Free Business Mentorship Sessions with Okanagan College Instructors

Okanagan College instructors are available to deliver virtual, one-hour individually tailored business counselling sessions based on expressed areas of need.

This service is offered free of charge through the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Resiliency Program, for a limited time. Mentors can provide support on a variety of leadership soft skills, business administration, and hospitality topics.

Register for an Okanagan College Mentorship Meeting →

DBC Launches "Snapshot of BC Travel" Dashboard

Destination BC now summarizes weekly travel indicators in B.C. in a new interactive dashboard, revamping the “Snapshot of BC Travel” one page report. Key insights are available on a weekly basis and performance is captured in the following areas:

• Domestic overnight visitation to BC and the six tourism regions using mobility data;

• Hotel occupancy, ADR, and RevPar for BC and select BC communities from STR;

• Air capacity and air bookings to BC using ForwardKeys data;

The dashboard enables the user to access detailed views of each data source by clicking on the report headers from the summary view. The dashboard is updated every Monday.

View Dashboard →

The Backcountry Lodges of BC Association "Mountain Escapes" Podcast

Mountain Escapes is a podcast that aims to connect backcountry enthusiasts with the owners and operators of the Backcountry Lodges of BC Association (BLBCA) member lodges throughout B.C. In each episode they highlight a unique lodge through conversation with an owner. They also feature guest appearances by other influential backcountry enthusiasts and industry experts.

Host Brad Harrison has worked and adventured in remote settings most of his life. He’s owned and operated lodges, operated mountaineering camps and provided avalanche courses. He is the Executive Director of the Backcountry Lodges of BC Association.

In the latest episode, Brad talks to the owners/operators/guides of Mt. Assiniboine Lodge, Andre Renner and Claude Duchesne.

Listen to Podcast →

TikTok Vs Reels: Everything Hotel Marketers Need to Know

Social media app TikTok recently topped Google as the world’s most visited website. That impressive feat also cements TikTok as a top channel for hotel marketers. It’s simply no longer possible to ignore the reach and impact of this platform.

The growing popularity of TikTok’s short format videos has also led to copycats from competitors. The biggest is Reels, Instagram’s answer to TikTok. Both platforms feature short videos that offer a light-hearted way to inject fun into a hotels’ social strategy.

With both TikTok and Reels capturing outsized attention among social media users, check out this comparison article to learn to fully leverage both of these popular platforms in your hotel marketing strategy.

Learn More →

Download the Canada Business App to Find Government Programs & Services

The Canada Business App offers new features to make it even easier to find government programs and services.

Download and explore:

• Easy navigation to government programs and services

• Recommendations tailored to your business

• Personalized notifications straight to your phone

• Easy access to COVID-19 support and other programs and services

• Answers to help you start up, scale up and access new markets

Get the App →

February is Black History Month

Black History Month is a time to honour, celebrate and reflect on the stories, experiences and accomplishments of Black Canadians here in British Columbia and across the country.

The 2022 theme for Black History Month is: “February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day.”  

Actions you can take:

1. Tune in to Canada's Black History Month virtual celebration on February 17, 2022 at 4 PM PT on Facebook Live for feature performances, tributes, interviews, and more

2. Download and use the Government of Canada's Black History Month toolkit

3. Read the joint statement in recognition of Black History Month by BC Premier John Horgan and Rachna Singh, Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives

4. Learn more from the BC Black History Awareness Society and participate in their events, many of which will be held virtually online

5. Are you a Black-owned or operated tourism business in the Thompson Okanagan region? Email us at News@TOTABC.com to share your story and let us know how we can help amplify your business

Restaurants Canada Positive & Inclusive Workplace Guide

If you are in the foodservice industry and looking to foster a healthy workplace environment for your employees, download this in-depth guide from Restaurants Canada.

