B.C. event industry hoping for best, bracing for worst as COVID-19 restrictions ease

B.C.’s decision to lift COVID-19 restrictions on capacities at organized gatherings has a local event planner “pleasantly surprised.” But she says the industry’s long-awaited return won’t exactly be business as usual. 

Starting 11:59 p.m. Feb. 16, people attending indoor and outdoor gatherings like weddings, anniversaries, and birthday celebrations can do so at full capacity — and will even be able to hit to dance floor.

Paige Petriw, owner of Spotlight Events, says before this announcement was made, the industry didn’t have high expectations and this is more than they were even asking for. 

“That has been just a huge celebration across the industry,” she said. 

“There’s a restoration of hope for a lot of the struggling businesses right now that they can start to recover. Overall, I think everyone’s pleasantly surprised and encouraged by that.”

Related article: B.C. lifting capacity restrictions for weddings, gyms, nightclubs

However, she says businesses are now asking themselves what this means for the future. Many didn’t survive the pandemic, and there are mounting costs associated with supply chain problems and inflation for those who have.

“Our industry operates on such long-term event contracts and cycles. Even with this great reopening, if six months from now, we have to go back under certain restrictions, we could lose all the revenue again … So having a long-term sustainable environment for events is really crucial for us to start recovering.”

Petriw predicts it will be an extremely busy year for the sector because of all the postponed events, with some clients’ contracts dating back to 2018.

“Some of those contracts … are obligated underpricing, reflective of the 2018, 2019 economy. So now with supply chain issues, material costs going up, having to fulfill those contractual obligations under that former pricing of almost four years ago now, in the current economy with costs is going to be really hard for a lot of businesses.”

Until they can catch up, Petriw says these businesses might have to keep working at it until the new year to take on new clients and start filling dates with events that will bring in fresh revenue, “and start to actually have some of that economic recovery.”

“It’s very likely a lot of businesses in our industry are just going to be breaking even [this year],” she said.

“We welcome the challenge with the opportunity to reopen, but it’s definitely going to be a significant challenge for a lot of businesses.”

Related Articles: 

• B.C.’s wedding industry future uncertain as COVID-19 restrictions impact income

• B.C. event industry hopeful as COVID gathering restrictions set to end

When Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry explained the province’s updated COVID-19 guidelines on Tuesday, she said there is hope that B.C. won’t have to move backwards again. She added B.C. would protect itself from wide-spread transmission “based on guidance and advice. Not on orders.”

But based on the number of times business have had to change and adapt in response to the pandemic, Petriw says, “our confidence is shaken.”

“We’ve been here before. We have had reopenings before, restart plans, easing of restrictions. So as an industry, this kind of feels just like another part of the roller coaster a little bit,” she said.

She says the industry will have confidence in the province when B.C. proves it is confident in the industry’s ability to manage gatherings and events with the protocols and measures in place without shutting them down.