News

Request for Proposal: Aligning Purpose, Profit, and Sustainability to Compensation Culture in Tourism 

The Tourism Industry Association of Alberta (TIAA) is announcing a Request for Proposal (RFP) #003-2024: Aligning Purpose, Profit, and Sustainability to Compensation Culture in Tourism. TIAA seeking a qualified vendor to conduct a comprehensive study and develop a training program aiming to transform Alberta's tourism sector.

TIAA aims to contract with a firm experienced in job evaluation, compensation studies, economic modelling, strategic management advisory services, and program execution. The goal is to pioneer change that aligns compensation culture with the broader purposes of profit and labour force development and sustainability in the Alberta tourism and hospitality sector. This project is part of the synthesis of deliverables from a study entitled: Labour Market Study of Alberta’s Tourism Sector (Appendix C).  This project has been made possible by the Government of Alberta’s Labour and Workforce Strategies Grant Program under the Ministry Jobs, Economy and Trade.

The results of this research will be shared broadly within Alberta’s tourism and hospitality sector with TIAA engaging a service provider to further support tourism businesses desiring assistance to evaluate and/or enhance HR compensation systems, budget models and labour force culture to improve overall labour attraction, retention, and business profitability.  The end result is to foster an industry wide optimization in HR practices with far reaching benefits for employees, operators and communities.

In the spirit of strengthening an inclusive and equitable tourism industry, the Tourism Industry Association of Alberta (TIAA) emphasizes the critical importance of Indigenous tourism stakeholders' involvement and the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles in redefining labor costs and compensation culture within Alberta's tourism sector. This RFP invites proposers to demonstrate a committed approach to incorporating these essential considerations into their project planning and execution.

Scope:

The selected contractor will conduct in-depth analyses, including global best practices review, economic modeling, and stakeholder engagement, culminating in a comprehensive report, an online educational portal, and a pilot training program.

Funding & Support:

This project has been made possible through a Labour Market Development Agreement

The Province of Alberta is working in partnership with the Government of Canada to provide employment support programs and services.

RFP Details:

RFP Number: 003-2024
Issue Date: March 7, 2024
Closing Date: April 5, 2024, 5:00 PM MST

Proposals must be submitted electronically, aligned with the detailed scope and deliverables outlined in the RFP document.

Download RFP:  Aligning Purpose, Profit, and Sustainability to Compensation Culture in Tourism 

Time to Shift Ottawa’s Politicization of the TFW Program to Thoughtfully Addressing Canada’s Structural Immigration Challenges

It is a well-established fact that Canada 🍁 has, and will continue to, rely on immigration to support the country’s economic growth goals. But immigration also supports the government’s commitment to two other lauded policy objectives: family reunification efforts and responsiveness to evolving humanitarian crises.

Not many of us are more than a generation removed from knowing a family member who came to Canada to start a new life. Without immigration, Canada would not be the country it is today, nor will it be the country it needs to be in the future if the dreams and ambitions of tomorrow’s immigrants aren’t supported by being part of a more inclusive and caring society, and economy.

While the effects of population growth driven by immigration have been broad-based and there has been no one city’s population that has doubled in size, labour and housing supply issues have, nonetheless, been greatly exacerbated in municipalities that have grown faster than the national average.

With the expanded pace of immigration, a more thoughtful and coordinated policy response will be needed across multiple government ministries on issues such as the construction (and availability) of affordable housing supply, impact of short-term rentals, cost of living, and, overall labour supply issues.

Amid this context, comments by Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, are not conducive to a balanced Federal approach to immigration and economic issues. Miller's assertion that industries have become "addicted to temporary foreign workers" not only vastly oversimplifies the issue but also shifts focus from the real broader, structural challenges at play. This type of messaging is not constructive to the long-term economic well being of all Canadians the thousands of incredible Canadian businesses who successfully support all workers within structured Federal immigration programs.

