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VANCOUVER, COAST & MOUNTAINS
August 2022 NEWSLETTER
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Diving into summer | Destination Vancouver/The Nickersons Photography
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Introducing the VCM Sustainability Council & Action Plan
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In April 2021, the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Sustainability Council formed under the leadership of the VCM tourism region. The objective of the council is to improve sustainability practices of the tourism industry and partners in the region. Through partner engagement, we’ve heard loud-and-clear that this is meaningful to many of you. The work of the Sustainability Council supports the provincial strategic framework for tourism, Destination BC’s Corporate Strategy’s Destination Stewardship pillar, and the Invest in Iconics pillar. Over the past year the VCM Sustainability Council has been hard at work with guidance from GreenStep Solutions to identify non-sustainable practices in the region as well as areas of alignment, gaps and opportunities through a destination sustainability diagnosis process. The result of this process has been the development of a 12-18 month VCM Sustainability Council Action Plan. The council has recently formed sub-committees to move the key focus areas in the action plan forward.
Key focus areas of the action plan include:
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Enhance resident and community engagement and prosperity through tourism and the visitor economy.
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Improve industry adoption of sustainable and responsible tourism practices.
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Promote respectful and sustainable visitor practices within communities, natural spaces, and cultural sites.
For more information, contact Allison.Picard@destinationbc.ca.
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New Agri-tourism Signs for the Pemberton Valley
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To raise awareness of Pemberton’s farming community and agri-tourism experiences, Tourism Pemberton – utilizing Targeted Regional Tourism Development Initiative Program (TRTDI) dollars – recently installed signs at local farm stands and farming businesses. The new wayfinding signage highlights three visitor experiences in Lillooet, the Pemberton Valley and the Bridge River Valley: the Pemberton Farm Tour, Range Beyond Range Circle Route, and the Slow Food Cycle. This initiative was identified as a priority in the Sea to Sky Destination Development strategy.
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Vancouver, Coast & Mountains is on LinkedIn! Please follow our page for industry updates, opportunities and success stories.
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Campfire Ban in Coastal Fire Centre Area
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As of today (Thursday, August 4) at noon, all campfires are banned throughout the Coastal Fire Centre, which includes the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast and Sea-to-Sky. A map of the affected areas is available here. The campfire ban is in effect until October 28, 2022 or until the order is rescinded.
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Travel Trade and Travel Media Relations Update
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In May, the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains (VCM) region participated in Rendez-vous Canada 2022 (RVC), a travel trade event hosted by Destination Canada that attracted 1,700 buyers and sellers. VCM met with tour operators from international key markets over three days to share updates from the region, and partnered with 4VI (formerly Tourism Vancouver Island) to host a pre-FAM for 10 international buyers from eight countries, supported by Destination Vancouver, Tourism Richmond and many suppliers.
In June, VCM participated in the Travel Media Association of Canada Conference (TMAC). A strong BC contingent attended the sold-out event for 200 members. VCM conducted a full schedule of 24 appointments with media from across Canada to share new story ideas. Media visits to the region resulting from the conference are scheduled for this fall.
Destination BC is offering a dozen group press trips to media from all markets to experience The British Columbia Effect. Three trips will showcase the VCM region, including a “Week of Wellness” that took place June 19-25 with three media from Vancouver, California and Mexico experiencing Vancouver, Squamish and Whistler. The Fraser Valley will be profiled in August, and the Sunshine Coast in September.
For more information about VCM’s travel trade and travel media relations activities, or to share new product updates and story ideas, contact Heather McGillivray at heather.mcgillivray@destinationbc.ca.
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For the most recent week of July 1, reported hotel occupancy for VCM communities continue to be inline or outpace 2021 performance. For this week, the City of Vancouver reported an occupancy of 8% (+3 points from 2021 and -5 points from 2019), Whistler reported an occupancy of 63% (-1 point from 2021 and -19 points from 2019), and Richmond reported an occupancy of 79% (+18 points from 2021 and -10 points from 2019).
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FortisBC Small Business Support Program
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To help support small- and medium-sized businesses in BC in the recovery from the challenges of COVID-19, FortisBC has partnered with GreenStep Solutions to provide free, customized energy advice. You can get tips, technical advice and information that can help you save energy, greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs.
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Apply Now for the Canada Digital Adoption Program
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As consumers increasingly move online to shop, it’s essential for small businesses to develop e-commerce capabilities to remain competitive. As part of the Canada Digital Adoption Program, the Government of Canada offers two streams to support small businesses across the country. One, in partnership with Small Business BC and Digital Main Street, delivers the Grow Your Business Online grant, which offers up to $2,400 to help businesses adopt e-commerce. The second is the Boost Your Business Technology grant, which offers support to businesses that want to adopt new digital technologies.
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Nuxalk Nation totem pole | Destination BC/Eric Berger
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go2HR Introduces Flatsheet Outlining HR Supports
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go2HR has created a flatsheet highlighting the ways Cindy Conti, HR consultant for the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region, can help employers with their HR needs. Cindy can help with various questions related to the stages of an employee life cycle, including recruitment and onboarding, retention and on-the-job resources, and departure. Feel free to share the flatsheet with any tourism and hospitality businesses in your network.
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Meaningful Travel Summit: September 28-30
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The Meaningful Travel Summit, hosted by Tourism Cares, is taking place September 28-30 in Victoria. The event connects tourism industry professionals with local changemakers and also provides a chance to volunteer with the local community. Session topics include conservation, biodiversity & nature positivity, responsible hotels & accommodations and Indigenous tourism opportunities. All tourism professionals are welcome.
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Victoria's Inner Harbour | Reuben Krabbe
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