September 08, 2021

• On September 7, the federal government re-opened Canada’s border to fully vaccinated international travellers.

To qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption, visitors must:

• • be fully vaccinated: a traveller must have received, and show proof of, the full series of a vaccine — or combination of vaccines — accepted by the Government of Canada at least 14 days prior to entering Canada
  • Currently, those vaccines are manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)
  • have a valid pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test result taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or their arrival at the land border crossing, or a previous positive test result taken between 14 and 180 days before departure to Canada. Antigen tests, often called “rapid tests,” are not accepted be asymptomatic
  • submit their mandatory information via ArriveCAN (App or website), including proof of vaccination in English or French and a quarantine plan
  • be admissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and
  • take a test on arrival, if selected

• The Province has announced details of the BC Vaccine Card. Starting September 13, some events, services and businesses are required to check a person's proof of vaccination for access to their venue or space.
  
  Businesses can either scan the QR code using a QR reader like a smartphone or tablet or visually verify the person’s proof of vaccination. A mobile QR code reader app will be released in app stores closer to Sept. 13, 2021 for businesses that choose to scan the QR code.
  
  By September 13, businesses will need to verify that people are at least partially vaccinated.
  By October 24, businesses will need to verify that people are fully vaccinated.
  

  Learn More

OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS

Submit your Special Offers! #LoveVancouver

Destination Vancouver's #LoveVancouver campaign is going strong, and we want you to be involved! We invite our attraction, event, hotel, and restaurant members to share special offers for this promotion, by emailing our Marketing Specialist.

Please also ensure your member listings are up-to-date, including the COVID-19 Amenity updates (via the Member Extranet).

DESTINATION VANCOUVER NEWS

Meetings & Conventions Team is Growing!

We are pleased to announce that our team is growing and starting this Thursday, September 9, we have two new team members joining us:

Nanette Chan will join the M&C team as our new Sales Associate, Meetings & Conventions, Canada and International. She will be responsible for providing ongoing sales assistance/support to the Canada and International Market team - Michael Drake, Director of Sales, Michelle Taylor, Manager, M&C Sales, Canada & International, and Sue Graham, Client Manager, Convention Services.

Nanette has a bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management from Capilano University and has worked in various tourism sectors such as accommodations, transportation, attractions, and travel services. As a native Vancouverite who is extremely passionate about our industry, her goal has always been to work for a destination marketing organization, and she is absolutely thrilled to be joining Destination Vancouver. We feel she is going to be a great addition to our team and are happy to have her on board.

Yoonah Kim will join the M&C team as our new Sales Associate, Meetings & Conventions, U.S. She will be responsible for providing ongoing sales assistance/support to the U.S. team – Jackie Kavcak, Director of Sales, Owen Chiu, Manager, M&C Sales, U.S. and Lacy Hawley, Manager, M&C Sales, U.S.

Yoonah has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UBC. Prior to COVID, Yoonah was part of our team as a Convention Services Assistant, supporting the CS team to ensure our customers (from all market segments) and their attendees had the best Vancouver experience. During this time, she showed how highly organized, detailed-oriented, creative and a strong team player she can be. She also gained valuable knowledge about how M&C works and now, is excited to take this experience, and shift to M&C sales to support the U.S. team. We feel Yoonah will be a great fit in this M&C role and a great addition to Destination Vancouver.

Please help us in welcoming Nanette and Yoonah to our Destination Vancouver team!

Making Moves

Destination Vancouver is pleased to share that Nastassja Dorotich will be joining the Destination Promotions team as the new Marketing Specialist. Many of you will already know Nastassja from her role as Membership Specialist where she has become a great resource for her colleagues with her extensive product and destination knowledge. In her two and a half years with Destination Vancouver, Nastassja has honed her skills in customer care, electronic direct mail programs, and event coordination.

Nastassja has a Bachelor of Tourism Management from Capilano University, and Marketing & Communications training at BCIT -- both of which will serve her well in her new role. Prior to Destination Vancouver she worked in various marketing and customer service roles, with experience at agency and in-house brands, including Destination Canada and Whistler Blackcomb.

BUSINESS RESOURCES

Destination BC Power Up! Digital Mentorship Program

Destination BC has launched Power Up! to provide tourism stakeholders across BC with free access to professional services designed to improve digital marketing activities and use of digital technology. The application-based, 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 open on Sept 20 at 9:00am and only 85 applications will be accepted for the 75 available spots. We encourage you to learn more about the opportunity on Destination BC’s Learning Centre in preparation to apply next week.

