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June 16, 2021

Tourism Vancouver
Tourism Vancouver

Step 2 permits travel within the province, travellers from outside of B.C. will be permitted in Step 3.

  • Tourism Sector Restart Step 2 Toolkit 

Our industry partners Destination British Columbia, the BC Hotel Association, Tourism Industry Association of BC, and Indigenous Tourism BC have developed a guide for industry partners and tourism operators on communications, health and safety, workforce, and marketing in relation to Step 2 of BC’s Restart Plan. DOWNLOAD THE TOOLKIT HERE

The U.S.-Canada border has been closed since March 2020. With more and more people getting vaccinated in both countries, and things returning to normal, it's time to start reopening the border so that Canadians and Americans can cross the border freely and businesses can get back to work.

Tourism Vancouver has sent a letter to Premier Horgan urging him to convey his support for a phased and safe border reopening plan to the Federal Government.

Show your support for the tourism industry by writing your MP to tell them that we need a plan to safely reopen the border. By simply entering your address, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada has made it easy for you to have your voice heard by sending a pre-populated letter to your local MP.

Write to your MP

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE & RESEARCH

Resident Sentiment Towards Travel Increasing

BC residents’ feelings of safety towards travelling continues to increase and currently stands at 88% feeling safe to travel to nearby communities and 71% feeling safe to travel with the province.

Meanwhile, over 50% of residents in Alberta (68%), Ontario (52%) and Quebec (56%) now feel safe to travel domestically outside their province within Canada.

In terms of seeing advertising for BC as a destination, resident sentiment towards advertising promoting BC as a destination for visitors from nearby communities and from within the province is net positive. Sentiment towards advertising promoting BC as a destination for visitors from other parts of Canada (outside the province) has improved but remains net negative (greater proportion with negative sentiment than proportion with positive sentiment).

 

Full Report

Currently there is contrasting sentiment towards re-opening of Canada/US border between Canadians and Americans. Specifically, 64% of Canadians oppose re-opening the border this summer (at the moment, this may shift as COVID-19 situation/vaccinations continue to evolve), while 78% of Americans support re-opening the border (for leisure, non-essential travel).

Full Report

MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES

Member Stories Request

Destination Canada is looking for specific content angles listed below for their Summer earned domestic media pitching. Please send any news from your business that fits under the themes below by noon Friday, June 18th to Sabrina Tey, Manager Communications.

 Destination Canada Summer Dispatch | Story content needs:

  • Festivals / Events / Milestone Anniversaries: Major programs that are proceeding for summer/fall, original form or how has it been reimagined?
    • How is the festival / event / anniversary celebration has changed, and whether the programming has been adapted based on the past year? (Live, or hybrid live/virtual? Reduced/increased programming?)
       
  • Workcations & Wellness – Hotels: How have you set up for new remote working model?  
    • Do any properties have innovative ways to work remotely (new co-working spaces, wellness-focused offerings?) What makes your property appealing for someone wanting a change of pace to the past year at home? 
  • Inclusivity and Diversity: Showcasing summer attractions/experiences and profiling business owners/operators that represent the backgrounds and abilities of potential travellers. 
    • This includes representation of race and ethnicity, accessibility, body diversity, family travel, LGBTQIA2S
    • Specific need for city-based Indigenous experiences that are open for the summer. Any new tour operators, restaurants, festivals, shops, etc.? 

BUSINESS RESOURCES

Looking for Volunteers?

With live events starting up again, do you have a volunteer opportunity you would like us to pass along to our volunteer team?  Tourism Vancouver has a group of amazing volunteers that are dedicated to sharing their love of Vancouver, many of whom have seen their usual volunteer positions put on hold. If you are recruiting volunteers and would like us to share the posting with our team in our monthly newsletter, please feel free to send it to visitvancouver@tourismvancouver.com.

Rick Hansen Foundation - Accessibility Certification

The federal government recently announced a call for applications for the Enabling Accessibility Fund. This is a great time for organizations who are looking to do accessibility improvements to apply for funding to help make our communities and workplaces more accessible. 

Organizations are able to apply for between $350,000 and $1 million to use toward accessibility upgrades. This is a great opportunity to review the learnings from your RHFAC rating and implement some strategic changes to remove barriers. Once you have completed the upgrades, we encourage you to get re-rated and showcase your site's achievement.

Applications are due July 29, 2021. We encourage you or any organizations within your network to directly apply for the funding and help create a Canada that is more accessible for everyone, everywhere. 

