COVID-19 UPDATE & GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

·         The provincial government has extended the provincial state of emergency for another two weeks.  

METRO VANCOUVER TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY RESPONSE AND RECOVERY TASK FORCE UPDATES

The Task Force continues to advocate on behalf of the sector and the following letters were recently submitted to ensure government at all levels understand how their response to COVID-19 has impacted our member’s ability to provide their services as well as stating the specific needs of our industry:

• A letter supporting the Temporary Expedited Patio Program extension and motion put forth by Vancouver City Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung.
  
  
• A letter was submitted to the Province around the Provincial Health Orders for pubs and restaurants selling alcohol past 10pm. A recommendation that government extend the closures to midnight and that greater enforcement was target individual operators who fail to adhere to or enforce government directives
  
  
• A letter was submitted to the Federal Government, advocating for them to extend the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy program for tourism and hospitality businesses to next year at the present level of 75 per cent, and to start a second intake of the Regional Recovery and Relief Program.

To read all three submissions, visit the Metro Vancouver Task Force website.

OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS

Annual Event and Festival Pilot Project - RFP

Tourism Vancouver is considering how to positively impact the Events & Festival industry, while understanding where we can provide the best support. We know that the current environment is not conducive to the return of large-scale Live Events & Festivals, however, we are planning for the future - a future that has a healthy and vibrant Events and Festival industry. Our pilot project is to enable event producers to incubate their existing annual event while meeting the health protocols of the time. These modified events are turned into new experiences, which will have the highest propensity to attract out of town attendees and draw locals.

If you are interested in being part of our Pilot Project, and for more information, please contact Michael Drake by Wednesday September 23^rd, 2020. We look forward to hearing from you about your interest in building festivals and events with us. Together, we will build back our industry.

TOURISM VANCOUVER NEWS

25% (or more) Off Vancouver Area Attractions and Adventures

Tourism Vancouver, in partnership with TransLink, has just launched a new component to the #VancouverComeBack campaign. Supported on TripAdvisor’s viator.com website, residents and visitors to the Vancouver area will be able to receive 25% off local attractions, sightseeing and adventure bookings using the promo code at checkout: COMEBACKTOTRANSIT. This 25% is over and above any existing discounts or offers members may already have on Viator. There is no additional cost to the members. 

This program was developed to provide locals and visitors the best possible offer and encourage their trips into Vancouver and downtown, while supplies last. The offer will be promoted through digital, traditional, social media and partnership communications programs on behalf of both Tourism Vancouver and TransLink. 

Member attractions and sightseeing businesses currently with product available on Viator should verify that their best rates and inventory are currently reflected on the site to ensure locals and visitors can fully realize the additional discount supported by this offer. 

To update your product pricing and inventory on Viator, please login to your Viator supplier account here. For support, please use the “help” button on the sign-in page to chat with the supply support team.

Visit #VancouverComeBack for more information on the campaign.

If you would like to share this promotion, please ensure that you include the promo code COMEBACKTOTRANSIT AND a link to the viator page.

YTD Overnight Visitor Volume - Preliminary Estimates

Highlights:
- For the first half of this year (from Jan-Jun 2020), estimated visitor volume was 1.8 million, decline of -61% compared to same time period last year.
- After a solid start in the first couple months of the year in Jan, Feb (+2% YOY), visitor volume fell sharply starting in March (border closures to non-essential travel started March 18).
- Between April-June of this year, visitor volume fell to 243,498 (compared to 2.8 million during this time last year, drop of -91%).
- From April-June, 92% of visitors were from Canada, 3% from the US, the rest international overseas (4%).

PRELIMINARY YTD VISITOR VOLUME

INDUSTRY EVENTS

Meetings & Conventions – A Fresh Perspective on Engagement

Association Forum – Learning Strategies for Virtual Events 
September 22, 2020 | 11:00AM - 12:00PM CDT | Virtual
This webinar will look at the anatomy of a virtual event and specific examples of how associations have increased the interactivity of online experiences that will ultimately improve online learning forever. Attend this webinar and learn about the variety of virtual event platform features, production services, and the increased effort put into educational segments.  

Association Forum - Essentials: Ins and Outs of Association Law
September 23, 2020 | 9:00AM - 12:00PM CDT | Virtual
During this course, you will learn about governance, tax, contracts, intellectual property, and antitrust. You will laugh. You will cry. You will come away knowing a lot more than you do know about legal issues for non-profits. This course is designed for non-legal professionals and will give you an understanding of laws impacting your work and your association. 

MPI Chicago - Virtual Education Program
September 24, 2020 | 11:30AM - 12:45PM CDT | Virtual
Join us for a timely conversation with Ameerah Saine who will explain unconscious bias and how it impacts our day-to-day decisions. Attendees will learn how to identify the impact of unconscious bias on a personal level, organizational level, and in the workplace. Plus, find out how to identify and use strategies for disrupting or reducing unconscious bias in your own life.  

PCMA Greater Midwest Chapter - Authentic Answers to Uncomfortable Questions
September 24, 2020 | 12:00PM - 1:00PM CDT | Virtual 
This is a safe, collaborative space. Participants are expected to abide by PCMA’s code of conduct, have respect for others, and leave personal agendas at the door.

MPI British Columbia Chapter - September Schmooze
September 24, 2020 | 4:30pm- 6:30pm PST | Vancouver Convention Center
September Schmooze will welcome 50 in-person attendees for a safe, physically distanced experience at the Vancouver Convention Centre West. Celebrating the successes of the past year, September Schmooze will open with the MPI BC 2019-2020 Excellence Awards.