Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery Archives

Businesses bear burden of loosening sick day rules

April 17, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Provincial, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery, Inflation And Rising Costs, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

A cost to employers rooted in the pandemic is now further ingrained in law after the provincial government moved to ban the requirement for doctor’s notes when employees take sick days.

“Businesses would have liked to have had more of a say on this policy,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “It’s one thing for the public sector to make this a requirement for its employees, but to force it on the private sector overlooks a lot of concerns we hear from members.”

Organizations understand the benefit of supporting their workers, especially in Greater Victoria with one of the lowest unemployment rates in Canada. During the pandemic, employers went to great lengths to support staff who were ill as well as to keep workers safe from infection. However, legislating paid sick days is a cost that is not covered by government. This additional burden on business adds up, especially at time when many organizations are facing lower margins.

“Most Chamber members I talk to have great relationships with their staff and go out of their way to help when needed,” Williams said. “But many are rightfully concerned that this change will create confusion and could incentivize abuse of the rules and potentially force employers to provide more paid days off work.”

Savings at the fuel pump welcomed by business

April 2, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Climate Change Solutions, Food Security, Government Federal, Government Provincial, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim Zeeben

The cost of fueling up at the pump has plummeted after the provincial government removed the carbon tax. Gas prices dropped below $1.60/litre yesterday — about 19 cents lower than they were the day before the tax was removed.

The lower fuel costs are welcome news to businesses that move goods and people.

“We hear from many struggling businesses and families so anything that unburdens them is needed right now,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said, noting that The Chamber offers members many benefits, including fuel discounts.

Century Celebration of Cup victory begins this week

March 26, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Provincial, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim Zeeben

The Century Celebration of the Victoria Cougars’ historic victory over the Montreal Canadians begins March 27. Three musical finalists — selected from 31 entries to a songwriting contest honouring the 1925 Stanley Cup win — kick things off by performing their original songs at the Bard and Banker.

Festivities continue on March 29-30, with family friendly events, including the highly anticipated return of the Cup for public viewing on Sunday at the Oak Bay Recreation Centre.

Century Celebration festivities centre around the old location of Patrick Arena — a former stadium in the District of Oak Bay where the 1925 Cougars clinched the cup championship. There is no parking onsite for this event. A park-and-ride shuttle, courtesy of Wilson’s Transportation, will run every 30 minutes between Oak Bay Marina and the festival site from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The events are being put on by the Victoria Hockey Legacy Society, which hosted Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada in January 2024. The Chamber helped make that event a success, providing a direct boost to business and priceless promotion of our region. Hockey Day was also co-winner of Event of the Year at the Greater Victoria Sports Awards, announced last month.

For the latest on events and activities happening for the Century Celebration, go to vhls.ca.

Shifting cruise shuttle stop will help area businesses

February 26, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Fair Rules, Government Local, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber helped advocate for a small change that will have a big benefit for many downtown businesses. After explaining the concerns of having cruise ship shuttles stop short of Government Street’s retail core, the party’s involved agreed to shift to the 900 block.

The change takes place April 4. It required the approval of City of Victoria staff, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority and Pacific Northwest Transportation Services.

“We heard concerns from merchants that the buses were letting cruise ship passengers off before they could discover Government Street to its fullest,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “Instead of enjoying the area’s shops, cafes and restaurants, it seems passengers were staying in the area they were dropped off. We worked alongside Destination Greater Victoria and the Downtown Victoria Business Association to address this challenge.”

The new stop was chosen for safety and logistics, as well as its benefit to downtown businesses. About 160,000 cruise passengers used the shuttle service last year, while other passengers chose organized tours or other methods to get into the city.

Fed funding helps GVHA add shore power for ships

February 12, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Federal, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

Chamber CEO Bruce Williams attended an announcement Tuesday to hear federal Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Anita Anand announce a long-awaited contribution to our region.

The feds are providing $35.5-million for infrastructure projects across BC, including $22.5 million to help the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority advance the Shore Power Project under the Government of Canada’s Green Shipping Corridor Program.

The funds will help with electrifying the deep-water port at The Breakwater District, reducing emissions and supporting long-term economic growth in Greater Victoria.

“Shore Power is a critical first step in electrifying Ogden Point. It will ensure the terminal can provide the necessary power for cruise ships, vessels, and commercial operations like HeliJet, as well as over 30 businesses and future partners,” the GVHA said in a media release. “This initiative is part of a broader effort to establish a Green Corridor for cruise travel between Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. It is central to GVHA’s electrification plan for the deep-water port and upland port operations. Converting to renewable energy sources will increase the port’s self-sufficiency and strengthen its climate resilience.”

