Thompson Okanagan Tourism Newsletter | January 25, 2024

 

Highlights of this newsletter include: Tourism climate-readiness planning Grants and scholarships Nominations for industry awards Training and advisory services And more...

Featured News

Register for New Tourism Climate-Readiness Program: BC Tourism Climate Resiliency Initiative (BCTCRI) Through the BC Tourism Climate Resiliency Initiative (BCTCRI), BC's tourism industry can apply for sustainability adaptation planning support and micro-grants from Destination BC. Applications for planning support are open until February 23. Applications for micro-grants up to $15,000 are open January 29 to March 8.

New Grant and Mentorship Program to "Spark" Innovative Tourism Ideas Along Rainforest to Rockies Iconic Route | Apply by March 1 A new program aimed at sparking and supporting innovative tourism ideas along the Rainforest to Rockies iconic route across southern British Columbia was announced by Destination BC, in partnership with Tourism Innovation Lab, TOTA, and other tourism partners. The Rainforest to Rockies “Spark” Mentorships & Grants Program will match selected applicants with a tourism mentor and provide a $3,000 grant and additional partner support to help take their new tourism ideas to the next level of development.

Share Your Insights to Enhance Regional Emergency Preparedness and Resilience Planning Thompson Okanagan tourism business owners and operators are invited to share their perspectives on how the region can advance tourism resilience through big data and smart destination practices. Insights will be collected through an in-person or video interview. To schedule an interview, please contact Scott Peters at Scott_Peters@SFU.ca or +1-778-878-2557

Industry Resources

Free Webinar on February 1: Navigating 2SLGBTQI+ Diversity & Inclusion in the Tourism Industry This free 3-hour CGLCC training session helps tourism-based businesses learn about: 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion How to effectively understand, value, and serve 2SLGBTQI+ customers and employees How to develop market-ready products for the global 2SLGBTQI+ travel market, valued at more than US$200B annually.

Workplace Accessibility Grant accepting applications until March 31 The Workplace Accessibility Grant provides direct financial assistance to small business employers in BC looking to create accessible work environments for persons with disabilities. Reimbursement grants are available up to $5,000 for eligible businesses that demonstrate how their project improves accessibility.

Register for Okanagan College Careers Expo & Employment Fair on February 7 at the Kelowna Campus Around 1,000 students are expected to attend the event, and job seekers from the public are also welcome.

Les Dames d'Escoffier Scholarship Program applications open until February 12 Les Dames d'Escoffier is now accepting scholarship programs from women and or non-binary persons in any stage of their culinary, beverage, or hospitality careers who are looking to either refine or expand their expertise at an educational institution of their choice anywhere in the world.

Apply for BC Employer Training Grant program BC Employer Training Grant program, which helps small, medium and large enterprises secure skills training for their workforces, including new hires.  Employers can apply as often as needed and receive 80 percent of the cost of training, up to $10,000 per employee, with a maximum annual amount per employer of $300,000.

Apply for Climate Disaster Response Fund The Climate Disaster Response Fund is a one-time grant opportunity up to $8,000 to support heritage-focused organizations with heritage resources damaged by recent climate and natural disasters in BC.

New Health & Safety Advisory services for tourism businesses | Book a free consultation This new go2HR service helps employers create, maintain, and develop safe workplaces, with guidance on a range of topics including:

• NEW First Aid program requirements
• NEW duty to maintain employment & cooperate requirements following workplace injuries
• Workplace mental health and wellness strategies
• Joint health & safety committee requirements
• Bullying and harassment
• Working alone
• And more...

2024 Marketing Trends & Predictions for DMOs by Crowdriff Crowdriff surveyed destination marketers all over North America to find out how their 2024 strategies are shaping up; then scrubbed through hundreds of reports, articles, podcasts, and posts to see what the experts are saying. From platform shuffles to a creator economy in flux to the accelerating influence of AI, it’s clear that 2024 will demand not just tactical adjustments, but total evolution.

