Manic Monday | Self Driving Hotel....anything is possible

Anyone who knows me has heard this before; a New Year means a New Blank page upon which to write new stories.

Tomorrow, January 1st, 2019, is another new beginning and with it the unveiling of exciting opportunities, more changes, and challenges in how we will live, travel and experience the world.

I thought I would share a link that I received shortly before Christmas which really started me thinking about the possibilities that can and will lie in our future. Maybe it won't be this year or even in the next several but as the past has proven, change comes quickly, the impossible becomes possible and overnight we are accepting things that seem to come straight from science fiction.

For all those who dare to dream and are told their vision is not possible, take on those words as your challenge. Prove to those that do not dare to believe that they are wrong. Create, innovate, break what isn't broken and rebuild it, never take no for an answer and push the envelope to the point where it is unrecognizable.

It is the innovators that can and do change the world and I dare all of you to be one of them.

For now...enjoy this article which is introducing us to a bit of the future. Watch out hoteliers and all of us in the Tourism Industry...if a "self-driving hotel is possible ...who knows what else is possible

Staying Connected with TOTA…

With the New Year Upon us we want to take this time to thank all of our Tourism Stakeholders, Tourism Partners and Communities for all of your support in 2018. It has been a year of change, challenge, reward, and success for our tourism industry as we dealt with everything from politics to pipelines and floods to fire.

If you have been working with us in the past we once again want to thank you and invite you to get involved with TOTA in 2019. Here are but a few important opportunities that I encourage you to consider;

• Become involved in our Biosphere Program

• Participate in the Route97 Initiatives including both Print and Online

• Obtain and Utilize Big Data research through our Symphony Partner

• Nov 12-15, 2019 - Save the date for the 2019 TOTA AGM and Summit which will take place as part of International Indigenous Tourism Conference (IITC) and Indigenous Tourism British Columbia’s (ITBC)

• Put your business forward to our Trade and Media teams to host regional familiarization trips during the course of the year - contact Carla Young (media@totabc.com) or Ingrid Dilschneider (trade@totabc.com)

• Watch for news on regional events scheduled throughout the year

• We are all stronger together and we look forward to working closely with all of our stakeholders and partners in 2019

Keep following and contributing to TOTA’s Facebook and Twitter sites throughout the week; send us your stories, photos, events and remarkable experiences. Make sure the industry knows what is happening around our region and keep us updated on your road to sustainability, check out ThompsonOkanagan.com for more information.  Be sure to use #route97 and #explorebc when posting your tourism shots and stories.

Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO

Manic Monday | Take Time to Find the Joy in the Season

If you are reading this today December 24th, you are either likely very organized for the holidays and enjoying some well-deserved "relaxation"  or are ignoring the fact that you have so much to do before the events of tonight and tomorrow that you don't know where to start.

For many of us, this is the last day to get all the things done that we had planned to do for several weeks. This is the last minute shopping, which invariably means buying things that cost more than we intended as we realize we had forgotten that one person or one special item.  Usually, today involves trying to be in several places at the same time, trying to make any number of friends or family happy, and all the while not necessarily having much time or fun ourselves.

The Christmas Season is stressful for many, many people and emotional for so many others. This time of year brings out the very best and the very saddest of memories and few, if any of us, get through this life without experiencing both. The excitement and wonder that, in turn, can mean expectations and disappointment.  The ever-present financial concerns as we see our spending take on a "life of its own" and the fun that comes with handling the many family dynamics. There is the love of those around us and the memories of those who are here no longer.

This Christmas my wish for all of you as you go through the holidays is that you can find joy in the season in whatever way it presents itself.

And if by chance you find yourself taking part in the dreaded last minute shopping, remember a smile can mean so much not only to those around you but it will help your spirits be a bit merrier as well...

From all of us at the TOTA team to you - Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Staying Connected with TOTA…

With the holiday season upon us we want to take this time to thank all of our Tourism Stakeholders, Tourism Partners and Communities for all of your support in 2018. It has been a year of change, challenge, reward, and success for our tourism industry as we dealt with everything from politics to pipelines and floods to fire.

