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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MARCH 11, 2022, B.C. — The British Columbia Tourism Resiliency Network , which includes the Vancouver Island Coastal Tourism Resiliency Program, has been recognized with a 2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality Award in the category of Community Contribution & Impact.
The 2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality Awards recognize and celebrate excellence, leadership, and innovation within British Columbia’s tourism and hospitality industry, showcasing the province’s most exceptional leaders and positive change-makers.
“We are honoured to have served BC tourism businesses throughout the pandemic and support their survival,” says Anthony Everett, President & CEO, Tourism Vancouver Island and Chair, British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat. “Tourism Vancouver Island initially garnered the funded partnership of Island Coastal Economic Trust to create the Vancouver Island Coastal Tourism Resiliency Program, which we were proud to see evolve into the province-wide British Columbia Tourism Resiliency Network.” This program was designed by the tourism industry for the tourism industry, utilizing our sector’s specialized understanding of our own needs to guide the recovery of B.C.’s visitor economy.”
Evolving from a program initiated by Tourism Vancouver Island, the British Columbia Tourism Resiliency Network is a long-term resiliency program led by the British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat, providing B.C. tourism businesses with meaningful, one-on-one support to navigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, adapt and work towards eventual recovery.
The British Columbia Tourism Resiliency Network has helped 2,033 tourism businesses to date, including 158 Indigenous-owned, 440 women-owned and six youth-owned businesses in communities spanning the province. 1,333 participants have successfully secured aid from government relief programs and an estimated 3,694 jobs have been preserved.
“By working together across the province, the British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat is maximizing our collective expertise and resources, and leveraging the local knowledge and long-standing relationships we’ve held with stakeholders in our five regions for over 50 years,” adds Ellen Walker-Matthews, Treasurer, British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat. “The British Columbia Tourism Resiliency Network has provided a vehicle for us to work together like never before and allowed the development of infrastructure that can be repurposed into managing other crises, but also future partnerships for the betterment of B.C.’s tourism industry.”
The British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat is a partnership between B.C.’s five not-for-profit Regional Destination Management Organizations, including: Tourism Vancouver Island, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association, Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association and Northern British Columbia Tourism Association.
The British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat gratefully acknowledges funding for the British Columbia Tourism Resiliency Network from Island Coastal Economic Trust and Western Economic Diversification Canada, and support from numerous additional partners.
The 2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality Awards were announced and presented at an awards gala on Thursday, March 10, 2022, as part of the 2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference hosted by the Tourism Industry Association of BC and British Columbia Hotels Association.
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Media Contact:
Anthony Everett
Tourism Vancouver Island / British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat
Cell: 250-640-1604
