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FEATURED

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TIAO IS ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO APPLYING FOR THE ONTARIO COVID-19 SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF GRANT    

Over the past few weeks, TIAO has received a number of stakeholder inquiries regarding payment timelines for the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant, business eligibility, and issues applying for the grant. We have been forwarding all cases that we have received onto our government contacts for review by grant program officers in the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Response times have been delayed but we are checking in with our government counterparts regularly to ensure that all cases are being addressed and all inquiries answered.  

If you are having issues applying for the Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant, email us at info@tiaontario.ca and we will do our best to address them.

REMINDER: CANADA DROPPING PRE-ARRIVAL PCR TESTING REQUIREMENT FOR FULLY VACCINATED TRAVELLERS   

As of February 28, 2022, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer be required to take a molecular COVID-19 test (I.e., PCR test) within 72 hours prior to entering Canada.  

Visit here for more information. 

APPLICATIONS FOR ONTARIO COVID-19 SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF GRANT OPEN UNTIL MARCH 11, 2022

Small businesses that are subject to closure under the modified Step Two of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen plan are now able to apply for the Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant.  Eligible businesses are able to apply for the program as of February 9, 2022, until March 11, 2022, to receive a grant of $10,000.  To apply, please visit here. 

CANADA EXTENDS EXPANDED ACCESS TO LOCAL LOCKDOWN PROGRAM AND WORKER LOCKDOWN BENEFIT

The federal government has announced its intention to extend enhanced support programs to ensure workers and businesses continue to get help through ongoing public health restrictions. Using the regulatory authority provided in Bill C-2, they intend to propose expanding access to the Local Lockdown Program and the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit by one month, until March 12, 2022: For more information, please visit here. 

MARCH 7TH

A THREE FIRES COLLABORATIVE QUEST 

EMPLOYEE-TO-EMPLOYER MATCHING EVENT 

SIGN UP TODAY TO SECURE YOUR SPOT 

Indigenous Tourism Ontario is pleased to partner with TIAO in presenting this month's Employee-to-Employer Matching Event as part of A Three Fires Collaborative Quest program. 

Taking place on Monday, March 7th, 2022, our virtual platform will allow video interviews to be scheduled between employers and potential employees in the Ontario tourism industry. If you haven't already applied for the program, there is still time!

Some of the available opportunities this month are:

• Remote-Work Project Management Positions
• Remote-Work Marketing Positions
• Customer Service Positions
• Accommodation Positions
• Guided Experience Positions
• Back of House Positions
• Front of House Positions
• Coffee Roasting positions

For full program details and how to apply, please click here.

BUILDING INCLUSIVE TOURISM

MARCH 9: LGBT+ OVERVIEW AND CASE STUDY

Join us by registering each month for our webinar series on Building Inclusive Tourism.

On Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at 12 pm, we are presenting theLGBT+ Overview and Case Study.

Session Information: It's estimated that Canadian LGBT+  travellers contribute $12 billion annually to the global travel market. Learn some of the ways your business can become more inclusive to one of the world's largest travel markets by addressing the needs of both your internal team who identify as LGBT+ as well as potential LGBT+ customers. Our webinar will:

• identify which individuals are included in this broad market,
• address the use of inclusive language,
• outline ways  businesses can become more inclusive,
• outline available programs to assist you and
• will provide a case study from Destination Kingston on their journey to become more LGBT+ inclusive.

Featuring Guest Speakers: 

• Loren Christie – Tourism/Hospitality Expert
• TJ Jones - Founding Consultant, Full Picture Management
• Allyson Tonelli - Director of Sales, Tourism Kingston

Register now and let the learning begin, please click here.

OTF’S RESILIENT COMMUNITIES FUND: GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR 2022

COVID-19 continues to have a significant impact on the non-profit sector and its ability to build resiliency, and support and serve communities across Ontario. The non-profit sector faces many challenges, including the need to adapt program and service delivery, generate revenue, meet changing community needs and address health and safety requirements.COVID-19 recovery support is essential for non-profit organizations, Indigenous communities, and Municipalities to deal with ongoing needs for both them and their communities. 

What is the Resilient Communities Fund?

This fund supports the recovery efforts of organizations impacted by COVID-19 and helps them respond with immediate, medium, and longer-term recovery projects.

• Applicants can apply for a minimum of $10,000, and up to $200,000, with a maximum of $100,000 per year.
• Application period is from March 9 until April 6, 2022 at 5 PM ET​.

To discover more about this fund and find out if your organization is eligible for funding please click here.

