The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is taking part in the upcoming virtual Green Wine Future Conference from May 23 to May 26, 2022. The event is the most ambitious environmental conference ever organized for the global wine community and will launch as a fully online gathering.
The Green Wine Future Conference will address critical topics of sustainability, climate crisis, biodiversity, wine tourism, regenerative agriculture, carbon amelioration, hydric resources, and energy efficiency, as well as create truly green business opportunities to respond to current world conditions and offer a totally new way to attend a conference and for speakers to present their information through video footage, documentaries, and live broadcasts from vineyards and wineries.
As part of the conference, Green Wine Future will feature the Wine for the Planet docuseries, including a short documentary about the Thompson Okanagan wine region. The docuseries will show the support of the wine industry towards the most sensitive parts of the planet such as ice caps and glaciers, rainforest, marine environments, and areas sensitive to flooding and water scarcity.
To create the docuseries, GWF founder Pancho Campo will travel to the Thompson Okanagan to record a tourism documentary. We look forward to unveiling the documentary during the Green Wine Future North America segment on May 23.
Thompson Okanagan Press Conference on April 20 | Join Online or In Person
TOTA and Wine for the Planet invite you to join the Special Press Event tomorrow, Wednesday April 20, 2022 at 2:30 PM.
At the press conference, you will hear directly from Pancho and learn of his work around the world. He will offer insights of what to expect at this year's Green Wine Future Conference. You will also have the opportunity to hear from several industry leaders and enjoy a small sampling of some of the area's various wine varietals.
The Green Wine Future North America segment will take place on May 23 at 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM PDT (UTC-7). Registration for one day of the conference is $47 USD.
Through TOTA’s partnership, Thompson Okanagan stakeholders get a 55% discount by using the code TOTA55.
As the tourism industry navigates the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS) and the regions, including Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), have produced reports with recent and ongoing regional market research to support tourism professionals in making business decisions.
To expand on this research, the BCRTS has partnered with Symphony Tourism Services, a subsidiary of TOTA, to deliver training programs on how to analyze the data and ensure you are using your marketing efforts in the most effective and efficient way possible.
The webinar will result in a better understanding of the customer segments, social values, and travel patterns of people visiting and living in your area for you to then better market to them.
By learning how to interpret and utilize this market research, you will be able to better design marketing strategies that will target the right audience at the appropriate time of year for your business or organization.
This interactive webinar will introduce market research reports available to inform tourism businesses, including:
TOTA and Sustainable Life App™ recorded a webinar on how Thompson Okanagan tourism companies can connect with eco-conscious customers online.
Sustainable Life App™ is a downloadable mobile map-based app that connects eco-conscious consumers with sustainable businesses and brands from where they are. The app is free to download on Android and Apple. With 4,000+ listings, 10,000+ downloads, and 6,000+ users, the app is growing in popularity across Canada and internationally.
Energy is used every day to modulate temperature, light indoor and outdoor environments, heat water, and run appliances. According to Natural Resource Canada more than 60% of the total energy consumption in a building is utilized for space heating.
The following energy efficiency tips can help in reducing your business’ energy consumption and will bring added benefits of cost saving and reducing your carbon footprint:
Regularly maintain and replace worn caulking and weatherstripping around windows and doors to seal gaps and cracks.
Install programmable thermostat to turn down the heat to about 17 degree Celsius after business hours and in unoccupied or less frequently used areas.
Upgrade to LED lighting to enhance your indoor atmosphere and save energy costs.
Replace standard incandescent bulbs with Energy Star rated LED bulbs and T12 fluorescent lamps and high performance T8 or LED lighting.
Have appliances serviced regularly to keep them operating safely and efficiently
In addition, Thompson Okanagan tourism businesses can receive a complimentary energy audit and recommendations through TOTA's Energy Analyst.
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) has been nominated for North America's Responsible Tourism Award 2022 inthe 29th annual World Travel Awards. The award serves to acknowledge, reward, and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.
TOTA has received this award in 2018, 2019, and 2020 and is honoured to be nominated once again in this category. Achieving this recognition for a fourth time would help TOTA spread the word on how the Thompson Okanagan tourism industry and our organization are working together to offer tourism services in a responsible and sustainable manner.
Travel industry professionals and consumers worldwide are invited to cast their votes for travel brands that they consider to be the very best in the world. The nominee gaining the most votes for an award named as the winner.
Voting is open until May 3, 2022.
We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few moments to register with World Travel Awards and vote for TOTA in category 52. North America's Responsible Tourism Award.
The TOTA team is here to help with the challenges your business is facing. As part of TOTA's Tourism Resiliency Program tourism companies can access the following free supports:
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has moved Canada down from Level 4 to Level 3 category of travel risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is no longer warning Americans to avoid travel to Canada because of the coronavirus. In an update to its travel health notices on April 4, the US public health agency said the level of COVI-19 in Canada is “high” rather than “very high”; it had been at Level 4 since Jan. 10, 2022.
The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) has launched their 2022-23 Action Plan for the continued resurgence of Indigenous tourism across Canada. ITAC’s 2022-23 Action Plan supports the sustainable restoration of Indigenous tourism in Canada as the sector leader to support annual growth in jobs, marketing, GDP contributions and the creation of new Indigenous tourism businesses. ITAC’s 2022-23 Action Plan focuses on a four-pillar approach to business that includes; Leadership, Partnerships, Development & Marketing.
