis Management Specialist, Rob Grifone, at (778) 721-5517 or crisismgmt@totabc.com and we will make sure your thoughts are included in our reporting.

All of this information collected will be regularly shared with Destination BC; Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister, Lisa Beare; and her Minister colleagues as she works together with other key ministries to assist the tourism industry in both the short and long term.

We will also have links to important information and resources on our website and the News Centre for ease of access.

Again, as we hear regularly, stay healthy, wash your hands, practice social distancing, stay home if you are sick with any form of cold or flu and above all be kind.

This crisis too will pass, but how we work together, strive to listen and communicate real facts and follow the guidelines being put forward by our health officials the better we will all be...

Stay safe and healthy.

Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO

Manic Monday | BC Tourism Industry Moves Sustainably Forward Together

By all accounts, the Tourism Industry Conference held in Victoria was another great success, congratulations to TIABC and all of those that worked tirelessly to host this important industry event.

I was personally unable to attend the meetings last week but TOTA had tremendous representation by way of our Chair, Frank Antoine; Vice-Chair, Michael Ballingall; Director, Beverley DeSantis; and our Accessibility Specialist, Sonja Gaudet, who was also a presenter in one of the workshops. Thank you to all of them for representing the region so well and a special mention to Tourism Kamloops on winning the Innovation Award and Ogopogo Tours for receiving the Leading Accessibility Award!

I was also very appreciative to hear that the Federal Minister Melanie Joly and Provincial Minister Lisa Beare both took the time in their addresses to the delegates to recognize the work that the Thompson Okanagan Region and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association has undertaken in the past several years in moving forward with a Responsible and Sustainability Destination Management Strategy.

Finally, we were very pleased that the BC Tourism Ministry Framework is founded on developing the industry in a sustainable way and understand that Destination BC, under the direction of Marsha Walden, is moving forward the concept of Destination Stewardship and embracing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the UNWTO for the Province.  Well done!  This literally speaks directly to our work as a region.  We believe strongly that protecting and managing our natural and cultural assets, today, and creating a thoughtful and planned approach to tourism for the future is not only timely but imperative.

We embrace the opportunity to work closely with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Destination BC, the other Regional DMO's and the Communities in moving this Provincial mandate forward. Never has it been more important than it is now to work together.

Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO

Manic Monday | The Industry’s Unsung Heroes

There are many unsung heroes in any organization, but by far, volunteer board members are certainly a group of people who do not get the recognition they deserve.

Over my 11 years as the President and CEO of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association it has been remarkable to have had the quality of individuals serving on our board at TOTA, all of whom have been both passionate and dedicated to the betterment of tourism, the region’s industry stakeholders, and of our Association. Never has this been more apparent and true than those who are sitting as board members this year.  Last week, the collective group met for an annual two-day retreat; reviewing the activities of the prior year; collaborating on strategy to move forward; reaffirming vision, mission, and values; and ensuring that all members understand TOTA's direction and focus.

These meetings cover a tremendous amount of detailed information, necessitating full board engagement, input, and direction. It requires board members to take time away from their own businesses and individual priorities; they come together for the good of the industry, region, and Province leaving personal interests at the door.

This year we are faced with significant direct and indirect challenges as an industry and an Association.  For myself personally and our entire team, it was inspiring to witness the level of board engagement on often difficult topics, their level of collaborating, sharing, questioning and ultimately unanimously supporting TOTA as we continue to develop and grow the Association as a tourism management organization.

Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO