Good News(letter) | August 2022

Brighten your day with some good news from the Thompson Okanagan region, British Columbia, Canada, and around the globe.

Hi there, Brighten your day with some good news from the Thompson Okanagan region, British Columbia, Canada, and around the globe. Thompson Okanagan Two Okanagan Wine Aficionados honoured by Provincial Organization A pair of South Okanagan women were recognized this week when Wine Growers British Columbia handed out its annual awards to acknowledge outstanding achievements and contributions to the B.C. wine industry. Penticton’s Marjorie King captured the WGBC’s Industry Recognition Award, while Oliver’s Josie Tyabji took home the organization’s Award of Distinction. Read More → New Kamloops Kekuli Café Barely Keeping Up With Demand A bannock restaurant that opened its doors last month has so many customers, you probably have to get in line. Kekuli Café owner Elijah Mack-Stirling said the first month of open business has been a whirlwind. “We are serving hundreds of gourmet bannock dishes every day,” he said. Learn More → Outdoor Tours of Syilx Cultural Garden in High Demand Tours of a busy cultural garden in Syilx homelands are increasing awareness about syilx plants, medicines, and stories among both Indigenous and non-Indigenous visitors. Cultural tours offered at k’nmaĺka? sənqâĺtən (Kalamalka Garden) have helped give the public a better understanding of the culture and history of the Syilx Nation since 2018. Learn More → Summerland Resort Ranked One of the Best in Canada Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa has been recognized by Tripadvisor as a 2022 Travelers’ Choice award winner for Best of the Best. The award celebrates businesses that have received great reviews from travellers around the globe on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months. As challenging as the past year was, Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa stood out by consistently delivering positive experiences to guests. Learn More → Top 25 Hotels in Canada → B.C.'s First Wine Tasting Room Paved the Way for Penticton Wineries There are over 170 wineries operating and producing more than 75 grape varietals near Penticton within the wine regions of Naramata, Okanagan Falls, and Summerland, according to Visit Penticton. But what led to Penticton’s area becoming a destination for wine aficionados and thirsty tourists? Some would say it was all thanks to a pair of brothers from Vancouver being brought out by the town in the 1950's and opening the province’s first-ever tasting room. Read More → CedarCreek Wins Major National Wine Award Congratulations are in order to this family-owned winery with a strong commitment to organic farming. Cedar Creek Estate Winery is the 2022 WineAlign National Wine Awards winery of the year. The winery received the prestigious award at the recent WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada, besting more than 250 other wineries. For more than 40 years, CedarCreek has been producing wines in an area with unique soil characteristics that overlooks Okanagan Lake, in the sub-geographical indication (sub-GI) of South Kelowna Slopes. (Sub-GIs are an official protected term under BC law, used to help consumers identify BC wines’ origins.) Six other BC wineries were also ranked in the top 10 at the awards: Spearhead Winery, Kelowna: third (and awarded Best-Performing Small Winery) Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, Kelowna: fourth La Frenz Estate Winery, Penticton: fifth Black Hills Estate Winery, Oliver: seventh Fort Berens Estate Winery, Lillooet: eighth Bordertown Vineyards & Estate Winery, Osoyoos: ninth Learn More → Sandra Oldfield Elected Board Chair for BC Hospitality Foundation 2022/2023 Board of Directors The BC Hospitality Foundation has a new board chair, and she hails from the Thompson Okanagan. Oliver’s Sandra Oldfield was elected chair of the board for the 2022-23 term. She is taking over from Jeff Guignard, who has been in the role for the past eight years. Oldfield, a California native, moved to B.C. in 1995 and started Tinhorn Creek Vineyards in Oliver. She was the first in Canada to use Stelvin screw top caps, she expanded the marketability of Cabernet Franc, and Tinhorn became a hub for South Okanagan events. She also backed the drive to create B.C.’s first sub-appellation, the Golden Mile Bench, and established Tinhorn Creek as Canada’s only carbon-neutral winery. Sandra Oldfield is also currently a TOTA Board Director. Learn More → Armstrong will Host the 2023 Women’s and Open BC Stick Curling Championships Armstrong will play host to the Women’s and Open BC Stick Curling Championships from Feb. 17 to Feb. 19, 2023. The sport became an official part of the Curl BC Championship in 2019. The Armstrong Curling Club regularly offers mixed, men’s, women’s and open-stick leagues. In addition, the club hosts multiple stick bonspiels in the fall and winter months that are focused on recreational and competitive stick curlers. Learn More → British Columbia Revelstoke to host Colour the Slopes Summit for BIPoC Adventurers Colour the Trails, Tourism Revelstoke, and Revelstoke Mountain Resort are working together to host the first annual Colour the Slopes Summit this December. The 4 day summit is a celebration of winter pursuits and a gathering of BIPoC adventure seekers. Over 4 days, participants will gather in Revelstoke to ski, snowboard, snowshoe, snowmobile, nordic ski, and ski tour. In the evenings, there will be a film night, an apres featuring special guest speakers, and a gala featuring dinner, music, and dancing. Participants will have an opportunity to get to know Revelstoke, try new