The fog of uncertainty in the tourism industry is beginning to lift as we cautiously progress towards a complete reopening of the economy. Although travel will look very different for the foreseeable future, the creation of that future is happening now. Let OMCA help you connect with industry colleagues as you address the challenges of travel in a COVID world and find solutions. Register for our Virtual Marketplace and work together to rethink travel and rebuild this amazing industry to be the best it can be, despite the challenges it faces! Registration is open now — don’t wait another minute to be an active participant in the regrowth of travel.
Join School Bus Ontario (SBO) and Ontario Motor Coach Association (OMCA) on Thursday August 13 at 11:00am for a webinar. Executive Director of School Bus Ontario Nancy Daigneault will discuss back-to-school plans for the fall. Nancy will review the following on COVID-19; cleaning/sanitizing along with PPE and other issues related to school re-opening.
Webinar with Labour Lawyer on COVID-Induced Layoffs: August 17th
OMCA
With Ontario’s emergency orders lifted, we have begun the countdown to the Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (IDEL) expiring. IDEL was introduced to override the rules of the Employment Standards Act during this unprecedented time, ensuring that businesses weren’t forced to permanently terminate their employees due to COVID-19. This order is set to expire 6 weeks after the emergency orders lifted, landing on September 4th, 2020. Join us on Monday, August 17th @ 1:30pm EST as we discuss with a labour lawyer what the next steps are for employers that still have staff on temporary lay-offs and will not be able to bring them back to work before September 4th. Please send us your questions ahead of time to ensure that our host can answer as many of them as possible. The discussion will also include implications of COVID layoffs at a federal level.
Webinar for Educational Tour Operators is in the works
OMCA
OMCA and the Tour Operator Council are planning to host a member webinar on the outlook of the 2020/2021 school trips to provide pertinent information for educational tour operators. At this time, we are still waiting for updates from the various School Boards regarding student travel in the coming school year. Please stay tuned for a date when we willl be able to host a webinar to share this information.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a comprehensive outline of the key considerations for national health authorities as international travel gradually resumes in the time of COVID-19. WHO lists a number of factors that countries should take into account when reopening borders, including local epidemiology, transmission patterns, measures for controlling outbreaks and health service capacity.
In a global atmosphere dominated by health concerns, the hotel industry finds itself scrambling to inspire consumer confidence while also working hard to safeguard both guests and employees against COVID-19. Could a combination of leading-edge technologies offer solutions to both challenges simultaneously, and help revive the hospitality sector?
The COVID-19 pandemic has put cross-border shopping trips and vacations on hold since March, and many American businesses along the border say they miss both the revenue and the familiar Canadian faces. Bill Kilby, manager of Hardwick's Country Store in Calais, Maine, has seen a dramatic 90 per cent loss in revenue and had to lay off 10 employees.
The federal government-backed exposure notification smartphone app has launched, marking the beginning of a new frontier in the coronavirus fight: alerting participating Canadians when they come in proximity to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The app — called COVID Alert and available on Android or Apple devices — will compile anonymized data and use reports from confirmed positive COVID-19 cases to notify Canadians when they’ve been in proximity to someone who has the virus. It has received the stamp of approval from federal and provincial privacy watchdogs, though it leaves infection contact tracing up to public health officials.
Social circles of up to 10 people will likely be sticking around until at least the new year, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says. “This pandemic is not over,” Ford warned residents during his afternoon news conference on Tuesday. “It’s going to continue going and in my opinion — I could be wrong, I’m no medical professional — but, in my opinion, this is going until January, until we get a vaccine or hopefully sooner when we get a vaccine.”
Live a complete forest immersion! Walk across 3 suspensions bridges including one nestled 60 meters above a spectacular waterfall. Soar over a stunning panorama at 50km/h with your feet dangling 90 meters in the air! Outdoor terrace and BBQs for group – Flexible Hours Ask about our special group rates!
While COVID-19 restrictions are slowly lifting in many parts of Canada, international travel still isn't recommended, and a new poll suggests most Canadians and Americans aren't willing to travel until there's a vaccine. The recent online survey conducted by Research Co. says fewer than a third of Canadians would take a flight within their own province. About a fifth are willing to take flights to a different continent, while just 17 per cent said they'd take a flight to the United States.
School bus drivers are still waiting to hear what their role will be when school resumes in September and the lack of certainty is causing concern. “When a student gets on the bus they walk within 12 inches of my face,” said Whitby school bus driver Rob Robson.
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada - in the heart of downtown Toronto next to the CN Tower. Immerse yourself in a world of 20,000 aquatic animals and discover your own underwater adventure featuring North America’s longest underwater viewing tunnel.
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The Ontario government, in partnership with the federal government, extended the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses by one month to help eligible small business pay rent for August. To find out how much rent support you may be eligible for, visit Ontario.ca/rentassistance.
In response to increased demand for small group travel, G Adventures has launched a new ‘Book Your Bubble Collection’ of 80 tours that includes additional benefits for groups. The tours, which include Active, Marine, Classic and 18-to-Thirtysomethings travel styles, were unveiled following a recent company panel survey of 1,412 Canadian travellers that studied travel trends post-pandemic. Results showed that 34% of travellers intend to take their next trip with multiple friends and/or family members.
In late 2019, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) published its “Economic Performance of the Airline Industry” report. It contained a 2020 forecast of 4.1 per cent growth in global air traffic demand and net post-tax profits for North American airlines of US$16.5 billion.
Exotic resorts and multi-country cruises are so last year. The places to be right now are local trails with elbow room, neighbourhood shops, wine, beer and distillery trails and other attractions close to home.
The Ontario government is investing $1.5 million through the new Tourism Economic Development Recovery Fund and offering promotional incentives at provincial attractions to help the province's tourism industry and welcome back visitors after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Northeastern Ontario Tourism (NeOnt) has hired Donna Maitland as its new executive director. A lifelong resident of the region, Maitland has served in a number of roles related to economic development and tourism.
It was expected to be a slow start for the regional bus network building around London, but maybe not this slow. One of the first out of the gate, originating in Oxford County, intercommunity transit service began to the Forest City on Wednesday.
