Dear Accommodation Community,

The past week has been a busy one for your BC Hotel Association team.

Application intake opened for the Tourism Accommodation and Commercial Recreation Relief Fund, which will provide up to $15 million in grants to alleviate fixed-cost pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grants will support large accommodation providers with over 150 employees through fixed cost relief, financially assist Indigenous accommodators with BC Hydro relief, and aid back country lodges and tourism businesses that have been burdened with lease and land tenure payments throughout the pandemic.

I would be remiss not thank and acknowledge the entire Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport -- under the incredible leadership of Minister Melanie Mark -- for their support, hard-work, and obvious commitment to our sector.