Many Tremendous Tourism Announcements
Last week was certainly one for the record books as TOTA and CCCTA both hosted our first-ever virtual Annual General Meetings followed by our first joint virtual Summit. As well, TOTA announced the new Board of Directors, and welcomed the new B.C. Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport.
Last week was certainly one for the record books as TOTA and CCCTA both hosted our first-ever virtual Annual General Meetings followed by our first joint virtual Summit. The event was two days of sessions meant to inspire tourism operators to Move Forward Better through Recovery, Resiliency, and Regeneration.
I want to congratulate our teams who all worked tirelessly to put the sessions and the entire event together and to all of our sponsors and partners, including Western Economic Diversification Canada, Apps Canada, GreenStep Solutions, TELUS, Air Canada, and YLW Kelowna International Airport. A special thank you to Mission Hill Family Estate for hosting the virtual wine tasting.
Of course, without the participation of our stakeholders and other tourism colleagues, the event would not have been the tremendous success that it was and I want to thank the 600+ people who registered.
As a virtual event, many aspects will live beyond the days of the event. Here's how you can connect:
Keynote & Panel Recordings
All keynote and panel presentations are available to watch and rewatch at any time until December 25, 2020. Simply register, login to access the virtual Conference Centre, and go to the Auditorium (sign in virtual conference centre) or Agenda (top navigation bar).
The TOTA team will share highlights of the sessions over the coming weeks, starting with the opening Keynote, Anna Pollock and Bill Reed: The Power of Regeneration To Transform Tourism.
Silent Auction
The virtual Silent Auction will continue until 4 PM on December 15. Anyone is welcome to place a bid on the tourism experiences, accommodations, and business services. Simply create an account on Bidding Owl and follow the steps to bid on your item of choice.
Proceeds from the silent auction will support tourism & hospitality students through the TOTA Tourism Excellence Scholarship Program.
Networking & Trade Show Booths
You can still check out the list of attendees and their LinkedIn profiles to connect with fellow professionals interested in responsible tourism and continue the conversation about Moving Forward Better.
The Trade Show booths will remain in the Exhibition Hall until December 25, with links and downloads at your fingertips. The booth chat will not be monitored but feel free to reach out to the companies by email.
TOTA Board of Directors
At the TOTA AGM, we announced our new board of directors:
Michael J. Ballingall as Chair (previously Vice Chair), Big White Ski Resort, Boundary
Sandra Oldfield as Vice-Chair, Elysian Projects & Fortify, Oliver
Gordon Fitzpatrick as Secretary-Treasurer, Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards, Peachland
Don Brogan, Coast Oliver Hotel, Oliver
Beverly DeSantis, Tourism Kamloops, Kamloops
Jessica Dolan, Ramada & Coast Penticton Hotel, Penticton
Glenn Grant, BC Wildlife Park, Kamloops
Lyndie Hill, Hoodoo Adventures, Penticton
Meira Larose, Cedar Haven Resort, Clearwater
Patricia Leslie, Andrew Peller, Oliver
Monica Seys, Shuswap Marina, Blind Bay
Andrea McFadden, Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm, Kelowna
Steve Rice, Gold Country Communities Society, Spences Bridge
Dale Sivucha, Coast Capri Hotel, Kelowna
Kathrin von Andrian, Myra Canyon Ranch & Kelowna Stables, Kelowna
Welcome back to our returning board members and welcome to the new directors. We say farewell and thank you to the directors who have completed their term.
Welcome to New B.C. Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport
Last week the Province of B.C. announced Melanie Mark as the new Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport. We welcome the Honourable Melanie Mark to this new portfolio and recognize that the coming months will be extremely busy as we collectively work towards Moving Forward Better and to ensure the tourism industry is able to meet the challenges of today and the months to come.
On a final note, we want to express our appreciation to Minister Lisa Beare for her dedication to our industry over the past several years.
- Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO
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A Memorable November
November is shaping up to be a month to remember, with the US election, TOTA AGM & Summit on November 25 and 26, and perhaps an early start to ski season.
I have always found November to be a rather nondescript month. Summer a distant memory; the beautiful days of fall have begun to turn chilly. The total hours of sunlight are diminishing quickly, and the festivities that mark the Christmas season are still too far into the future to lift your spirits.
However, in true 2020 fashion, this November is serving up a variety of novel situations that are sure to make it anything but dull.
On the light side, many television series, new and returning, that would have typically debuted in September have moved their new season start dates to November. Nothing better than finally being able to catch up with some of your favourite shows, particularly as the daylight shortens.
Much more seriously, the US Presidential Election taking place November 3 has been a cause for discussion and debate as the entire world waits and watches. Regardless of which party and leader are ultimately victorious, the potential ramifications are concerning.
If you believe the farmer's almanac, snow is coming and a lot of it, something all of our ski hills are eagerly awaiting. Should the meteorologists be correct, we will be skiing in November - some fresh air, fresh powder, and mountain sunshine will surely lift our spirits.
Finally, save the date for TOTA's virtual AGM & Summit on November 25 and 26. The tourism Summit will be cohosted by the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and our northwestern neighbour, the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association (CCCTA). Registration will open shortly, together with the details of the fantastic lineup of guest speakers and panelists who will take on the difficult topics facing our industry.
November is no longer a month sitting on the sidelines; this month is lining up to be a month to remember...
- Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO
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