Regulatory burden crushing BC restaurant industry

October 23, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim Zeeben

They are a bellwether for business health. Restaurants in BC are hurting, which is a concern for everyone. Not only do restaurants operate on the front line of our economy but they provide the venues for much of our community’s vibrancy and social life.

“Restaurants are feeling the pain of inflation and low consumer confidence, but so are the hundreds of thousands of British Columbians they employ, and the many other economic sectors that depend on the restaurant industry to remain profitable, such as fisheries and agriculture,” said Mark von Schellwitz, Restaurants Canada Vice-President, Western Canada in a media release.

The industry lost nearly 5,000 jobs between August and September, and — outside of the pandemic years — is seeing the lowest employment level since 2016. This is the same time-frame that saw BC gain 20,000 jobs in total.

With a new BC government about to begin its mandate, the restaurant industry is calling for quick action to get rid of red tape, including:

reducing payroll taxes and asking the feds to reduce payroll taxes for employers and workers
returning WorkSafe BC’s $2.1 billion surplus to employers
and implementing a Tourism and Hospitality Stream to BC’s Provincial Nominee Program.

More than 80% of restaurants report food and labour costs are their top challenges during a time of slow sales.

Cruise ship industry seeks feedback from businesses

October 10, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim Zeeben

Does your business benefit from the cruise ship economy, or would you like to help serve this important sector? The Chamber is working with our community partners in the tourism industry to help them learn more about the Greater Victoria businesses that provide goods and services to cruise ship lines, passengers and crew.

A survey from the Cruise Lines International Association is seeking broad data that will be used to inform the results of an economic impact study for Canada. Completing the survey helps ensure the results represent the most inclusive information available.

Cruise Ship Business Survey

Condé Naste ranks Victoria as world’s best small city

October 3, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim Zeeben

We did it again! For the second year in a row, Victoria has been crowned Best Small City in the World by Condé Nast Traveler.

Our region captured the imagination of travel readers thanks to the same qualities they loved about us last year.

Our proximity to the big city of Vancouver (no mention of Seattle, which is almost equidistant) as well as our pronounced British heritage and the opportunity to day trip into ancient forests were highlights.

And once again the Fairmont Empress earned mention as “bucket-list worthy.”

Destination Greater Victoria said the ranking shows our region stands among the more interesting places in the world, and will help the tourism sector stay strong into next year.

Chamber-backed tourism corridor earns designation

October 3, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim Zeeben

A federal agency announced last week that the Juan de Fuca Corridor, between BC and Washington, has been named one of four key tourism corridors for future investment.

The Chamber supported the efforts of Destination Canada to select the corridor as part of a long-term tourism strategy.

“Our region has a well-developed and managed tourism industry and the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has promoted the benefits of the visitor economy for generations,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said in a media release. “The proposed Juan de Fuca Partnership is an exciting initiative for the coastal corridor between Canada and the United States and will benefit regions that have deep cultural and ecological connections. We owe it to future generations to work together in an open and transparent way to build an economy that works for everyone.”

The Tourism Corridor Strategy Program crosses provincial and territorial boundaries to “develop iconic new journeys for travellers to explore.”

The other tourism corridors are:

Cycle Ontario and Quebec (Ontario, Quebec)
Field to Fork: Saskatchewan Manitoba Agritourism (Saskatchewan, Manitoba)
Northern Sky Corridor (Alberta, Northwest Territories)

Rifflandia always a big boost for business in our region

July 24, 2024/in Business And Economic Strength, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim Zeeben

It’s become an icon of 21st century Greater Victoria, generating $7 million in economic impact and serving as a vanguard of emerging culture in our region.

Rifflandia, the music festival that put Vancouver Island on the international concert map, is preparing for its 2024 edition, Sept. 13-15, at the Matullia Lands in Rock Bay.

This year, The Chamber is partnering with Rifflandia to help build connections with our business community. More than 80% of the festival’s vendors, suppliers and crew are based in Greater Victoria. Rifflandia programs also encourage festival-goers to support local businesses in store and online.

The festival has grown over the years, showcasing many of our region’s top venues and offering a diverse experience. This year, organizers say the new location on the Matullia Lands in Rock Bay can accommodate up to 10,000 people.