Vancouver tourism is normalizing after the FIFA World Cup sent hotel occupancy down and room rates up. The city is amid a record cruise season, with big concerts upcoming and longterm initiatives in the pipeline. #tourism #BCecon

Vancouver tourism normalizing after World Cup

City saw highest-ever average hotel prices in June, low occupancy

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The Parq Casino has a new CEO as it rolls out more slot machines

Parq Casino Vancouver names new CEO, expands slots

Industry veteran Suzanne Lalonde takes on top role at the downtown Vancouver casino

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Here's more fallout related to ticketing at the FIFA World Cup. A B.C. fan is suing FIFA for deceptive trade practices during the tournament and allegedly providing fans with inferior seats to the ones that they were promised. #FIFA #WorldCup

B.C. fan sues FIFA for deceptive trade practices during World Cup

Delta-based Rajvinder Rai wants to be the representative plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against FIFA and its B.C.-based wholly owned subsidiary, FWC26 Football Ltd.

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Second time in a month I found a lawsuit about neighbours alleging that neighbours cut down their tree or trees. This time the alleged cutting happened to make way for a housing development. #lawsuits

Homeowner sues, alleging neighbouring development cut down trees

Vancouver Island property owner claims that neighbour entered his land at least twice without permission, cutting and removing trees

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Advocates behind a Vancouver Cultural Precinct today released renderings and assembled supportive politicians from all levels. Hub would have four new music halls — with capacities for 400, 800, 1,750 & 2,000 people. Next step is to confirm location. Financing needs could then be clearer. #vanpoli

Advocates launch push for four-venue Vancouver Cultural Precinct

Proposal finds political support from all levels of government as it shifts to new phase of determining the best location

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The World Cup helped Metro Vancouver hotels charge higher nightly rates in June than hotels have on average in any major Canadian city in any month ever. Here's how much the rooms were... #WorldCup #FIFA #hospitality

World Cup drives Metro Vancouver hotel rates to Canadian record

Region's $406.34 average room-night rate in June was highest monthly average ever recorded for a major Canadian city in any month

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Customer-loyalty programs have evolved with AI but old-school efforts still help drive sales. Check out my look into why loyalty programs are important for sales growth, and different ways to execute them. #loyalty #retail #hospitality

B.C. restaurants hungry for data, AI as loyalty efforts evolve

Retail and hospitality businesses use range of strategies to keep customers coming back

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Wine industry advocates tell me they believe Canadian premiers will soon announce at least a framework for how direct-to-consumer wine sales could operate Canada-wide. Politicians' comments have been fuelling this hope. #BCwine #Cdnpoli #BCpoli

B.C. wineries hopeful premiers will ease restrictions on Canadian wine sales

Canadian premiers this July are expected to address trade barriers preventing direct wine purchases from out-of-province wineries

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This alleged wrongful dismissal is notable for how high the figures are. An ex-employee is suing Ideon Technologies for what he claims is $641,000 in unpaid commissions from $33 million in contract revenue. #lawsuits #AI #sales

Worker sues Ideon Technologies for $641K, alleges unpaid commissions

Commissions were allegedly tied to the worker bringing in $33M in contract revenue

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Good news for B.C.'s General Fusion as shareholders in it and its acquisition target voted to approve the merger, paving the way for its Nasdaq listing and access to up to US$338 million. #GFUZ #GeneralFusion

General Fusion, Spring Valley shareholders approve merger

Move paves the way for General Fusion to go public on the Nasdaq under the symbol GFUZ

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West Vancouver residents allege they returned from a trip abroad to find their cherished 60-foot back yard ancient cedar reduced to a stump. The tree was on a property line with a neighbour, and they claim that he was responsible. #lawsuits #neighbours

West Vancouver neighbours sue after tree cut allegedly without consent

Two neighbours say another cut down a cherished cedar tree on their shared property line when they were out of the country

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B.C.'s General Fusion is readying to go public via a reverse takeover and gain access about US$338 million in new capital. This comes as strong stock markets are enticing more public offerings. #IPOs #reversetakeovers

B.C.'s General Fusion could access up to US$338M by going public

Important vote nears for nuclear fusion company aiming for a US$1B valuation with a Nasdaq listing

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The FIFA World Cup has brought Vancouver new and improved large venues for live music while investments by entrepreneurs are improving the state of smaller ones. Some say governments still need to step up to improve venues such as Malkin Bowl. #WorldCup #venues

Vancouver’s live music scene entering new era of venue upgrades

Freedom Mobile Arch at Pacific National Exhibition has 10,000 seats, fills unmet niche

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Here's how the FIFA World Cup is impacting Vancouver festivals this summer #VIJF #VFMF #PNE #VFF #BardOnTheBeach

World Cup brings hurdle and hype to Vancouver summer festivals

PNE set to benefit with new venue, while others tweak content or face challenges

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Massive biotechnology deal today. Vancouver's Zymeworks is spending US$929M in cash to buy California's Theravance BioPharma. The pact diversifies Zymeworks from oncology drugs to also having one for respiratory disease. Other drugs are in the pipeline. #biotech #lifesciences

Vancouver biotech Zymeworks buying Theravance for US$929M

Transaction helps Zymeworks diversify and shift toward respiratory-disease treatments in addition to those for cancers

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Here's my latest on restaurant associations' efforts to help Canadian restaurant owners get millions of dollars returned to them after a payment processor allegedly took money from bank accounts without authorization and is now in CCRA. #restaurants #fintech #CCRA

Restaurant groups urge judge to nix XTM sale without tip payback

Restaurant owners have alleged that XTM took money from their bank accounts without authorization

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Fun to catch up with RBC's B.C. regional president, Martin Thibodeau, to discuss how his bank has evolved since buying Vancouver-based HSBC Bank Canada in 2024. And its new B.C.-based tech-banking hub. He also slammed the B.C. government's most recent budget. #BCpoli #Cdnpoli #banking #technology

RBC banks on big growth in B.C.

