IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism Conference 2022

The dream to create a legacy for sustainable and regenerative tourism in Canada is stronger than ever, and your voices are needed. Join in on a national conversation on sustainable tourism, as delegates and speakers explore and compare models for tourism recovery. Hear from some of the most creative and innovative experts in the business and address our new reality of higher expectations, for and of visitors.

Date: January 23 - 26, 2022, Victoria, BC

The deadline for IMPACT 2022 Early Bird Registration is ending on November 30th.

Employee Support During Floods & Other Natural Disasters: Tips & Resources from go2HR

go2HR has shared a list of practical things employers can do to help support employees during and after a natural disaster:

1. Check in – Remember that employees may be dealing with the impacts of a disaster both at home and at work. Check in regularly with them and encourage them to do the same. Where possible, provide support such as contact information for your employee family assistance program, benefits provider, employment insurance or mental health resources.

2. Communicate – During and after a disaster, communication will be critical. Provide ongoing communication, updates and information using as many channels as possible (texts, email, social media, phone, communication apps, etc.). Access to power may be limited or interrupted during a disaster so be sure to keep messages brief and concise.

3. Offer flexibility – Often in times of disaster, individuals, businesses and communities join together to support each other. While some employees may need time off to deal with their personal situations, others may have a desire to be involved in clean up or rebuilding efforts however they may not be able to financially afford to take the time off. Offer flexibility such as additional time off (paid or unpaid), alternate work schedules, or adjust shift start/end times for employees who need or seek to be involved.

4. Move forward – As the initial shock and emergency response period passes and recovery efforts start, everyone’s attention will turn to regaining a sense of normalcy. Employees will want and need to know what is happening in their workplace and what is expected of them. Be sure to let your employees know how the business has been impacted and their job/shifts, etc. as a result. Depending on how your business has been impacted, this may include communicating information such as:

• When they can expect to get back to work

• What their schedule will look like

• What they should do if they need additional time off to deal with insurance, clean up or other personal challenges related to the flood

• What they should do if they are working from home and their work equipment has been damaged, etc.

As recovery and clean-up efforts start to get underway, it is important to recognize that it will take time and that individuals will respond and process the events in their own way.

Additional Mental Health Resource

• Tips for Coping with Natural Disaster Stress - If you or your employees are feeling stressed or anxious, you are not alone and support is available. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) BC offers tips and resources to help cope with natural disaster stress.

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Kelowna Yacht Club's Energy Conservation Campaign

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Energy Campaign Details

TOTA’s Energy Analyst recently worked with Biosphere Committed Company, Kelowna Yacht Club in partnership with BC Hydro and FortisBC, in creating an energy conservation campaign to encourage their staff to reduce consumption through simple and effective actions. From September 16th to October 7th, energy conservation posters were placed around different areas of the Yacht Club and encouraged staff to use provided checklists to complete energy conservation tasks such as:

• Turning off the lights when not required

• Utilizing daylight whenever and wherever possible instead of turning on lights inside the building

• Closing the windows when the heating or air conditioning system is running

• Running the dishwashers only on full loads and turning off the internal tank heaters in the dishwashers overnight

Brenda Cortes, Kelowna Yacht Club’s Environmental Manager, helped coordinate all of the campaign activities with their staff members. In recognition of three staff members that actively participated in the energy conservation campaign local gift cards were awarded to Brenda Cortes, Emily Wallich, and Mario Arango.

“Running this campaign brought great participation even though there were actions we already did, it brought conscious awareness back among our staff about energy usage and generated a healthy conversation.”

- Brenda Cortes

Emily Wallich, Watersports & Education Administrator

Brenda Cortes, Environmental Manager

Mario Arango, Front of House Manager

To learn more or receive advice on what sustainable practices you can implement at your place of employment or at home contact TOTA’s Biosphere Commitment team at biosphere@totabc.com.

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Go Electric BC - CleanBC

Through the CleanBC plan, the Province is making clean transportation more affordable and accessible for British Columbians.

Not using gasoline means lower costs, which is good for families and businesses. Electric vehicle owners save big on fuel costs – about $1,800 every year for the average B.C. driver.

A provincial rebate of up to $3,000 is available to help with the up-front cost of an electric vehicle, which can be combined with other federal rebates for as much as $8,000 in savings. Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts, so they typically require less maintenance. That means saving time and money on regular vehicle upkeep and maintenance.

