|
Directions: News from Destination BC
|
Horseback riding at Echo Valley Ranch & Spa (Destination BC/Blake Jorgenson).
|
Share this opportunity with your networks (Destination BC/Dave Heath).
|
|
Tourism Marketing Committee Applications for the 2024-2026 Term Now Open
|
Want to join the Tourism Marketing Committee (TMC) and work with us to develop a successful, dynamic, and sustainable tourism sector for BC? The call for applications for the 2024-2026 term is now open with a deadline of October 11, 2023. We are seeking four representatives for three-year terms beginning January 1, 2024. The TMC requires one representative from the following tourism regions: Cariboo Chilcotin Coast and Thompson Okanagan. Additionally, the TMC needs two representatives from the Vancouver, Coast and Mountains region. No new representatives are required for the Kootenay Rockies, Northern BC, and Vancouver Island regions for 2024. Find out more about the skills/experience we are looking for and apply!
|
|
|
|
NEW Water Conservation Tourism Industry Toolkit
|
BC’s tourism industry can play an important role in championing water conservation, inspiring both residents and visitors to protect one of our most precious resources. Every drop counts, and by recognizing and promoting our shared responsibility, together, we can protect the destinations we love. The new August 2023 'Water Conservation Tourism Industry Toolkit' includes official resources, and suggested actions & messaging for BC tourism industry partners to help champion responsible water usage.
Tourism industry partners around the province are doing their part to implement responsible business practices and inform their guests of the measures being taken to conserve water, and why. If you know of a BC tourism or hospitality business doing great work in this area, please share it on LinkedIn and tag us, or email [email protected].
|
|
|
|
|
|
Welcoming Bob Simpson and Brian Friesen to our Board of Directors
|
Our entire team warmly welcomes Bob Simpson and Brian Friesen to our Board of Directors and expresses gratitude for their support for our organization and BC’s tourism industry.
Bob, an independent consultant specializing in government relations and community economic development, served two terms as Mayor of the City of Quesnel (2014-2022). During his tenure, he successfully led a rebranding effort and developed a community transition strategy that prioritized investments in amenities and promoted tourism.
Brian is the Vice President of Trade Development & Real Estate at the Prince Rupert Port Authority, which oversees Canada's third largest port. In this role, Brian leads a team that supports $60 billion in annual trade, drives $1.4 billion in economic activity in northern BC, and creates 3,700 direct jobs in port-related businesses.
|
|
|
|
Supplier Opportunities: RFP - Intercultural Competence Services and RFQ - Educational Content Development for the Tourism Industry
|
We are always improving and expanding the way we market BC as a tourist destination, focussing on the long-term, sustainable growth of the tourism sector. Due to the dynamic nature of the tourism industry, we are often looking for qualified contractors, consultants, and other suppliers, with expertise in specific areas, to support our work. Currently, we have two active supplier Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and Request for Proposal (RFP) opportunities available including:
|
|
Share these opportunities with your networks (Destination Vancouver/Kindred & Scout).
|
|
|
|
Register for a fall TDA intake, here.
|
|
Accelerate Your Digital Marketing! - Register for the Tourism Digital Academy Program - Limited Space Available
|
Two fall intakes of our Tourism Digital Academy (TDA) are now open: Oct. 3 – Nov. 22, 2023 and Oct. 10 – Nov. 29, 2023. Register for this free, eight-week digital marketing program for BC tourism businesses that want to build their knowledge and skills in digital marketing to an intermediate level. Designed for business owners or marketing team members, this comprehensive program will help jumpstart your digital marketing activities. This program provides actionable guidance and live sessions with industry experts that will help build your understanding of SEO, website usability, content, email marketing, and analytics.
|
|
|
|
Great Bear Rainforest Event in China
|
Building on the success of the Great Bear Rainforest IMAX movie's screening at the China Film Museum in Beijing in 2022, on July 22, 2023, the Consulate General of Canada in Chongqing, together with Destination BC China, hosted one of their top offline events by screening the film at the Chongqing Science and Technology Museum. The event aimed to promote Canada and BC as a top travel destination, attracting over 200 consumers, primarily families.
