Thompson Okanagan Tourism Newsletter | October 31, 2025
2025 TOTA Summit
Thank you to everyone who attended the 2025 TOTA AGM & Summit last week!
We were thrilled to have such an engaged group of tourism industry professionals gathered in Kelowna, BC, to participate in TOTA’s annual AGM & Summit. On October 22 & 23, 200+ tourism industry professionals gathered at the KF Centre for Excellence to attend New Routes, Bold Futures: Navigating Tourism's Transformation.
TOTA News Centre Quick Links
Find the latest newsletters, TOTA updates, regional news, events, and resources on the TOTA News Centre and our TOTA social channels.
New Webinar Dates Added for City of Vernon’s Free TOTA Biosphere Enrollment Program
Join the TOTA Biosphere Commitment Program for the opportunity to differentiate your business and stand out from others. Take action to preserve this region and beyond by implementing sustainable practices outlined in the program and stand out to mindful travellers and locals.
For a limited time, the City of Vernon has partnered with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) to offer first-year enrollment in this program for FREE to the first fifteen businesses that register.
Highlights
The Valleys & Vineyards “Spark” Mentorships & Grants Program will match selected applicants with a tourism mentor, provide a $3,000 grant, and offer additional partner support to help take their new tourism ideas to the next level of development.
The Tourism AI Network (TAIN), in partnership with Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and RJA Consulting, has announced a new collaboration to design and develop TourismOps AI.
Michael J. Ballingall, the Senior Vice President of Big White Ski Resort Ltd., has been named the 2025 Business Leader of the Year by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards independent judging panel.
Vancouver will be hosting the FIFA 2026 World Cup, and Destination BC is looking to extend the Beautiful Seats Campaign to show the world that British Columbia offers another kind of seat, one with beautiful views of this province.
All Nations Trust Company (ANTCO) will be running a financial capability workshop for Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs in Kamloops following the success of their Penticton based workshops.
Join FoodMesh and BetterTable for an interactive 30-minute webinar designed specially for hospitality professionals in the North Okanagan. You’ll discover simple, practical ways to cut waste, save money, and strengthen your connection to the local community.
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at the KF Centre for Excellence on the traditional, unceded, and ancestral territory of the Okanagan Indian Band and the syilx Okanagan People.
Do you know someone who would benefit from receiving updates about upcoming TOTA events and regional highlights? Encourage them to subscribe through our website.
Regional Research Snapshot
Once a month, through our newsletter and News Centre, TOTA will bring you a sample of the key visitation and accommodation trends shaping our industry, courtesy of the team at Symphony Tourism Services.
Below is a detailed overview of October's report. We encourage you to monitor our newsletters for ongoing research highlights.
Have you followed the Thompson Okanagan social accounts? Tag #ThompsonOkanagan to have your photos featured in our upcoming content.
