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June 30, 2021

Tourism Vancouver
Tourism Vancouver

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

Dear Members,

After an exceptionally challenging 16-months of uncertainty and the need to constantly adapt to pandemic-related changes, we have finally arrived at a critical milestone for our industry that allows the rebuild of our visitor economy in earnest: the lifting of multiple restrictions which have impacted so many of us in the sector.  

July 1 will see the government launch Step 3 of the provincial restart plan, meaning that our journey towards bringing back important parts of our visitor economy such as hosting meetings and conferences, festivals and events (and much more), can finally begin. It also means that safety plans will no longer be required but will instead be replaced by new health and safety guidelines from WorkSafeBC.

Some of the key changes taking place under the Step 3 restart include:

  • maximum capacity for indoor organized gatherings of 50 people or up to 50% of a venue’s total capacity, whichever is greater;
  • maximum capacity for outdoor organized gatherings of 5,000 people or up to 50% of a venue’s total capacity, whichever is greater;
  • reopening of nightclubs, with up to 10 people seated at tables, no socializing between tables and no dancing;
  • return to normal hours for liquor service at restaurants, bars and pubs with table limits to be determined by venue and no socializing between tables; and
  • return to normal for fairs, festivals and trade shows, with communicable disease plans.

Importantly, Step 3 also supports a return to Canada-wide recreational travel – meaning your businesses can anticipate the arrival of domestic visitors who have been respecting previous recommendations against interprovincial travel. Today, our Minister of Tourism, Arts Culture and Sport, Melanie Mark, released a joint statement with our industry partners to reiterate our government’s support of a robust travel restart. In today’s issue of eNews, we share information on a re-opening toolkit for tourism operators created by our partners DBC, BCHA, TIABC, and ITBC.

In anticipation of July 1, Destination Vancouver’s local and BC marketing has already begun to expand to Alberta, Ontario and Quebec including a major Expedia promotion and a campaign partnered with Air Canada. We are also working closely with industry partners and travel trade to achieve campaign alignment and ensure that Vancouver is well-represented in all the great work being done to promote inter-provincial travel. Stay tuned for more updates on our Business Sprints through e-news and our ongoing webinar series.

If you weren’t able to join us for our AGM last Thursday, we also have more updates below on our new name, Destination Vancouver and our expanded mandate. The Destination Vancouver team and I are eager to work closely with you, especially within our expanded focus on destination development. We will ensure continued advocacy for members, and support policy, planning, and capacity building efforts for the destination. More to come with an updated Business Sprint for 2022 - 2023.

You have all worked incredibly hard and waited patiently to arrive at Step 3. Destination Vancouver is here to help you make the most of the last half of 2021, as we all move forward into a new post-pandemic reality.

Thank you for your hard work and support as we rebuild our industry together as Team Vancouver.

Royce Chwin
Destination Vancouver Team Member
President & CEO

During our 118th AGM, President and CEO Royce Chwin unveiled the adoption of a new name Destination Vancouver, with a mandate founded on core pillars of destination development and destination promotion.

The process to arrive at our new mandate and expanded focus included critical endorsement and support by the Destination Vancouver Board, a variety of external and internal engagement. Our team received valuable input through a robust survey, participation in focus groups, and individual interviews from you, our members, and other industry partners.

DESTINATION VANCOUVER’S MANDATE

To support Vancouver's tourism industry in developing their experiences, and promoting Vancouver in target Canadian, US, and International markets.


We invite you to learn more about Destination Vancouver’s new expanded mandate:
https://www.tourismvancouver.com/about/brand/destination-vancouver/

The team will be taking a phased approach to introducing Destination Vancouver in the coming weeks and months. Starting in August, we will be switching our website domain to www.destinationvancouver.com.  

If you have questions about Destination Vancouver’s new name and mandate, please reach out to our Membership team:

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 Your MP

DESTINATION VANCOUVER UPDATES

Membership Satisfaction Pulse Check - June 2021 Results

Thank you to everyone that participated in our latest Membership Satisfaction Pulse Check - June 2021 survey. We sincerely appreciate you taking time to provide your input and suggestions to ensure that we are continuing to meet your needs as a valued member of Destination Vancouver.

