The BC Hotel Association (BCHA) announces that Ingrid Jarrett will be stepping down as CEO, effective at the end of 2024. Ingrid will be moving on to the next chapter in her career after five years of leading the BCHA, having joined the team in 2019 with a wealth of industry experience and knowledge.
Anyone who has had the honour of working with Ingrid can attest that her leadership has been instrumental in positioning the BCHA for ongoing success. Ingrid’s vision and dedication have helped transform British Columbia’s hospitality landscape, preparing BCHA and the sector for future growth and resilience.
Under Ingrid’s leadership, the BCHA has achieved many milestones. These include enhanced relationship-building based on trust with the Government at provincial and federal levels, leading the hospitality sector by example for diversity, equity, and inclusion and reaching the 50/30 diversity challenge by November 2022, while also promoting sustainability in hospitality through the launch of the BCHA Sustainability Playbook.
Ingrid led the BCHA team through advocacy efforts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including various initiatives to support the industry’s recovery and future growth. She helmed the team through research and legislative changes for British Columbia on the short-term rental policy development and legislation to support affordable, available housing, and cultivated meaningful partnerships for the BCHA to bolster support for our members.
The BCHA, with the support of Ingrid’s leadership, identified opportunities to further support our communities through recent economic crises and climate change, as seen through the collaborative development of the Emergency Management Booking Portal.
Looking to the future of the BCHA, we are confident in this new chapter, building upon the organization’s solid foundation for growth and the culture of curiosity, innovation, and collaboration. The Board of Directors, with support from Watson Board Advisors, are beginning a thoughtful search process to identify the next CEO of the BCHA. Watson has over 20 years of experience advising Boards, and their team’s approach to the art of CEO recruitment, the dynamics of leadership, and the practice of governance is well-suited to ensuring the BCHA will continue to build on the strong groundwork laid by Ingrid and the team. For all inquiries regarding the CEO position, please contact Hannah Magus, Associate, at hannah@watsoninc.ca or Barb Schimnowsky, Partner, at barb@watsoninc.ca.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ingrid for her contributions and impact, and we wish her the best in her future endeavours.
David McQuinn
Chair of the Board
BCHA