MAKE LOCAL SOURCING WORK FOR YOU

The Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA), in partnership with OTEC, has created a brand-new, free blended suite of online and instructor-led training program for hospitality businesses to better leverage the power of food tourism in Ontario. Food tourism is one of the fastest growing forms of tourism and a powerful driver for sustainable economic development in our region and beyond. Restaurants are an important part of the tourism industry in Ontario. Learn how local sourcing, storytelling and partnership can help grow your business and attract more people to Ontario.

To learn more and to enroll please click here.

DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR SKODE PROGRAM APPLICATIONS

Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) and the Tourism Innovation Lab have launched the 2nd edition of the Skode Program, an initiative to spark new Indigenous tourism ideas and experiences that authentically represent, celebrate and promote Indigenous culture, heritage, language, cuisine and communities in Ontario.

The program matches selected applicants with a mentor and provides a $5,000 non-repayable contribution to advance their new tourism ideas to the next level of development. Applications are being accepted from February 1 - March 4, 2022. Following a review by a jury of Indigenous tourism leaders, entrepreneurs and partner representatives, finalists will be invited to a virtual pitch session being held on March 29 where three winners will be selected. The Skode Program is a collaboration between ITO and the TIL, and made possible with support from the Government of Canada, Government of Ontario, and TD Bank Group.

For more details & upcoming info sessions please click here.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT AT THE FEO "ENERGIZE" VIRTUAL CONFERENCE - MONTH OF MARCH 2022

The theme for the 2022 FEO Conference is "ENERGIZE" with the key words RECONNECT . REIMAGINE . REFOCUS. All speakers, education sessions, networking opportunities etc will be geared towards building the festival and event industry back to where it was before the Pandemic and using what we have learned over the last two tears to improve user experiences, streamline operations and present a safe event for our customers.

When registering, be sure to use promo code Assoc2022 to receive the member rate of $99.

You can learn more and register by clicking here.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR INNOVATIVE RECREATION EXPERIENCES AND SERVICES AT ONTARIO PARKS 

Ontario Parks is looking for more ways to add innovative recreation experiences and services for people to enjoy at provincial parks, while also supporting local businesses, jobs and the provincial park system. That’s why they are inviting private, public and Indigenous businesses, non-profit organizations, community groups, and entrepreneurs to share their most innovative ideas for new recreation experiences at Ontario Parks. Interested people and organizations should be interested in the possibility of operating their business or service at provincial parks, with the goal of generating revenue for itself and for the use and care of Ontario Parks. The ideas with the highest potential may receive seed funding during future procurement.

Visit the Ontario Tenders Portal here (search under “current opportunities”) to learn more about the Request for Information for Innovation Recreation Experiences and Services at Ontario Parks. Submissions will be accepted until 11:00 a.m. on March 4, 2022

Related:

• Ontario Parks seeking innovative recreational experience ideas | Bancroft this Week

Debt relief remains a top priority for many tourism businesses and one we have continued to advocate for both provincially and federally. As such, TIAO is recommending to increase both the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) and the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) maximum loan forgiveness amount by up to $10,000 if the balance of the loan is repaid by the end of the 0% interest-free grace period; and extending the interest-free repayment period for CEBA loans and RRRF loans from their current end date of December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024.  This will help reduce the financial burden many businesses and organizations are currently facing. 

On January 12, the federal government announced that the repayment deadline to qualify for partial loan forgiveness for both the CEBA and RRRF loans is being extended from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2023.  But, since the start of the pandemic, about 7 in 10 Ontario tourism businesses have taken on debt that will take at least 2-3 years to resolve; this month, almost half of the province’s tourism businesses reported a pessimistic outlook for the future of their business and that of the tourism industry. As such, while this extension will provide some relief, it will not be enough. 

TIAO is asking you to write to your local MP and urge them to consider our recommendations. You can access the form letter here. Please address the letter to your local MP: You can find who your MP is here by typing in your postal code. For more information, and to access images you can use in your own social media campaign, please click here.

The need for debt relief is even more urgent with the Omicron COVID-19 variant. As the province rebuilds its economy and Ontarians return to a new normal, Ontario tourism must not be left behind. Reopening does not mean recovery. 

JOIN TIAO IN TAKING THE PLEDGE - AND ENSURE THAT ONTARIO IS THE MOST COMMITTED PROVINCE TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Are you interested and committed to being more sustainable? Are you curious, but don't know where to start. Start your 2022 by taking the pledge.

The Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge is a commitment to improve the sustainability performance of your tourism business or destination between now and 2030... but this is more than a pledge.

Launched in June 2021, the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge is a global movement of individuals, businesses, and organizations within the tourism and hospitality industry that believe tourism has a tremendous opportunity to become a force for good and change the world. We believe that improving the social, cultural, environmental, and economic performance of our industry in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is not a trend or a cause, but is essential to the long term health and well-being of this important sector of the global economy. The Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge is built upon the GreenStep Sustainable Tourism criteria, which is aligned with, and in the case of the business criteria, has achieved “Recognized” status, with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. We have set a goal of achieving this. 

Take the pledge here: https://www.sustainabletourism2030.com/pledge/

TOURISM & HOSPITALITY EMERGENCY RECOVERY (THER)

The chaos caused by the Omicron variant is proof that post-pandemic tourism and hospitality workforce recovery will be a challenge for the entire sector. But not everyone has access to the tools they need. Through the Tourism & Hospitality Emergency Recovery, OTEC and our partners have developed real, practical tools and strategies that can be tailored to your region, including a readiness assessment, destination snapshot using real-time data and workshops for businesses. We’re actively piloting these tools in Ontario, Saskatchewan, PEI and New Brunswick. Ready to learn more? Contact us at info@otec.ca.

Le chaos semé par le variant Omicron montre bien que la reprise du tourisme et la relance de la main-d’œuvre post-pandémiques présenteront bien des défis dans tout ce secteur. Tout le monde n’a pas accès aux outils nécessaires. Le Plan de relance pour le secteur du tourisme et de l’hôtellerie a permis à l’OTEC et à ses partenaires de créer des outils et des stratégies réels et pratiques susceptibles de s’adapter à votre région, dont un outil d’évaluation de la préparation, un instantané du registre des destinations à l'aide de données en temps réel et d’ateliers destinés aux entreprises. Nous déployons activement ces outils pilotes en Ontario, dans la Saskatchewan, à l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard et au Nouveau-Brunswick. Prêts à en savoir plus? Communiquez avec nous à info@otec.ca

STAKEHOLDER CALL MINUTES

Thank you to everyone who joined last week's call. We continue to hold weekly industry stakeholder conference call meetings in order to disseminate information that we have received, address member concerns and share information on our industry consultations and share the latest news from government and our partners.  Last week's stakeholders calls provided a weekly industry update. 

In addition, this week we were joined by special guest Hassel Aviles, Executive Director of Not 9 to 5. Not 9 to 5 is a non-profit global leader in mental health advocacy for the foodservice sector. Through practical education and meaningful community-building, they are reimagining the industry by breaking stigmas and fuelling hope.

You can read the notes from this week here.

SAFE TRAVELS STAMP ADMINISTERED BY TIAO

TIAO has been chosen by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) to administer the Safe Travels Stamp in Canada. The Safe Travels Stamp is an international symbol designed to allow travellers to recognize governments and companies around the world, which have adopted health and hygiene standardized protocols  – so consumers can experience ‘Safe Travels’.

As we are being asked to limit our travel, recognize that the Safe Travels Stamp contributes to comfort with consumer sentiment both from travelers to your area and for your local community. This recognition can lend itself to peace of mind.

Our application process has moved to an online system and you can access it here. Almost 2000 businesses have been approved. See list of successful applicants here.

DO YOU HAVE YOUR TIAO PROUD MEMBER LOGO?

We value our members and are proud to show you off, which is why we have a special TIAO "Proud Member" logo for your use. If you are a member and don't have the updated version, please reach out here.

MEMBERSHIP IN 2022 – IS IT COMPLIMENTARY?

In 2020, thanks to a grant provided by the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industry, we had the opportunity to be able to extend complimentary membership for one year.  TIAO then chose to extend this again in 2021 recognizing the continued struggle.  We need to move forward and rebuild but we know that Re-opening does not mean recovery. 

In yet another transition year - we need to charge for membership - but we are keeping our rates level and asking the RTOs, DMOs, Sector Associations, Government, Tourism Industry Suppliers and Educators to pay - as we work with you to cascade up and down the information so that we can continue to collaborate and work together to deliver the voice to industry.

We are offering complimentary membership to tourism operators IF the tourism operator is a member of their local DMO and/or Sector Association.  We recognize that tourism operators are still challenged. By aligning with the DMOs/Sector Associations we are allowing tourism operators to not have to choose IF they can only afford one membership - we want them to work with those that can market and bring them business.  

For those tourism operators that are able to and want to contribute to green shoots to support TIAO’s advocacy efforts, this is greatly appreciated.

