Watch Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle Platform Webinar Recording

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) hosted a virtual info session on the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle Platform and how it can help B.C. tourism companies track progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and develop a Sustainable Tourism Plan.

Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle is an easy-to-use digital platform that recognizes your commitment to sustainability and links your organization with the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its 169 targets, through the development of a custom sustainability plan.

Members of TOTA's Biosphere Commitment Program receive a 1 year free trial for the platform and can now access the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle platform.

TIAC Federal Election Advocacy Push

Throughout 2021, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) has pushed for greater support for the industry. This included major achievements such as enhanced federal budget measures, an expanded Tourism Relief Fund, extension of CEWS and CERS, and opening the US/Canada land border to American tourists.

As an extension of this approach, TIAC will be running a proactive tourism advocacy and media campaign. This will include direct TIAC activity, as well as TIAC’s leadership of the Hardest Hit Coalition fighting for business survival support for the tourism suite of sectors.

What you Can Expect:

TIAC is launching the following proactive steps to keep members informed and ready to engage with local candidates:

• TourismVotes.ca microsite as one-stop shopping for information on the election

• Detailed Platform Analysis for impact on tourism

• Social Media Content to support TIAC issues

• Email updates to members on important developments

• Hardest Hit Coalition actions

• Regional meetings with candidates

• Work with election media

• Digital advocacy tool once candidates are named

• Talking points for members when meeting candidates

TIAC will be busy fighting for our industry, and supporting you to fight for recovery.

Destination BC Appoints Richard Porges as Permanent President and CEO

Richard Porges, Destination BC President & CEO

Destination BC announced the appointment of Richard Porges as the new CEO of BC’s provincial tourism development and marketing organization. This role becomes effective immediately.

Richard previously served as the corporation’s Acting President and CEO, and was Vice President of Corporate Development prior to that. He joined the corporation’s research department in 1999, and moved to progressively more senior roles within the BC Provincial Government and Destination BC. As Vice President of Corporate Development, Richard provided strategic leadership for Destination BC’s corporate communications, research and analytics, human resources, and corporate services departments.

The Board sought a candidate who had the leadership, strategic skills, and government and tourism sector relationships to undertake the President and CEO role; and drive Destination BC’s goals and support BC’s tourism industry through some of the biggest challenges the sector has ever faced. Hundreds of potential candidates, from all corners of the globe, were reviewed.

The Board is confident in Richard, the Executive team, and Destination BC’s dedicated staff in continuing to deliver programs and services to support industry through the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. The team will continue to work closely with Minister Mark, Ministry staff and industry partners across the province to respond to the needs of BC’s vital tourism sector.

TOTA’s team congratulates Richard on this appointment. We look forward to continuing to work with you to support the tourism industry.

Nominations Open for 2021 Canadian Tourism Awards

The Canadian Tourism Awards are presented annually by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada to recognize success, leadership, and innovation in Canada's tourism industry.

This year the tourism industry has demonstrated true resilience and a remarkable commitment to continuing to provide top-quality experiences and services to travelers.

If you have a business or an employee in mind that deserves to be recognized for their success in one of the 2021 Canadian Tourism Award categories, submit your nomination before August 31, 2021.

Travel Warning for North Okanagan: Armstrong, Spallumcheen, Okanagan Indian Band, Enderby, and other parts of the Regional District North Okanagan

Given the current wildfire situation in B.C., which is expected to worsen over the weekend, the Province of BC is asking people to not travel to parts of the North Okanagan until further notice, including Armstrong, Spallumcheen, Okanagan Indian Band, and Enderby.

• View BC Gov News Release

• View Travel Warning & Map of Impacted Areas

The wildfires have resulted in challenging times with much uncertainty. The safety of our communities and residents is the top priority during this time. Tourism companies throughout the Thompson Okanagan region have been working with BC Emergency Support Services to support evacuees and identify needed services as the situation evolves.

Many communities in the Thompson Okanagan continue to welcome visitors during this time and look forward to hosting guests. Travellers are encouraged to check the official resources to make informed decisions based on the latest updates, before and during their trip.

The ThompsonOkanagan.com Know Before You Go page is regularly updated and serves as a resource for visitors to access key information resources such as DriveBC, BC Wildfire Service, Emergency Management BC, and more.

During wildfires, conditions can change rapidly, and we all play a role in keeping our visitors informed with the latest, on-the-ground information.

Businesses and DMOs can post regularly, (daily if possible), using #RealTime____(name of city/community) on social media to ensure current and future visitors have an accurate ‘real time’ visual on current conditions.

If your community has blue/clear skies, use the #RealTime____ hashtag to show visitors the favourable conditions and invite them to explore.

If your community is experiencing a period of heavy smoke or hazy skies, use the #RealTime____ hashtag to showcase and invite people to explore indoor attractions such as museums and galleries, or sharing any changes to your business offering (for example, wineries moving all tastings indoors to keep staff and visitors safe.)

Include the date and time the photo was taken. Tag key tourism partners in your post, including @HelloBC, @Thompson_Okanagan, and your Regional/Community DMO partners, to help us amplify your message.

For #RealTime____ examples and more information on emergency messaging, please see Destination BC’s Emergency Messaging Guidance.

Canada to Require Vaccination of Federally Regulated Transportation Sector

As soon as possible in the fall and no later than the end of October, the Government of Canada will require employees in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation sectors to be vaccinated. The vaccination requirement will also extend to certain travellers. This includes all commercial air travellers, passengers on interprovincial trains, and passengers on large marine vessels with overnight accommodations, such as cruise ships.

The Government of Canada is also calling on all organizations beyond the federally regulated sector to put in place their own vaccination strategies, drawing on the advice and guidance available from public health authorities and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

Federally Regulated Industries and Workplaces - Tourism Related

• air transportation, including airlines, airports, aerodromes and aircraft operations

• first Nations band councils (including certain community services on reserve)

• port services, ferries, tunnels, canals, and bridges that cross international or provincial borders

• railways that cross provincial or international borders and some short-line railways

• road transportation services, including trucks and buses, that cross provincial or international borders

• any business that is vital, essential or integral to the operation of one of the above activities

• Other non-tourism industries

Canada Moving Forward with Proof of Vaccination for International Travel

The Government of Canada is collaborating with the provinces and territories to develop a proof of vaccination that will facilitate cross-border travel, while reducing the risk of spread and importation of COVID-19.

Proof of vaccination credentials will support the re-opening of societies and economies.

Using a proof of vaccination will provide foreign border officials with the vaccination history needed to assess whether a traveller meets their public health requirements and provide a trusted and verifiable credential for when they return home.

Travellers will be able to submit their proof of vaccination in ArriveCAN (mobile app or Canada.ca/ArriveCAN website) when coming back to Canada.

Destination countries determine if or what type of proof of vaccination is required and the related benefits that may be provided such as reduced or no testing or quarantine requirements.

Canadians who do not have a proof of vaccination can travel outside the country, but they may have to quarantine or meet other requirements at their destination country, and they will be subject to mandatory quarantine and testing upon return to Canada.

Canada continues to participate in the international dialogue on proof of vaccination for international travel, including with the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization, and through the G7.

Currently, there is no international consensus on an acceptable proof of vaccination, but we are working with international partners to recognize proof of vaccination credentials issued in Canada.

Safeguards are being built into the policies, procedures and technical systems to protect the privacy of Canadians. Provinces, territories and Indigenous organizations are and will remain the custodians of Canadians’ health data.

Canadians who currently need proof they were vaccinated can contact their province or territory for the record or receipt of vaccination if they don’t already have it. More information is available at Canada.ca/vaccine-proof.

Resource Roundup | Advocacy, Funding, and Training Opportunities

Sunset from atop Battle Bluff, Thompson Valley
Credit: Destination BC/Andrew Strain

The TOTA team is here to help with the challenges your business is facing. Through TOTA's Tourism Resiliency Program you can access the following complimentary supports:

• 1:1 Business Support with a TOTA Resiliency Advisor

• Expert Business Mentorship with an Okanagan College business professor

• Mental Health Support resource list of guides and training from the Canadian Mental Health Association

As well, we will continue to share resources to help you build resiliency, including the resources below, which includes opportunities to share your experience, receive support funds, and train employees.

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TOTA: Voice Your Concerns

The tourism industry must continue to convey real time feedback that explains the actual state of tourism relative to what might be considered recovery.

Organizations like TOTA, TIABC, TIAC, and many others will use this information to further advocate for the needs of the industry, particularly for additional government assistance through the course of the pandemic.

Please take a few minutes to complete any surveys relevant to your interests to help dispel the misconception that business is as usual for the tourism industry.

We invite you to share any challenges your business is facing so we can compile information on the evolving situation and share it with the appropriate parties, such as:

1. What challenges is your business currently experiencing?

2. How is this impacting your business?

3. What would help to improve the situation?

Voice Your Concerns

Feel free to share your current experiences at any time through the form at TOTABC.org/recovery or by emailing Recovery@TOTABC.com.

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Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) continues to work closely with the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses, working to establish a COVID Tourism and Events Business & Employee Survival Program, in order to provide qualified and limited financial support to tourism and events businesses with significant revenue losses from September 2021 to May 2022.

How You Can Help

• Engage with your local MPs/Candidates this summer – whether it’s a meeting, email, phone call, when they come knocking on your door, or a letter. Find your local Member of Parliament.

• Download and share the key message guidelines

• Send a letter to your local Member of Parliament. It is already written, you simply need to press send on HardestHit.ca.

• Spread the word on social media

• Keep TIAC in the loop - how did it go? Who did you meet with? What kind of reception did you receive? Use the Advocacy Campaign dashboard to report your meetings and share comments.

Learn More & Get Involved

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Restaurants Canada: Restaurant Survival Coalition

Restaurants Canada is requesting your help to create and inform the messaging that is shared with the Province of BC and provide a clearer picture of what businesses are experiencing here in the Thompson Okanagan region.

Tourism businesses can participate in the Restaurant Survival Coalition by submitting a video story to help amplify voices in the foodservice community, including sharing how the pandemic has impacted life and business.

Restaurant Canada wants to know:

• How many days has dining been shut down or reduced?

• How many staff did your business employ before the pandemic and how have they been impacted by this crisis?

• How has your business and employees benefited from the federal rent and wage subsidies?

Restaurant Canada's Restaurant Survival Coalition will share these videos on social media to help shine a light on the support that restaurants continue to need as they recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Stories will be leveraged in discussions with the government to advocate for continued sector-specific support.

Share Your Story

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Propel Tourism and Hospitality Student Work Placement & Wage Subsidy Program

Tourism HR Canada announced the launch of a federally funded Student Work Placement Program, Propel, offering paid work-integrated learning opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Propel offers employers a wage subsidy of up to 75% of a qualifying student’s wages, to a maximum of $7,500. Students enrolled at a recognized post-secondary institution can apply for a paid position to fulfil the co-op or internship component of their program.

Learn More & Apply

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Jobs and Growth Fund in Western Canada

The Jobs and Growth Fund provides funding to businesses and organizations to help create jobs and position local economies for long-term growth. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is investing $217 million to help job creators and the organizations that support them to future-proof their businesses, build resiliency, and prepare for growth by transitioning to a green economy, fostering an inclusive recovery, enhancing competitiveness and creating jobs in every corner of the country.

Eligible companies could receive interest-free repayable contributions for up to 50% for businesses, 90% for non-profits, and 100% for Indigenous clients.

Learn More & Apply

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Free Digital Marketing Skills Training Program

The Alacrity Canada Digital Marketing Bootcamp is a virtual skills-training program valued at $6,000 per seat and offered to eligible B.C. small and medium-sized businesses at no cost by the Province of B.C.  The eight-week course covers 40 key topics offered by 10 expert mentors to provide a foundation of digital marketing, search-engine optimization (SEO), paid advertising, analytics, content marketing, and other skills.

Learn More & Apply

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go2HR Scripts: Responding to Difficult Guest Situations During a Pandemic

go2HR has developed a document for frontline staff to review in order to prepare for various scenarios which workers could encounter in their workplace and suggested scripts on how to respond to challenging interactions.

Examples:

• Guest is not wearing a mask when required

• Guest does not sanitize hands upon entry

• Guest inquiries about employee vaccination status

• Guest or employee shows signs of being unwell

View go2HR Scripts

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Export Navigator

Exporting allows tourism businesses to expand beyond local markets. Export Navigator offers many resources, including a free course about the export process and how to grow business beyond B.C.

Register for Free Online Course

Export Navigator’s community-based advisors provide support and ongoing guidance to help tourism businesses grow outside of B.C.

Advisors offer:

• An export readiness assessment

• A business readiness assessment

• Market entry strategy support

• Market tools and information

• Streamlined service connections to support services

Register for Free 1:1 Support

Emergency Support Fund for Canada’s Live Music Sector

Budget 2021 includes $25 million for Canada’s live music sector. The purpose of this program is to help Canadian live music companies and organizations operating in Canada who are facing financial pressures due to public health directives in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

The majority of companies and organizations targeted by this program are not regular beneficiaries of the Canada Music Fund (CMF); emergency funding for these types of companies and organizations is a recognition of the essential nature of the live music sector in achieving the objectives of the program. Thus, the temporary financial support will allow companies and organizations in Canada’s live music sector to continue to exist during and beyond the pandemic and ultimately to continue i) to produce and promote a diversity of Canadian music in a world of choice ii) to be competitive at home and abroad and iii) to contribute to Canada’s creative economy.

Funding will be allocated based on eligible revenues from each applicant’s last completed fiscal year prior to the pandemic.

Funding is subject to availability of funds and submitting an application does not guarantee funding.

The deadline to apply is September 2, 2021.

Who Can Apply?

This program targets Canadian-owned companies and organizations specializing in live music. This includes live music venues, booking agents, concert promoters, festivals, artist managers, artist-entrepreneurs, and service companies. To be eligible, companies must play an essential role in the Canadian live music sector and in the development of Canadian artists.

Advocacy Efforts: Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) continues to work closely with the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses, working to establish a COVID Tourism and Events Business & Employee Survival Program, in order to provide qualified and limited financial support to tourism and events businesses with significant revenue losses from September 2021 to May 2022.

How You Can Help

• Engage with your local MPs/Candidates this summer – whether it’s a meeting, email, phone call, when they come knocking on your door, or a letter. Find your local Member of Parliament.

• Download and share the key message guidelines

• Send a letter to your local Member of Parliament. It is already written, you simply need to press send on HardestHit.ca.

• Spread the word on social media

• Keep TIAC in the loop - how did it go? Who did you meet with? What kind of reception did you receive? Use the Advocacy Campaign dashboard to report your meetings and share comments.

Tourism Business Builders Online Resources

Tourism HR Canada team has launched the Tourism Business Builders online program, developed specifically for tourism and hospitality entrepreneurs. This much-anticipated update moves the renowned program to a fully online offering, allowing for 24/7 access on the organization’s Emerit.ca learning platform and the flexibility to quickly add content.

Businesses who have been the most adversely impacted by COVID are not only looking at recovery, but in many cases a complete restart to their operations. This presents opportunities to re-assess priorities, including product and service offerings, audiences, financing, and marketing.

Now these same businesses can access this brand new “how-to” resource, which contains nine comprehensive modules on business fundamentals and dozens of practical tools, including Excel templates and PDF worksheets…all FREE for a limited time.

Tourism Business Builders will retail for $199.00, but as part of Tourism HR Canada’s recovery strategy, the organization will offer it free of charge until September 1, 2021, to assist tourism business owners, operators, and prospective entrepreneurs.

Tourism businesses need support now more than ever, and this special offer adds to Tourism HR Canada’s recovery efforts. These include the free suite of resources available at TourismRecovery.ca and the free Emerit online occupational training offered earlier in the pandemic (with over 5,000 courses accessed).

Tourism Business Builders contains comprehensive online modules that cover such core topics as:

• Creating Your Product

• Financial Management

• Staffing Matters

• Marketing

• The Customer

• Managing Operations

As self-directed resources, these modules will help business owners/operators to review and revamp current planning and management practices. Entrepreneurs looking to launch a new tourism operation can work through the series to prepare a solid business plan and learn how to successfully run a tourism business—from start-up planning to day-to-day operations.

Used in conjunction with TourismRecovery.ca and Emerit.ca training for numerous tourism and hospitality occupations, owners/operators can build a strong business recovery and reengagement plan that covers all the basics needed to steer towards success.

Voice Your Concerns

The tourism industry must continue to convey real time feedback that explains the actual state of tourism relative to what might be considered recovery.

Organizations like TOTA, TIABC, TIAC, and many others will use this information to further advocate for the needs of the industry, particularly for additional government assistance through the course of the pandemic.

Please take a few minutes to complete any surveys relevant to your interests to help dispel the misconception that business is as usual for the tourism industry.

We invite Thompson Okanagan tourism businesses to share any challenges so we can compile information on the evolving situation and share it with the appropriate parties, such as:

1. What challenges is your business currently experiencing?

2. How is this impacting your business?

3. What would help to improve the situation?

Feel free to share your current experiences at any time through the form at TOTABC.org/recovery or by emailing Recovery@TOTABC.com.

FortisBC Rebates Available for Thompson Okanagan Tourism Businesses

Are you planning to purchase or upgrade lighting, HVAC equipment (boilers, furnaces, heaters, heat pumps, rooftop units, etc), or other business appliances? Have you purchased or installed any of these within the last 365 days? You might be eligible for FortisBC rebates if you are a FortisBC electricity or natural gas customer and meet their requirements for energy-efficient equipment.

Some of the FortisBC rebates that are available:  

• Commercial lighting rebates

• Natural gas boiler rebates

• Heat pump and electric water heater rebates

• Kitchen and laundry equipment rebates

If you are a tourism business operating in the Thompson Okanagan and would like to find out if you are eligible, book a free appointment with our Energy Analyst to learn more.

