Manic Monday | It's all in the messaging

We have been here before and not that many months ago. Our lakes, rivers, and streams are rising and many of our communities throughout the Thompson Okanagan are facing significant challenges with high water, road closures, and evacuations. These are real and serious situations and we all need to help and support our friends and neighbours in any way we are able. Safety of all concerned is everyone's first and foremost priority.

It is also a priority that we provide accurate and succinct reporting of the current situation through all of our various modes of communication.  Ensuring business websites, social channels, media messaging, and day to day conversations with guests, colleagues and friends provides clear, concise details and information benefits us all.

We are once again on the cusp of an important and very busy spring and summer season for our regional tourism operators. Sensationalizing stories and overstating the facts will negatively impact many of our businesses - both small and large. Key messaging should continue to invite visitors to the region, reconfirm all there is to take part in throughout the area, and identify the many access routes that are unaffected by closures.

Quite simply we can do this right or we can fail, it is all up to our collective abilities to communicate!  It is all in the messaging; the appropriate use of language always with a priority to keep visitors safe, present the facts, stick to the truth and understand the power in words and photos.....your words, your photos and those of the media.

Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO