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INDUSTRY UPDATE - November 2023

Wettstone Guest Ranch | Jonny Bierman
Industry Update

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Tourism Summit a Resounding Success

Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism’s Annual Tourism Summit and AGMs was a great success with close to 75 people coming together Nov. 15-17 in Williams Lake. 

Participants from the region and the rest of B.C. joined in celebrating the rich heritage of the past and shared ideas and inspiration on how every part of the local sector can embrace the limitless possibilities of the future in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast.

The meeting welcomed a number of elected officials supporting the tourism sector including Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson, Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor, Betty Anderson, Melynda Neufeld, and Steve Forseth from the Cariboo Regional District. Other leaders included Williams Lake Elder Edith Wycotte and her granddaughter, Destination BC President & CEO Richard Porges along with board member Bob Simpson, officials from B.C.’s Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport ministry and Emergency Management and Climate Readiness ministry, as well as leaders from the Tourism Industry Association of BC, the BC Hotel Association and the Adventure Tourism Coalition.

The event also took care of the business of the Associations with the annual general meetings, including the selection of the board of directors for the coming year. Your 2024 Board of Directors are:

  • Chair Andre Kuerbis of AFK Consulting
  • Vice Chair and Coast Representative Shannon Lansdowne of Bella Coola Mountain Lodge
  • Secretary/Treasurer and Cariboo Representative Mike Retasket of Aboriginal Affects Consulting
  • Director and Chilcotin Representative Gerald Kirby of Tatla Lake Manor
  • Director Stephen Waugh of Bella Coola Vehicle Rentals
  • Director Marshall Fremlin of Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort

The coming year promises to be an exciting one for our region. Thank you to all of you who are helping build a sustainable future for our entire sector and our communities.

More information and links to presentations will be available online shortly at Registration & Program – CCCTA – Industry

 

wildfire

 

This is a quick reminder that the CCCTA still needs your information and ideas so we can inform the provincial government about the impacts wildfires, poor air quality, road closures, the provincial State of Emergency, and the Travel Restriction Order had on your operations in the summer of 2023.

A survey being led by the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat (the CCCTA is a member) and the British Columbia Hotel Association aims to assess the immediate and long-term impacts on BC tourism stakeholders from the crisis events.

Symphony Tourism Services, on behalf of CCCTA, is conducting the survey. When complete, a summary will go to the BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport to share with other provincial ministries.

The survey should only take 10-20 minutes, and responses are completely anonymous. Take the Survey

 

Federal funds to help your business grow

Tourism Growth Program

Tourism Growth Program Launched by PacifiCan

If you’re looking to grow your operations – either as a small or medium sized business or as a not-for-profit – you may be eligible for funds from the federal government’s Tourism Growth Program offered through PacifiCan, the regional development agency dedicated to British Columbia.

The program is targeted at helping established small and medium-sized businesses, tourism organizations and local communities grow and develop tourism products and experiences that will create lasting prosperity in communities across the province.

Projects must target one of six program priorities:

  • Support active tourism
  • Increase tourism benefits for communities
  • Support the Indigenous tourism industry
  • Support economic, environmental and culturally sustainable tourism
  • Extend the season
  • Complement the support provided through provincial programs.

Applications are being accepted until February 20, 2024. You can get more details on the PacifiCan website – as well as information on a virtual information session to be held.

 

How to Hire Some Subsidized Summer Help

Employer applications for the annual SUBSIDIZED Canada Summer Jobs program are now open for people looking to hire youth between April 22 and August 31, 2024.

Not-for-profit employers can receive a wage subsidy up to 100% of the current minimum hourly wage ($16.75 an hour with an increase likely on June 1, 2024) while public and private sector employers are eligible for a subsidy of up to 50% of the current minimum hourly wage.

Applications are open until January 10, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time). Some key online tools to help applications include:

 

Get Your Team – and Potential Employees – Trained

There is money available if your business or organization needs help in connecting your team members – including prospective new hires – with skills training needed for the workplace.

Employers can apply as often as they need and receive 80 per cent of the cost of training up to $10,000 per employee, with a maximum annual amount per employer of $300,000. Training must result in increased job security or a better job for a current employee once training is completed, or a job for an unemployed person.

You can get all of the details on the program, including criterial and how to apply, at the B.C. Employer Training Grant program page.

 

Charting a Bold Path for the Gold Rush Trail 

We’re continuing to gather input on the development of the updated Gold Rush Trail Strategy. We heard from an incredible cross-section of people who attended one of four information sessions with an outside consultant.

The entire CCCTA team is committed to developing a Gold Rush Trail Strategy that makes sure we are advancing tourism and our communities – and your ideas and input can play a role.

Please email your Destination and Experience Manager with ideas, questions and input.

 

Find New Employees at Virtual Tourism Job Fair

The National Tourism Job Fair is slated for February 1, 2024 and it’s going to be held all across the CCCTA – not to mention all of B.C. and Canada. The approach this year is a new one for the Tourism Industry Association of Canada in partnership with Tourism HR Canada and Baxter Media with the Fair being held virtually.

Employers and potential employees can come together at the event, as well as access speakers and learning opportunities. The Fair is open to any domestic tourism and hospitality employers who are looking for eager, qualified staff.

This standard participation is free and you can register online now.

There are also sponsorship packages available to help operators stand out and connect with potential team members in the tight labour markets. You can download the sponsorship package here.

 

Have Your Say on Emergency Payments, BC Ferries

The B.C. Government is still looking for input on regulations on post-emergency financial assistance related to the Emergency and Disaster Management Act introduced in October.

Just go to the website that is gathering input on the regulations and share your thoughts directly with the province.

As part of Charting the Course, BC Ferries is looking for input from people to help the company define a vision and identify the strategies needed to enhance ferry services in coastal communities into the future.

You can share your input on any issues or ideas for BC Ferries through the online engagement website.

 

BC Funds Help With Crime, Vandalism Costs

If your operations have been hit by vandalism or crime, you can now apply for the Securing Small Business Rebate Program, which provides with funds for eligible commercial property crime and vandalism repairs, or to implement eligible preventative measures.

There are two types of rebates, each retroactive to January 1, 2023 and available through December 31, 2024.

  1. Reparative – Provides relief for costs not covered by insurance or the insurance deductibles for those costs. Available as a one-time rebate of up to $2,000 for each of 2023 and 2024.
  2. Preventative – Provides relief for costs incurred to prevent damage to commercial property. Available as a one-time rebate of up to $1,000 for either 2023 or 2024.

You can access the application portal online as well as learn more about the program, Any questions can go directly to the BC Chamber of Commerce at ssbr@bcchamber.org.

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