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Ask Your MP For An Industry Survival Strategy

EVERY LETTER COUNTS: Ask Your MP For a Tailored Industry Survival Strategy

Canada’s tourism, hotel and events businesses are facing a difficult fall and winter. We need the committed and ongoing support of the federal government to survive.

The Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses has launched a new letter campaign asking the government to follow through on an election promise to provide the tourism industry with temporary wage and rent support of up to 75% of expenses so that Canada’s hard hit businesses can survive through the winter.
 

With current wage and rent subsidy programs winding down this month, there is an urgent need for a new tailored survival solution. Without support designed specifically for our industry, the livelihoods of more than two million people working in tourism and travel—mostly women, youth and immigrants—will be at risk.

MMBC actively supports the Coalition’s work

Please help amplify the message

SEND A LETTER TO YOUR MP
DOWNLOAD & SHARE THE CAMPAIGN
Meetings Mean Business Canada (MMBC) is the advocacy voice of the meetings and business events industry in Canada. Working in collaboration with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and Destination Canada Business Events, our key focus and mission is to communicate the important social and economic impact of our industry to stakeholders and elected officials at all levels of government.
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August 21, 2021
Meetings Mean Business Canada (MMBC) Updates
 
 
COVID-19 Industry Research Roundup

A new report from Destination Canada couldn’t be more timely given that Canada will reopen its borders on August 9 to fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents for discretionary travel. 

Here are just a few of the key takeaways from Americans’ Perceptions of Travelling to Canada:

  • 52% of respondents believe Canada is safe to travel to
  • 46% believe Canada is easy to travel to
  • 27% believe the majority of Canadians have been vaccinated 
  • 56% believe there are COVID-19-related barriers impacting travel to Canada, including border closure, travel ban and required proof of vaccination

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MORE INDUSTRY RESEARCH

Our World In Data: Coronavirus Data, Including Country Profiles 

Statistics Canada:
Canadian Tourism Activity Tracker, May 2021 (released July 29)
Travel + Tourism Data

McKinsey & Company: The Comeback of Corporate Travel

Morgan Stanley Survey: Virtual To Replace a Quarter of 2022 Travel Volume


GBTA: The State of Business Travel, July 2021

Finder’s Travel Index: Travel Sentiments

Destination Toronto: Pandemic Toll on Toronto’s Visitor Economy

Tourism HR Canada: Tourism Employment Tracker


Government of Canada: COVID-19 Daily Epidemiology Update

Johns Hopkins University: Global COVID Tracker

World Travel & Tourism Council: Economic Impact Reports

CRB, CEWS and TRF

The Canadian government is extending the eligibility period for the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) to October 23, 2021. The measures are meant to help hard-hit sectors, including tourism, hospitality, arts and entertainment. The government is also introducing draft legislation that provides further clarity on changes to the wage subsidy for furloughed employees. Read more


The Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) is a $500-million national program meant to position Canada as a destination of choice for domestic and international travel. Most of the funding will be delivered by Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) directly to tourism businesses and organizations. Learn more about the program

WATCH: Edmonton's Tourism Master Plan

In this Global News story, Explore Edmonton's Interim CEO, Maggie Davison, describes the city’s new 10-year master plan, which includes an immediate focus on hosting meetings, conventions and sporting events.

Learn more about Edmonton’s Tourism Master Plan

WATCH: Destination Victoria Videos
Destination Victoria, in a new series of videos, highlights the benefits to the community of meetings and conventions, sport event hosting and more.
UPCOMING EVENTS
TIAC 2021 Tourism Congress
Nov. 30 – Dec. 1, 2021

In person in Ottawa, and online

RENDEZ-VOUS CANADA+ 2022
May 23 – 27, 2022
In person in Toronto, and online


MORE INFO
INDUSTRY News


ARTICLES

CBC News: Business Travel Isn't Expected To Return To Pre-pandemic Levels Anytime Soon

The Conversation: Vaccine Hesitancy is Decreasing in Canada, But It’s Too Soon To Celebrate

Open Jaw: Provinces Divided Over Offering 3rd Shots For Travel

Financial Post: Opinion: It's Time For Canadians To Start Travelling Again

New Brunswick: Province Lifts All Travel, Provincial Border, Gatherings and Face Mask Restrictions

Kongres Magazine: MIS: The biggest live MICE event of the year in Europe

CMW: Zero Positive COVID-19 Cases at UK Pilot Business Event

M&IT: Confidence Rising: Northstar’s UK PULSE Survey Shows Growing Confidence Among Planners in the UK and Europe

Meetings Mean Business Canada (MMBC) is the advocacy voice of the meetings and business events industry in Canada. Working in collaboration with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and Destination Canada Business Events, our key focus and mission is to communicate the important social and economic impact of our industry to stakeholders and elected officials at all levels of government.
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July 21, 2021
Meetings Mean Business Canada (MMBC) Updates

 

 
 
Rebuilding Our Industry: We're In This Together!

