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- The Province's four-step Restart Plan is welcome news to our industry after months of advocating to government for a defined pathway to re-opening. The Plan provides milestones and criteria for a phased re-opening of both regional and domestic travel. For our industry, these milestones are most relevant:
Step 1: Starting May 25
- Recreational travel within your travel region allowed
- Non-essential travel between travel regions is restricted
- Indoor and outdoor dining for groups up to 6 people (not restricted to your household or bubble)
- Outdoor seated organized gatherings up to 50 people with a COVID-19 Safety Plan
- Indoor seated organized gatherings up to 10 people with a COVID-19 Safety Plan
Step 2: Earliest start date June 15
- Provincial travel restrictions lifted
- Recreational travel within B.C. allowed
- BC Transit and BC Ferries offers increased service as needed
Step 3: Earliest start date July 1
- Canada-wide recreational travel
Step 4: Earliest start date Sept 7
- Canada-wide recreational travel continues
- BC Meetings & Events Safe Restart Plan Proposal - Ministry Response
Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Deputy Minister, Neilane Mayhew formally responded to the BC Meetings & Events Industry Working Group Safe Restart Plan Proposal. To read the Deputy Minister’s letter, click here.
There is clear acknowledgement, and the proposal was considered as part of the province’s overall restart plan. The Ministry is very much committed to ensuring Meetings and Events are an important part of the province’s restart plans. The sector is well represented on the Tourism Advisory Council table by Joanne Burns Millar.
BC Meetings & Events Industry Working Group website BC Meetings & Events.
If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact Dave Gazley, dgazley@tourismvancouver.com, 604.868.7442
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS
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Relaunching #LoveVancouver + an all-new #LoveToExplore promotion
With the easing of circuit breaker restrictions, and to help celebrate National Tourism Week, Tourism Vancouver is relaunching the marketing for #LoveVancouver effective today within the Metro-Vancouver region. Marketing includes TV, social media, search, digital display, radio, and multi-cultural media.
Also launching today is an all-new attractions program called “Love to Explore” which highlights Attractions experiences and special offers. These offers are available on a new landing page within the greater /love microsite.
We would remind our attraction, event, hotel, and restaurant members to ensure their member listings are up-to-date, including the COVID-19 Amenity updates (via the Member Extranet), and that we are specifically made aware of any current, new or upcoming special offers that we can highlight on the various pages of the microsite. Please contact your Membership Specialist (ndorotich@tourismvancouver.com) if you need assistance.
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Accommodation members: Travel Best Bets with Claire Newell
As an added benefit to Tourism Vancouver’s #LoveVancouver programming, there is an opportunity for Hotel members to promote their own travel packages and accommodations with the equity of local travel expert, Claire Newel. In addition to leveraging Tourism Vancouver’s messaging on Travel Best Bets, hotels can take advantage of significantly reduced ad rates. Please check out this link for more information, and see this sample of how the spots are positioned.
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Opportunities with Destination BC
Summer Travel Offers Program:
Destination BC will be launching a summer campaign to promote offers by tourism operators throughout the province. Existing accommodation, attractions, and touring products and any new offers (if applicable) can be uploaded to the HelloBC.com business portal to take advantage of this marketing. This is no fee to participate and the campaign will launch in June (exact date TBC).
Summer Accommodation Program with Check-in Canada:
This summer, DBC will support BCHA and the Hotel Association of Canada in the promotion of Check-in Canada (CIC). CIC is owned by the Hotel Association of Canada and the Canadian Hotel & Lodging Association, and they are providing accommodation properties a FREE listing until March 1, 2022. See this link to learn more about CIC and sign up.
BC Media Discounts:
Destination BC has negotiated BC Tourism Industry discounts with six BC media vendors, that are extended to all BC Tourism businesses as you build marketing plans to restart. Here is the link to Media Discounts from Astral, Outfront, Pattison, Black Press, Glacier Media, and Corus.
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Destination Canada VFR Postcard Campaign: How to Participate
Destination Canada has launched a visiting friends and relatives (VFR) postcard project, where Canadians can send personalized postcards to loved ones across Canada. Promotions are planned from May 25 until June 30.
How it works
Users browse our brand pages EN: postcardsfromcanada.ca FR: cartespostalesducanada.ca and pick a postcard they would like to send to their loved one in Canada – there are a variety of designs that feature all our provinces, territories, and national partners, as well as options for users to add their own photos. Users are then able to add a personalized message on the back of the postcard to fellow Canadians, encouraging them (we hope!) to reunite in Canada. They then enter the recipients' mailing address and hit send when they’re finished. The postcard should arrive by mail in 3-6 business days.
Additional Notes
- Users are able to send up to 5 postcards each.
- All postcards are available in both French and English.
- Postcards will go through a content moderation process for brand safety.
- Promotions are focused on desktop users, as the experience is optimal on desktop – however, mobile usage is still viable.
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TOURISM VANCOUVER NEWS
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Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre Update
Tourism Vancouver has made the decision to not open its physical Visitor Centre for the 2021 season. Based on the projected timeline for easing of travel restrictions and the limited domestic visitor traffic experienced during the Summer of 2020, Tourism Vancouver’s team will focus on providing personalized service to prospective visitors through the Virtual Visitor Centre via Live Chat online and over the phone.
We anticipate a surge in travellers looking to come to Vancouver later this year and we want to make their travel planning as smooth as possible. Our digital channels even allow us to connect with visitors once they are in destination! By using our website on their mobile device, they can chat with a friendly, local Vancouver expert about what is open, ideas for best places to stay and eat and much more.
