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Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
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Shredding the pow on Grouse Mountain (Destination BC/Grouse Mountain).
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New Grants Offer Additional Supports for BC Tourism Businesses
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On Friday, January 14, the Provincial Government announced new funding through the Tourism Accommodation and Commercial Recreation Relief Fund to support accommodation providers and tourism operators holding tenure and BC Parks permits.
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Called for by the Tourism Task Force, the grant provides up to $15 million through three streams:
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BC-owned large accommodation providers employing more than 150 people;
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Indigenous-owned large accommodation properties employing more than 100 people, and located on a reserve; and
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Tenure and BC Parks permit holders that operate as tourism businesses.
The application intake is open until February 14, 2022. Eligibility criteria and application information can be found on the Provincial Government’s website.
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Businesses that have already applied for a COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant do not need to reapply.
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Provincial Relief Grant Doubled for Businesses Ordered to Remain Closed
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The Province is extending the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant and doubling supports for eligible businesses that have been ordered to remain temporarily closed until February 16, 2022. Businesses directed to stay closed through public health orders – including bars, night clubs and lounges, and event venues – are now eligible for up to $20,000 in funding based on staffing levels at the time of closure.
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Applications will be accepted until May 25 (Thompson Okanagan/Allen Jones).
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Federal and Provincial Governments Commit Record Funding for Cleaner, Stronger Communities
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Communities across BC will receive record investments in critical projects to reduce pollution, increase health and expand opportunities in response to a changing climate, with up to $134 million provided by the federal and provincial governments for the third intake of the CleanBC Communities Fund. The total investment to date is more than $240 million for local projects that increase clean energy and energy efficiency in buildings, transportation and other community-owned infrastructure.
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go2HR's landing page includes a safety plan template and review service.
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Employers Required to Re-activate COVID-19 Safety Plans
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On January 7, the Provincial Health Officer announced an order requiring employers to re-activate their COVID-19 Safety Plans. The order replaces the previous requirements for employers to have communicable disease prevention plans in their workplaces. To learn about the current regulation, or how to adapt your workplace, email [email protected].
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Visitor arrivals from Mexico have been steadily increasing over the past year.
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Destination BC Ramps Up Marketing Activities in Mexico
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Destination BC has recently ramped up marketing activities in Mexico, with visitor arrivals from the southern destination steadily increasing. Current campaigns are promoting winter/ski areas and product in BC, and the Destination BC team is training key Virtuoso travel agents about BC’s appeal as a winter holiday destination. Happily, many travel agents have expressed interest in BC’s winter/ski season.
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The service includes two daily flights between Vancouver and Powell River.
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Harbour Air Launches New Powell River Seaplane Service this Spring
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Harbour Air has announced it will launch seaplane service between Powell River and downtown Vancouver starting this spring. Located on the North Sunshine Coast, Powell River is home to endless outdoor exploration, historic culture, and eclectic eateries. The service will commence on March 7.
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Supports and opportunities available to tourism businesses and communities in VCM.
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Small Business BC provides practical webinars, online education, and advisory services to help businesses develop skills and strategy.
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Access Free Education and Advisory Services through Small Business BC
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Destination BC has partnered with Small Business BC to offer free access for tourism business stakeholders to online education supporting ongoing COVID-19 recovery. Upcoming webinars include "Get Started with Email Marketing" (February 2) and "How to Drive More Traffic to Your Website" (February 8). Small Business BC is also offering free access to expert-led Advisory Services, such as business strategy, website expertise, and accounting. Access these resources free of charge by registering online with the coupon code DBC3034.
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Access free, 24/7 learning resources to help you grow your tourism business (Destination BC/Hubert Kang).
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Have You Visited Destination BC’s Learning Centre?
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Did you know Destination BC offers free, 24/7 access to tourism resources and tools, including articles, guides, templates and videos? The Learning Centre is built around eight learning themes, including Digital Marketing, Social Media Marketing, and Accessible Tourism. Recently, the Destination BC team launched a content marketing series that features resources such as “Three Reasons Your Business Needs a Content Calendar” and “Accessible Graphic Design”. New content is added regularly – take a look!
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Information about accessible services and programs is key to providing great customer service (Northern BC Tourism/Marty Clemens).
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Have You Added the Accessibility Feature to Your HelloBC Listing?
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Over 500 tourism businesses have added the Accessibility feature to their business listing on HelloBC.com. If your business has mobility, vision, hearing and/or cognitive accessible attributes, let consumers know by adding this feature to your HelloBC.com listing today, at no cost. You can direct any questions to [email protected].
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Destination BC COVID-19 Communications
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Stay connected with the VCM team, which is managed by Destination BC:
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If you have questions that can't be answered through the various resources on our website and official channels, please email the VCM team.
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