The Fire Dragon Tradition Descends on Vancouver’s Chinatown

From September 24 to 26, 2021, an ancient Chinese legend, the Fire Dragon, is paying Vancouver’s Chinatown a visit in conjunction with Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations.

Where to Go Apple Picking Around Vancouver

Fall is harvest time! Celebrate by picking your own apples. Several farms near Vancouver have u-pick orchards and the UBC Apple Festival is back with a unique online shopping option.

INDUSTRY WEBINARS

VHDA - YVR Update Presentation - Rebuilding Air Access

September 22 | 9:30AM | Webinar

REGISTER

Join the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association’s Executive Director, Russ Cowan and YVR’s Director of Air Service Development, Russell Atkinson, to learn more about YVR’s rebuilding of air access for our communities.

Vancouver Tourism Facility Managers Association - Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Awareness

September 14 | 9:00AM - 10:00AM | Webinar

REGISTER

The Vancouver Tourism Facility Managers Association (VTFMA) is pleased to announce the registration for a webinar with Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd. and Christopher Collett and Associates Ltd. who are collaborating to provide an indoor air quality (IAQ) awareness webinar for the VTFMA. These two consulting companies are very well known across North America for their expertise in the field of indoor air quality.

The webinar will cover the following subjects:

• Brief IAQ Introduction with a summary of ventilation rate requirements over time
• Discussion of potential sources of IAQ issues in Tourism spaces
• Recommendations from the AHRAE Epidemic Task Force in terms of HVAC system related ventilation and filtration requirements
• Summary of diagnosed IAQ issues observed by Sterling IAQ
• The benefits of proactive IAQ audit as a tool to make sure acceptable IAQ conditions are being maintained over time.

Meetings & Conventions – Generating Business in Today's World

ConferenceDirect's Annual Program Meeting
September 20-23 | In-Person, New Orleans, LA
The Annual Partner Meeting connects ConferenceDirects’ most valued Partners with their Associates in one convenient event. Partners attending have the opportunity to meet and conduct business with over 150 qualified ConferenceDirect Associates under one roof. The elements of APM include an All-Partner General Session, reverse trade show and Networking Reception to assist Partners in developing more business from ConferenceDirect. Jackie Kavcak will be attending on behalf of Destination Vancouver.

New York Society of Association Executives - Meet NY 2021
September 30 (Sales Calls Sept 28/29) | In-Person - NYC
Meet NY is a one-of-a-kind mini trade show, bringing together association, and non-profit leaders, convention, corporate and meeting planners and their hospitality partners for an afternoon and evening of networking and cocktails, capped off with a Broadway theater experience.  Jackie Kavcak will be attending on behalf of Destination Vancouver. 

AMC's Re-Engage
October 4-6 | In-Person, Lousiville, KY
This event usually meets prior to ASAE’s Annual Meeting. The group has opted to meet in-person this year. Program is geared towards the AMCI staff and not the AMCI owners. Whether one is on the leadership team of an experienced association management company, a new owner navigating the first few years, or an emerging leader looking to advance their career, they are encouraged to attend Re-Engaged where the sessions explore issues and opportunities AMCs are facing and will face in a post-COVID world. Jackie Kavcak will be attending on behalf of Destination Vancouver.

Canadian Meetings & Events Expo (CMEE)
October 19-20 | In-Person, Toronto, ON
This will be the first and only Meetings & Events tradeshow in Toronto this year. This annual event features Corporate and Association clients from the Greater Toronto area in addition to Montreal and Ottawa. Suppliers are destinations, hotels, venues, tech companies, décor and more. CMEE will be providing industry focused education. Destination Vancouver has a booth already confirmed. Please reach out to us if you are interested to join us in our booth.  Michael Drake and Michelle Taylor will be attending on behalf of Destination Vancouver.

SITE Canada Education Day
October 27 | In-Person, Toronto, ON
The SITE Canada annual education day is the first live event for SITE Canada since the pandemic started. This full day event attracts the top clients and agencies working in the Canadian incentive industry. It is always a fantastic day of networking and education. Destination Vancouver is the Title sponsor of SITE Canada’s education day. Michael Drake will be attending on behalf of Destination Vancouver.