The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.
Noble Ridge Vineyards & Winery has achieved Biosphere Certification, the first winery within the Thompson Okanagan region to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability management by aligning business operations with each United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Read MoreJoin TOTA in welcoming Watermark Beach Resort to the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program. The team at Watermark Beach Resort is implementing sustainable practices to minimize environmental impacts while contributing to the well-being and longevity of the region.
Read MoreJoin TOTA in welcoming Sharpe Distillery to the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program. Situated in Cawston, BC, this family-owned distillery crafts locally sourced spirits paying homage to their heritage. Becoming Biosphere Committed marks a significant milestone in their journey towards sustainable business practices.
Read MoreQuality Inn and Suites Vernon has achieved Biosphere Certification, becoming the first hotel within the Thompson Okanagan region to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability management. With the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle Platform, the certification was completed in six months. TOTA’s Biosphere Commitment Program is available to help organizations.
Read MoreSong Sparrow Hall is a concert hall and event venue located in the historic Newnes Building in downtown Salmon Arm. Operated as a social venture, the team aims to bring people together and inspire them toward a kinder, more inclusive, and regenerative world.
Read MoreTravel Penticton has become a member of the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program, joining over 80 other organizations in working towards sustainable and responsible tourism practices.
Read on to learn about Travel Penticton’s role as a destination marketing organization, including their current sustainability initiatives and motivation for joining Biosphere.
Read MoreLittle Straw Vineyards is the newest member of the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program. Read on for information about Little Straw, including their rich history, new ownership, and motivation for joining Biosphere.
Read MoreMonte Creek Winery in the Thompson Valley has been making big moves in the BC wine industry. Determined to offer one of the best wine experiences in BC, they recently completed a refinement to their brand packaging, and finished construction on two stunning new buildings. All the enhancements are intended to improve and better reflect the team’s commitment to quality, ongoing innovation, and sustainable practices
Read MoreTOTA and Sustainable Life App™ are collaborating to help Thompson Okanagan tourism companies connect with eco-conscious customers online.
Sustainable Life App™ is a downloadable mobile map-based app that connects eco-conscious consumers with sustainable businesses and brands from where they are. People can use the app while planning a trip or while traveling, making it easy to live a life in line with their core values.
To get your listing, there is a one-time setup fee of $10 USD. Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Committed Companies can receive a free listing with the referral code from Biosphere@TOTABC.com.
Read MoreTasting the Okanagan Through the Ages is an event created through the South Okanagan Food & Drink Experience Development Program which occurred between September 2021 - January 2022 in partnership with TOTA, Destination BC, and the Culinary Tourism Alliance.
Join Chef Aman Dosanj of the Paisley Notebook pop-up series for an immersive dining experience on Covert Farm's 650-acre, fourth-generation farm. The event will guide guests through a multi-course food and wine paired sensory journey of our bountiful region.
Read MoreWe are pleased to welcome Codfather’s Seafood Market as the newest Biosphere Committed Company. Located in Kelowna, Codfather’s is a family run business that prides themselves on marking a big impact out of a small space. Sustainability for Codfather’s as a seafood business has always been tied closely to the ethics of seafood harvesting and growing, and the way that fisheries are organized and monitored. Codfather’s owners Jon and Anne-Marie Crofts have been involved in other sustainable movements such as Slow Fish and the Fisheries for Communities campaign.
Read MoreThe British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA) and Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) announced the winners of the 2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality Awards. The winners were announced during the 2022 Awards Gala on March 10, presented by Indigenous Tourism BC.
The awards recognize and celebrate excellence within British Columbia's tourism & hospitality industry.
Congratulations to all the nominees and winners of the awards for remarkable leadership and outstanding contribution.
Congratulations to the following award winners, which operate in the Thompson Okanagan:
Accessibility Award: Kootenay Adaptive Sport Association (KASA) for a significant contribution towards making B.C. an inclusive and welcoming destination for everyone, that has built the capacity to support more accessible tourism & hospitality products, services and experiences, and provides an outstanding experience for guests with disabilities.
Employees First Award: Accent Inns & Hotel Zed for being employer who has upheld high standards of excellence in occupational health & safety, human resource management practices, and workplace culture.
Welcome to Olive Us Oils & Vinegar Tasting Room on becoming a Biosphere Committed Company! Olive Us is a family run and operated sustainable business with three locations in the Okanagan. Sustainability is at the forefront of every decision, from compostable tasting cups, tasting rooms made of repurposed materials, and a bottle washing system to rescue their used bottles from recycling.
Read MoreNeuron Mobility has joined the Biosphere Commitment Program and hopes to inspire communities they operate in to choose sustainable transportation options when possible. They are a certified carbon neutral business with sustainability a core value of their company. They are also prepared to be held accountable, and alongside the Biosphere Commitment Program they have also committed globally to The Climate Pledge, joining the world’s most progressive companies to meet net-zero by 2040.
Read MoreBiosphere Committed Company, Myra Canyon Bicycle Rentals and Tours has their focus on SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production - with the introduction of bamboo bicycles. By introducing bamboo bicycles produced and sold in a small village in Ghana, it provides a more sustainable option and education tool for their business.
Read MoreNaramata Inn has the joined the Biosphere Commitment Program as we are so excited! Naramata Inn has a hyper-local focus in their business operations and keep sustainability at the front of decision making. They are looking forward to have Sustainable Development Goals to quantify their efforts in areas that ensure they continue to grow and better themselves and their destination.
Read MoreHowling Moon Craft Cider has joined the Biosphere Commitment Program to help guide the choices they make to ensure they are ingrained with sustainable decision making. There are many sustainable parts to Howling Moon Craft Cider and they are excited to start their Biosphere Journey. We are very pleased to welcome them to the Biosphere Commitment Program!
Read MoreWelcome to Destination Silver Star! Joining the Biosphere Commitment Program allows the continuation of sustainability planning for Destination Silver Star along with supports to advance and create a Biosphere Sustainability Journey.
Read MoreWe are very pleased to welcome Klippers Organic Acres to our Biosphere Commitment Program! Sustainability is everything for Klippers Organic Acres. They have 80 solar panels installed, minimize food waste, monitor their entire footprint, are using geothermal energy, and a Certified Organic farm. Klippers Organic Acres focuses sustainability through their motto of leaving the land better then how they found it.
Read MoreMonte Creek Winery has been awarded the 2021 Sustainable Project of the Year Award! This summer Monte Creek Winery took on the responsibility of the endangered BC Badger Fundraiser Campaign. One of the core values at Monte Creek Winery is sustainability.
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