Labour Market Information Report by go2HR Average hourly earnings in the Thompson Okanagan tourism sector have been steady with fluctuation between $21 to $28 over the past two years. In 2022 and 2023, the average hourly earnings in the Thompson Okanagan tourism sector was $24, which was similar to Vancouver Island and the Kootenays. For details about BC and Thompson Okanagan hourly earnings, employment rates, hours worked, and more, visit the BC Tourism and Hospitality Employment Tracker.

Get Involved

Take Part in the Great Okanagan Waste Reduction Challenge from January 29 to March 15 GreenStep Solutions is once again hosting the Great Okanagan Waste Reduction Challenge, a valley-wide challenge to significantly and measurably reduce waste generation. Businesses and residents can participate to get resources, understand their waste, and find new ways to reduce it. And, participants are entered to win prizes!

Submit Nominations for Industry Excellence Awards: ITAC Indigenous Tourism Awards until January 31 BC Hotel Association open until February 2 Heritage BC Awards open until February 9 Restaurants Canada open until February 23

Help celebrate National Tourism Week on April 15-19 National Tourism Week (NTW) is a weeklong, national, social media campaign orchestrated by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) in partnership with provincial/territorial industry associations such as TIABC. This annual event is a crucial platform for highlighting the pivotal role of tourism in Canada. There are four easy ways to get involved:  Go Green, Get Social, Share a Video Message, and Spread the Word.

Sharing the Destination

Have you seen the @Thompson_Okanagan Instagram account lately? Follow along to see posts like this and more:

Have a great photo for a TOTA newsletter or social post?  Submit images and get featured →

Spread the Word ⭐ Four Points by Sheraton Penticton Now Open ⭐ Dine Around menus are happening January 17 - February 11 at restaurants in the Okanagan, Kamloops, and Salmon Arm ⭐ Sipping Around the Shuswap and 5 Unique Winter Dining Experiences around Vernon story features by Great Taste of Canada ⭐ Pacific Coastal Airlines additional routes between Kamloops-Victoria and Penticton-Vancouver

Strengthening the Destination

International Symposium on Destination Stewardship Event Recap Destination Canada held the International Symposium on Destination Stewardship event in November 2023 to explore a regenerative approach to tourism and talk about how tourism can positively impact residents, the economy, culture, and the environment. This remarkable event lives on in the recap, which distills the essence of the event and shares key ideas to implement in organizations and communities.

Navigating the Green Horizon: Unraveling the Nuances of Sustainable Tourism, Regenerative Tourism, and ESG GreenStep Solutions CEO Angela Nagy wrote an article exploring the differences between the terms sustainable tourism, regenerative tourism, and ESG.

Destination BC is now Rainbow Registered, an accreditation given to 2SLGBTQI+ friendly spaces 👏🏳️‍🌈 It's fantastic to see Destination BC's ongoing commitment and efforts to provide a warm and accepting experience for 2SLGBTQI+ employees and consumers through progressive policies and practices, with a program that promotes 2SLGBTQI+ inclusivity in Canada’s tourism industry. Want to welcome 2SLGBTQI+ employees and consumers? Businesses and communities can get registered at RainbowRegistered.ca.

Crisis Communication Training for Tourism Organizations Designed for Destination Management or Marketing Organizations, Visitor Centres, and Provincial Experience Sector Associations, this free, two-day Crisis Communication Planning Training Series will coach participants with a step-by-step approach to developing a crisis communication plan.  Upcoming workshops will take place February 6 and 8, and April 16 and 18.

Zero-Emission Fleets Event | March 6 in Vancouver A single day forum to experience the newest electric fleet vehicles: boats, buses, trucks, tractors, cars, carts, bikes and more. Hear about the benefits and opportunities of fleet electrification, and learn about Go Electric rebates. Early-bird pricing ends January 31.

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