Updates, webinars, events, opportunities to get involved, resources, and research to support Thompson Okanagan tourism professionals.
Special Message
Hi there,
It was a somber long weekend for the Thompson Okanagan tourism region, as Monday, May 23 marked the one year anniversary of the announcement of the confirmation of Le EstcwicweÌ“yÌ“ (The Missing), 215+ undocumented children buried at the former Kamloops Residential School. Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc held a memorial event and ceremonies throughout the day on Monday, at the TkÌ“emlúps Pow Wow Arbour, which many attended in person or online.
This dark moment in our shared history can never be forgotten but must be a catalyst for deeper understanding and appreciation of truth that can lead to long-term change and the beginning of real reconciliation.
On Sunday, May 22, we were saddened to see a fire extensively damage Quaaout Lodge & Spa, located in the Shuswap near Chase B.C. An investigation of the fire’s causes and the extent of the damage is now underway and support is being provided to displaced guests and employees. The resort will remain closed while the initial investigation is completed. Updates will be made available to the media as new information becomes available.
Owned and operated by the Little Shuswap Lake Band, part of the Secwépemc Nation, this beautiful resort is renowned in the region, the province, and the world. A major employer and an economic driver for the area, it is also an experience that provides visitors with Indigenous culture, history, and education.
Our thoughts are with all of the many that have been affected by these events. TOTA, partners, and industry will be ready to assist in the days and weeks to come.
Tasting the Okanagan Through the Ages is an event created through the South Okanagan Food & Drink Experience Development Program which occurred between September 2021 - January 2022 in partnership with TOTA, Destination BC, and the Culinary Tourism Alliance.
Join Chef Aman Dosanj of the Paisley Notebook pop-up series for an immersive dining experience on Covert Farm's 650-acre, fourth-generation farm. The event will guide guests through a multi-course food and wine paired sensory journey of our bountiful region.
Backcountry road users are advised that the roads closed in October 2021 across the Thompson Okanagan region, following 15 severe wildfires, will remain closed.
The closures were established under the Motor Vehicle Prohibition Regulation of the Wildlife Act and apply to backcountry roads across approximately 536,000 hectares.
WorkSafeBC is pleased to announce a new online tool to make it easier for employers to complete and submit employer incident investigation reports (EIIRs) when required.
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, announced the launch of the formal engagement period for the renewal of Canada’s Federal Tourism Growth Strategy.
Minister Boissonnault will work with the tourism sector, provincial and territorial counterparts, and Indigenous tourism partners to renew the strategy and set a course for growth, investment, and stability. The Minister also spoke about supports for small and medium-sized enterprises and his vision for the tourism and hospitality industry in the coming years.
The strategy will focus on important areas such as workforce challenges and destination development, which have become increasingly significant since the first strategy was launched in 2019.
Tourism stakeholders, business owners and employees, as well as members of the public, are invited to visit New Federal Tourism Growth Strategy to provide input and help lay the foundation for the future of Canada’s tourism industry.
To share your views on how Canada can build on its reputation as a world-class destination, please send an email to [email protected]. The deadline for submitting feedback is 11:59 pm (ET) on July 20, 2022.
Boating BC Association and other Canadian organizations are conducting a survey regarding the Luxury Boat Tax, in order to advocate on behalf of the tourism industry.
Please take 2 minutes to fill out the survey on the impacts of the Luxury Boat Tax Impacts so information can be presented to Members of Parliament.
After completing the survey, operators can use the same survey link to send data on lost sales or jobs for your business.
Wine Growers BC (WGBC) is now accepting nominations for the BC Industry Awards in two categories:
Award of Distinction (winery)
Recognizes a winery representative for their outstanding leadership, commitment, and passion for the advancement of the British Columbia wine industry. Established in 2016.
Industry Recognition Award (non-winery)
The award honours a non-winery industry individual, business or organization for support of the BC wine industry and BC VQA Wine through media, research, policy, regulation, education, advocacy, or other means significantly contributing to the overall strength and long-term viability of the industry. Established in 2013.
Nomination Criteria
The criteria for both awards are based on the core values of Wines of British Columbia. As part of your nomination, you must be able to detail how your nominee:
Has promoted and enhanced the premium quality perception of BC wine.
Has demonstrated outstanding leadership with industry peers, fostering unity and community.
Is dedicated to offering excellence in BC wine hospitality and/or advancing sustainability.
Exhibits an unmatched passion reflected in their work through innovations or achievements.
Please take five minutes to submit a nomination by 5:00 PM Tuesday, May 31, 2022.
Fort Berens Estate Winery is holding a fundraising campaign from June 3 to 12, 2022, with a goal to raise $125,000 for a dedicated legacy building project for the community of Lytton after a wildfire swept through the town on June 30, 2021.