Largest domestic bank acquisition in Canadian history bumped Royal Bank's West Coast staff count 13%

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Found this lawsuit that focuses on an issue central to restaurant operations. Plaintiff alleges she told a restaurant server she was allergic to nuts. She then was allegedly served a nutty dessert. Hospital visits allegedly followed. #lawsuits #restaurants #hospitality www.biv.com/news/hospita...

Allergy lawsuit puts restaurant duty of care in spotlight

Plaintiff claims Vancouver restaurant mishandled food-allergy concerns

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Check out my look at how the World Cup is helping some Vancouver retailers, while hurting others. #FIFAWorldCup #retail

How the World Cup is redrawing Vancouver’s retail map

FIFA tournament is upending what shoppers buy and where they spend

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Spent some time with the United States' top official in B.C.: consul general for B.C. and Yukon Shawn Crowley. We discussed many cross-border issues, including ICE agents in Vancouver for the World Cup, as well as his globetrotting life. #diplomacy #InternationalRelations

America's top diplomat in B.C. navigates trade tensions

Shawn Crowley says cross-border co-operation remains strong despite political friction between Canada and the U.S.

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Fresh from opening a store at the new Oakridge Park, Vancouver's Purdys is set to expand to Canada's east coast. Here's why they're for now skipping Quebec, and what prompted them to launch their first stores east of Ontario. #retail #marketing #realestate www.biv.com/news/retail-...

B.C.'s Purdys goes coast-to-coast with first stores east of Ontario

Venerable 119-year-old retailer aims to create a marketing buzz by opening four stores at once

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I looked into the business case for the Canadian Premier League to not fully be on hiatus during the FIFA World Cup. The Vancouver FC/Pacific FC owner is excited as he believes the tournament will spur interest in the game. #VancouverFC #PacificFC #FIFAWorldCup

Canadian Premier League aiming to benefit from FIFA World Cup

The top fully Canadian professional soccer league is playing some games during the 2026 FIFA World Cup

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New hotel rooms, more short-term rental units and actions by FIFA have meant that visitors to Vancouver are likely to find last-minute accommodations during the #WorldCup #hotels #hospitality #FIFAWorldCup

Vancouver hotels still have room for World Cup visitors

New hotel rooms, short-term rentals help drive excess supply

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Vancouver restaurant owners are excited as they ready for the FIFA WorldCup. This is despite the tournament bringing uncertainty over street access, licensing rules and how much city bylaw officers will enforce those rules and levy $1,000 fines. #vanpoli #WorldCup #restaurants

Vancouver restaurants ready for FIFA World Cup

Many eateries add TVs, flags while planning longer hours and how to comply with regulations

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Curious that Vancouver ranks last among FIFA World Cup host cities for airline-seat growth on routes between host hubs. The two Canadian cities were only ones with fewer seats added May-July on routes to other hosts. Check out my look into different sets of new data #FIFAWorldCup #aviation #tourism

Vancouver ranks last for seat growth on flights between World Cup hosts

All U.S. and Mexican 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities have seen airlines increase seat capacity on routes between them and other host cities in the lead-up to the tournament

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Cool to see SFU snag the largest-ever donation in its history: $40 million from Arran and Ratana Stephens and their family. Chatted with Arran today about his rationale, and how it is a "vast percentage" of his savings. He and his wife, both in their 80s, remain healthy. #philanthropy #healthcare

Entrepreneurs give SFU its largest ever donation: $40 million

Nature's Path co-founders Arran and Ratana Stephens provided the money, which Arran called "a vast percentage" of the couple's savings

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Vancouver General Hospital has been expanding its use of robots, and robotic arms. Robot use in health care is part of a larger shift in society toward using robots. #robots #technology

VGH adds robots to make cancer care more efficient

Hospital already uses robots to disinfect rooms, help with surgeries and manage inventory

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Found at court: a man is suing Birks and luxury watchmaker Richemont for allegedly losing his $80,000 watch that he took in for servicing. He claims they at first tried to give him a discontinued timepiece to resolve the issue. #retail #luxury #lawsuits www.biv.com/news/retail-...

Man sues Birks, Richemont, claims they 'lost' his $80K watch

The Vancouver plaintiff also alleges a bait-and-switch took place as part of a settlement agreement for a replacement watch

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Found this at court: former MLA and former Mission mayor Randy Hawes sued for allegedly defaming a company in a Facebook post. #lawsuits #BCpoli

Former B.C. MLA Randy Hawes sued over Facebook post

Hawes, who is also a former mayor of Mission, is alleged to have defamed Summit Earthworks

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Great news for the hospitality sector as restaurant, bar and pub owners can now buy alcohol directly from private alcohol retailers. It is a change long sought. This is only for a three-year trial period, however. #retail #alcohol #BCpoli

B.C. restaurants, pubs, bars can buy alcohol from private stores

The government policy change announced Friday, May 29 has been sought for many years by retailers and hospitality business owners

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