Getting outside to hike or snowshoe in the winter can seem overwhelming, especially for those who dislike the cold or have never done it before, but the benefits are worth it! Here are 10 tips to prepare for your winter adventures, so you can stay safe and warm while having fun outdoors.

This year WORTH led the Marion Harper Treskin Leadership Award along with the generosity of Marion Harper Treskin, outgoing Chair of the Board of Directors at Destination Vancouver. This award is a one-time ($2000) scholarship awarded to a Woman of Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality. We received 41 applications from inspiring and ambitious Women of WORTH but could only choose one.

Whistler has adapted to ever-changing public health orders while still managing to provide a world-class experience. Navigating through the challenges is Barrett Fisher, President & CEO of Tourism Whistler. Barrett has taken the time to share some of her experiences dealing with the current state of the industry, career highlights and words of wisdom for the next generation of Women of WORTH.

For the past 25 years, Brenda Baptiste has been instrumental in her efforts to grow Indigenous Tourism in her role as Chair of Indigenous Tourism Association BC. Brenda has her hands full between serving on the Coalition of BC Tourism & Hospitality Businesses and the Board for Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia but she may time to speak with us about her leadership journey and the importance of Indigenous Tourism.

Before we achieve complete diversity in our environments, businesses, and organizations, they must first be inclusive. Every single individual that is a part of the organization needs to be engaged and supportive because diversity cannot be forced, and inclusivity needs to come from a willingness to be open and make changes. WORTH created a guide with tangible actions on how you can promote, drive and demand inclusivity in your organization.

Bring on the sweater weather, apple cinnamon and pumpkin spice. I love the perks of the season and have little concern if that makes me “basic”. Why do we deride women who enjoy comfort and flavour with this label? I once dreaded the shift in season as a tourism HR professional. The fall may result in further employment declines as business levels change, women take on childcare responsibilities and fourth wave COVID-19 concerns continue.

Since the pandemic, many workers have faced increased burnout and pressure along with a strain on corporate culture. For many in recreation, tourism and hospitality there was the added pressure of inconsistent shifts and income, heavier workloads for the same (or less) pay, challenging customers and health concerns. So how do you know if you should stay or go? Here are 5 questions to ask yourself to help with planning out your next steps.

Like many during the pandemic - the team here at WORTH have found ourselves re-evaluating our career development; looking for new ways to connect, stand out and maybe even upskill. It had us thinking… there’s a ton of valuable content out there breaking down the world of professional development, so why not share our go-to’s? We’ve compiled a list of some of our favourites who helped us navigate job-searching, self-empowerment, networking, and everything in between.

Business in Vancouver’s recent article highlighting 12 predominantly white men as the top restaurateurs and chefs in the city left us shaking our heads and eager to profile a female chef. Kendall Clancy recently connected with Barbara Gregoire, Sous Chef for Fairmont Waterfront. With 25 years of experience, Barbara has a lot to share on following your passions and battling barriers. Read more on why now is the time for the female workforce to “show up and show off”.

The weather is getting warmer and restrictions in BC are lifting. While we might be ready for a hot girl summer, the industry is definitely not. Many women of WORTH have shared they are unsure if they will ever return to the business they once loved. The tourism and hospitality sector is bracing for perhaps the worst labour shortage ever, which will slow the recovery efforts and further hurt this hard hit industry.

With it being Pride month, it is hard to not draw parallels between the performative activism of corporations towards the LGBTQ+ community and the messaging we saw from corporations last year after George Floyd’s murder. This begs the question, after all the pressure that was put on corporations to actively be part of the solution to systemic racism, how much progress has been made? It all starts with a pulse check.

My first experience growing a business, from the ground up to a $12M organization, taught me many lessons. I've carried these lessons forward to the four ventures I've launched since. One of the most critical lessons I learned is that every ambitious woman needs three people in their circle at any given time to achieve success. Here's who you need and why.

We recently connected with Tanya Bennett, owner of Vancouver Mysteries. Under Bennett’s creative leadership, Vancouver Mysteries was able to adapt quickly to the uncertainty of COVID-19 and continue operating. Tanya shared with us more on this experience and advice for other women in tourism finding themselves at a career crossroads.

I heard someone describe this pandemic like being in a storm at sea. The obvious wave analogies aside, the more I began to think about it, the more similarities I found. Some people are all alone in their boats, while others’ boats are filled to capacity. Whichever boat you’re in, making your mental health a priority is WORTH it. We’ve rounded up a list of 5 accessible resources to support you.

The past year has been devastating for the food and beverage industry, yet it brought unprecedented collaboration, innovation and support. I recently connected with powerhouse Woman of WORTH, Puneet Kochar, Head of Finance for Tacofino, Shift Change contributor and co-founder of the Vancouver Food and Beverage Community (VANFBC) on her leadership insights and experience.

I drove to the Community Centre for my COVID-19 vaccination through a deluge of rain. Despite the miserable weather, I felt light, happy and relieved. Outside I was greeted by a woman with a giant smile, the kind you can’t see behind a mask but know is beaming. She is one of 1400 tourism and hospitality workers across BC working to support the vaccine clinics in partnership with the Provincial Government.

I think we know now that sleep should be an essential part of our wellness routine. But understandably, it is hard for many to prioritize or understand ways to encourage adequate sleep and perhaps understand some of the habits that we have that disrupt it. Before we get into my 5 essential sleep habits, let’s first talk about the effects of poor sleep and effects of sleeping less than 7 hours per night.

First things first – I want to give you the opportunity to practice what I am about to preach by offering the space for a mindful moment.

Take a deep breath for 4 seconds – I mean really deep – feel your belly expand. Hold for 4 seconds. Exhale for 6 seconds. Repeat 3 times. CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve just calmed your nervous system and I am about to tell you why we should do that way more often!

Whether you’re trying to support a loved one in their anxiety, facing your own challenges or experiencing new triggers and feelings, it is important to understand anxiety to know how to best manage it. We spoke with local therapist Kristina Hayer of HayerWellness for advice on how to interpret and cope with anxiety and balancing showing up for others struggling while protecting your own mental health.

Let’s celebrate living the heck out of ourselves, our wins and our accomplishments. When we’re proud and celebrate our achievements, we inspire others to do the same. Now is the time to celebrate our wins TOGETHER.