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VANCOUVER, COAST & MOUNTAINS
DECEMBER 2022 NEWSLETTER
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Winter's solitude blankets Chilliwack. | Destination BC/Shayd Johnson
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VCM Industry Forum – An Event To Remember!
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Thank you to everyone who joined us for the VCM Industry Forum on November 29 at Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier in North Vancouver! We are pleased the snow didn’t derail plans, though we do acknowledge that some guests weren’t able to safely travel to be with us in person. We also want to express our gratitude to Spakwus Slolem for helping us get the day started in a good way. Click here to see a short video of their welcome.
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Thank you to everyone who joined us for the VCM Industry Forum!
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The Destination Management Councils have convened in-person meetings.
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Destination Management Council Updates
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For the first time since VCM's four Destination Management Councils were formed, some in-person council meetings have taken place:
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In October, the Fraser Valley Destination Management Council met in Hope at Mountainview Brewing (tip: it's a great place to stop for a delicious bite and beverage!).
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In November, the Sea to Sky Destination Management Council gathered in Squamish. The group was meant to take in the sights at the Sea to Sky Gondola, but Mother Nature had other plans… Big thanks to Tourism Squamish for the quick adjustment to host the council meeting at the Squamish Adventure Centre instead.
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Also in November, the Sunshine Coast Destination Management Council convened in Powell River for a meeting that coincided with the Sunshine Coast Tourism AGM. In Powell River, the VCM team participated in the Fall Forum, which focused on backcountry recreation, and participated in a walking tour of Townsite led by a former Chief of the Tla’amin Nation.
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The Metro Vancouver Destination Management Council plans to convene an in-person meeting in 2023.
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All of these councils work together to advance shared community priorities as outlined in the Destination Development strategies.
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Destination BC’s Mika Ryan and Sabrina Robson and
VCM’s Heather McGillivray at the Vancouver media event.
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Travel Trade & Travel Media Relations Update
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This fall, Destination BC reinstated its BC media events in Vancouver and Calgary with approximately 35 of each market’s top travel journalists attending. VCM was represented at both events, sharing story ideas in person after a three-year hiatus and generating interest in exploring the region in 2023.
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In December, VCM participated in the Canadian Inbound Tourism Association – Asia Pacific (CITAP) winter function and met with frontline staff of the Lower Mainland’s primary receptive tour operators. International Media Marketplace (IMM) – North America in January will provide the opportunity for scheduled one-on-one appointments with 24 travel journalists from the U.S. and Canada.
For more information about VCM’s travel media relations and travel trade activities, or to share story ideas and new product updates, contact Heather McGillivray at [email protected].
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Holiday Mental Health Tips
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With the busy holiday season upon us, take the time to protect your mental health with these holiday tips prepared by the Canada Mental Health Association. BC's Hub for Workplace Mental Health, in partnership with go2HR, shares additional tips in these educational videos, which aim to support employees in hospitality and tourism during what can be a busy and stressful time for many.
Looking for mental health support? Reach out to Shane Lobsinger, Workplace Learning Coach with go2HR at [email protected].
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Save your sanity this holiday with free mental health support. Unsplash/Elisa Ventur
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Get ready to save costs and reduce consumption in 2023!
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Sustainability Tips and Tricks
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With the new year approaching, December is a great time to reflect on 2022. A quick and useful end-of-year sustainability exercise is to assess your yearly expenses and usage for energy, water or waste. Simply gather your bills from the past year and enter the monthly cost and usage into a spreadsheet. Are the totals more or less than you thought? How can you reduce impact and save money? Write down any ideas or specific actions, and get excited to save costs and reduce consumption in 2023! For example actions, check out GreenStep’s Top 12 Ways to Save Energy in your Tourism Business.
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Drive More Leads to Your Website
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Destination BC works with tourism businesses across the province to help drive more leads to their websites. By placing tags on your website, view-through visits from Destination BC’s marketing efforts – which can total 90 percent of visits and subsequent conversions – can be measured. Capturing this data results in increased leads to partner websites. Participation is fast and easy!
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Limited Space Available! Register for the Tourism Digital Academy Program in its Flexible New Format
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New intakes for Destination BC's Tourism Digital Academy are open! Register for the 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 provides actionable guidance that will help build a better understanding of SEO, website usability, content, email marketing and analytics.
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Don't forget to update your business's accessibility information on HelloBC. | Tourism Chilliwack / Jennifer Kleingeltink
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Add Accessibility Features to Your HelloBC Listing
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Did you know that visitors to HelloBC.com are able to search for accessible accommodation, attractions, activities and experiences? To highlight the accessible features available at your business, please add your business’s accessibility features to your listing. There are five accessibility categories in the self-assessment checklist, which will form part of your listing on HelloBC: Mobility, Vision, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Cognitive/Sensory and General.
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Access Free Resources on the BC Content Hub
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Do you know about the BC Content Hub? It houses a vast collection of images, videos, maps and more from Destination BC and tourism organizations around the province. The assets can be used by the tourism industry and travel media for promoting travel in BC. To register for a free account, visit the BC Content Hub.
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Access a vast collection of BC tourism resources on the
BC Content Hub.
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Start planning now for summer staff! | Destination BC/Hubert Kang
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Canada Summer Jobs Program
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Now is the time to apply for government funding to hire young Canadians next summer through the Canada Summer Jobs program. The initiative provides wage subsidies to employers with 50 or fewer full-time employees to create summer work experiences for youth aged 15 to 30 years. Applications will be accepted until January 12, 2023. Sign up for an information session for further details.
Need HR Support? Reach out to Cindy Conti, HR Consultant, Vancouver, Coast & Mountains with go2HR at [email protected].
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Deadline Extended for 2023 BC Tourism & Hospitality Awards
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The 2023 BC Tourism & Hospitality Awards nomination deadline has been extended to December 22, 2022. Know an exceptional industry member who deserves recognition? Share this opportunity, learn about the award categories, and submit a nomination before December 22. The awards will be presented at the BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference, taking place March 1-3, 2023 in Prince George.
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