The Kamloops Accommodation Association says they have seen “major” cancellations at hotels and motels after the province brought in a ban on non-essential stays in parts of the Southern Interior.
Association Chair Angela Tasker says prior to the announcement Saturday, the occupancy rate in hotels and motels was nearing the 90 per cent range in the City.
Now, Tasker says the occupancy rate is about 30 to 40 per cent, noting there is a plethora of space available for wildfire evacuees and emergency personnel.
“The order caused significant cancellations in the hotels and motels; there’s been a movement,” she said.
“There’s probably more than 3,000 rooms within our association within the city, so if you think 30 to 40 per cent occupants, there are a few thousand rooms available there.”
With that, Tasker says they have contacted Emergency Services (ESS) to let them know about the rooms available for people fleeing emergency wildfire situations.
“As for firefighting personnel, we have seen some of them come through, but they’ve got them in parks at this point, so ideally, if they give them a bed, that would be perfect.”
On top of that, Tasker says they will accommodate any wildfire evacuees who may need to stay longer term.
“We can shuffle things around if later in September, there is a night where something is busy; we will do our best to make sure we can accommodate them because its a tough situation, and we don’t want anybody to have to feel like they’re not welcome to stay.”
Tasker says hotels and motels in Kamloops are known for dealing with situations similar to what is being faced across the province, noting the hotels and motels that choose to sign a contract with Emergency Services BC, do so annually in advance of the year.
“So, we have provisions in place where we’re ready to serve these people, we have set rates with them, we can identify where they can get a meal and that type of thing where they can get a meal, that type of thing.”
The BC Government ban on the non-essential use of temporary accommodations in Kamloops, Kelowna, Osoyoos, Oliver, Penticton, and Vernon will be in effect until September 4.