As TIAA, we are calling for a shift from politicizing Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Programs towards strategic dialogue on addressing Canada's structural demographic and economic challenges. As Canada continues to face a rapidly aging workforce and the associated economic fall-outs, thoughtful and extensive industry consultation is imperative. Any potential policy changes must be made with careful consideration to avoid unintended socio-economic impacts, similar to those experienced during abrupt policy shifts in 2020 as a result of COVID-19. As we approach the summer 2024 tourism season, it is crucial that any changes to the TFW Program and immigration policies are aligned with the needs of Canadian communities and industries, but most importantly done within the context of national economic sustainability to ensure a balanced approach over the long term.

Read the Full Paper Here

Post-Summer TIAA Survey 2023 - Business Conditions Continue to Improve but Headwinds Impacting Profitability 

To assist in helping businesses rebuild global pandemic and to understand the top issues affecting the tourism industry, the Travel Industry Association of Alberta (TIAA) continues to conduct a semi-annual online survey of tourism businesses across the province. The research is designed to track against previous waves (where applicable) and to provide up-to-date data on:

The top issues facing the tourism sector

• Business viability by year end
• Business conditions if the market stays where it is
• Impact of rising costs of inputs
• Rising costs such as insurance premiums and inflation
• Labour force challenges
• Finance and debt

The surveys assess the current (and future) state of tourism businesses in the province. Results will be used to help educate operators across the province and help businesses recover over time by creating better understanding of the current situation, anticipated challenges, and available opportunities.

Throughout the current report, results are compared to previous waves (eg. February, 2023), as applicable.

Summer on Balance

• 77% of businesses reported that they performed better than expected during the latest tourism season (May-Sep, 2023)
• Consistent with Feb 2023, inflationary impacts continue to be the biggest challenge facing organizations during the summer season (59%), followed by labour supply (42%).
• In Oct 2023, 31% reported that their pre-pandemic levels of operations have already returned (17%) or have already surpassed (14%) pre-pandemic levels of operations, up directionally from Feb 2023.
• Labour costs is the area that businesses feel the most pressure related to inflation (62%), followed by food (52%) and fuel (51%).
• When considering staffing challenges, inability to pay wages offered in other sectors is the #1 challenge (53%). Half of businesses (50%) rank shortage of suitable workers as one of the top five staffing challenges.

TIAA-Leger Summer Pulse Survey 2023

TIAA-Leger Summer Pulse Survey 2023 Executive Summary

TIAA Advocates for Enhanced Federal Alignment and Funding for Tourism 

The Tourism Industry Association of Alberta (TIAA) has made a strong case for the integration of the tourism sector in the federal government's Building a Green Prairie Economy Act. The submission underlines the vital role of tourism in both economic growth and environmental conservation, urging for a government-wide strategy that promotes these dual objectives. Advocating for the sector's recognition as a pillar of the green economy, TIAA has stressed the importance of strategic policy, capital supports, and cross-departmental coordination. A primary focus is on the unique opportunity to foster sustainable, regenerative tourism in the Prairie region, which would stimulate rural economic growth while safeguarding biodiversity and important ecosystems. The proposal further outlines necessary investment areas, such as low-carbon transportation, housing, and workforce development, which can boost the sector and provide community-based career opportunities. The submission encourages greater federal support in line with Alberta's goal of doubling tourism spending by 2035 and emphasizes the essential role of indigenous tourism in the broader growth narrative.

Read TIAA's submission to PrairiesCan and the Federal Government.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Tourism Industry Association of Alberta announces that three directors with terms ending at the upcoming Annual General Meeting will let their names stand for re-election.  As much as these individuals have expressed a desire to continue to serve the association and the industry at large, nominations are welcome from any eligible members from the Meetings, Conventions & Incentive Travel, Training & Education, Transportation & Industry Association sectors.

Nominations are open until May 16 at 5 pm.  The 2023 Board slate, along with the formal notice of motion for the June 21 Annual General Meeting, will be shared shortly after the May 16 deadline.

