The British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA) has announced the appointment of Paul Hawes as its new president and CEO. With more than 30 years of leadership experience in the travel and hospitality sectors in Canada and the United Kingdom, Hawes is set to guide the BCHA into its next phase of growth.
Hawes’ career in the industry began in the U.K., where he studied tourism and hospitality. In 1995, he moved to Canada and joined Banff Caribou Properties, marking the beginning of a distinguished career. He has since held leadership roles with Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, Travel Alberta, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, the Canadian Tourism Commission (Destination Canada), and Destination Greater Victoria. During his time back in the U.K., he played a key role in establishing overseas offices in the U.K., Germany, and France for Destination New South Wales (NSW), Australia.
Since 2021, Hawes has served as vice-president, destination development and marketing at Explore Edmonton Corporation, where he led the visitor economy function. His role included building industry relations, particularly within the region’s hotel sector, and leading global marketing, media relations, sales and business development, event attraction, and destination stewardship. He was also instrumental in the evolution of Edmonton’s tourism master plan.
Under Hawes’ leadership, Edmonton earned recognition as one of Lonely Planet’s top places to visit in 2025. He has also been a strong advocate for sustainability, championing regenerative tourism initiatives to ensure the long-term prosperity of the city’s visitor economy.
“We are honoured to welcome Paul to the BCHA,” says Tanya Stroinig, chair of the BCHA. “Paul’s diverse career portfolio and skillset will serve him well in his role as president and CEO of our organization. For the past four years with Explore Edmonton Corporation, Paul has dedicated his time to driving business and establishing and managing relationships with the hotel community.”
Ingrid Jarrett, current president and CEO of the BCHA, expressed confidence in Hawes’ leadership. “I am confident that Paul will lead the BCHA forward to achieve continued success. Paul will work with government at the provincial and federal levels, as I have, ensuring the best interests of the accommodation sector and advocating for our members. I am fully committed to supporting Paul in the transition to his leadership of the BCHA.”
Hawes says that he looks forward to leveraging his global expertise and passion for hospitality to drive growth and foster collaboration within British Columbia’s hotel sector. “I am delighted to be joining the incredible team at the BC Hotel Association. This opportunity feels very much like a homecoming to my roots, with hotels playing such a pivotal role in shaping my early career,” says Hawes. “I’m eager to build on the remarkable work achieved under Ingrid’s leadership and look forward to continuing BCHA’s legacy of success.”
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