We look forward to hearing from you, having more input, strengthening our industry’s voices and making sure tourism is represented.

Contact us for 2022 membership by emailing us directly at membership@tiaontario.ca

If you are a tourism operator that would like to contribute more than your membership dollars to TIAO to support our advocacy efforts, you can do so in one of two methods:

1. Sponsorship of an existing action - Tourism Issues Forum, Policy Speaker Series, AGM, and/or Ontario Tourism Summit
2. Become a Green shoots sponsor 🌱 - For those members that can afford to pay more than their membership, we will recognize the value of their existing membership through sponsorship (Green shoots sponsor) and use this value of their membership to continue the research and vital actions to rebuild and represent the industry’s voice to government in Ontario.

How does this work if I want to become a member of TIAO?

Welcome, we are glad to extend this to the industry. We ask that you reach out to us directly at: membership@tiaontario.ca We will set up your membership. We will also extend to you the option as we do to our existing members.

1. Membership within TIAO for a period of one year from date of signing.
2. Opportunity to sponsor an existing action - Tourism Issues Forum, Policy Speaker Series, AGM, and/or Ontario Tourism Summit AND/OR become a Green shoots sponsor 🌱 - For those members that can afford to pay more than their membership, we will recognize the value of their existing membership through sponsorship (Green shoots sponsor) and use this value of their membership to continue the research and vital actions to rebuild and represent the industry’s voice to government in Ontario.

Why Green shoots? 

Green shoots is a term used to describe signs of economic recovery or positive data during an economic downturn. The term green shoots is a reference to plant growth and recovery and has been used during down economies to describe signs of similar growth.

Welcome to the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario. 

We are your association, and we are here for you!

GOVERNMENT RELEASES

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Ontario Investing in a More Accessible Central Ontario
Seniors and Accessibility 

he Ontario government is creating a stronger, more accessible and inclusive province by investing $618,000 through its EnAbling Change Program for six regional projects in Central Ontario. These projects will promote accessibility and inclusivity with educational tools, resources and initiatives that make Ontario more open to people of all abilities.

Ontario Requiring Employers to Disclose Electronic Monitoring
Labour, Training and Skills Development 

The Ontario government is working for workers and plans to introduce new legislation later this month that would require employers to tell their workers if and how they are being monitored electronically. If passed, Ontario would become the first province to require electronic monitoring policies and protect workers’ privacy by requiring employers be transparent on how employees’ use of computers, cell phones, GPS systems and other electronic devices are being tracked.

Ontario Launches ONroute Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Energy 

Ontario is delivering on its commitment to bring electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers to the province’s busiest highways with the launch of the first six ONroute charging stations in Cambridge South, Cambridge North, West Lorne, Dutton, Odessa and Napanee.

Ontario’s Newest Red Tape Reduction Act Features Fewer Fees, Better Services
Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade 

The Ontario government continues its work to make Ontario the first choice for families and businesses ready to invest with the introduction of this year’s red tape reduction package, the Fewer Fees, Better Services Act, 2022.

Ontario Eliminating Licence Plate Renewal Fees and Stickers
Office of the Premier 

The Ontario government is making life more affordable and convenient for nearly eight million vehicle owners by eliminating licence plate renewal fees and the requirement to have a licence plate sticker for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds, effective March 13, 2022.

Ontario Government Removing Tolls on Highways 412 and 418
Office of the Premier 

Highways 412 and 418 are currently the only tolled north-south highways in Ontario. Removing tolls will provide more travel options for local residents, relieve gridlock on local roads across Durham Region, and help improve economic competitiveness for local businesses.

NEWS

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Scroll down to check out news articles in each of these sections:

• BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
• COVID-19 IMPACT
• FESTIVALS & EVENTS
• FUNDING & GRANTS
• TRANSPORTATION
• OTHER NEWS

FedNor invests more than $10.9 million in community infrastructure projects to help Northern Ontario rebound from effects of Covid
Mirage News 

First Annual Niagara Benchlands 2022 Tourism Summit Brings Together Tourism Sector Partners
Town of Lincoln 

London to host Folk Music Ontario Conference
London News Today

Celebrate Ontario's heritage during Heritage Week, February 21-27
Yahoo! Finance

Cruise ships returning to the Sault
CTV News Northern Ontario 

Porter Airlines ready to return to cottage country
Northern Ontario Business 

Missanabie Cree First Nation gets into the helicopter business
CTV News Northern Ontario 

Time to Travel Begins with March Break, Says Tourism Management Expert
UG News