Letter from the Honourable Lisa Beare
Amy Thacker, CEO of Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association, has been selected to be part of BC’s Tourism Task Force. The Task Force’s mission is to provide recommendations on how BC can collectively reignite our visitor economy.
Community Futures and CCCTA Offering Tourism Resiliency Financing as Part of Tourism Resiliency Program
The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association (CCCTA) is partnering with Community Futures organizations throughout the region to assist in providing financial support to the tourism sector as part of the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Resiliency Program. Community Futures Sun Country, Cariboo Chilcotin and North Cariboo and the CCCTA are pleased to announce the Tourism Resiliency Financing Program. This financing offers an opportunity for tourism businesses registered in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Resiliency Program to access loans starting from $500 to over $150,000 to support long term tourism industry recovery and resiliency.
Full press release here.
BC Hotel Association Partners with BC Regional Tourism Secretariat and STR to Support Tourism Resiliency
The British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA) is working in partnership with the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS) and STR to offer informed recovery strategies for BC accommodators that have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Using industry data from STR – the sector’s leading data benchmarking and analytics provider – BCHA and BCRTS will develop tools and strategies to support people and communities at the heart of BC’s tourism industry.
“Supporting tourism in Canada is one of STR’s top priorities, so we are proud to partner with the British Columbia Hotel Association and the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat” says Emile Gourieux, Business Development Executive, Hotels at STR. “Through our hotel benchmarking platform, we provide organizations like the BCHA and the BCRTS with the information they need to both successfully advocate on behalf of their members and create effective marketing strategies that will drive tourism to communities across British Columbia.
Read the Full Article here.
Application Open for Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP) DUE October 29
The Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP) provides an opportunity for Indigenous applicants, local governments, tourism organizations, heritage leaders, and not-for-profit organizations to apply for infrastructure funding that supports projects and initiatives for public use and that benefit and create jobs, support economic development and recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. Eligible applicants can receive a one-time, 100% funded provincial grant to support four key streams: Community Economic Resilience, Destination Development, Unique Heritage Infrastructure, and Rural Economic Recovery.
The application window for the CERIP is very short with a deadline of October 29, 2020.
More information here.
Small & Medium Size Business Recovery Grant Program
Small and medium-sized businesses are vital to British Columbia’s economy. The Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant program provides fully-funded grants to businesses to ensure they have the support they need during and beyond COVID-19.
The Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant program will invest up to $300 million in targeted financial support for some of the hardest hit businesses in B.C. that employ between two and 149 B.C. residents and have experienced declines in revenue since March 10, 2020.
Grants of $10,000 to $30,000 are available. An additional $5,000 to $10,000 grant is available to eligible tourism-related businesses that have been hit especially hard by COVID-19.
The program runs until March 31, 2021 or until the funds are fully allocated, whichever comes first.
Please reach out to your Tourism Resiliency Program Advisor for more information or assistance.
Measuring Canadian Travel Patterns
The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast saw an 5% decrease in visitation over British Columbia during Week 36 (October 5 – 11). Visitation to the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast decreased by 39% and British Columbia decreased by 12% when comparing Week 35 (September 28 – October 4) to Week 36 (October 5 – 11).
Fifth Annual BC Liquor Conference
Hosted by ABLE BC, the #1 advocate for BC’s pubs and liquor stores, this year’s conference will take place online on Monday, October 19 and Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
No matter where you are in the province – tune in and get the liquor industry data, trends, and policy updates you can’t get anywhere else. We don’t need to tell you that BC’s hospitality industry was hit first – and hit hardest – by the COVID-19 pandemic. The liquor industry has been forced to adapt and drastically change in this new normal, while complying with stringent new regulations that have limited your ability to operate profitably. Unfortunately, this crisis is far from over. But together, we will weather this storm.
Join the 2020 Virtual BC Liquor Conference and get the actionable steps and knowledge you need to adapt and survive COVID-19.
Registration includes download of the videos and content.
Click here to register.