|
|
The event garnered attention from local Chinese media and was featured on the Canadian Embassy in China’s social media channels, further amplifying its impact.
|
|
|
|
Learn more about other notable results for this campaign on our website.
|
|
Waitrose BC Campaign in the UK Achieves Record Breaking Results
|
We recently partnered with high-end retailer and supermarket brand, Waitrose & Partners (UK), on an omnichannel marketing campaign that ran from January - June 2023 and consisted of media elements across outlets including Waitrose Food Magazine, Waitrose Weekend Magazine, and waitrose.com. The campaign highlighted food offerings in BC following the announcement of Vancouver's inaugural Michelin Guide and showcased restaurant offerings across the province. The campaign also offered a 'Win a Holiday to BC' competition giving people the opportunity to enter to win a vacation to explore BC's foodie stars on a new Culinary Connoisseurs itinerary with our tour operator partner North America Travel Service (NATS). Competition entries for the BC holiday achieved record-breaking results with 175,304 entries, marking the highest number of entries ever recorded for a Waitrose holiday competition.
|
|
|
|
Did you know Google’s Universal Analytics is No Longer Collecting Data? Our New Learning Centre Resource Can Help You: Everything You Need to Know about Google Analytics 4
|
By now, you may have heard about Google Analytics (GA) sunsetting their Universal Analytics (UA) program effective July 1, 2023. Due to this, it's important for all tourism businesses to install Google’s next generation of analytics, GA4 to continue collecting customer data. By embracing GA4, tourism businesses can gain deeper insights, make better-informed decisions, and enhance the overall website experience for their site visitors. To support tourism businesses and operators with this transition, we’ve created a new Learning Centre resource, Everything You Need to Know about GA4, that outlines key details tourism businesses need to be aware of to seamlessly changeover to or install GA4. This resource covers everything tourism businesses need to know about GA4 by highlighting the key benefits of GA4, including improved data privacy, cross-device and app tracking, and advanced analytics capabilities.
|
|
Google Analytics 4 has arrived!
|
|
|
|
Download our new summer responsible travel infographics for sharing with your networks on social media.
|
|
Summer Emergency Messaging Guidance
|
Visit our website to access the latest Emergency Messaging Guidance and learn more about official emergency information resources for BC as well as suggested messaging, infographics/visuals, and actions for BC’s tourism industry partners during emergencies. We've compiled resources and tips to help tourism businesses navigate questions, mitigate visitor concerns, and proactively manage perceptions during emergencies.
Step-by-step guides are available for download to help prepare tourism businesses and their staff for emergencies, with templates and tools to help operators easily plan a fast and effective response.
|
|
|
|
The CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 is BC’s plan to expand and accelerate climate action, building on the province’s natural advantages – abundant clean electricity, high-value natural resources, and a highly skilled workforce.
|
|
Electric Planes, Motorcycles, Boats Showcase BC Clean-Transportation Innovation
|
The CleanBC Go Electric Advanced Research and Commercialization (ARC) program is investing in funding to support research, development, and demonstration of new made-in-BC technologies that contribute to a thriving zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sector. Tourism-related projects have received funding via this program, including a hydrogen-fueled dinner cruise boat for use in Vancouver’s harbour and the conversion of an existing Harbour Air DHC-2 Mk1 Beaver aircraft to be fully electric. Upon certification from Transport Canada, Harbour Air Seaplanes plans to convert all of its DHC-2 Mk1 Beavers to be fully electric.
|
|
|
|
Building a Shared Vision of Outdoor Recreation in BC
|
On September 14, 2023, the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy is hosting an in-person 'Building a Shared Vision of Outdoor Recreation in BC' session in Kamloops. The session provides opportunity for participants to share diverse perspectives on the future of outdoor recreation in BC and discuss ways for how to best support the evolving outdoor recreation sector. A shared vision will ensure that the province’s approach is aligned with the commitments to Indigenous reconciliation and environmental stewardship.
|
|
|
|
|
Provide feedback by August 18, 2023 (Northern BC Tourism/Brandon Broderick).
|
|
BC Looking for Input on Grizzly Stewardship, Bear Viewing
|
People in BC are invited to share their thoughts on grizzly bear stewardship and commercial bear viewing as the Government of British Columbia develops strategies to strengthen environmental stewardship and biodiversity. The Ministry of Forests invites public feedback through two online questionnaires, available until August 18, 2023. Grizzly bears have special cultural significance in BC. They play an important role in many First Nations cultures, as well as tourism and recreational activities. Help shape the Commercial Bear Viewing Strategy, which provides guidance for responsible bear viewing practices and supports a sustainable wildlife tourism industry.
|
|
|
|
Learn more about these cabinet changes on the Government of Canada website, here.
|
|
Government of Canada Announces New Federal Minister of Tourism, Soraya Martinez Ferrada
|
On July 26, 2023, the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, announced that Quebec MP Soraya Martinez Ferrada, who represents the riding of Hochelaga, would become the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for Quebec Regions. Former Minister of Tourism, Randy Boissonnault, has moved into the role of Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages.
|
|
|
|
Vancouver Organizations Receive Funding to Revitalize Local Public Spaces and Enhance Tourism Experiences
|
The Government of Canada has announced funding for new and improved public spaces in Vancouver and creating tourism experiences that stimulate the local economy and enhance community wellness. Funding will be used to help upgrade temporary plazas and parklets into long-term community hubs across the city for residents and visitors to enjoy. Initially created during the pandemic to offer more outdoor space to eat, rest, socialize and participate in neighbourhood activities, these plazas and parklets have become well-loved community spaces. These investments are expected to create more than 80 new jobs and attract over 67,000 new local, national and international visitors to Vancouver.
|
|
View the full lists of projects, here.
|
|
|
|
Visit our Research webpage for data on resident perceptions of tourism, industry performance, market research, and more.
|
|
International Visitor Arrivals
The monthly International Visitor Arrivals publication summarizes customs entries data to BC and Canada from selected markets of origin. This publication includes information for both the particular month and year-to-date, and includes percentage changes over the same period of the previous year.
|
|
|
|
|
Our Learning Centre provides access to resources and tools, best practices, workshops, and training programs for BC’s tourism industry.
|
Through the Google Analytics dashboard, you can learn information about your website and app visitors and create advanced audience segments.
|
|
Using Google Analytics to Understand Your Audience
|
To market in meaningful and compelling ways, you need to know your audience–who they are, how they want to engage with you, and what they respond to. This resource helps you learn about Google Analytics and how to gain a more comprehensive understanding of your current audience.
|
|
|
|
YVR Offering Digital Tools to Better Serve Passengers
|
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has introduced new measures and digital tools to help travellers navigate the airport more easily and enjoy their experience at YVR during a very busy period. This includes an online journey mapping platform that outlines step-by-step guides to navigate the airport. It also includes providing timely reports on YVR’s operational performance, with the latest data on baggage delivery, on-time performance, and security screening wait times posted to its website. YVR EXPRESS, Mobile Passport Control, and ArriveCAN continue to be available for travellers to further streamline their trip and save time throughout the travel process. To supplement these digital solutions, YVR has increased staff across the operation and in terminal to meet peak demand and ensure travellers of all abilities are supported throughout their journey.
|
|
YVR continues to remind travellers to plan ahead, arrive early, and leverage the digital tools that are available.
|
|
|
|
|
BC Parks Visitor Satisfaction Survey
|
Have you visited a BC Park recently? Whether you camped, hiked, biked, boated, or explored, BC Parks wants to hear from you! Take their Visitor Satisfaction survey by September 15, 2023 and help shape the future of parks across the province. Help BC Parks learn more about visitor experiences, activity preferences, and where there is room for improvement. Your feedback will be used to support future decision-making, training, and funding for facilities, trails, and other initiatives. BC Parks is committed to protecting and managing the province’s diverse wilderness for future generations, and providing high-quality, safe, outdoor recreation opportunities.
|
|
Share this engagement opportunity with your networks and take the survey by Sept. 15, 2023.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|