February 2008 Newsletter

• Effective July 1, 2008, the general corporate income tax rate will be reduced to 11 per cent from 12 per cent, falling to 10 per cent by 2011.
• The small business tax rate will be reduced to 3.5 per cent from 4.5 per cent on July 1, 2008, with further reductions planned to 2.5 per cent by 2011.
• Sales tax exemptions will be provided for Energy Star qualified refrigerators, cloths washers and freezers.

The BCHA's lobbying efforts to increase tourism funding have paid off. The budget announced that the proportion of the 8 percent hotel room tax transferred to Tourism BC would be increased to 3 percentage points from 1.65 percentage points, effective April 1, 2008.

The BCHA is aiming to be at the forefront of green initiatives. The move toward sustainable environmental practices is becoming a competitive advantage to business. Hoteliers who have not already done so should become certified with the Green Key Eco-Rating Program.

BC Hydro to recognize energy leadership in the workplace

BC Hydro is recognizing individuals or teams who are leading the way in energy conservation in the workplace with a new Power Smart Excellence Award. BC hotel employees who have taken steps to improve their workplace environmental might consider submitting a nomination.

BC Hydro's new Workplace Conservation Leadership Award will be presented to employees who have helped to reduce their employer's overall environmental footprint through energy conservation measures.

The greening of the hotel industry is an ongoing priority for the BCHA as government, personal and business travelers increasingly support hotels that are minimizing their carbon footprint.

All BC hoteliers should consider adopting the Green Key Eco-Rating Program - a graduated rating system administered by the Hotel Association of Canada to recognize hotels, motels and resorts that are committed to improving their environmental performance. Click here for more Green Key information.

Hotel employees are encouraged to nominate individuals or teams who have participated in energy conservation programs for the Workplace Conservation Leadership Award. Deadline for nominations for the award is Friday, February 29, 2008. For award eligibility or to submit a nomination, visit bchydro.com/awards.

Ontario job fair to provide labour shortage relief in BC

BC hoteliers faced with looming labour shortages this year may find relief at an upcoming job fair in Ontario. The BCHA is soliciting job orders from hoteliers to gauge the full scope of the labour shortage and to set a goal for members' recruitment needs.

The BCHA will be participating in four southern Ontario job fairs from February 26 - 29, 2008. The purpose of the visit is to promote the province's hotel industry and assist hoteliers in recruiting new workers from Ontario. These fairs are the first in a series of job fair tours that will provide a platform to showcase and promote employment opportunities in BC's hotel industry.

The rapid growth of BC's booming economy has created challenges for many employers. Over the next decade, the province is expected to experience over one million new job openings. However, BC's labour force alone will not be sufficient to meet employer demand.

Southern Ontario offers a dense population, a large, work-ready labour force and a largely untapped market for many BC hotels. Hoteliers should look to these non-traditional labour markets to satisfy their future staffing needs.

The Ontario job fair is just one of many initiatives the BCHA has launched to prepare for the labour challenges ahead. In the long-term, the BCHA is working with the federal and provincial governments to expedite foreign workers to BC.

To take advantage of the upcoming Ontario job fair, please fill out the recent job order and send it to the BCHA.