Free Digital Marketing Skills Training Program: Applications Open

The Alacrity Canada Digital Marketing Bootcamp is a virtual skills-training program valued at $6,000 per seat and offered to eligible B.C. small and medium-sized businesses at no cost by the Province of B.C. The eight-week course covers 40 key topics offered by 10 expert mentors to provide a foundation of digital marketing, search-engine optimization (SEO), paid advertising, analytics, content marketing, and other skills.

Eligibility:

• A BC resident or residents own the business;

• The business’s sole or primary operations are located in BC;

• The business is currently operating;

• The business is registered in BC;

• The business employs less than 149 BC residents

New Employer Toolkit: COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Workplace

go2HR has prepared an employer toolkit with practical information, up-to-date resources, and downloadable tools to help answer questions related to COVID-19 vaccinations in the workplace. The toolkit includes an overview of BC employment legislation, legal and mental health articles to help support employee mental health, information to help employers consider vaccination policy and sample employee policies.

Additional Resources:

• Webinar Handouts – COVID-19 and Vaccines: What an Employer Needs to Know

• COVID-19 Vaccination Workplace Policy Considerations

• COVID-19: Free rapid tests for your employees – Canada.ca

• BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner Releases “Proof of Vaccination” Guidance (Mathews, Dinsdale)

Share Your Feedback on the Need for Government Support With the Federal Government

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is reaching out for your help to build the tourism case for continued and ongoing support and relief through a 5 minute survey. Your input is extremely important to their advocacy work, and to the messaging that is relayed to government officials. As we move into a potential fall election, they want to hear from you, now more than ever, on the state of the industry, what you need to move forward, and what you believe should be TIAC’s priorities.

Complete TIAC Survey →

Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) Received $2 Million in Funding From Destination Canada

As part of a long-term partnership, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is excited to announce a new investment from Destination Canada of $2 million in funding and $950,000 of in-kind support, in an effort to stabilize the Indigenous tourism sector.

The funding ensures ITAC can move forward with their new sales and marketing campaign, entitled The Original Original, promoting Indigenous tourism operators from coast to coast to coast and helping to rebuild the Indigenous tourism industry, which was disproportionately devastated by the pandemic.

CRIS Adaptive Rentals Launches New Adaptive Bike & Pop Up Rentals in BC Parks

CRIS Adaptive debuted the newest addition to the fleet of rental equipment, the Hase Bike, in Kekuli Bay Provincial Park. This is the first of a series of equipment to be purchased through the StrongerBC Targeted Regional Tourism Development Initiative (TRTDI). CRIS received the grant in order to facilitate outdoor adventures for all, to promote inclusion and accessibility while supporting the tourism industry.

CRIS is the first adaptive service provider in the Interior of BC to put a Hase system into service. The Hase is a modular adaptive bike that gives clients significant options for supported and independent riding.

The debut of the bike was paired with the debut of the BC Parks/CRIS mobile rental program. CRIS has partnered with BC Parks to offer a mobile rental program for accessible recreation equipment. The schedule for rental "pop ups" is available on AdaptiveRentals.ca

Canada USA Border Reopening Resources

Starting Monday, August 9, Canada plans to allow entry to American citizens and permanent residents who are currently residing in the US and have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to entering Canada for non-essential travel. This preliminary step allows for the Government of Canada to fully operationalize the adjusted border measures ahead of September 7.

Subject to limited exceptions, all travellers must use ArriveCAN (app or web portal) to submit their travel information. If they are eligible to enter Canada and meet specific criteria, fully vaccinated travellers will not have to quarantine upon arrival.

Helpful Canada USA Border Resources:

• COVID-19: Entering Canada requirements checklist

• Destination Canada COVID-19: Guidance for Travellers

• COVID-19: Travel, testing, quarantine and borders

• COVID-19: Travel Information for US Citizens

• COVID-19: Passports and Travel for US Citizens

• Destination BC Messaging Guide for BC's Tourism Industry and travellers from the United States.

This is an evolving situation which may require frequent updates.

go2HR Baby Boomer Employment Toolkit

The go2HR Baby Boomer Tool Kit aims to help BC tourism and hospitality operators to create strategies to diversify workforce demographics to lessen the impact of current and emerging labour shortages. It contains information and tools that will help your business leverage this currently under-utilized and growing labour pool: the “baby boomer” generation.

The Baby Boomer Tool Kit Includes:

• The business case and benefits of hiring baby boomers

• BC employer success stories

• Checklists & resources

• Tips on marketing jobs to baby boomers

• How to manage multigenerational workplaces