Prince Rupert, June 12^th, 2020 – The Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Prince Rupert, and the City of Prince Rupert’s Economic Development Office, through their ongoing partnership in the Small Business Recovery Task Force, are launching a new survey to collect information about Prince Rupert residents’ travel intentions and level of comfort for the 2020 summer season.

With the move to Phase 3 of the provincial government’s Restart Plan likely to be announced in late June, intra-provincial travel will be encouraged once again. Once travel outside of BC residents’ home communities is allowed, tourism-dependant businesses in Prince Rupert will be relying on visitors from elsewhere in BC to help fill the financial gap left by a lack of extra-provincial and international travel, especially given the cancellation of the 2020 cruise season, which was anticipated to generate approximately $1.9 million for Prince Rupert’s local business economy. Tourism Prince Rupert is developing a recovery marketing strategy for the summer of 2020, aimed at supporting the resiliency of our local tourism sector by bringing some additional revenue to local businesses. Before this campaign can be launched, however, it’s important that we understand how Prince Rupert residents feel both about travelling this summer, and about visitors coming to Prince Rupert.

“The tourism sector has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tourism Prince Rupert is committed to supporting our local tourism economy through our recovery marketing strategy for this summer. However, now more than ever, it’s important for us to understand how local residents feel about visitors to our community. This survey will be an incredibly useful tool as we continue to plan for tourism recovery in a way that is both supportive and sensitive to residents’ concerns.”

• Ceilidh Marlow, Executive Director, Tourism Prince Rupert

“The Travel Sentiment survey will assist our Small Business Recovery Task Force to have a better understanding of our community's stance on visitors coming into Prince Rupert. The Prince Rupert & District Chamber of Commerce understands that our local tourism businesses and organizations have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and we are focused on providing strategies to help support our local tourism sector. This survey is a necessary step to take in order to implement further marketing and tourism specific strategies as we move into Phase 3 of BC's Restart Plan.”

• Michelle Boomars-MacNeill, President, Prince Rupert & District Chamber of Commerce

“With data collected from this survey, the Small Business Recovery Task Force will be able to plan for and mitigate some of the business impacts caused by this pandemic. This will allow the Task Force to further support the local business community and continue helping with local recovery efforts.”

• Paul Vendittelli, Manager of Transportation and Economic Development, City of Prince Rupert

To incentivize participation in our Resident Travel Sentiment Survey, we are offering a prize package of gift cards to local Prince Rupert businesses with a value of $300 for one lucky winner, to be drawn from everyone who participates in the survey.

We love our small town businesses, and we know you do too. To help support local business, with our partners at Visit Prince Rupert and Prince Rupert & District Chamber of Commerce, we've launched a small business sweepstakes where you could win a $150 gift card to your favourite local Prince Rupert business! ❤️

Post a photo of how you’re supporting local businesses right now, either through purchasing for delivery or pickup, ordering takeout, or posting positive reviews, using #supportlocalpr. Tag us and the business, and you’ll be entered to win! We’ll be drawing a new winner every week. The first winner will be drawn on Friday, May 29th, so stay tuned!

This contest is brought to you by Visit Prince Rupert, the Prince Rupert & District Chamber of Commerce, and the City's Love Prince Rupert program, so make sure to tag all three of us in your small business love posts!

The Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Prince Rupert, and the City of Prince Rupert’s Economic Development Office are pleased to announce their partnership on a Small Business Recovery Task Force. Over the past two months, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many local businesses in Prince Rupert to close their doors or shift operations to allow for no-contact service. These measures have severely impacted our local small business economy, and many local businesses will require additional support over the coming months as we move into recovery. As BC begins a phased reopening of the economy in May, there will be many questions and additional support measures needed to help Prince Rupert’s small business and tourism sectors weather the storm.

The purpose of the Small Business Recovery Task Force is to work collaboratively and efficiently to advocate for relief and find solutions to support our local stakeholders. Meeting weekly, representatives from Tourism Prince Rupert, the Prince Rupert & District Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Prince Rupert’s Economic Development Office are able to share concerns and feedback from each sector and develop shared action items to address with the relevant levels of government or local business.

The Small Business Recovery Task Force has already been hard at work advocating for specific relief measures communicated by local stakeholders. To support recovery efforts, the City of Prince Rupert has announced it would be waiving the $350 fee for restaurants to open sidewalk patios this summer, in order to allow for more tables spaced out to meet social distancing requirements. This request was brought forward by the Task Force after communication with local restaurant owners. On the tourism side, the City of Prince Rupert has also agreed to offer a complete refund for all seasonal charter fishing business licenses, for those operators who elect not to operate this season. This request was also brought forward by Tourism Prince Rupert after discussion with local charter fishing operators and discussed via the Small Business Recovery Task Force. Work will continue to advocate for additional relief measures such as those described above, as well as to develop additional marketing and small business support initiatives locally.

“The tourism sector has been, and will continue to be, severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tourism Prince Rupert has been working hard to advocate for tourism-specific relief, through engagement with our local tourism businesses and collaboration with local partners. Our participation in the Small Business Recovery Task Force allows us to work more closely with both the Chamber and the City to ensure that we are advocating for and developing support programs that will help the greatest number of businesses.”

Ceilidh Marlow, Executive Director, Tourism Prince Rupert

“Our local small businesses have indeed felt the sudden impact of COVID 19. While some were able to respond and adapt, many more were not, and this crisis is not over. The PR&DCC is committed to leading local business efforts to provide support as we begin ramping up our economic recovery with urgency, safety, and collaboration in mind. The Small Business Recovery Task Force partnership with PR&DCC, TPR, and the City of PR further serves to underscore the necessity of a consolidated effort to maximize recovery and to build resiliency into our future. As part of our new normal, working together as one united voice for the sake of our local business economy is imperative.”

Michelle Boomars-MacNeill, President, Prince Rupert & District Chamber of Commerce

“The City understands that now more than ever we need to work with local partners to support our small business community through these challenging times. The pandemic has taught us that we are stronger together, which is why we are combining efforts with the Chamber and Tourism Prince Rupert to listen to and address small business concerns.”

Paul Vendittelli, Manager of Transportation and Economic Development, City of Prince Rupert

To bring any concerns or ideas to the Small Business Recovery Task Force, please see the relevant contact information for each organization below.

If you would like specific information regarding the City’s patio bylaw and/or seasonal business license refund program, please contact Paul Vendittelli via the contact information listed below

Media Contacts

Ceilidh Marlow

Executive Director, Tourism Prince Rupert

Email: ceilidh@visitprincerupert.com

778-361-0440

www.visitprincerupert.com

Anthony Yecyec

Executive Director, Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce

250-624-2296

anthony@princerupertchamber.ca

www.princerupertchamber.ca

Paul Vendittelli

Manager of Transportation and Economic Development, City of Prince Rupert

250-627-5138

paul.vendittelli@princerupert.ca

www.princerupert.ca