Electric vehicle drivers in B.C. can get a sticker that allows them to use our HOV lanes, even if there’s only one person in the car.

Apply for an HOV lane/electric vehicle permit and decal.

Making sure more of the vehicles we use are powered by clean B.C. electricity and hydrogen is one of the most important steps we can take to reduce carbon pollution. Ninety eight percent of the power BC Hydro generates comes from clean, renewable resources.

With an ever-growing network of charging stations, it’s easier than ever to charge an electric vehicle, whether your trip takes you around the corner or across the province. Rebates are available to help people with the costs of adding charging infrastructure in their homes and workplaces.

Learn more about charging station rebates

Range varies by vehicle, but most new electric vehicles have a range over 350 km. It’s also worth considering that most people live less than 25 km from work, so most modern EVs can meet the average commuter’s needs by plugging in just once or twice a week.

BCRTS Tourism Summit 2021 - Session Recordings Now Available

On November 3 and 4, TOTA co-hosted the 2021 BCRTS Tourism Summit with the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS) and Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). 

The conference was filled with inspiring moments and key insights to reimagine the future of tourism. The virtual format allowed us to connect with over 900 delegates from British Columbia, Canada, and over 60 other countries.

As a virtual event, many aspects will live on beyond the days of the Summit and can be accessed until December 5, 2021.

You can still register, free of charge, to access the session recordings and downloadable resources. Feel free share this opportunity with others in your organization and network.

How to Access Session Recordings and Resources

1. Go to BCTourismSummit.com

2. Click Register and complete the form

3. Click "Login" in the top right corner and enter the email address you registered with. No password is required.

4. Click the building to enter the virtual lobby.

5. In the top navigation bar, click "Auditorium."

6. Scroll to the session and click "Play."

Session Recordings

This year's summit featured over 40 speakers in 9 sessions. Thank you to the speakers and panelists for sharing their expertise and insights in the following sessions:

• GSTC Destination Management Workshop 1 - Measuring Carbon Emissions

• GSTC Destination Management Workshop 2 - Engagement with the Private Sector

• GSTC Destination Management Workshop 3: Natural Areas and Visitor Management

• Panel: Shaping the Future of Tourism

• Panel: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Tourism

• Panel: Tourism Operators Creating a Positive Net Impact

• Panel: Truth, then Reconciliation

• Panel: Access for All

• Session: How to Imagine a Regenerative Future for Tourism - Cultivating the mindset, creativity and process to enact change

The recordings are now available and can be viewed any time over the next 30 days (see details above).

Exhibition Hall Videos & Downloads

The virtual booths will remain in the Exhibition Hall for the next 30 days, with links, videos, and downloadable resources at your fingertips. The booth chat will not be monitored but feel free to reach out to exhibitors by email.

Globox™ Raffle Tickets to Support Wildfire Relief for Indigenous Communities

Glohaven Community Hub is holding a raffle featuring Globox™ gift boxes. Proceeds will be donated to support wildfire relief for Thompson Okanagan Indigenous communities through the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society.

The remaining Globox™ prizes are:

• Eldorado Resort Experience VIP Globox™

• Sicamous Houseboats Experience Family Fun Globox™

• Spirit Ridge Resort Experience Indigenous Globox™

• Summerland Resort Experience Remarkably Loved Globox™

• SilverStar Experience Family Fun Globox™

Important Dates

• 2nd Early Bird Draw: November 24 at 1 PM - Globox™ #5

• Main Draw: December 15 at 12 PM - Globoxes™ #1 - 4

Support for B.C. Tourism Businesses

If your company is facing challenges in British Columbia due to COVID-19 or other difficulties, you can access many free resources through the BC Tourism Resiliency Network, another initiative of the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS).

Visit TourismResiliency.ca to register for a one-on-one meeting with a regional advisor and access support programs, educational webinars, research reports, resources, and more. 

Thank You to the Event Sponsors

This event would not have been possible without all of our amazing sponsors. As such, we would like to extend a big thank you to GreenStep, WebAdvisors, Navigator Multimedia, FortisBC, Toni Lepore, StratIS Group, Community Futures BC, TELUS, Air Canada, and YLW Kelowna International Airport.

Lastly, a special thank you to GiGn and The Gary Cable Project for hosting the virtual concert!