MMBC is the voice of Canada's meetings and business events industry, but did you know that we also support advocacy initiatives by fellow industry groups? Besides our own Meet In Canada campaign, here are the activities we are currently supporting:

#OpenTheBorder: The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is calling on the federal government to accelerate the safe reopening of the Canada-U.S. border, including setting a firm reopening date, sharing its plan with the travel/tourism industry and clarifying Canada’s policy on vaccination certification. MMBC is an active member of TIAC’s Recovery Taskforce.

#FasterTogether: More than 240 organizations are behind a campaign encouraging all Canadians to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The Faster Together Coalition offers research and polling data as well as creative material that any organization is free to share with their audiences. 

#HardestHit: The Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses is asking the federal government to roll out sector-specific support for travel and tourism’s hardest hit businesses to ensure their survival into the fall and winter.

#TimeToTravel: The Canadian Travel & Tourism Roundtable is an industry coalition calling on all levels of government to work together to streamline and clarify rules for a timely return to safe and accessible travel.

 

#MeetInCanada i s an MMBC initiative calling on corporate, association and incentive program clients to help rebuild Canada’s economy by meeting in Canada when restrictions are lifted.

The Meet In Canada landing page features campaign material that can be shared on your website, in eblasts and on social media.

 
Thank You Karen Goossen!

Last week, industry veteran Karen Goossen retired as Vice President, Tourism Winnipeg and stepped down as chair of MMBC’s Membership Committee. Karen has been a remarkable advocate for the industry and MMBC, most recently helping to modernize our membership management system and acting as the key contact for MMBC Member–Supporters throughout the COVID crisis. 

“Karen has done amazing work with MMBC. She has been a great leader as we navigated COVID and reimagined the coalition,” said MMBC chair Clark Grue. “She’s also been a leader for the visitor economy in Canada. Her contributions have been significant and appreciated.”

Karen, we wish you every success in your future journey, wherever that may take you!

 
Where Can We Meet In Canada?

Gathering restrictions vary by jurisdiction across Canada. This interactive map by Destination Canada Business Events shows the latest restrictions on domestic conferences and large gatherings, by province and territory.

 
WATCH: Destination Indigenous
The Original Original
In this new video, Destination Indigenous—launched in 2020 by the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada—promotes Indigenous tourism experiences including nature and wildlife tours, cultural sharing, accommodations, culinary experiences and more.
 
UPCOMING EVENT

TIAC 2021 Tourism Congress
Nov. 30 – Dec. 1, 2021

In person at the Westin Ottawa, or attend online

 
INDUSTRY News
REPORTS & RESOURCES

Destination Canada 
Provincial and Territorial Reopening Plans
Impact and Recovery Reports
Canadian Resident Sentiment and Travel-related Measures

Government of Canada: COVID-19 Daily Epidemiology Update

CTV News
Coronavirus Vaccination Tracker By Province 
What’s the Latest in Canada and Around the World

Johns Hopkins University: Global COVID Tracker

RBC Quarterly Economic Update: Canadian Business Confidence Resilient Through Spring Virus Wave

Accor Research: Workers Expect To Make 25% More Revenue Through Face-to-Face Meetings

World Travel & Tourism Council: Economic Impact Reports


ARTICLES

OpenJaw: Border Restrictions Start Easing Today – Sort Of

Global News: Canada’s Airline Industry is Planning Restart ‘In a Vacuum’ As It Awaits Federal Guidance

OpenJaw: EU Adds Canada To Safe List; Fully Launches COVID App

PAX News: Air Canada Launches Solution For Digitizing COVID-19 Test Results

National Airlines Council of Canada: Canada’s Major Airlines Call For a Comprehensive Restart Plan To Reopen Borders and End Piecemeal Announcements

Corporate Meetings Network: What Events industry Experts Think About the 2021 Federal Budget

 
Meetings Mean Business Canada (MMBC) is the advocacy voice of the meetings and business events industry in Canada. Working in collaboration with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and Destination Canada Business Events, our key focus and mission is to communicate the important social and economic impact of our industry to stakeholders and elected officials at all levels of government.
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