The Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC)

07/11/2024

BC's private camping sector gathered in Manning Park this week for the BC Lodging/Campgrounds - BCLCA annual Ideas Forum. TIABC's Walt Judas (pictured with BCLCA's Joss Penny) was on hand to provide an advocacy update and hear from operators on issues affecting their businesses.

While the camping sector in BC remains strong overall, the 2024 season was considered to be uneven vis-a-vis key performance indicators such as occupancy and revenue. Some regions were on par or up compared with 2023 while others experienced a decline by as much as 10% due to the threat of wildfires, inflation and other factors.

British Columbia boasts some 615 private campgrounds, resorts and RV parks that attract guests from all over the world. The sector remains optimistic that 2025 will be a good year barring any major crisis.

05/11/2024

Indigenous Tourism BC held its AGM & Indigenous Tourism Gathering in downtown Vancouver this week. ITBC Chair Brenda Baptiste, who also serves as a TIABC director, presided over the event, attended by some 150 delegates including Walt Judas, pictured with ITBC Chief Marketing & Development Officer, Paula Amos.

ITBC's mission is to provide support to all its respected stakeholders in experience development, training, funding access, networking opportunities, marketing programs, and current industry research.

The organization gained some 227 new stakeholders over the past year and has increased its staff complement to 25 to help achieve its key objectives. ITBC also launched its new 25-year vision for Indigenous tourism in BC.

05/11/2024

TIABC CEO Walt Judas, British Columbia Hotel Association's Ingrid Jarrett, Destination British Columbia's Josie Heisig, Destination Vancouver's Michael Drake and Vancouver Deputy Mayor Mike Klassen were among the speakers honouring some 800 frontline workers at the recent Vancouver Tourism Awards Gala masterfully emceed by FASTSIGNS Paul LeBlanc at the JW Marriott Parq Hotel.

The Gala annually celebrates both monthly winners throughout the year, as well as all nominees. This year's featured speaker was BC Paralympian Josh Dueck who won a silver medal in skiing for Canada at both the 2010 and 2014 Winter Paralympics. His message of passion, perseverance and possibility earned him a standing ovation.

Huge kudos to Peggie Terry, the Board of Directors and the entire Vancouver Tourism Awards team for another outstanding gala.

📷: Rhonda Dent

02/11/2024

Ready to gain the latest insights and engage with fellow tourism professionals? 💼

Don't miss out on the 2025 BC Tourism Industry Conference! The program overview and exciting details are now live on our website. Mark your calendars for March 5-7, 2025, and stay tuned for updates on keynote speakers, engaging sessions, networking opportunities, and more.

Details here 🔗 https://bit.ly/2HAiPWT.

We look forward to seeing you in Vancouver next year!

30/10/2024

TIABC’s Walt Judas, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association's Ellen Walker Matthews and Travel Penticton’s Thom Tischik connected at the opening reception of the TOTA Summit in Vernon this week. Walt was one of the Summit speakers and spoke about the new political landscape in BC following last week’s provincial election.

At the TOTA AGM on Tuesday, TIABC Director Sandra Oldfield was elected as TOTA’s new board chair.

29/10/2024

🍽️ DMO Strategies for Sustainable Food Practices in Tourism & Hospitality

Join Ben Liegey, founder and CEO of BetterTable.ca who will be delivering an engaging webinar on effective DMO strategies for implementing sustainable food practices in the hotel and restaurant industry. Learn first hand in a panel discussion how RDMO’s CDMO’s and industry leaders are developing best practices and innovative approaches while working to support their stakeholders on their regenerative journey.

📅 Date: Tuesday, November 5
🕛 Time: 12:00 pm (PT), virtual event

🗣️ Panelists:
- Ellen Walker-Matthews, CEO, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
- Nancy Small, CEO, Tourism Richmond
- Julia Canton, Sustainability Manager, Huntington Hotel & Suites

This webinar is a joint partnership between the BCDMOA and TIABC. Learn more and register here:https://bit.ly/3YFszY0

Please join in as we introduce the first in BCDMOA's new "Lunch & Learn" series of webinars that we aim to deliver on a regular basis to keep you better informed on important topics that are top of mind in our industry. Our first guest is Ben Liegey, Founder and CEO at BetterTable.ca who will be del...

25/10/2024

TIABC CEO Walt Judas presented to delegates at the Kootenay Rockies Summit in Nelson where he spoke about what the final election results will mean for the tourism sector in BC. He also moderated a panel discussion on emergency management featuring BCHA's Ingrid Jarrett, HatchComms' Kate Colley, and Kootenay Rockies Tourism's Corrine Bundschuh. The Kootenay Rockies region represents about 10% of British Columbia's annual tourism revenues.

24/10/2024

CEO Walt Judas spoke about TIABC's advocacy priorities at the Northern British Columbia Tourism Association (NBCTA) Summit in Prince George this week. It was the first in-person NBCTA conference in five years and attracted close to 100 delegates including Smithers tourism operator Al McCreary who is the past president of ABLE BC.

