December 08, 2021

• BC Meetings & Events Industry Working Group Update - Provincial Health Order (PHO) Distinction for Business Events
  
  Alongside advocacy efforts by the BC Hotel Association (BCHA) and the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC), the BC Meeting & Events Industry Working Group has been in regular discussions with the BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport; the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery & Innovation (JERI); and the PHO. The working group has actively engaged with industry and government to bringing awareness to the importance and rationale for a recognized distinction for business events.
  
  Following a pivotal discussion last week with Dr. Bonnie Henry and Dr. Brian Emerson, chaired by Tourism Minister, Melanie Mark, we were successful in receiving the distinction for business events in the latest provincial health order.

The PHO on Gatherings and Events has been updated, with the following most relevant points for our industry outlined:

• Business events are allowed to have standing events. Networking, receptions, mingling, all acceptable. Holiday parties associated with businesses are considered “business events”.
• Events such as Wedding receptions, funerals, theatrical and musical events, concerts must be seated.

The health order separates the meaning of inside events into A & B categories (Page 6 & top of page 7)

• "inside event” means (a) a gathering of more than 50 participants in an inside place for one of the following purposes: (i) a form of entertainment involving a performance such as a theatrical production, a concert, a symphony performance, a choral performance, any other type of musical performance or a dance performance; (ii) business, but limited to a lecture or presentation; (iii) a wedding reception; (iv) a funeral reception not held at a funeral home, 7 (v) a sponsored or ticketed party at which there is musical entertainment, other than for the purpose of providing background sound;
  
  
• a gathering of more than 50 participants in an inside place for one of the following purposes (i) a business purpose not described in (a), and including a conference, convention, commercial trade fair or workshop or home show; (ii) gambling; (iii) recreational education or classes, including arts, crafts, music, photography, culture, or travel education or classes (c) a gathering of any number of participants in an inside place for the purpose of an adult sports activity, an adult exercise or fitness activity or class, or an adult dance class; (d) a sports event in an inside place; (e) a program for children or youth in an inside place; (f) a worship service in an inside place.

The important restrictions are on the top of page 11:

• This indicates that only events in category “A” must be seated events. Category “B” events are legally able to be standing events.
• A person must not permit a place to be used for or must not organize an inside event with a purpose described in paragraph (a) (Category A) of the definition of an “inside event” unless the event is held as a seated inside event.
• A person must not permit a place to be used for or must not organize an inside event as a standing event, if the purpose of the event is described in paragraph (a) (Category A) of the definition of “inside event"

A final note on dancing: There is still no dancing allowed unless it is a performance. There have been conversations and advocacy around this issue, however, we do not expect that restriction to be lifted in the near future. Things are still in a tenuous place and while they had hoped that all restrictions would be lifted by now, the PHO is not ready to remove this one.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS

Submit your Special Offers for #LoveVancouver – WINTER & HOLIDAY

Winter is here, and we want you to be involved in Destination Vancouver's #LoveVancouver holiday theme!

The winter campaign will continue promoting Vancouver to domestic BC, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec audiences, as well as into Washington State, in alignment with Destination BC and their city-focused promotion called Head North.

We invite our attraction, event, sport, hotel, culinary, wellness, and arts & culture members to share new or updated special offers for this promotion, by emailing our Marketing Specialist. These are featured among the campaign landing pages of Special Offers on Hotels, Attractions and Shopping.

When submitting a new or updated offer, please provide:

• Offer name
• One-sentence offer description
• Photo
• URL
• Offer expiration date (if applicable)

If you have Winter-themed or Holiday and Christmas-specific product or experiences, please send that information as well.

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

DESTINATION VANCOUVER NEWS

We are hiring!

Are you looking for a career in a destination management and destination promotion organization? Destination Vancouver wants to meet dynamic, ambitious, collaborative and fun individuals to join our high performing team. We are committed to fostering an environment that is diverse and inclusive of people from all backgrounds, passions and interests and we invite applications from all qualified candidates. We are dedicated to providing an atmosphere free from barriers in order to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. Consistent with our values, we celebrate and welcome the diversity of all Team Members, volunteers, stakeholders, members, external contractors and partners.