British Columbia Lodging and Campgrounds Association’s (Canada) Annual Occupancy and Rate Survey Results have revealed that most campground bookings (52%) come from repeat customers. The survey was conducted on BCLCA members with ten or more campsites in January 2022. The goal of the survey was to gain a better understanding of the performance of all private sector campgrounds in 2021.
Watch Destination BC's 2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference Presentation to see the inspiring work that's being done to support the BC tourism industry through challenges and successes, including:
Marketing Plans to build back travel to BC, now
The Invest in Iconics strategy, to generate stronger interest in future travel to all areas of BC
Lasting, Meaningful Reconciliation
Destination Stewardship, to ensure tourism is managed well for all British Columbians
The Province is now extending TESA authorizations further to March 31, 2023, to provide more time to make TESAs permanent. Restaurants, bars, and liquor manufacturers have more time to apply to make temporary service areas permanent as they recover from the pandemic.
Businesses are encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible, as local governments and First Nations need to evaluate structures and outdoor licensed areas in consideration of their communities’ requirements before expanded service areas are made permanent by the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB).
More artists and arts and culture organizations throughout the province will benefit from changes to the way the BC Arts Council provides funding to support calls to action for reconciliation, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The BC Arts Council’s Extending Foundations: Action Plan 2022-2024 marks a renewal in the focus of the BC Arts Council that is aimed at breaking down systemic barriers within its policies and programs to expand opportunities for those who have historically been underserved.
Congratulations to the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast and Kootenay Rockies tourism regions on earning the internationally recognized Biosphere Certified Destination Designation from the Responsible Tourism Institute.
Biosphere Destinations are committed to continuous improvement guided by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, which include combating climate change, protecting the environment, supporting decent work and economic growth, and respecting cultural and social values.
In 2017, the Thompson Okanagan region was officially certified as the first destination in the Americas to have successfully achieved the Biosphere Tourism Destination Certification from the Responsible Tourism Institute.
The Minister of Employment, Workforce Development & Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker program under the Workforce Solutions Road Map, providing businesses with better access to the program.
Destination Canada's domestic spring and summer campaign is designed to reframe what Canadians think they know about Canada by showing a different perspective on travel icons found across the country. The target audience is encouraged to look at long-haul domestic regions the same way they consider travelling abroad.
The go2HR job board is free for tourism and hospitality employers operating in British Columbia. Post jobs and hiring events to find quality employees in Accommodation, Food and Beverage Services, Recreation and Entertainment, Transportation, and Travel Services. The go2HR Job Board receives 20,000 monthly visits from qualified candidates looking for front-line, supervisory, management or executive positions.
The Province is inviting businesses and public-sector organizations to register on the new, modernized BC Bid site. BC Bid is an online marketplace where public-sector organizations such as municipalities, school districts, health authorities, Crown corporations and the B.C. government can advertise contract opportunities for work in a wide range of sectors and services.
Full 2021 data is now available on the Destination BC Tourism Industry Dashboard, which includes key tourism statistics such as international visitor arrivals data, provincial room revenue, commercial restaurant receipts, provincial and regional occupancy rates and average daily room rates, and more.
The #1 most important digital asset your organization needs in today’s world is a website. So, what makes a great website and how can you set yours apart from the rest? Destination BC has put together some key items to focus on to help you make sure your website stands out.
With thousands of displaced Ukrainians expected to relocate to British Columbia over the coming months, the Province of BC is expanding services and supports to connect individuals and families to the help they need.
A new, dedicated Welcoming Ukraine portal has launched to provide information to Ukrainians moving to the province. including information about services such as health-care coverage, employment, and community services.
The portal also has information for British Columbians who want to offer support to Ukrainians fleeing violence, including offering housing, employment opportunities, or donations.
The Government of Canada has created a dedicated job bank to help connect Ukrainian refugees with employment opportunities.
To help tourism businesses prepare for international markets, the CanExport SME program is now accepting new applications for programs starting after April 1, 2022.
The program focuses on export marketing activities of existing products and services in foreign markets. The funding program is now available to tourism businesses who cater to international visitors, and may partially cover a variety of marketing, advertising and other related expenses. Small and medium sized companies may access up to $50,000 in funding to assist with international market development activities (up to 50% of costs for export marketing of products and services in international markets with little or no current sales).
As travel continues to evolve, the demand for more authentic sustainable travel experiences continue to grow. As a direct call to action, Tourism Cares has created a tool for travel professionals that satisfies that demand and actualizes the power of travel. The Meaningful Travel Map of North America connects travel professionals to social and environmental impact experiences and opportunities throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada that are bookable now and ready to explore.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and sole proprietorships are the drivers of the Canadian economy, accounting for the vast majority of all businesses in the country.
For over two years, these businesses have been battered by the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those in the service sectors, where women-owned businesses tend to concentrate, have been hardest hit.
The Women’s Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH), which is led by Ryerson’s Diversity Institute’s founder, Wendy Cukier, released its latest analysis of new and existing research from the State of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Canada 2022. The report finds that rates of women entrepreneurship remain steady, and in the face of unprecedented challenges, women entrepreneurs remain optimistic and have continued to exhibit great resilience and innovation.
Research data created by Environics Analytics to help the travel and tourism industry understand the impact of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to Domestic Overnight Visitors within Canada.
