Grants of $2,000 to $20,000 are available to hospitality, fitness, and accommodation businesses impacted by the March 31, 2021 Public Health Officer orders on gatherings and events and liquor and food serving premises, and the April 23, 2021 EPA order on travel.
Grants are available until June 4, 2021 or until funds are fully expended, whichever comes first. Apply as soon as possible.
Read MoreBSAFE is a new online training course created in partnership with tourism and hospitality stakeholders and go2HR, the tourism and hospitality industry health and safety authority. This complementary training provides staff with a strong foundation in COVID-19 health and safety protocols. BSAFE is set to become an industry standard: a recognizable indicator of the extent to which health and safety is a priority for BC’s tourism and hospitality employers.
The course is 60-90 minutes in duration, followed by a multiple-choice test to verify the learner’s knowledge.
Read MoreA Communications Toolkit is available to help accommodators and tourism operators to inform guests, staff, and stakeholders of the provincial travel restrictions.
Please review and share the toolkit, which includes key messaging, Q&A, and other resources to better-position industry to handle these restrictions.
The BC Government has made regulatory improvements under the Employment Standards Act to bring in job-protected leave for workers needing time off to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Full- and part-time workers can take time off to receive the vaccine, or take a dependent family member. The government is also exploring options to provide workers with paid leave while getting their vaccine.
Read MoreFree workshops, webinars and information to help employers and employees in industries hard-hit by the pandemic manage stress and build resiliency. The Workplace Mental Health Hub provides a range of tools for workers in the tourism, hospitality, and community social services and other sectors to improve their overall mental health as well as navigation support to connect to other mental health services, including counselling and peer support.
Read MoreTOTA is seeking tourism operators to provide job placements post-program for job-ready participants. Sign up to receive a list of potential candidates based on location, interest, and experience. Job postings will be shared during and after the Job Fair.
Read MoreCEBA provides interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs—such as rent, utilities and insurance—during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced. These loans are partially forgivable as repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25 percent (up to $10,000). Applicants now have until June 30, 2021 to apply for a $60,000 CEBA loan or the $20,000 expansion at their financial institution.
Read MoreWestern Economic Diversification Canada (WD) provides eligible small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with an interest-free repayable contribution of up to $60,000 to help alleviate financial hardship resulting from COVID-19 during the period of April 1, 2020 – March 31, 2021. The objective is to assist western Canadian SMEs that do not qualify for the Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA) program, or the "RRRF – Community Futures Stream." Application Deadline: June 30, 2021.
Read MoreTOTA hosted a virtual Job Fair & Open House on April 22 to introduce participants of the Tourism Skills Training Program to potential employers and industry connections.
Read MoreBusinesses heavily impacted by COVID-19 can access guaranteed, low-interest loans of $25,000 to $1 million to cover operational cash flow needs. These loans are for small and medium-sized businesses that have seen their revenues decrease by 50% or more as a result of COVID-19. The HASCAP Guarantee is available until June 30, 2021.
Read MoreABLE BC has developed several resources for liquor primary establishments to operate through the pandemic, including the Liquor Primary Reopening Best Practices Handbook, guidelines for what to do if you have a COVID-19 outbreak at your business, and signage to display at your establishment.
Read MoreGrants of $10,000 to $30,000 are available to small and medium-sized businesses impacted by COVID-19, with an additional $5,000 to $15,000 available to eligible tourism-related businesses.
UPDATE: The application deadline has been extended to August 31, 2021, or until funds are fully committed, whichever comes first.
Businesses now only need to show a 30% revenue loss from March 2020 to now, when compared to the same one-month period in 2019.
If businesses need extra help gathering the right documents during the application stage, or support with translation or interpretation services, they can now get that help from a Small Business BC vetted professional service provider. This service will now be included in the up to $2,000 in additional government funding paid to the service provider.
On Friday, March 12th, the BC Tourism and Hospitality Conference is pleased to offer 8 complimentary workshops for all to take part in. Workshops are designed to build industry knowledge, offering the foundation needed to drive success in 2021.
Read MoreGo2HR has offered a wide range of services available to BC Hospitality workers. Whether you need support in starting a new hospitality business or require guidance in overcoming the challenges you are facing in an existing business due to the current situation, resources and services are there for you to avail at no cost.
Read MoreTOTA is seeking tourism operators to provide mentoring to Training Centre program participants. By volunteering as a mentor you can make a difference for a budding tourism professional by sharing career advice, positive support, and encouraging words.
Read MoreThe Connecting British Columbia program is currently accepting applications for Phase Three of the program. Current funds ($50 Million) are available right now to help internet service providers and regional and local governments connect people in rural and Indigenous communities with high-speed internet.
Read MoreBars, pubs and Restaurants with Liquor License in BC will now have permanent access to buy beer, wine and spirits at wholesale price set by the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB). This decision can help hospitality businesses with liquor license to save 5% more on their wine, beer and spirit sales.
Read MoreThe Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) supports the improvement of physical conditions for arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation. The Fund supports renovation and construction projects, the acquisition of specialized equipment and feasibility studies related to cultural spaces.
Read MoreThe Ready to E-Market: Digital Support Services provides tourism businesses with one on one guidance in determining where you currently are digitally and where your business needs to be.
Read MoreCommunity Futures Okanagan-Similkameen is organizing 7 upcoming events from Digital Marketing to Business Plan Development for Small Businesses. Check out Community Futures Okanagan-Similkameen's Live events and past events.
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