More Information & Application

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Lonely Planet

14 great things to do with kids in Canada  

Business in Vancouver

Metro Vancouver might miss out on Step 2 travel business boost

Syndicated to: Vancouver is Awesome New West Record Tri-City News Burnaby Now Richmond News

TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival to Welcome Small In-Person Audiences

With the recent announcement from Health Officials regarding the move into Step 2 of British Columbia’s Restart Plan, Coastal Jazz & Blues Society is thrilled to welcome small in-person audiences to indoor concerts at two venues: Performance Works and The Ironworks.

10 Outdoorsy Things to Do Around Vancouver This Canada Day Weekend

Summer in Vancouver is all about outdoor fun. And Canada Day weekend is the perfect time to spend a day in nature. Use our list of the best outdoorsy things to do around Vancouver to plan your long weekend adventures.

#LoveVancouver Neighbourhoods: Mount Pleasant + Commercial Drive

We’re now several weeks into our #LoveVancouver Neighbourhoods series, and our next two areas are choc-full of character, giving our city a big boost of personality.

There’s So Much to Love About Vancouver’s Vibrant and Diverse Food Scene

With its unique location on Canada’s west coast, Vancouver has developed a food and dining landscape that showcases the region’s natural abundance while also celebrating an exciting array of culinary cultures.

Your Secret Weapon for “I’m Bored, Mom!”

You and your kids are running out of ideas for inside, virtual or backyard activities, and if you hear “I’m bored, Mom!” one more time, you just might scream. So, what’s a frazzled parent to do?

9 U-Pick Berry Farms to Visit Near Vancouver

What could taste more like summer than freshly picked berries? Stock up on delicious strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, and some specialty berries too.

TOURISM VANCOUVER WEBINARS & EVENTS

Tourism Vancouver's 118th Annual General Meeting

June 24 | 3:30pm - 5:30pm | Hybrid

Registration is open!  Check your inbox. Tourism Vancouver's Board of Directors invites you to join our 118th Annual General Meeting on June 24th at BC Place. This will be a hybrid limited-live/virtual event.  Invitations to Voting Member contacts as well as our general membership have been distributed. Note that due to the current Provincial Health Order limiting organized indoor gatherings to 50 people, invites are non-transferable and only a limited number of Voting Member contacts will be eligible to attend in person. If you did not receive your email invitation for the AGM, please contact Nastassja in Membership for assistance.

GVBOT

Rebuilding Tourism in the Region

June 28, 2021 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Virtual

The economic rebound of British Columbia hinges on the recovery of critical economic sectors such as tourism.

As travel restrictions begin to lift and vaccination numbers continue to increase, the global demand for B.C.’s tourism increases as well. While British Columbia is eagerly ready to showcase what it has to offer to both locals and tourists, a lot of support is still needed to restart this important sector.

Prior to the pandemic, tourism contributed $8.3 billion to provincial GDP and employed more than 160,000 people. The sector is an important contributor to B.C.’s economy - over $20.5 billion in revenues, including a significant portion in Greater Vancouver and so it is essential that we work collaboratively to ensure the tourism sector can recover.

Join to hear from leading industry experts to discuss:

  • How the tourism sector will emerge post-pandemic,
  • What needs to be done to recover, and
  • What steps we can all take to support the tourism sector.

Panelists:

  • Royce Chwin, President and CEO, Tourism Vancouver
  • Keith Henry, President and CEO, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
  • Timothy Liu, Managing Director, Sales Planning and Effectiveness, Air Canada
  • Tracy Redies, President and CEO, Science World
  • Moderator: Bridgitte Anderson, President and CEO, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade

 

Destination Canada

International Events & Convention Services Program Webinar

June 17 | 10:00am PDT | Virtual

Presented by Destination Canada’s Business Events team, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 

While we wait for a time when we can welcome back international business event visitors, we are working with CBSA and IRCC to ensure that we are ready, prepared and knowledgeable on CBSA's International Events and Convention Services Program that is available to our clients.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), in collaboration with other government departments and agencies, has developed the International Events and Convention Services Program (IECSP). This program acts as a complimentary, single window, Government of Canada service which provides guidance and specialized information on border-related requirements and tax exemptions. These benefits may apply to international events hosted in our destinations.

Through this webinar, you will learn about relevant Canadian border-related requirements for international events, facilitating the future arrival of attendees and their accompanying goods, thus supporting your sales efforts with international clients. This program is an additional tool in your toolbox. You will also connect with key coordinators of the program and benefit from their free and expert advice.

Tourism Industry Update with ITAC and Parks Canada

June 22 | 11:00AM PT | Virtual

Along with partners at the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and Parks Canada, Destination Canada will be providing the latest update on their work to support Canada’s tourism sector. Destination Canada will be providing an overview of their marketing strategy and activities as the important summer season begins, as well as, an update on Destination Canada’s long term marketing strategy to support the recovery and resilience of Canada’s tourism sector. 