Delegates heard from several speakers on topics ranging from tourism crisis communications preparedness and sustainability, to AI and trail building with Indigenous partners. The Summit continues through Thursday with sessions on place making, innovation and marketing.

20/10/2024

Sponsorship Opportunities 🎉

Our sponsors are critical to what makes the BC Tourism Industry Conference a consistent success. Aside from helping to offset the costs of staging this event, sponsors deliver benefits to delegates that help grow their businesses, as well as BC’s visitor economy as a whole.

If your company is keen to connect with tourism leaders and stakeholders throughout British Columbia and Canada, we encourage you to partner with us for the 2025 BC Tourism Industry Conference.

If you have a unique sponsorship idea that you would like to explore, please contact us. We offer the flexibility to customize packages to meet your unique business objectives. Packages are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We look forward to seeing you in beautiful Vancouver.

Contact us at: [email protected]

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3zwJ7Yu

18/10/2024

🔈 Opportunity Alert! The Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) is seeking dedicated individuals to join the Board of Directors for the 2024-2026 term. If you're passionate about tourism in BC, this is your chance to contribute to shaping the future of the industry.

🕔 Clock's ticking! Your last opportunity to apply is Friday, October 25th at 5:00 pm.

To apply or learn more, click here: https://conta.cc/3ZZ7ZTQ

Email from Tourism Industry Association of BC The Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) Governance Committee is seeking qualified individuals for the 2024-2026 term that are dedicated to the succ

16/10/2024

Check out our 2024 TIABC Election Toolkit! 🗳️

The election toolkit addresses the value of tourism to British Columbia and informs on what the tourism and hospitality priorities are.

The comprehensive toolkit expands on these areas by providing recommended questions to ask candidates, for example: "How does your party view tourism as an industry and government priority relative to other sectors of British Columbia’s economy?"

Please download the 2024 TIABC Election Toolkit below, share it with your members and your stakeholders, educate on the value of tourism and inform candidates on today's issues facing our sector. Feel free to send TIABC additional questions that can be added.

Download here: https://bit.ly/486bDxf

13/10/2024

🍁 Happy Thanksgiving! 🍂

In observance of Thanksgiving, our offices will be closed on Monday, October 14th. We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, October 15th.

Wishing you a joyful and safe Thanksgiving Holiday with family, friends, and loved ones.

11/10/2024

Geared up for the 2024 election? Check out our 2024 TIABC Election Toolkit! 🗳️

The election toolkit addresses the value of tourism to British Columbia and informs on what the tourism and hospitality priorities are.

The comprehensive toolkit expands on these areas by providing recommended questions to ask candidates, for example: "How does your party view tourism as an industry and government priority relative to other sectors of British Columbia’s economy?"

Please download the 2024 TIABC Election Toolkit below, share it with your members and your stakeholders, educate on the value of tourism and inform candidates on today's issues facing our sector. Feel free to send TIABC additional questions that can be added.

Download here: https://bit.ly/486bDxf

09/10/2024

📣 TIABC Call for Nominations!

The Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) is seeking dedicated individuals to join the Board of Directors for the 2024-2026 term. If you're passionate about tourism in BC, this is your chance to contribute to shaping the future of the industry.

📝 Deadline for submissions: Friday, October 25th at 5:00 pm.

To apply or learn more, click here: https://conta.cc/3ZZ7ZTQ

Email from Tourism Industry Association of BC The Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) Governance Committee is seeking qualified individuals for the 2024-2026 term that are dedicated to the succ

08/10/2024

2025 BC Tourism Industry Conference

We’re excited to share that the conference program overview, registration rates, and hotel room booking details for the 2025 BC Tourism Industry Conference are now available to view on our website.

Explore the program overview. While detailed timing will be released later this fall, we're pleased to announce that the program will return to the Wednesday-to-Friday format. Mark your calendars for March 5-7, 2025, and stay tuned for updates on keynote speakers, engaging sessions, networking opportunities, and more.

Visit the conference website here: 🔗 https://bit.ly/2HAiPWT

We look forward to seeing you in Vancouver next year!

07/10/2024

The Tourism Innovation Lab hosted a Partners Roundtable & Strategy Summit in Windsor Essex & Detroit this week to help the organization shape its future, foster networking opportunities, enhance program engagement, and organize interactive mobile workshops and visits with tourism innovators and entrepreneurs in the region.

The Tourism Innovation Lab is a non-profit tourism development incubator that recently celebrated its 5 year anniversary. Its programs have been offered across BC and Ontario and have sparked and supported over 150 new tourism ideas and entrepreneurs through seed funds and mentorships, including 2SLGBTQI+, Accessible, Black, and Indigenous tourism businesses and initiatives.

TIABC CEO Walt Judas joined TIL's Justin Lafontaine and Alex Berlyand at the Strategy Summit.

06/10/2024

Postcards from BC 📬

Wish you were here from Erinn Kredba, Executive Director of Tourism Langley, at the beautiful Riverside Cranberry Farm in Langley! 🍁🌾