This guide provides information on:

• Building a Culture of Inclusion

• Hiring Practices to Build a Vibrant Labour Force

• Racial, Cultural and Gender Diversity

• Mental Health

• Sexual Harassment

• Sick Leave/Parental Leave

Download Guide →

---

Free Resources for Sexual Harassment Advice, Response, and Prevention for Workplaces (SHARP Workplaces)

The Sexual Harassment Advice, Response, and Prevention for Workplaces (SHARP Workplaces) project aims to increase public knowledge, skills, confidence, and competence in managing complex issues related to workplace sexual harassment, and to improve access to legal supports and resources for people who experience workplace sexual harassment.

SHARP is offering FREE online SHARP Workplaces’ training sessions designed for small businesses and non-profits across B.C.

1. Foundational Course (for employers and workers)

2. Rights and Responsibilities (for employers and workers)

3. Workplace Investigations (employers only)

4. Best Practices for Developing a Workplace Sexual Harassment Policy (employers only)

5. Legal Options and Remedies (for employers and workers)

They also offer free legal advice.

View Resources →

---

Reminder: Employer Reimbursement Program for Paid Sick Leave

This is a reminder of the extended submission window for employers seeking reimbursement for employee claims for COVID-19 related sick leave taken between May 20th and December 31st, 2021.

The reimbursement program intake is open and will close on February 11th at 4:00 pm PST.

Please submit all eligible claims for reimbursement for employee COVID-19 related sick leave taken up to and including December 31st in order to access the reimbursement program.

Employers that already have a sick pay benefit program for their employees are not eligible to receive reimbursement.

For an employer to apply for reimbursement, they must do so through their Online WorkSafeBC account profile. If the employer is not already registered with WorkSafeBC and does not have an online account with WorkSafeBC, they can visit WorkSafeBC.

Learn More →

---

Skift Megatrends 2022 Report

Skift has published a forecast of the top trends that will define the travel industry in 2022. It provides an optimistic outlook for recovery of international travel by 2024. Other key trends revolve around community, ruralization, mobility and climate.

View Report →

---

Global Survey on Perspectives of Service Delivery & Traveller Priorities Report | Tourism HR Canada

Tourism HR Canada released a report that provides insight to the current perspectives of the service delivery in Canada and how the travel and tourism industry should prepare itself for the future.

The report concluded that, as the visitor economy gradually recovers from the COVID crisis, addressing service disruptions will need to be balanced against safety and price sensitivity.

The following is a summary of the findings:

1. While many developed destinations consider themselves to be at the tail end of the COVID 19 pandemic, with vaccine rollouts now well underway, the disruption to the value chain as a whole is far from over.

2. According to current projections, the tourism industry in Canada is not expected to recover to 2019 levels until 2025.

3. With this challenge in mind, tourism businesses will need to prioritize and allocate their resources effectively to ensure they are able to develop their products and services to adapt to the new normal while still delivering quality in line with what travellers value.

4. Broadly speaking, the overall visitor experience remains the most important concern for international travellers in selecting a destination to travel to (unsurprisingly as this encompasses a range of factors).

5. Quality service is second only to the overall visitor experience in this regard and thus will be of paramount importance in destination recovery efforts.

6. Quality of service is particularly valuable to the lucrative Chinese market to which international destinations will have to appeal to thrive in the new global travel market in the years to come.

7. However, health and safety concerns (particularly in Britain and Australia) and price and affordability are also major concerns. Price and affordability is somewhat prioritized across destinations and this is likely driven by post COVID price sensitivity among travellers.

8. In terms of the impact of service disruption on destination selection, Canada performs well relative to other destinations, with travellers reporting relatively low impact particularly in the USA, South Korea, France and Germany.

9. China, however, is an exception to this, placing Canada as being most impacted by potential service disruption in terms of destination selection. China is also one of the few countries to consider service disruption in Canada more serious than at home.