sports or hone their skills, and come together to create and bolster community. The first summit will take place from December 8-11, 2022.. At this time the event is for Black, Indigenous and racialized people but should spots be available, registration will open up to allies at a later date. For more information on the event, contact [email protected]. For sponsorship inquiries, reach out to [email protected]. Register Here → Vancouver Joins Toronto as a Canadian MICHELIN Guide Destination MICHELIN and Destination Vancouver announced that the MICHELIN Guide is coming to Vancouver. It is exciting to see Vancouver’s thriving culinary scene recognized through its induction into the MICHELIN Guide network. Culinary experiences are a significant contributor to the tourism economy and a top activity for travellers to Canada. Vancouver is now the second Canadian city to join the MICHELIN Guide network, following the announcement of the Toronto MICHELIN Guide this spring. This is a testament to Canada’s exceptional culinary experiences and will drive future visitation, support economic development, attract culinary talent and showcase Canada to the global audience of food lovers. Learn More → Vancouver council approves next step in 2030 Indigenous-led Olympic bid A council committee in Vancouver voted Wednesday 8 to 2 in favour of allowing an Indigenous-led bid for the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games to proceed to the next step. Chiefs and council members from the Squamish, Lil'wat, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam nations attended Wednesday's vote, along with representatives from the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committees. The Indigenous delegation told the standing council that backing their efforts to bring the games back to B.C. was a chance to act on government commitments to reconciliation. Read More → Support the Bid → Destination BC & Tourism Fernie Celebrate Community Feature on The Amazing Race Canada On July 19, the nation’s eyes were on Fernie, BC, as the town was featured on CTV’s The Amazing Race Canada (Season 8, Episode 803)! To celebrate the incredible exposure opportunity for the local tourism industry, Destination BC and Tourism Fernie hosted a live viewing event for the airing of the episode. Destination BC provides support to the Amazing Race Canada team, as the show provides significant opportunity to showcase BC’s stunning natural assets, outdoor adventures, and world-class hospitality to viewers across Canada. The team will be travelling to Kelowna, Lumby, and Vernon in the next episode, airing August 9 on CTV.  Learn More → Canada Peace by Chocolate Launch Trans Canada Trail Themed Chocolate Bars Trans Canada Trail is partnering with Peace by Chocolate in the creation of One Trail, One Love: a collection of four Trans Canada Trail–themed chocolate bars inspired by community spirit, connectedness and the natural beauty of the land we’re lucky enough to inhabit. This partnership is a win-win for Trail and chocolate lovers: $1 from each bar sold supports the important work of Trans Canada Trail.  Learn More → The Beaverton: European relatives visiting Toronto say they’d love to drive and see the Rocky Mountains while they’re here After unpacking their bags in the guest room they’ll be using for their five day stay in Toronto, Hans and Heidi Bergmann have casually mentioned that they’re interested in popping over to see the Rocky Mountains at some time during their stay. “Yes, we’d very much love to go see the big Rockies, whenever you have the chance to maybe drive us over. We have been told it is a part of Canada not to be missed,” said Hans. The Bergmanns, whose Munich home is within six hours of Paris, Prague, Vienna, and other hubs of European culture, are excited to see everything Canada has to offer in the 14 days they are in Southwestern Ontario. A hastily scrawled itinerary viewed among their belongings includes: “Calgary Stampede”, “Whistler”, “Halifax”, “Yukon gold mines” and “Igloos?”. Conversations with them on the car from the airport suggest that they are happy to wake up a little earlier in order to fit more landmarks into the day. Read More & Have a Laugh → Around the World Hawaii Turns Over Tourism Marketing to Group Rooted in Local Culture In June 2022, the Hawaiian Tourism Authority awarded a multiyear contract to the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, a local nonprofit, to help market the islands to the U.S.  By choosing a community-centered nonprofit to help craft Hawaii's tourism marketing, the state's tourism authority made a bold statement, severing a century-old relationship with the conventions and visitors bureau. It's sparking controversy, but this is the uneasy path to redefining the future of tourism. Read More → US Travel Forms Sustainable Travel Coalition The U.S. Travel Association announced the launch of its new Sustainable Travel Coalition, which aims to align the travel, transportation and technology sectors to develop a more sustainable future. The Sustainable Travel Coalition launched with nearly 60 member organizations and will serve as an advisory body to inform U.S. Travel on sustainability issues, opportunities and concerns within member organizations and destinations. Learn More → Want to be featured in the next Good News(letter)? We want to spread the word about initiatives, acts of kindness, new tourism experiences, corporate social responsibility, and other good news. Share Your Good News! Corporate Sponsors: Connect with TOTA: Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), 2280-D Leckie Road, Kelowna, British Columbia V1X 6G6, Canada Unsubscribe Manage preferences