We are pleased to report that 115 members participated in this last pulse check survey. In terms of program evaluation, you advised us that the most helpful programs and initiatives to you over the last five months of this year include Industry Advocacy, Regional Promotions and Sharing of Business Intelligence. Looking ahead, we will continue to focus on these programs along with rebuilding the Meetings and Conventions pipeline – another area that you have identified as being important to support you and your business. 

You also advised us that the most valuable communication channels to you in terms of informing you on our programs and initiatives include eNews, our member Extranet and the Members’ page of our corporate website. We will continue to build on these communication channels and platforms as well.

Overall membership satisfaction was 86% for this latest pulse check – we thank you for your support. We will reach out again in the Fall and Winter with pulse check surveys to ensure to we are continuing to meet your needs. In the meanwhile, feel free to reach out to anyone on the membership and/or Destination Vancouver team.

BUSINESS RESOURCES

We are happy to share with you the updated version of the re-opening toolkit for tourism operators.

This toolkit is designed as a guide for operators for Step 3, which starts July 1 and will run until at least September 7.  It includes:

  • Summary of current guidelines
  • links to help operators with recruiting and training staff
  • information on topics such as the evolution of mask use from a requirement to recommendations, and changes to capacity restrictions for events and festivals
  • information on the marketing campaigns to help restart the visitor economy, and how to participate

One of the biggest shifts for operators in Step 3 is that COVID-19 Safety Plans are no longer required, and all workplaces will evolve to include communicable disease plans in their regular health and safety plan. To this end, go2HR is hosting a webinar July 5 from 2-3 p.m. on how to implement a communicable disease program. You can register here.

We hope this toolkit is helpful for you, and would be happy to hear any feedback or suggestions you might have for the next version. We’ll be updating it as conditions change, and we learn more about operating in the current environment.

DOWNLOAD THE TOOLKIT HERE

6 Vancouver Area Hikes for Incredible Wildflowers

Summer in the mountains is short but incredibly colourful. As the snow melts, the sub-alpine meadows come to life with a rainbow of wildflowers. Since the best blooms are above the treeline, you’ll have to put in some sweat to see them. Here are our picks for six Vancouver area hikes that have incredible wildflowers.

The 33rd Annual Dancing on the Edge Festival July 8-17, 2021

One of the most eagerly anticipated events in British Columbia’s contemporary dance scene, the 33rd annual Dancing on the Edge Festival will kick off with a live performance by internationally acclaimed Radical System Art/Shay Kuebler on July 8th.

27 Outdoor Pools Around Vancouver to Visit This Summer

Beat the heat with a dip in an outdoor pool. There are lots of great options in the Vancouver area ranging from cute neighbourhood pools to huge salt-water pools. Add one of these Vancouver-area outdoor pools to your summer to-do list.

Things To Do in Vancouver This Weekend

It’s going to be a hot, hot weekend! There are many great ways to beat the heat in the city. Cool down with a refreshing swim at the beach, go for a dip in an outdoor pool, take a hike through the rainforest, try out stand up paddle boarding or enjoy a cool drink on the patio. Whatever you choose to do this weekend, please stay cool! 

DESTINATION VANCOUVER WEBINARS & EVENTS

Destination Vancouver Webinar: Safer Spaces Start Here

July 15th | 10:00am - 12:00pm | Webinar

Join us for an informative and interactive session that explores how to create safer spaces in Tourism and Hospitality. This session will start with an overview of the go2HR programs by Judy Frankel, communications manager at go2HR and will include go2HR's upcoming programs including the BSAFE safety certificate program and their upcoming collaboration with Justice Canada regarding sexual violence and harassment in the workplace.

This session will be facilitated by Stacey Forrester from  Good Night Out Vancouver. Stacey is a former community health nurse and current community planner. Stacey received an Honorable Mention from the Canadian Institute of Planners for her for the publication: “A European Approach to Nightlife, ” as well as nominations for both a City of Vancouver Award of  Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion and a Government of BC Community Safety and Crime Prevention Award for her work in the area of public realm safety.

Click to Register

118th Annual General Meeting - Recording

On Thursday, June 24th, 2021, we held our 118th Annual General Meeting on the field at BC Place.  This limited engagement live hybrid event was also live-streamed to a virtual audience.  The event also included a reveal of our new corporate brand identity. Thank you to all who attended both in-person and virtually.  To view a recording of the presentation, please click on the button below.