If you have been working with us in the past we once again want to thank you and invite you to get involved with TOTA in 2019. Here are but a few important opportunities that I encourage you to consider;

• Become involved in our Biosphere Program

• Participate in the Route97 Initiatives including both Print and Online

• Obtain and Utilize Big Data research through our Symphony Partner

• Nov 12-15, 2019 - Save the date for the 2019 TOTA AGM and Summit which will take place as part of International Indigenous Tourism Conference (IITC) and Indigenous Tourism British Columbia’s (ITBC)

• Put your business forward to our Trade and Media teams to host regional familiarization trips during the course of the year - contact Carla Young (media@totabc.com) or Ingrid Dilschneider  (trade@totabc.com)

• Watch for news on regional events scheduled throughout the year

• We are all stronger together and we look forward to working closely with all of our stakeholders and partners in 2019

Keep following and contributing to TOTA’s Facebook and Twitter sites throughout the week; send us your stories, photos, events and remarkable experiences. Make sure the industry knows what is happening around our region and keep us updated on your road to sustainability, check out ThompsonOkanagan.com for more information.  Be sure to use #route97 and #explorebc when posting your tourism shots and stories.

Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO

Manic Monday | This doesn't even take 15 minutes!

Parks Canada last week released a survey, available to all Canadians, enabling them to provide input into the National Park Reserve planned for an area in the South Okanagan-Similkameen region.

In a meeting in our region this past August, Federal Minister Catherine McKenna was very clear that that Park development would be moving forward, however, the government was committed to inviting Canadians to share their thoughts and ideas of what the new park reserve should look like. The attached survey is one of those opportunities.

The National Park Reserve has long been a dream for many in our region and the input process has been strongly supported by TOTA and our Board of Directors. It was very important during the recent process that the Osoyoos Indian Band, Lower Similkameen Indian Band, Provincial and Federal Governments all came together to make this Park process a priority.

Take the opportunity to participate in the process and help shape the development of this Park. The survey takes less than 15 minutes, but I can ensure you it is time well spent.

Go to:  www.letstalksouthokanagansimilkameen.ca

Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO

Manic Monday | A Year of Highs and Lows

It has certainly proven to be an interesting year for the Thompson Okanagan and as with all years, I suppose, it has had some good and bad moments.

One cannot reflect on the past year without recognizing the many challenges our stakeholders have coped with as a result of many natural occurrences ranging from severe high water, overland flooding, landslides as well as significant wildfire and smoke.

We have all worked together to try to mitigate the effects of these events and to draw attention to the many positive and unique aspects of the region that can be enjoyed outside of traditional high season periods.

Our marketing team has worked with some of the areas that have been affected this year and most recently produced an outstanding video for our Boundary Country who are still recovering from their floods this past spring.  This video is an excellent example of working in collaboration to assist an area and community with beginning to rebuild their messaging.  Please take the time to watch and share this video as we all continue to work closely to build a strong and successful tourism industry, which we know contains highs and lows.

Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO

Manic Monday | Awards….Why Bother?

It has been a tremendous year for our region and Association, not only being nominated for but shortlisted and even winning several prestigious awards around the world, against some very strong and, quite frankly, much larger in terms of budgets competition.

Our region “Thompson Okanagan” is being recognized as a leader in strategic vision in Sustainable / Responsible Tourism operation and development and this recognition is coming from organizations who are themselves Leaders in Tourism.

It began last February, not long after the Biosphere Certification where the region received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s “Tourism for Tomorrow Destination Award”. This was quickly followed by the 2018 World Tourism Award as North America’s Responsible Tourism Destination and finally this past Saturday we were proud to be named as the World Tourism Award’s Responsible Tourism Destination World Wide for 2018.  Further, we have been Silver medalists or top finalists in a variety of award programs including SKAL, International Travel and Tourism Awards Planning Institute of BC, Land Awards finalist, and the list goes on.

Along the way I have been asked what all this means for the region, does it really matter, why bother, how can tourism stakeholders benefit and my answer is always the same:

“This is putting the Thompson Okanagan in the minds of industry partners and travellers worldwide and shows we are collectively heading in the right direction. These awards belong to our region, Province, and Country, and in turn to each one of you as tourism stakeholders. We are showing the next generation of guests that we are different, that we stand for something, and that we understand the value of the area we so proudly represent and do business in. These are difference makers for you and every resident who calls the Thompson Okanagan home.

Responsible / Sustainable tourism is what consumers both young and old are asking for at an increasing rate. Today’s research indicates that ¾ of all travellers say sustainability important in their travel decisions and in a 2015 report, 66 % of the US market indicated they would pay more for certified sustainable products ( a number that was from 55% the year prior).

Our guests are changing, but we are poised to meet that change and to let them know that these are issues we have been actively looking at for many years and more recently focused on everything we do and say. In the coming weeks, we will be launching a new and exciting initiative with organizations like the Responsible Tourism Institute and bookdifferent.com, which again we see as helping our stakeholders lead the way and communicate their commitment to long-term responsible thinking.

Awards…well you can say “well why bother” or you can get involved and get behind this movement to elevate the Thompson Okanagan on the world stage and invite them to visit.

Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO