Big Thinking for Small Business Plan Updated | BC Chamber of Commerce

The BC Chamber of Commerce recently released its updated Big Thinking for Small Business, a bold plan to grow British Columbia’s economy by focusing on three pillars: inclusivity, innovation, and competitiveness.

Updated from the previous year’s Economic Recovery Submission, the Big Thinking for Small Business plan underpins the pan-provincial priorities as set out by the BC Chamber of Commerce to guide the province through continued recovery efforts.

To support the removal of economic barriers and to help pave the way for small- and medium-sized businesses to thrive once again, emphasis is placed on the critical need for action to address the skilled labour shortage and housing affordability.

The Big Thinking for Small Business plan outlines concise policies which will help inform the advocacy efforts of the BC Chamber of Commerce for the year ahead.

2021 BCHA & TIABC Annual General Meeting - TIABC AGM Election Update

TIABC and the BCHA invite you to join them, along with keynote speakers, at their respective Annual General Meetings, both taking place in Kamloops on Wednesday, November 17th, 2021.

Election updates:

For the 2021-2023 term, TIABC was seeking a total of five candidates. These Nominations closed on Friday, October 1.

Based on the nominations, the election will be in two categories with the following candidates seeking a Director position:

Business Category: (in alphabetical order)

• Ian MacPhee - Prince of Whales Whale Watching

• Sandra Oldfield - Elysian Projects

• Stephen Pearce - The Gaining Edge

• John Wilson - The Wilson Group

DMO Category: (in alphabetical order)

• Beverley DeSantis - Tourism Kamloops

• Chris Lewis - Tourism Kelowna

Returning to the TIABC Board of Directors are:

• Michael J. Ballingall - Big White Ski Resort

• Brenda Baptiste - Indigenous Tourism BC

TIABC's AGM will be held in-person on Wednesday, November 17th @ 1pm at the Delta Hotel in Kamloops where members in good-standing are eligible to vote. Members unable to attend in person will be able to attend virtually via Zoom.

Columbia Shuswap Regional District | Hiring Team Leader, Tourism and Film Position

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD), with its office located in Salmon Arm, is inviting applications for the exempt position of Team Leader, Tourism and Film.

This is a mid-level management position reporting directly to the Chief Administrative Officer. The Team Leader, Tourism and Film is responsible for the development and implementation of the Strategic Marketing Plan for Shuswap Tourism, as well as overseeing and coordinating Columbia Shuswap Film Commission activities in their respective regions.

Activities include marketing campaigns, digital strategies development and execution, public relations and media familiarization, collateral production, product development, market research, information sharing, and sales and advertising.

Application Deadline: Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 4:00 PM (Pacific Time)

US to Reopen Canada Land Border to Vaccinated Travellers November 8th

The US is set to reopen its borders to fully vaccinated travellers by air, land or passenger ferry starting November 8th.

Air travellers will need to show proof of vaccination on arrival in the US but will still need to show a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of boarding their flight.

Non-essential travellers crossing at a land border will be required to show proof of vaccination or attest to their vaccination status upon request by a border agent, but unlike air travellers they will face no requirement to show a negative COVID-19 test.

By January, 2022 essential travellers crossing at a land border will also be required to be fully vaccinated.

A number of details are still being worked out by the US Center for Disease Control (CDC). They include the type of documentation that will be accepted to prove a traveller's vaccination status and whether travellers who received doses of two different vaccines will be considered fully vaccinated.

The Canada-U.S. border has been closed to non-essential travel since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Canada opened its border to U.S. travellers in early August.

Canada's Rules Unchanged

For now, the Government of Canada’s travel rules and restrictions remain unchanged for Canadians who are entering back into the country from the U.S.

That means that in order to get back into Canada—whether hours or days after entering the U.S.—travellers will need to negative PCR test within 72 hours of a planned entry into Canada.

For Updates Visit:

• https://www.usa.gov/covid-passports-and-travel

• https://ca.usembassy.gov/travel-restrictions-fact-sheet/

ABLE Annual LRS Benchmark Survey

ABLE is conducting their third annual LRS Benchmark Survey and need your feedback.

As BC’s private liquor industry association, ABLE BC works to collect data for their membership and create an economic snapshot of the industry. They survey private liquor store members on an annual basis to help develop KPIs or benchmarks for your business.

Deadline to complete survey is October 27

Results will be shared with members and in the Quarterly Pour. Preliminary results will be presented at the BC Liquor Conference on October 25, 2021.

Last Chance to Register for Power Up! Program with Destination BC

Destination BC’s Power Up! program is now accepting applications.

The digital mentoring program will provide 75 eligible BC-based, small and medium sized tourism businesses, sole proprietors, and non-profits with tailored specialist digital support through seasoned consultants.

You can choose from a list of service areas that you deem a priority for your business. From Digital Strategy to SEO to Email Marketing and all things Social Media, the program aims to support a wide range of digital service needs.

The service costs will be directly covered through the Power Up! program up to a maximum of $5,000 per participant and will include supporting educational resources for further learning and ongoing implementation in the future.

Applications are now open, and we encourage to apply as soon as possible on Destination BC’s Learning Centre [http://www.destinationbc.ca/learning-centre/power-up/].

For more information, visit http://www.destinationbc.ca/learning-centre/power-up/ or contact Beth Sangara, Senior Project Manager for Destination BC: Email Beth.Sangara@DestinationBC.ca or Phone 778-572-1830.

TOTA Board Retreat 2021/22

TOTA Board of Directors (Michael J. Ballingall, CEO Ellen Walker-Matthews, Meira LaRose, Bev DeSantis, Monica Seys, Sandra Oldfield, Dale Sivucha, Don Brogan, Andrea McFadden, and Gordon Fitzpatrick) with Canada Olympic Committee guests speakers Tricia Smith and Andrea Shaw at Predator Ridge Resort for the TOTA Board Retreat.

TOTA’s Board of Directors came together this week for the 2021/22 annual Board Retreat at Predator Ridge Resort. This was the first in person board meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions began in March 2020.

Several industry leaders shared insights on the State of the Tourism Industry including:

• Scott Fraser, Chair and Richard Porges, CEO, Destination BC

• Walt Judas, CEO, Tourism Association of BC

• Ingrid Jarrett, CEO, BC Hotel Association

• Brenda Baptiste, Chair, Indigenous Tourism BC

• Geoff Ritchie, Senior Manager, Airport Development, Kelowna International Airport

• Kelly Galaski, Managing Director, Symphony Tourism Services (a TOTA subsidiary)

TOTA board members also learned more about the BC 2030 Olympic bid from Tricia Smith, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Andrea Shaw, Vice President of Sponsorship, Sales and Marketing for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).

Through a simplified International Olympics Committee process, limited competition for 2030, and existing infrastructure from the Vancouver Olympics in 2021, the COC is working on a bid for the BC 2030 Olympics.

If deemed feasible the goal is to develop a regional footprint for the games which will expand beyond the footprint of 2010 in an effort to bring the Games to more places in the Province including the Thompson Okanagan. The event would lead to economic opportunity, tourism growth, and cultural enrichment, providing an opportunity for Indigenous reconciliation, access and inclusion, sports events, community engagement, and environmental stewardship.

The COC Project Team has commenced work on the Feasibility Phase and is engaging with partners to develop a plan.

On behalf of the TOTA Board of Directors, thank you to the guest speakers and to the Predator Ridge Resort team for the exceptional service, venue, and health and safety protocols.

Honorarium for George Hanson

On behalf of the association, a Student Bursary was presented to Okanagan College as an Honorarium in memory of George Hanson. George was the founder and owner of Seven Stones Winery in the Similkameen Valley, a past TOTA board director, a board director of Symphony Tourism Services (a TOTA subsidiary), and leader and advocate of the Thompson Okanagan tourism industry for many years. George passed away in February 2021 and is greatly missed.

Carbon Prices On the Rise: How and Why to Measure the Carbon Footprint of Your Hotel or Tourism Business

Image: Chun Lee

Contributed by Angela Nagy, GreenStep Solutions

With the re-election of a Liberal minority government in Canada, carbon pricing, which is supported by a wide range of academic, public sector, energy executives, and other business leaders, is here to stay and it's on the rise. Measuring and reporting on your carbon footprint is just the beginning, and is something that you should plan to do on an annual cycle. If you want to better understand the risks and opportunities that come with an increasing price on carbon, read on for the break down of the how and why of measuring your corporate carbon footprint.

Since 2019, every jurisdiction in Canada has had a price on carbon pollution, and currently the federal price for carbon is set at $30 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). In 2022, this price will increase to $50 per tonne, and by 2030 it will reach $170 per tonne of CO2e.

Measuring your carbon footprint is actually not that complicated, and similar to financial accounting standards, greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting standards exist. Most tourism related businesses will follow the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard published by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). This is the international accounting tool most widely used by global government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage GHG emissions.

Based on these standards, there are five key steps to measuring your carbon footprint:

• Step 1. Determine Your Organizational and Operational Boundary

• Step 2. Determine Your Reporting Year and Base Year

• Step 3. Selecting Emissions Sources that Apply to Your Organization

• Step 4. Identify Data You Need to Collect and How to Track it Over Time

• Step 5. Report

Next Steps: Reduce and Repeat

Measuring and reporting on your carbon footprint is just the beginning, and is something that you should plan to do on an annual cycle.

Barrel Signage Program - Oliver Tourism Association

Oliver Tourism Association (OTA) has launched a Wine Barrel Signage program to highlight Oliver’s agricultural tourism experiences and bring attention to local businesses.

Partners within the Town of Oliver and RDOS Area C can highlight their businesses with a beautiful wine barrel sign that will inspire both travellers and residents as part of a greater community revitalization project.

OTA-member wineries donate barrels to help make Oliver’s downtown core look like Canada’s Wine Capital. Oliver businesses pay a one-time fee to produce their signs with a logo laser etching.

Google Adds Carbon Emissions Data to Flight Search Results

Google is now showing carbon emissions estimates for nearly every flight included in Google Flight search results. When searching for flights, users can see an estimate of emissions for flights and specific seats, and compare these emissions to average emissions for that flight route. The results can also be sorted to bring the greenest flights to the top.

These emissions estimates are flight-specific as well as seat-specific. For instance, newer aircraft are generally less polluting than older aircraft, and emissions increase for premium economy and first-class seats because they take up more space and account for a larger share of total emissions.

The news follows another climate-friendly travel initiative introduced by Google in the past month – badges that identify sustainable hotels.

BC Parks Plans to Invest $21.5 Million in Outdoor Recreation over the Next Three Years

More than 3.1 million campers stayed in provincial parks during the 2021 camping season, and more than 260,000 reservations were made on Discover Camping – the highest volume on record.

With parks seeing increasingly busy seasons, BC Parks plans to invest $21.5 million over the next three years to expand and enhance opportunities for outdoor recreation, including new campsites, trails and upgrades to facilities.

In the Thompson Okanagan, Sun-Oka Provincial Park in Summerland is proposed to have trails reconstructed and paved to improve accessibility.

Big White Top 5 Ski Resorts in Canada: Readers' Choice Awards 2021 | Condé Nast Traveler

Big White Ski Resort has been voted the best ski resort in the province and the second best ski resort in Canada by readers of a major US Travel Magazine, Condé Nast Traveler.

“As one of the few Canadian family-owned and -operated resorts in Canada, this award speaks volumes to the commitment our team has to providing a stellar resort experience,” said Peter Plimmer, Big White president and CEO, in a news release.

Alberta’s Lake Louise was voted number one and Whistler-Blackcomb took the number three spot on the list.

Condé Nast Traveler has a print readership of five million a month – not to mention 16 million unique users on its digital platforms. For 34 years, the magazine has released its “Readers’ Choice Awards,” surveying hundreds of thousands of readers from across the world on their favourite hotels, spas, cities, and, of course, resorts.

"Be Open to More" DBC Fall Campaign on Global TV

Destination BC’s(DBC) Be Open to More fall campaign continues to reach BC residents in new ways to spark curiosity and encourage travel beyond the usual this season. In the latest campaign tactics, DBC partnered with Global TV to get BC residents excited about experiencing something new through editorial and sponsored segments highlighting unique fall experiences.

Tune in Saturdays in October to catch Where We Live, hosted by weather anchor Kasia Bodurka, which will showcase communities around BC through photos and stories submitted by viewers. And don’t miss Travel Best Bets with travel expert Claire Newell on October 17 and 31 for a series of seasonal trip ideas, like taking in iconic landmarks in BC’s cities, steering your way through vibrant fall colours on a road trip through the Kootenay Rockies, and savouring fall flavours and local fare in the Thompson Okanagan.

Minister's Statement on September Labour Force Survey Results

The Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, issued a statement on October 8th regarding the release of Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey for September 2021. Highlights of the statement include:

• B.C. is leading Canada’s economic recovery, with 12,300 jobs added last month.

• B.C. continues to lead all provinces since the onset of the pandemic with a job recovery rate of 101.5%.

• B.C.’s unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the country at 5.9%.

• The job recovery rate has been strong across the province, with the Thompson-Okanagan at 106.8%, the Cariboo at 104.6%, Vancouver Island at 104.1%, the Kootenays at 102.3%, Lower Mainland at 102%, Vancouver at 101.3% and North Coast-Nechako at 100.7%.

Pledge to Measure - AccessibleEmployers.ca

Tourism businesses can download the President Group’s "Make it Count: Measuring for Disability Inclusion in Your Workplace", a practical guide for employers seeking to measure the rate of disability in their businesses.

The guide draws on real-world experiences of BC employers to explore common barriers, lessons learned, and innovative solutions.

Businesses can download the guide for free, or request a mailed copy.

Webinar: Supporting Employee Mental Health During Difficult Times

When employees struggle to manage difficult guests or personal situations outside of work, it can negatively impact their mental health in the workplace. As a manager, responding to employee concerns in a crisis can be very challenging. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to support them.

Join the BC Tourism Resiliency Network, go2HR, and the Canadian Mental Health Association for a free 45 minute webinar about how tourism business managers can support employees in difficult times.

This webinar will include practical information and resources on:

• How to support employees when faced with difficult guest situations

• How to respond when an employee approaches you in crisis

• When to bring in additional help

• The importance of offering choices to employees as they cope

The webinar will conclude with 15 minutes for Q&A.

Tourism Kelowna Earns Platinum Certification through the GreenStep Sustainable Tourism Program

After four years of dedicated commitment to responsible, sustainable tourism practices, Tourism Kelowna has earned a Platinum Certification through the Sustainable Tourism Program offered by GreenStep.

The achievement recognizes Tourism Kelowna’s commitment to sustainable initiatives that align with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key practices include solar panels added to the roof of the Kelowna Visitor Centre, and work with the Biosphere program alongside over 30 tourism businesses in the community.

Key practices that align with several SDGs and have supported Tourism Kelowna in achieving the Platinum category of the certification include:

Solar Panels

Recently, 30 solar panels were added to the roof of the Kelowna Visitor Centre, for a total of 50. The original 20 panels generated approximately 10% of the energy required for the building, and now about 26% of the building’s energy needs will be generated through this clean and renewable source. 

One Tree Planted

As of April 1, 2021, every online or in-person purchase of retail products from the Kelowna Visitor Centre results in one tree being planted in British Columbia. To date, nearly 5000 trees have been planted, contributing to environmental sustainability in our province. 

Water Bottle Filling Station

Since it was built, the Kelowna Visitor Centre has offered water-bottle filling stations, and since measurements began in September of 2020, the stations have saved over 2200 plastic water bottles.

Biosphere Commitment Program

Tourism Kelowna has been committed to the TOTA Biosphere Commitment Program program for four years and has worked with over 30 tourism businesses in our community to join, too. This sustainable tourism system aligns with the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to balance social, cultural, economic, and environmental sustainability.

Achieving this rating demonstrates the actionable commitment that Tourism Kelowna has made by benchmarking against the highest set of standards and best practices.

More than $1 Million Dollars has been Given to Hospitality and Tourism Workers – BC Hospitality Foundation

BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF) has donated over $1 million to hospitality and tourism workers since it was founded in 2006. The organization provides support to workers facing financial crisis resulting from health conditions experienced by themselves or their family members, with beneficiaries including restaurant chefs and servers, hotel workers, delivery drivers, brewmasters and winemakers, and other industry members.

BCHF is the hospitality industry’s charity, supporting and inspiring those who serve you every day. Help is given to those who most need it, often in their most difficult hour. As people cope with stressful medical situations and the extraordinary costs arising from them, the foundation is alongside to support them and their families.

The foundation provides financial support beyond conventional medical plans, EI, or other insurance or benefit plans and are often the first glimmer of hope for members of the hospitality community.

Australia to Ease International Border Restrictions from November

Australia has announced it will reopen its international borders in November for states with at least 80 percent of the population vaccinated.

Commercial flights out of the country will resume for vaccinated travellers, with service to destinations including Canada and the US. In addition, fully vaccinated Australians arriving home will be able to quarantine at their house for a week, instead of paying thousands of dollars to quarantine in a hotel for two weeks.

First Nation-Municipal Community Economic Development Initiative Accepting Applications

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers are accepting new applications for the First Nation-Municipal Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI).

The program helps neighbouring First Nations and municipalities develop and implement long-term planning for community economic development initiatives and land use, while building respectful and sustainable government-to-government partnerships.

This intake will welcome eight First Nation-municipal partnerships across Canada, with a new regional approach starting in BC and Quebec.

Note that the program is now offering two streams: a three-year standard participation and a two-year accelerated option. Both will start in December 2021.

Neighbouring First Nations and municipal governments are encouraged to apply.

Application deadline: October 22, 2021.