Watch AGM Recording

BC Hospitality Foundation

BCHF Silent Auction
until July 9 | end at 11:59PM | Silent Auction

Online Silent Auction Now Open!

The BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF) and the BC Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) are pleased to present an online silent auction featuring a host of amazing homegrown tourism and hospitality experiences.  We’re accepting bids on items including…

  • A two-night stay at the luxurious Oak Bay Beach Hotel
  • Gift certificates to a wide range of top local restaurants
  • A digital voucher for a 5-player Vancouver Outdoor Mysteries game
  • A round at the Westwood Plateau Golf & Country club
  • A virtual team building and training entertainment event
  • Helijet transportation from Victoria to Vancouver
  • A private charter of a Five Star Whale Watching vessel
  • and many more!

The auction runs until 11:59pm on July 9th, 2021. Please click here to view the complete list of auction items and to place bids.

The auction is a fundraiser being held in conjunction with the BC Chapter of MPI’s “g-ALE-a” event being held at craft breweries across BC on Wednesday, July 7th; check #gALEa21 for updates.  Tickets for the fun evening out may be purchased online.

The BCHF provides monetary assistance for hospitality industry workers facing financial crisis due to a serious health condition experienced by themselves or a family member.  The registered charity also administers a scholarship program that fosters the development of the next generation of hospitality industry workers and leaders. The BCHF is Destination Vancouver's Preferred Charitable Organization.

go2HR

Workplace Safety in Step 3: What You Need To Know
July 5 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm | Webinar
With Step 3 of the BC restart plan beginning on July 1, and the prospect of restarting more social connections and business activities, as well as the lifting of existing orders, including the need for written COVID-19 safety plans, many new questions and challenges emerge for employers as they navigate the new normal.

Safety plans might be out but it’s still important to remain vigilant about communicable diseases, including norovirus, seasonal influenza and COVID-19. Keeping informed about the overarching principles of communicable disease control and continuing to uphold and practice some of the familiar COVID-19 controls as part of your occupational health and safety program can help to prevent future illness and outbreaks. This can help to reassure your workers and guests about your ongoing commitment to their health and safety.

Join go2HR for our upcoming webinar, featuring expert panelists, Mark Lysyshyn, Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer at Vancouver Coastal Health and Lisa Houle, Manager, OHS Consultation and Education Services at WorkSafeBC. Learn how to implement a robust communicable disease program for step 3 of the BC Restart and get your questions answered!

Webinar topics include:

  • How to build an effective communicable disease program for step 3 of the BC Restart
  • How to relax existing controls for workers and customers
  • When you can (or should) enforce the wearing of masks and other controls in the workplace
  • Key considerations around occupancy levels, including for events and meetings
  • The practicalities of a gradual transition out of your COVID-19 safety plan and how to communicate changes to workers and customers
  • The forecast: fall flu season and the potential impacts of variants of concern

Meetings & Conventions – Generating Business in Today's World

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.

Destinations International 2021 Annual Convention
July 13-15 | Hybrid
The past two years have been filled with extraordinary challenges, brought on by a global pandemic. But through a series of additional challenges, the world of destination organizations has changed. Destination leaders must look for solutions for a post-pandemic recovery by rolling up their sleeves and coming together with stakeholders to cultivate an innovative approach to solutions that will advance the good work they do on behalf of the communities they serve. Dave Gazley will be attending virtually on behalf of Tourism Vancouver.

MPI CAC Summer Knowledge Share
July 15 | 11:30am - 12:30am CT | Virtual
After hearing many state, local and federal authorities announce the plan to fully reopen, those of us in the meetings and events industry are excited to get back to doing what we do best. As we look to emerge from this crisis and execute various meetings including hybrid, there are many questions we have as we return to business. Some of these questions are related to the anticipated profits of these live events. How will the impact on health and safety affect the budget for the client and venue? Will either side see a profit or increase in revenue? Join the Chicago Area Chapter to discuss these questions and so much more. Lacy Hawley will be attending on behalf of Tourism Vancouver.

Destination Vancouver 
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www.tourismvancouver.com
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