There will be a live question and answer period at the end of the webinar and industry members are encouraged to bring questions to the discussion.  

Meetings & Conventions – Generating Business in Today's World

PCMA GMC Annual Awards Ceremony and Celebration
June 24 | 3:00pm - 5:00pm CST | Hybrid
Save the date. Lacy Hawley will be attending on behalf of Tourism Vancouver.

FICP Education Week 2.0
June 21-24 | Virtual
Financial and insurance industry meetings professionals and hospitality partners are invited to this immersive virtual experience that includes thoughtful insights from industry leaders, an exciting Speaker Showcase, and unique opportunities to connect with peers while test-driving virtual networking platforms. Lacy Hawley will be attending on behalf of Tourism Vancouver.

HelmsBriscoe Annual Business Conference (ABC) - Dallas, Texas
June 28-30 | Hybrid
HelmsBriscoe is the largest 3rd site selection organizations in the world. After Tourism Vancouver recently hosted a successful webinar to 50 HB Associates, we are now participating in HB’s first in-person event in 25 months. A total of 1,375 attendees (743 F2F) are participating. Meeting is 1.5 days long, with a Partner Fair schedule for 3 hours both days. Partner Fair is available to both virtual & F2F participants and the partners will get a chance to meet with up to 24 associates.  Tourism Vancouver is a Strategic Partner with HelmsBriscoe and Jackie Kavcak will be attending in person.

Day of Diversity - Symone Says "Let's Watch Brunch Queen" , a featured short film.
June 30 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm PST | Virtual
In our increasingly interconnected world, openness and appreciation of differences are paramount to create welcoming experiences. On June 30th, 2021, LGBT MPA welcomes all to recognize the past, honor the present, and strive for a stronger future together through our "Day of Diversity." In honor of PRIDE month 2021, this day will promote self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of diversity in the meetings and events industry.

Hosted by local Vancouver Drag Superstar, Symone Says, and together with PCMA Canada West, we invite Director, Writer and Producers, Sean Horlor and Steve J. Adams for an exclusive interview and viewing of their short film ” Brunch Queen”. This film follows a hilarious gay couple (who can’t stand each other’s company but are still very much in love) as they prepare for the opening night of a musical based on their infamous insult diner. This 11-min short doc is shot like an episode of a mockumentary television sitcom, like The Office or Modern Family. It’s a humorous and poignant exploration of love and aging in the LGBTQ community. Register now for free: https://lgbtmpa.com/day-of-diversity Owen Chiu will be hosting and attending on behalf of Tourism Vancouver.

PCMA EduCon - Phoenix, AZ
July 7-9 | Hybrid
Community, Content & Connections will be the resounding theme throughout this conference.

For the last year we’ve all been over-scheduled and our humanity has suffered. EduCon 2021 is designed to bring people together and will provide the appropriate time and space for all to reconnect with one’s community and oneself whether F2F or digitally.

Being together in a post-COVID world will make us better facilitators of the future. Through learnings from our year-long Recovery Discovery journey and the success of January’s Convening Leaders, EduCon will show the world how business events can be a catalyst for bringing us back together to create deeper, meaningful, and safe interactions through a fusion of both in-person and digital experiences.

Save the date! As a PCMA Premier Partner, Tourism Vancouver and the Vancouver Convention Centre are recognized as the Day 2 Main Stage sponsors – Driving the Future with Purpose, Diversity and Inclusion, scheduled for Thursday, July 8 at 11:15AM PST.

The speaker we are introducing is Janet Stovall, DE&I Pragmatist, Presenter and Award-winning Executive Speechwriter who will be speaking on the following:

“Diversity, equity, inclusion and purpose aren’t just “nice to have” elements you can incorporate into your events, experiences and other touchpoints at the last minute. Rather, these are crucial principles that must be included at the beginning, using intentional strategies and efforts that welcome all audiences and remain accountable to the culture and commitments you make. Learn the business case for diversity, equity and inclusion, glean why it’s so important that your organization’s values align with your consumers’, and pick up inspiration for integrating these efforts to drive business events, experiences, and the marketplace of the future with purpose and meaning.”  Jackie Kavcak will be attending in person on behalf of Tourism Vancouver.  Lacy Hawley, Owen Chiu, and Michelle Taylor will be participating virtually. To register for the conference, please click here for more information.

MPI CAC Summer Knowledge Share
July 15 | 11:30am - 12:30am CT | Virtual
Save the date. Lacy Hawley will be attending on behalf of Tourism Vancouver.

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