View Full Report →

---

Service Provider: Everything Podcasts

Everything Podcasts, part of Pattison Media, is a full-service podcast production company. They help brands evolve and expand their media strategy into the audio space with a custom podcast series.

Everything Podcasts works with brands, organizations, and companies to create powerful content creative, promotional support, production services, marketing, sales representation, research, and access to the fastest-growing media platform in the world, podcasting.

The most fundamental challenge brands face in the “attention economy” is: how do you capture people’s attention? By telling stories. 93% of Podcast listeners listen to all or most of each episode!

Learn more →

---

B.C. COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant | Apply by February 28, 2022

The Province of B.C. has introduced the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant aimed at assisting B.C. businesses that were mandated to temporarily shut down through public health orders because of the surge in COVID-19 cases under the December 22, 2021 and/or January 18, 2022 Provincial Health Officer orders.

The Province extended the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant and doubled supports for eligible businesses that have been ordered to remain temporarily closed through public health measures until February 16, 2022.

Businesses ordered fully closed include:

1. gyms, fitness and adult dance centres

2. bars, lounges and nightclubs

3. event venues that can no longer hold events

The fund will provide relief grants of between $1,000 and $10,000 to help affected businesses alleviate some financial pressures and help with expenses including rent, employee wages, insurance, maintenance, and utilities.

The funding amount for each business is based how many B.C. employees or contracted staff they had at the time of closure.

This $10-million provincial program complements existing federal government programs, including the recently expanded Local Lockdown Program and the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit.

Apply by February 28, 2022.

Businesses can email questions to: covid@smallbusinessbc.ca

Learn More & Apply →

---

New Order Requires Employers to Re-Activate COVID-19 Safety Plans | Order Now Available

On January 7, 2022, B.C.’s provincial health officer verbally announced an order requiring employers to re-activate their COVID-19 safety plans. This new order replaces the previous requirement for employers to have communicable disease prevention plans and does not have an expiration date.

View Official Order →

The order requires COVID-19 Safety Plans to incorporate some expanded and new controls, including:

• Indoor common area protocols to prevent workers from congregating

  • face coverings used in indoor common areas

  • lunch area/break room protocols

• Policies to support workers who have symptoms of a communicable disease

  • to avoid the workplace

  • when symptoms present in the workplace

  • work from home options

  • self-isolation and monitoring

• Measures to promote hand hygiene

  • handwashing and sanitizing

• Measures to keep the workplace environment safe

  • cleaning and sanitizing

  • ventilation and air circulation

• Measures to support workers receiving vaccinations for COVID-19

Your new and improved COVID-19 Safety Plan must be communicated and maintained by:

• Posting a copy of the COVID-19 safety plan on your website for staff, visitors, and the public to view.

• Providing a copy of the COVID-19 safety plan to a health officer or WorkSafeBC officer upon request.

• Reviewing and updating the plan periodically to ensure adequate prevention measures are being followed, according to WorkSafeBC requirements and the current COVID-19 public health situation.

go2HR’s COVID-19 Safety Plan Review Service and Resources

go2HR is offering a complimentary COVID-19 Safety Plan Review Service to B.C.’s tourism and hospitality employers.

Register for Safety Plan Review →

If you have questions about these COVID-19 control measures or how to update your COVID-19 safety plan, health and safety experts are available to assist. Contact go2HR at 604-633-9787 or  safety@go2hr.ca.

Additional Resources

For other templates, signage, guidelines, and business support visit:

• WorkSafeBC Resources →

• Industry Specific Plan Information →

• go2HR Resources →

---

Vancouver Wine Consumers Planning Return to the Okanagan in 2022

Quini captures consumer opinion about important product concerns or industry issues. In a wine tasting in Vancouver this past December, Quini gauged consumer interest in visiting the Okanagan Valley in 2022, drinker general opinion of Okanagan wines, and B.C. wine brand awareness and recall.

It seems like the majority of consumers who go wine tasting in the Okanagan leave with a positive impression and most will also plan to return at some point.