Good News(letter) | July 2022

Brighten your day with some good news from the Thompson Okanagan region, British Columbia, Canada, and around the globe.

Hi there, Brighten your day with some good news about tourism and destination management from the Thompson Okanagan region, British Columbia, Canada, and around the globe. Thompson Okanagan Tourism Kelowna 2022 #exploreKelowna Creator Program Tourism Kelowna launched the #exploreKelowna Creator Program to showcase the community from a local point of view. By leveraging stories and images being shared by fresh and diverse perspectives, Tourism Kelowna can connect with new audiences, fill content gaps, and provide third-party trip inspiration. View 2022 Creators → Visit Penticton Fuel Free... Almost In an effort to promote responsible and sustainable tourism, Tourism Penticton wants visitors to enjoy a visit without fuel... almost by choosing local options for dining, wine, and more. In an article published in Vancouver is Awesome, Tourism Penticton promotes fuel free ways to enjoy the city this summer.  Read the Article → Learn More on VisitPenticton.com → Big White Ski Resort Announces Major Upgrades Big White Ski Resort has announced that it is investing millions in machinery, resort infrastructure, lift maintenance, staff accommodation upgrades, staff wages, and more to celebrate the resort's path to recovery. Learn More → BeadTrails is Levelling Up in Summerland  In Summerland, BeadTrails is providing a fun and adventurous way to discover new places, hidden gems, and unique businesses across B.C. through their technology-driven platform. By visiting destinations on their online interactive map, travellers can collect unique beads that represent the story of the destination. By the end of their journey, travellers are left with a charming memory bracelet and a story to share. Learn More → Tourism Kamloops New We Are Kamloops Video Tourism Kamloops released an entertaining new video promoting the unique character of the city. Showcasing the people, the activities, events, and the beautiful landscape, this video highlights everything that visitors will enjoy in Kamloops.  Watch Now → Quench Magazine: How First Nations Helped Build the BC Wine Industry Indigenous people in B.C. have played a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for today’s success. Last year, Quench Magazine published an article by Tim Pawsey about the history of Osoyoos Indian Band 's involvement in the B.C. wine industry. The article features current Indigenous wine industry professionals contributing to the Okanagan Valley wine industry: Justin Hall of Osoyoos Indian Band, head winemaker at Nk'Mip Cellars and first Indigenous head winemaker in North American (and possibly the world). Robert Louie, former Westbank First Nation Chief and co-founder of Indigenous World Winery. Eliana Bray of Kehewin Cree Nation, executive manager at Roche Wines and one of only a few Indigenous certified sommeliers. Read More → New Funding to Prepare for Lytton Rebuild The Province committed $21 million to help re-establish essential infrastructure and services, and sustain ongoing municipal and community-led recovery efforts in Lytton, BC. The new funding builds on past investments to support Lytton after a devastating wildfire destroyed most of the town during summer 2021. The village site is expected to be ready for the next phases of rebuilding in the fall. View Announcement → British Columbia Xatśūll First Nation Hopes to Bring in Tourists with Opening of Old Restaurant near Williams Lake Xatśūll First Nation is hoping to bolster tourism and visitation by investing in a multi-million dollar project that includes reopening a historic gas station and restaurant between Williams Lake and McLeese Lake on Highway 97. In partnership with the Xatśūll Development Corporation, the band plans to spend $3.8 million for the site to reopen. It will also include a seasonal museum and electric car charging stations. Learn More → Salt Spring Coffee Compostable Pods Salt Spring Coffee has introduced compostable packaging for their single use coffee pods. The Salt Spring Island based roastery has long been committed to maintaining fair to farmer relationships, ensuring sustainable organic farming practices, and sourcing only the best quality coffee beans. Learn more → Canada Tourism Winnipeg Launches Community Focused Place Brand Economic Development Winnipeg and Tourism Winnipeg introduced a new place brand called Winnipeg: Made From What’s Real. Economic Development Winnipeg and Travel Manitoba collaborated with community partners including the City of Winnipeg and used information from research, surveys, workshops and focus groups with Winnipeggers to create a brand that would truly resonate with the community's diverse backgrounds. As part of the launch, Tourism Winnipeg collaborated with the following local companies to create the following: The Winnipeg Story is Changing video featuring Cree music by local band, The Resilience Winnipeg: Made from what’s real clothing line, consisting of hats, t-shirts, tank tops, and hoodies. Candle with notes of amberwood, musk and oakmoss. Locally brewed Winnipeg beer featuring local art. Chocolates with the brand logo. Scented car art pieces with the new emblem.  Learn More → Around the World Regenerative Tourism Invites Travellers to Get Their Hands Dirty Smithsonian Magazine published an article about vacations that allow tourists to participate in conservation activities, such as habitat restoration, which are growing in popularity. Read on to learn about the Future of Tourism Coalition's work to mitigate “extractive tourism”—the destruction of regions due to visitor overcrowding—and transform the tourism model to visibly benefit vulnerable places and people. The article includes several examples of vacations that include conservation activities, such as habitat restoration, while sharing information about a region and its inhabitants. Learn More → Want to be featured in the next Good News(letter)? We want to spread the word about initiatives, acts of kindness, new tourism experiences, corporate social responsibility, and other good news. Share Your Good News! Connect with us on social media: Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), 2280-D Leckie Road, Kelowna, British Columbia V1X 6G6, Canada Unsubscribe Manage preferences