BC Tourism Resiliency Network Ideas Labs
Together with the Tourism Cafe, BC Regional Tourism Secretariat is pleased to announce expanded support through the BC Tourism Resiliency Network. Launching this month, Ideas Labs are a series of 30 online sessions on nine original topics selected from requests from tourism operators across the province. The labs will bring small groups together in a business-to-business learning environment to address hot topics where solutions to common problems are discussed and shared, and new ideas are incubated. These are 1-hour online peer to peer discussions led by an inspiring Industry Topic Specialist.
Each session is limited to only 12 participants from across the province. SPACE IS LIMITED. We ask that if you register that you participate or if a conflict arises in your schedule, please cancel your registration. Ideas Labs is a program created and produced by the Tourism Cafe.
Topic #3: Human Realities and Human Resources: Supporting Your Staff During COVID-19
COVID-19 has brought a wide variety of new and unique challenges to the workplace, including increased customer aggression, heightened job security concerns, mental health challenges, staffing issues, etc. This session explores the new human realities on tourism businesses, resulting from the pandemic. HR Manager, Karina Gaudreau will kick start the Ideas Lab conversation sharing how True Key Hotels & Resorts is mitigating these challenges to support staff to survive and thrive.
3.2 – Oct. 27, 2020 @ 10am session starts
More dates to come.
Register Here: https://tourismresiliency.ca/ideas-labs/
Topic #4: Reimagine Your Assets: Looking at your Product Differently for New Revenue Opportunities
The impacts of COVID-19 require tourism businesses to look at their infrastructure and assets through a new lens, adapt and create different opportunities to generate revenue and potentially appeal to new markets. Kevin Belanger will kick start the Ideas Lab conversation sharing how Tesla Tours is adapting their product offer and will set the stage for industry participants to share examples they’ve seen in the market and how their businesses are evolving their products to generate new revenue, survive and thrive.
Dates/times in Pacific Time:
4.1 – Oct. 28, 2020 @ 10am session starts
4.2 – Oct. 29, 2020 @ 2pm session startsMore dates to come.
Register Here: https://tourismresiliency.ca/ideas-labs/
Stay tuned for the next Ideas Lab topic: Leveraging Technology to Pivot Your Business.
New topics and Ideas Labs Dates are rolling out in the near future. For more information: https://tourismresiliency.ca/ideas-labs
Please reach out to kristi@landwithoutlimits.com if you are interested in participating in the Ideas Labs or if you have any questions.
eLearningU-Program Webinars
Upcoming ONLINE WebinarsTopics include:
Pivoting to Virtual Events, Conferences and Festivals – How to Replicate the Live Experience Online
DATE: October 22 @ 11:00 am PST
Networking in LinkedIn: How to Grow Your Connections and Increase Your Leads
DATE: October 29 @ 11:00 am PST
To learn more or register click here.
[POLL] Introductory Digital Marketing Webinars
We need your input.
Which courses would you like us to provide to you our valuable stakeholders?
Click here to tell us vote!
[REMINDER] FINAL Survey: Value of Forest Service Roads for Recreation & Tourism
The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association (CCCTA) is conducting its second and final stakeholder survey regarding the valuation of recreation and tourism on Forest Service Roads (FSRs) in the Cariboo Forest Region.
The main purpose of this survey is to provide you with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed FSR recreation valuation approach, including the number of “points” allocated to different types of recreation features / assets (lakes, trails, businesses, scenic areas, etc.). This will help to more efficiently prioritize access to the “most important” recreation features in the region, theoretically shifting resources from those that receive less use and have less value for tourism and recreation.
First AnnualCariboo Chilcotin Coast Digital Summit
November 25 – 26, 2020
Nominations start now!
Be sure to nominate your business and your neighbor.
Be sure to watch for more information.
Nomination Forms
Nomination Package
2020 Best Tourism Marketing Initiative Award
2020 Digital Excellence Award
2020 Innovation in Tourism Award
2020 Good Neighbour Award
New Industry Site
Our industry site has been refreshed and re- launched to help serve you our valuable stakeholders more efficiently and effectively.
Check it out here. Or simply click the Industry link at the bottom of our Cariboo Chilcotin Coast website. landwithoutlimits.com