• Director, Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
• Specialist, Business Insights
• Vice President, Global Marketing
• Specialist, Marketing Services
• Specialist, Travel Trade & Media

20 Places to Enjoy Outdoor Christmas Lights Around Vancouver in 2021

Celebrate the season with thousands of twinkling lights. Check out 20 places to enjoy outdoor Christmas lights around Vancouver in 2021.

Breathtaking Holiday Store Facades of South Granville

This winter season, the South Granville Business Improvement Association (SGBIA) is excited to present a festive holiday experience through breathtaking holiday store facades.

Where to Enjoy Diverse and Delicious Takes on Bannock in Vancouver

Darnell Stager, manager at Salmon n’ Bannock (7-1128 West Broadway), ate fried bannock with raisins as a child. Stager, who is urban Indigenous, meaning he was born and raised in Vancouver, connects bannock with memories of family. “I always had aunties, grandmas, and my mom making bannock. It’s a pretty common shared history with Indigenous people across the country,” he says.

December’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Rice Lake

North Vancouver’s Rice Lake in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve is a great place for an easy winter walk since it rarely has snow.

DESTINATION VANCOUVER WEBINARS & EVENTS

Save the Date!

Destination Update & 2022 Business Sprint

Tuesday, January 18, 2021 | 10:00am - 11:30am | Webinar

Please join Royce Chwin, Destination Vancouver Team Member, President & CEO and members of the Senior Leadership Team for a destination update and presentation of our 2022 Business Sprint which will guide our activities and plans for the year ahead.

Meetings & Conventions – Generating Business in Today's World

DECEMBER

Maritz Global Events – Holiday Unwrap
December 13, 2021, 11am - 4pm
In-Person, Chicago, IL 
Gather together again to support the Chicagoland community with Maritz’s 28th annual holiday event. Join Maritz and your industry peers to network, celebrate, and donate. Lacy Hawley will be attending on behalf of Destination Vancouver.

Association Forum – Holiday Showcase
December 13-14, 2021
In-Person, Chicago, IL 
Holiday Showcase is live and in-person—and better than ever! Association Forum is delighted to partner with the Hilton Chicago to welcome attendees and exhibitors back to the premier event for the association community. Lacy Hawley will be attending on behalf of Destination Vancouver.

Association of Meeting Professionals (AMPs) Holiday Happening
December 14, 2021
In-Person, Alexandria VA
Let’s Jingle and Mingle at the AMPs Annual Holiday Happening!  Jackie Kavcak will be attending on behalf of Destination Vancouver.

Annual CVBReps Holiday Event
December 15, 2021
In-Person, Washington, D.C.
CVBReps is an organization comprised of 58 US & Canadian DMO Satellite Offices located in the DMV (DC, Maryland & Virginia) area. CVBReps will be hosting their Annual Holiday Event with over 320 clients in attendance. Jackie Kavcak will be attending on behalf of Destination Vancouver.

SITE Southern California - Holiday Event & Charity Gala
December 12 – 14, 2021 
In-Person, Palm Springs, CA 
SITE Socal Holiday Event and Charity Gala is live and in-person—and better than ever! Destination Vancouver is delighted to partner with Tourism Whistler, Westin Whistler, Westin Bayshore Vancouver to host our SITE Socal clients at this year’s charity gala. Owen Chiu will be attending on behalf of Destination Vancouver.

JANUARY

PCMA Convening Leaders - COMMUNITY. CONTENT. COMMERCE.
January 9-12, 2022
In-Person, Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, NV
Convening Leaders brings its flagship education and networking event to Las Vegas.  Connecting people with purpose to ideas and opportunities through business events is what PCMA does better than anyone else.  This year, in partnership with the VHDA, Destination Vancouver and the Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver will have a strong presence at this highly regarded event as the sponsor of the Wellbeing Lounge, focusing on the move more, eat healthy and think better concepts with activations to compliment. Royce Chwin, Dave Gazley, Jackie Kavcak, Owen Chiu, and Lacy Hawley will be attending on behalf of Destination Vancouver.

MPI CAC – Holiday Party
January 20, 2022, 5pm
In-Person, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Chicago, IL 
MPI CAC Chapter kicks off the New Year in commemorating MPI Chicago's 45th Anniversary amongst our members, partners, industry friends & colleagues. Lacy Hawley will be attending on behalf of Destination Vancouver.