To raise funds, Fort Berens is selling 120 cases of Special Edition "Lytton Strong” Pinot Gris. In addition, there will be a silent auction with unique and experiential items, a 50/50 raffle, and the opportunity to donate directly to the campaign.
Fort Berens is currently seeking corporate sponsorships, donations for the silent auction, and volunteers to help with the fundraising campaign.
go2HR has kindly offered BC Tourism Resiliency Network clients complimentary seats for their online SuperHost® Customer Service Training courses.
The online and self-paced courses help participants gain skills such as communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork, as well as knowledge to create exceptional customer service experiences, leading to greater customer satisfaction, increased revenue and business bottom line, and a happier, more productive workplace.
There is a limited number of licenses and seats will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis so enroll as soon as possible. Once started, registrants will have 60 days to complete the course and will receive a printable certificate upon completion.
The BC Hotel Association hosted a virtual panel on the Summer Industry Outlook as part of the monthly BCHA Virtual Event series.
During the session, panelists shared insights on what accommodation operators can expect in the coming months surrounding industry recovery, transportation, attracting international and domestic visitors, along with forecasting for B.C.'s accommodation community.
Panelists:
Alison McKay, Acting Vice President, Destination Management | Destination BC
Russell Atkinson, Director, Air Service Development | Vancouver Airport Authority
For a limited-time basis, go2HR is offering four training courses through the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), free for BC’s tourism industry.
The courses are helpful for anyone who wants to know more about managing stress at the workplace or how to respond to difficult customer interactions, and employees responsible for hazard identification or implementing a violence prevention policy at your workplace.
go2HR has put together a guide for employee onboarding. The value of properly onboarding new employees shouldn’t be underestimated. The time is an investment to have and retain well-trained employees. Given the current labour shortage, it just makes good business sense to nurture your relationship with your newest employees. go2HR has some great tips for helping you onboard new staff.
To help tourism and hospitality employers manage workplace violence, go2HR’s health and safety professionals have developed a suite of checklists designed to assist businesses in addressing violence in the workplace by focusing on proactive prevention tasks, staff training topics, and appropriate incident response.
The Province and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) are making it more affordable for people to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in their homes, businesses, and communities: BC residents, businesses, and municipalities can receive rebates for EV charging stations through the CleanBC Go Electric EV Charger Rebate and Fleets programs.
For a limited time, funding will cover as much as 75% of eligible purchase and installation costs for EV charging stations.
Businesses can apply for a rebate of up to $5,000 per station, as well as 5 hours of free support services from an EV Charging Station Advisor.
Fleet operators can get combined rebates from NRCan and the Province for a Level 2 charging station as much as $5,000 of purchase and installation costs, and $75,000 for a direct-current, fast-charging station.
As many non-Indigenous tourism & media organizations look to develop respectful partnerships with Indigenous communities, Indigenous Tourism BC has compiled an information toolkit to help individuals understand and build relationships with the First Peoples of BC.
It is important to note that each Indigenous Nation and Community differs in their approach to partnership. The document was developed to the best of Indigenous Tourism BC's knowledge to respond to common themes and questions received from partners. It is not a substitute for proper communication with Indigenous Nations and Communities.
Small Business BC provides practical business education tailored for small businesses in B.C. Whether you need help starting your business, hiring employees, managing operations, or anything else, Small Business BC is here to help.
Live webinars are real-time engaging presentations with live video and chat. Have a scheduling conflict? A recording will also be available for you to stream over the next seven days so you won’t miss a thing.
Self-directed e-courses are available anytime, anywhere. Each on-demand e-course will cover bite-sized topics and help you learn through multimedia features such as readings, handouts, videos and quizzes. With course access for one full year, you can review to the course material multiple times as you progress through your entrepreneurial journey.
The aim of this 3-class program is to provide food entrepreneurs the knowledge, skills and networking opportunities to elevate their food businesses (restaurants, food retail stores, and or food products) in their local communities with the aim of repositioning themselves and attracting tourists to their regions and identifying new products and/or services to promote future growth.
TOTA and Sustainable Life App™ are collaborating to help Thompson Okanagan tourism companies 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. People can use the app while planning a trip or while traveling, making it easy to live a life in line with their core values.
The online self-guided Tourism Digital Academy program is available until the end of March. This condensed version of Destination BC’s digital marketing program offers B.C.-based tourism businesses maximum flexibility to fit the course into their schedules with unlimited access for six months to digital marketing instruction videos, templates, and resources. Designed for business owners or their marketing team members, this comprehensive program is focused on providing practical, actionable guidance to complete your digital marketing plan.
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.
Custom reports from the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS) research program and highlights from a variety of sources including Destination Canada, Destination BC, Travel and Tourism Research Association, Destination Analysts, UNWTO, BCHA/STR, Destination Think, and Environics Analytics.
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