Download the nomination package here to find out more.

Pandemic related debt continues to impact tourism businesses across the province

The timing of the repayment of CEBA loans is fast approaching and will certainly undermine the speed of recovery of businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector. The federal government's 2023 Budget offered no further solutions for businesses exploring their COVID-19 related debt repayment options. TIAA is calling on the Government of Alberta to advocate to the Government of Canada for a solution for impacted businesses on a priority basis, or consider providing a loan/credit facility that would allow impacted Alberta businesses to bridge their financial needs. Read letter  here.

Alberta Monthly Tourism Labour Market Report

As part of  TIAA's Labour Market Study of Alberta's Tourism Sector, Tourism HR Canada provides TIAA with monthly Alberta-specific Labour Market statistics. Check out the monthly reports:

November 2022

December 2022

January 2023

February 2023

TIAA Submits Budget Recommendations to Province

TIAA believes that the Government of Alberta needs to, as part of the upcoming budget cycle, implement an integrated policy and decision-making framework that supports tourism across government and immediately commit to funding tourism commensurate with the industry’s economic contribution, relative to other sectors of the economy. See the full budget submission  here.

Post-Summer Survey Results Show Tourism Businesses are Optimistic

In a recent survey by the Tourism Industry Alberta Association in partnership with Travel Alberta, tourism businesses were polled on their summer business performance the current state of the industry - including job losses, financial losses and business viability, sustainability efforts and labour force challenges. Recent survey results show that Alberta’s tourism businesses are optimistic about their business outlook for the remainder of year but inflation and labour supply issues continue to pose challenges to the industry.

See the full report by clicking here.

Executive Summary available here.

New First-of-its-Kind Study Reveals the Economic Impacts and Employment Contribution of Alberta’s Tourism Industry to Provincial Economy

A new landmark study conducted by TIAA reveals that from a job creation perspective, Alberta’s tourism sector creates the most jobs per dollar of provincial government funding. The report presents an analysis of the GDP and employment contribution of the sector to the provincial economy; provides a comparative assessment of the Alberta government’s policy approach and financial support for the sector relative to other sectors in the economy; and recommendations to strengthen industry investment and job creation to help double tourism expenditures by 2030. The report asserts that doubling tourism expenditures in the province would more than triple the 2021 GDP contributions and jobs. TIAA commissioned this work to raise awareness of the contribution of the industry to the provincial economy, and the impacts that COVID-19 has had on the livelihoods of Albertans in the industry across the province.

Read the full report here. 

Read report summary here.

2023 Federal Pre-Budget Submission

The federal pre-budget submission of the Provincial & Territorial Tourism Industry Association (PTTIA), of which the Tourism Industry Association of Alberta (TIAA) is an active participant, provides recommendations in the following thematic areas: development of a sustainable workforce, improvement of access for visitors to/within Canada, development and promotion of tourism assets, and, building of a regenerative and inclusive tourism industry. Read Submission 

Alberta federal tourism submission focuses on labour gap

TIAA's August 3 contribution covers wide-ranging issues on behalf of Alberta's tourism industry.  Letter

Happy Tourism Week 2022, Alberta

May 29 - June 4 is a time to celebrate our industry’s contributions to the lives and livelihoods that are touched by the 25,546 tourism businesses in our province. Check out our #ABTourismWeek toolkit

Annual general meeting scheduled for June 14

TIAA members are invited to our online annual general meeting. Register by June 10 here. Download meeting package here.

