Dear BC Accommodation industry,

Last week, we witnessed the return of the BCHA Summit after a four-year hiatus, and we could not be prouder of the strength and unity of our industry that was demonstrated by your participation. We are truly grateful for all of you who joined us and made the event a success.

Seeing so many of you reconnecting in person, meeting with suppliers and sponsors, and feeling a sense of community was a joyous experience for us all. It was heartening to witness our connections and hotel community thrive throughout the event.

I would like to extend a special thank you to the Honorable Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport, and Nick Grant, Assistant Deputy Minister, for joining us throughout the entirety of our conference. Their openness to our sector and willingness to support our industry was evident by every delegate. We are grateful to have a Ministry that has demonstrated such a resounding commitment to our industry, and we thank them for being so generous with their time. I would like to extend a special thank you to the Honorable Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport, and Nick Grant, Assistant Deputy Minister, for joining us throughout the entirety of our conference. Their openness to our sector and willingness to support our industry was evident by every industry member who was fortunate to connect with them. We are grateful to have a Ministry that has demonstrated such a resounding commitment to our industry, and we thank them for being so generous with their time.

The impact their attendance brought to our BCHA Board Meeting was undeniable. While our quarterly meetings are always a valuable opportunity for our team to gain insights and direction for our industry’s challenges, trends, and recovery, Minister Popham was highly engaged with our board, and was incredibly receptive to hearing the successes and obstacles facing our sector. We look forward to continuing to build on this success to better support our industry.

The conference sessions and education showcased the power of the industry coming together. The new ideas, conversations, and opportunities for strategic planning left us with a renewed belief that our industry is on a positive path forward. Moreover, it reinforced that our industry is a “people business” that cares for its people, communities, and the environment.

In particular, I am excited about the session “Introducing the BCHA Playbook: Your Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Accommodation,” which saw the launch of our BCHA Sustainability Playbook! The playbook is a toolkit of best practices and tools to move towards a more sustainable future for our industry. It includes training and evaluation tools, energy analysis, food waste reduction, single-use plastic elimination, and much more. We will share even more details on the playbook over the coming weeks, which you can access via our member portal on the ‘resources’ tab.

Congratulations to every one of the Awards of Excellence recipients and nominees, who were celebrated at the pinnacle event of the Summit – the Summit Spring Fling and Awards Evening. Their efforts and contributions to the industry are undeniable, and we are incredibly proud of them for demonstrating the level of industry excellence we strive for. Beyond the delivery of the awards, our attendees delighted in exceptional hospitality by the Delta by Marriott Grand Okanagan team, comedy by our host CJ Wilkins, and unbelievable entertainment by Andrew Johns and the Yellow Brick Road Experience, who had us dancing all night long!

We are grateful to have welcomed our industry for our BCHA Summit and look forward to hosting you all again next year. Please click here to visit our BCHA Summit Delegate Survey, as we look for your feedback that will help us deliver an even more memorable Summit experience.

Sincerely,

Ingrid Jarrett
President and CEO
​ BCHA