The Good News(letter) | February 4

Through all the changes and uncertainty, we're continuously inspired by the resiliency and innovative spirit of the people behind the businesses.

The Good News(letter) is brought to you twice a month by the TOTA team. 

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Thompson Okanagan

Monte Creek Winery received the 2021 Sustainable Project of the Year Award presented by TOTA.

This summer, Monte Creek Winery ran a fundraising and awareness campaign around BC badgers. The species is red listed endangered in BC and the winery learned that the leading cause of their death is highway kills on HWY 1 between Kamloops and Prtichard, the stretch of highway that borders part of the winery's property. With fewer than 350 badgers left in BC, Monte Creek Winery took action with realizing their responsibility to advocate for BC badgers.

Kelowna and the Shuswap were recognized in the Top 100 most desired places to travel in the Tourism Sentiment Index. 

The Tourism Sentiment Index built this list based on word of mouth and is proud to be an unprompted and unbiased index. After a tough year for the tourism industry, this recognition is something to be proud of.

Ten Biosphere Committed Companies businesses in the Thompson Okanagan can be found on the Sustainable Life App. A free mobile app that consumers can use and download.

The goal of the app is to connect eco-conscious consumers with eco-conscious businesses and brands.

The businesses included in the app are:

• A View to Remember B&B

• Best Western Plus Kamloops Hotel

• Hoodoo Adventures

• Jojo's Cafe

• Kalala Organic Estate Winery

• Quaaout Lodge & Talking Rock Resort

• Planet Bee Honey Farm & Honeymoon Meadery

• Tantalus Vineyards

• Tightrope Winery

• BC Wildlife Park Kamloops

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Around the Globe

The governments of Zihuatanejo and Coyuca de Benítez, were the first destinations in Mexico to sign the letter of commitment with the Responsible Tourism Institute. This letter was signed with the aim of aligning with the 2030 Agenda, the 17 SDGs, and becoming members of the Biosphere Destination Community.

For more information on the TOTA Biosphere program visit totabc.org/biosphere.

In an effort to match the UK government’s target of planting 90-120 million trees a year, Trainhugger, a new train ticketing platform, says it will use 50 pence out of each £1.50 booking fee to pay for a young tree, in partnership with the Royal Forestry Society and Royal Scottish Forestry. The website will sell the same UK routes and fares as other rail websites.

They hope to plant 10 million trees by 2025.

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