View Report →

---

Supports Expanded for Flood-affected Residents

People receiving Emergency Support Services due to this fall’s flooding will receive personalized supports delivered by the Canadian Red Cross, the provincial government announced.

Starting on Feb. 1 the federal and provincial governments will provide customized recovery support that includes interim housing and basic needs assistance. A Red Cross case manager will help households access assistance from existing government programs and develop a plan for recovery that can access additional funds to repair or rebuild their primary residences or to relocate to a new community.

The Red Cross is reaching out to those currently receiving Emergency Support Services and those who have indicated they would like to discuss recovery supports.

View Announcement →

---

Fuelling 2050: The Road Forward

The Conference Board of Canada has released an Impact Paper, Fuelling 2050: The Road Forward, about Canada’s aspirations for net-zero GHG emissions and an achievable pathway for the transportation sector.

Download Report →

Document Highlights

1. Getting to net zero requires decoupling emissions from economic growth and the energy use it embodies. For the transportation sector, this challenge is daunting.

2. Canada’s transportation sector accounts for about 29 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, half of which come from passenger cars and other light-duty vehicles.

3. By 2050, Canada’s transportation energy mix will still be dominated by oil and gas, but their share will drop by about a third from today’s 90 per cent. The magnitude of that drop will depend on new liquid fuels, gas, and electricity technologies, and consumer behaviour changes.

4. This transition goes beyond switching to electric. It means reimagining urban spaces, increasing mobility options, supporting public transit, and investing in urban planning.

5. An achievable pathway should be viewed through a sustainability lens—including realistic costing of impacts; support for Canadians’ social fabric and standard of living; and climate change objectives that are economically and scientifically sound.

---

DBC Messaging Guidance for B.C. Tourism Industry | Updated January 18, 2022

Destination BC has updated the Messaging Guidance for B.C. Tourism Industry: How to Travel in B.C. this Winter.

The document provides key messaging, information and infographics, and resources for B.C.’s tourism industry as it relates to travel to and within B.C. this Winter. Topics include travel routes, trip planning, transportation, visitor servicing, health protocols, entry requirements, and proof of vaccination requirements for various activities and businesses. The document will be updated as needed, as the situation evolves.

Get Youth Working Program | Funding Available for Re-Hiring and Preventing Layoffs

The Get Youth Working Program offers eligible employers in B.C. a negotiated Wage Subsidy as an incentive to hire eligible youth age 17 to 29. The business must employ youth for a minimum of 3 months with preference given to long-term positions over 6 months

At any time during the recruiting process (before signing an agreement), businesses can complete and submit a 5-minute online application. If program criteria is met, an agreement can be signed, and payment disbursed at the end of the work experience period.

​There's also a free job board. To post a job, complete an application to gain access and post your position.

Learn More & Register →

---

COVID-19 What to Do | BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC)

The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has guidance for what to do in various scenarios if someone has COVID or has been in contact with COVID.

As of January 2022, the guidance is:

If tested positive:

1. If fully vaccinated, self-isolate for at least 5 days since the start of symptoms. Wear a mask even in settings where a mask isn’t required and avoid higher risk settings, such as long term care facilities and gatherings, for another 5 days after ending isolation.

2. If unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, self-isolate for at least 10 days since the start of symptoms.

3. If not better after the 5 or 10 days, keep self-isolating until feeling better and fever is gone (without taking medicine that reduces fever).

4. If you feel worse, call 8-1-1 or your medical care provider.

5. Public health will let you know if you need to self-isolate for more than 10 days.

If you tested negative:

1. Self-isolate until symptoms improve and you feel well enough to return to regular activities.

2. If there's a fever, stay home until the fever is gone (without taking medicine that reduces fever).

3. Close contacts: If you were identified as a close contact and need to self-isolate, you still need to complete your self-isolation.

View BCCDC Guide →