Alberta tourism data at your finger tips now available

Enhance your decision-making with a snapshot of key tourism data including trends, economic impact, visitor and market intelligence. Details

2022 Board call for nominations, closes May 18

The Tourism Industry Association of Alberta is seeking nominations from members to fill two vacancies on its Board of Directors. Details

Tourism industry survey shows business operators are optimistic

In a first-of-its-kind online survey by the Tourism Industry Association of Alberta in partnership with Travel Alberta, businesses were polled in winter 2022 on the current state of the industry — covering viability, outlook, recruitment, finances and losses.  Survey summary

2022 Alberta Tourism Industry Congress Postponed

Travel Alberta and the Tourism Industry Association of Alberta regretfully announce that we are postponing the 2022 Alberta Tourism Industry Congress planned for April 25. This year brought us unexpected logistical challenges, driven by significantly lower than expected registration numbers. More

TIAA Submits Budget Recommendations to Province

In advance of the 2022 provincial budget, TIAA ensured tourism was represented via a series of recommendations for what can help the industry's recovery. See the submission here. 

TIAA's 2021 Report to Members is Now Available

After a year of determined fervor to ensure Alberta's visitor economy is positioned for recovery and growth, TIAA is proud to release its 2021 Report to Members. The report recaps the association's advocacy, research and collaborative efforts to support the whole of the tourism and hospitality sector. Read the report here. 

Research Finds Alberta's Crown Land Outdoor Recreation Economy Generates $2.3B in Trip-Related Expenditures

Thanks to the contributions of 19 motorized and non-motorized outdoor recreation groups, and input from  Albertans across the province, TIAA's first-of a-kind study revealed the significant potential behind outdoor recreation as a powerful economic driver. The research found $376M was spent on outdoor equipment and accessories, with a contribution of $2.8B to the province's GDP. Read the study overview, the primary report or the technical report. 

Report Unveiled Soon on Economic Impact of Outdoor Recreation on Crown Lands

TIAA is working on the final details of a comprehensive study exploring the economic contributions of outdoor recreation on crown lands. The study, led by TIAA and informed through the expertise of 19 outdoor recreation user groups representing motorized and non-motorized activities, seeks to draw the government's attention to the immense opportunities available to further develop Alberta's outdoor recreation economy through the strategic alignment of policy and investment. The study will be released early September.

TIABC and TIAA Present to Conservative Party of Canada

On April 7, TIAA presented its thoughts and recommendations to the Conservative Party of Canada's Tourism Caucus Recovery Committee on the rebound of the nation's visitor economy. Darren Reeder, TIAA's Board Advisor introduced recommendations through four strategic goals in partnership with Walt Judas of the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) including:

• ensuring the longevity of liquidity support measures until market forces resume
• articulating a predictive path to reopen the border to travel
• supporting Canada’s visitor economy to remain globally competitive through the introduction of a travel tax credit
• making sure that looming tourism labour shortages don’t drag on the sector’s economic recovery.

Joint Coalition Submission sent to Alberta Utilities Commission

At the end of March, TIAA participated in a broad coalition of industry associations to provide feedback on a recent Alberta Utilities Commission (“AUC”) decision that not only harms, but disenfranchises ratepayers. This decision came at a time when industry needs every opportunity to save on costs. The coalition identified a series of concerns and requested a meeting with Honourable Dale Nally, Associate Minister of Natural Gas and Electricity to work towards a resolution. Read the submission

Travel Alberta's Budget to Increase for Next Three Years

As part of its Budget 2021, the Government of Alberta announced on February 26 an increase of $22M for each of the next three years for Travel Alberta. Since its inception, TIAA has been calling for Travel Alberta's funding to be restored and is pleased to see this in the budget. View this year's Fiscal Plan here.

TIAA Recommends Expansion of Small & Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant to Account for Impacts on Tourism & Hospitality Sectors 

In a January 25th letter issued to Premier Kenney & Minister Schweitzer, TIAA pressed the Alberta government to enhance the Small & Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant (SMERG) for tourism and hospitality businesses, specifically, by doubling the grant to $40,000 and increasing the eligibility criteria to 30% of a business’ pre-COVID-19 monthly revenue. 