To direct your guests to our Virtual Visitor Centre, you can send them to our website touirsmvancouver.com or feel free to share this direct link: https://direct.lc.chat/7943841/
If you have any questions regarding the Visitor Centre, feel free to contact Cara Vanderhall, Manager of Operations, Experience Vancouver at cvanderhall@tourismvancouver.com
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BUSINESS RESOURCES
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Council waives 2021 patio permit fees
As part of its ongoing measures to support businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, City Council voted this week to waive all annual 2021 patio permit fees for small and large patios across Vancouver.
Businesses are still required to apply for their annual patio permit at vancouver.ca/patio-permit. Refunds or credits (if preferred) will be available to all businesses who have already paid their 2021 annual patio permit fee.
The Annual Patio Program has been in place for over 30 years and predates the Temporary Expedited Patio Program, which was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and outlines immediate and low-cost options for businesses to set up temporary patios on public and private property.
Update on Temporary Expedited Patio Program
The Temporary Expedited Patio Program framework prioritizes immediate and low-cost patio options to ensure that all applicable businesses are able to set up a temporary patio safely, quickly, and affordably. Temporary patio permits are free. For this summer season, staff has approved 544 patios through this program, including 407 patios on public property (curbside and sidewalk patios) and 137 patios on private property. Applications for temporary patios are still being accepted, businesses can review the requirements and apply at vancouver.ca/temporarypatio.
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MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS Here's how to find the ever-expanding outdoor art enclaves in cities across the country. Walking around in a city allows for a slow study of the streetscape, the best way to discover the expanding galleries of street art found in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal. |
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Did you know that June is Bike Month and June 3rd is United Nations World Bicycle Day? Grab your bike and head out for a ride to mark the occasion. Here are some ideas for celebrating all things cycling in Vancouver.
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To round out our next journey through Vancouver’s signature neighbourhoods, we visit an area thick with breweries and heritage homes, as well as a shopping district that leads visitors all the way downtown.
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Coastal British Columbians can help save whales by reporting sightings using the WhaleReport App!
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Summer in Vancouver is all about sunny weather and warm temperatures. Vancouverites make the most of the season by heading to our beaches, mountains, parks, and lakes. Here are our picks for Vancouver outdoor activities you’ll want to add to your summer bucket list.
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TOURISM VANCOUVER WEBINARS & EVENTS
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SAVE THE DATE: Understanding Social Procurement and the Potential Social Enterprises Have to Support Tourism Sector Recovery
9:00am - 10:30am | Virtual
As we work to rebuild the tourism sector, social procurement is a tool that can help to meet labour needs and create positive impact in your community. Explore how you can look to your supply chain for opportunities to include social enterprises: purpose-driven business with diverse and inclusive hiring practices. By working with a social enterprise, you help create impact and you will be able to access new avenues for employees.
Participants learn how to consider social procurement as a way to create impact in their communities and find partners to solve challenges for their businesses.
Facilitator:
- Gwendal Castellan, Manager, Sustainable Destination Development, Tourism Vancouver
Speakers:
- Tori Williamson Director of Education and Communications at Buy Social Canada
- Krista Bax, President and CEO, Go2HR
- David Greaves, Director of Opportunities, Mission Possible Enterprises Inc.
- Iris Ting, Manager Social Enterprise, Binners Project
- Sean Miles, Employer Engagement Manager, Open Door Group
- David Eddy CEO at Vancouver Native Housing Society & Skwachàys Lodge
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Meetings & Conventions – Generating Business in Today's World
PCMA Canada West Experts @ Work with Natasha Hilliard
May 27, 2021 – 11:30am – 12:30pm PST | Virtual
In a world shaped by uncertainty and fast innovation, many organizations have had the need to quickly adapt to stay relevant through the transition of their in-person events to a virtual platform.
MCI globally has been working with clients around the world through this shift to virtual and if there is one thing this past year has taught us, is that data is King! Join Natasha Hilliard, Director, Institutional Division with MCI Canada on May 27th to learn some interesting data behind virtual events and behind-the-scenes engagement statistics.
The session will be moderated by Stephanie Johnson from the Vancouver Convention Centre.
Owen Chiu will be attending on behalf of Tourism Vancouver.
MPI CAC 2021 Annual Awards Recognition Celebration
June 2, 2021 – 6:00pm – 11:00pm CST | Hybrid
The MPI Chicago Area Chapter will flutter together to celebrate our award winners at our first-ever hybrid event. The Annual Awards Recognition Celebration honors the contributions of our chapter’s hardest working volunteers and recognizes those who are making an impact on the meetings and events industry.
Our industry has truly undergone an incredible metamorphosis this past year. We’ve endured the unexpected and have proven our adaptability and resiliency. We will continue to evolve and strengthen as we rebuild to emerge even better than before. We look forward to celebrating with you on June 2!
Lacy Hawley will be attending on behalf of Tourism Vancouver.
MPI Toronto Chapter - Decoding the Future: What Comes Next?
June 9, 2021 - 1:00 PM-2:15 PM, EST | Virtual
The future will find us, but will we find the future? On June 9th, 2021, the MPI Toronto Chapter presents a Professional Development session that will take a deep dive into the future of work, and how we can ride the wave of disruptive change instead of being swallowed by it.
As we head into a period of “The Great Transformation”, failure to adapt will mean failure to exist. While scientific hyper collaboration is the new normal, so too is “remote everything” which will have lasting implications for the live events industry and far beyond.
Tourism Vancouver is a sponsor. Michael Drake and Michelle Taylor will be attending on behalf of Tourism Vancouver.
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