The original plan for the Hospitality Hustle was for an in-person 5km walk/run around Burnaby’s Deer Lake, followed by brunch at Hart House Restaurant. The event was intended to raise funds, as well as raising awareness of the importance of mental and physical health.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative has expanded into a province-wide virtual event: hospitality workers, as well as foodies who have missed getting out and dining, can get moving by training for a province-wide #HospitalityHustle, to take place on May 31, 2020.

Keeping social distancing front of mind, we encourage participants to pick an activity – walk or run 5km, dance for an hour, skip, prance, skateboard, or bike 10km – and start training today. Please follow the advice of our medical professionals and keep your training in your neighbourhood. Then on Sunday, May 31, our entire community will virtually get their ‘hustle on’ for hospitality!

We want you to Hustle for Hospitality because we want to:

Show solidarity with those owners and workers in the hospitality industry who:

have lost their livelihoods
are still working hard to deliver food to frontline workers
are providing a takeout option for those who are socially isolating

Give people a healthy goal that will help keep them physically and mentally strong

Create awareness of the BCHF and other non-profit groups in British Columbia that support hospitality workers

We will encourage Hospitality Hustle participants to

Set a goal such as dancing or running 5km – the form of activity is not important; the goal is just to get moving!

Share their experience on social media under the tag #HospitalityHustle

Make it fun – wear a costume, be creative, show us your workouts

Challenge a friend anywhere in BC to join the event, or create a team and challenge others to do the same

Go to our Facebook event page to join in the fun and help us keep everyone motivated!

We will finish the Hospitality Hustle on May 31 at 7:05 p.m. with an online Social Distancing Dance PARTY with DJ Man About Town Ent.

We are not asking for donations but suggesting that, if participants wish to donate, they can choose where it goes to. Here are the organizations we will partner with for accepting donations:

BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF)
Canadian Professional Bartenders Association
Help Victoria Hospitality
Les Dames d'Escoffier - BC Chapter
Mind The Bar
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Foundation
Vancouver F & B Community Relief Fund

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