2020 Report to Members Released, Showing a Busy Year 

(January 7, 2021) TIAA unveiled its "Growing Through the Crisis - 2020 Report to Members" highlighting key advocacy activities and thematic areas of stakeholder support in its dynamic first year of supporting Alberta's tourism sector. Read the 2020 Report to Members

Tourism Levy to be Retained by Accommodation Providers

On December 4, 2020 the Government of Alberta announced that hotels and other lodging providers will now be able to keep the tourism levy amounts collected between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021. This extension of the original abatement period, which was to end Dec. 31, will free up to $10 million in additional cash flow for the sector to employ staff, maintain operations and continue providing valuable services through the winter season. TIAA has been working hard on this request on behalf of industry and is pleased with this announcement. See the full details  here.

2020 TIAC Tourism Congress Alberta Breakout Session Hosted by TIAA

(November 18, 2020) TIAA's Board Chair, Alida Visbach hosted esteemed speakers from across the province's tourism industry to discuss insights and trends that shape the visitor economy in Alberta. More than 230 tourism partners welcomed the panelists who included:

• Martin Long - Parliamentary Secretary of Small Business and Tourism, Government of Alberta
• David Goldstein - CEO, Travel Alberta
• Darren Reeder, TIAA Board Advisor

Watch the recap of the session

Recommendations Shared to Tourism & Hospitality's Red Tape Panel to Support Sector's Recovery

(October 1, 2020) TIAA submitted a series of recommendations to the province's Tourism & Hospitality Red Tape Panel aimed at supporting the recovery and expansion of Alberta's tourism economy. Recommendations ranged from support tourism and outdoor recreation development to accelerating a tourism project approvals framework and more. Read the submission

"Travelling Forward Webinar" Registration Announced, in partnership with MLT Aikins LLP

(September 11, 2020) On November 2, 2020 MLT Aikins LLP and TIAA will bring the industry a unique webinar, offering timely topics hosted by respected industry experts. Program includes:

• Risk management considerations for business
• Bill 32 - changes to Alberta's labour and employment legislation
• Corporate restructuring: things to consider when facing liquidity challenges
• Pandemic immigration - tourism and work related immigration in the face of COVID-19

Register here

A Call to Action: Recommendations to Accelerate the Recovery, Sustainable Growth and Resilience of Alberta's Visitor Economy  

(June 30, 2020) The report, which was developed under the guidance of eight senior tourism sector leaders and informed through the input of over 20 sector associations, is the most comprehensive, industry-led effort to-date to assist the government in its understanding of the opportunities (and challenges) facing the whole of the visitor economy. The actions that the industry is asking the government to take – and which have all the greater context following the release of yesterday’s Alberta Recovery Plan – provide a policy roadmap to quickly advance the recovery and expansion of the visitor economy. The report is organized into eight focus areas, with each of the 40 priority policy recommendations organized by implementation timeframe and by ministry(s) responsible.

Read the Call to Action Report    

Alberta's Recovery Plan  

(June 29, 2020) Alberta's Recovery Plan focuses on building infrastructure, diversifying the economy and getting Albertans back to work. Read the Recovery Plan   

Opening Soon: Alberta's Relaunch Strategy 

(April 30, 2020) Premier Kenney today unveiled the province's strategy to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, outlining the conditions for a  sequenced reopening of the economy in three stages. Read the Relaunch Strategy   

Destination Next: Futures Study 2019 A Strategic Road Map for the Next Generation of Global Destination Organizations

Destination organizations today are collaborating more closely with their local communities to define a shared vision for the future that provides long-term benefits for both key stakeholders and residents. There is also a much greater emphasis on community-driven destination development that aligns around the three integrated pillars of economic, social and environmental sustainability to drive competitive advantage in today’s global visitor economy. Continue Reading

The new federal tourism growth strategy aims to capitalize on the tourism industry’s success by helping to create more opportunities for year-round, sustainable economic development in Canadian communities. The potential for tourism is greater than ever with Tourism now having become the seventh economic strategy table for the government: an approach that summons the attention of all government departments that are impacted by the industry. Continue Reading