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The Good News(letter) | October 29th

Through all the changes and uncertainty, we're continuously inspired by the resiliency and innovative spirit of the people behind the businesses. The Good News(letter) is brought to you twice a month by the TOTA team for a little bit of good news from around the Thompson Okanagan and globe.

 
 

Through all the changes and uncertainty, we're continuously inspired by the resiliency and innovative spirit of the people behind the businesses.

The Good News(letter) is brought to you twice a month by the TOTA team. 

Thompson Okanagan

The Okanagan and Kettle Valley Rail Trail were featured in German cycling magazine RADtouren, after Destination BC hosted journalist Christine Neubauer (now editor-in-chief) in 2018. The Kettle Valley Trail route took centre stage in a double-page spread in the September/October issue, which teased the October special edition on cycling tours worldwide. This edition included a six-page article on cycling along the Kettle Valley Trail, and featured BC businesses like Giro Okanagan and Hoodoo Adventures.

 
 
 

Big White Ski Resort recently dropped off a set of gift baskets to Kelowna General Hospital's intensive care unit. "We will continue to support and acknowledge the ongoing tireless work that our ICU and frontline workers face every day," says Big White's Michael J. Ballingall.

 

Trail upgrades along the Kettle Valley Rail (KVR) Trail, in the Central Okanagan have been completed. The upgrades were performed along a 16 km section between Bellevue Trestle (above Kelowna) and Chute Lake in the hopes to improve trail users experience. TOTA is pleased to have undertaken this work through the support of Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure (CERIP) program funding, received through theMinistry of Forest Lands Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development.

 

Around the Globe

Swiss International Airlines has partnered with Too Good To Go to offer unsold service items at reduced prices. Partnering with Too Good to Go to sell off unused stock is a way of shifting that stock, so it doesn’t end up in a landfill or the compost bin.

 

ZeroAvia completed the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered flight of a commercial-grade aircraft. 

With its Piper six-seat plane, ZeroAvia’s achievement is the first step to realizing the transformational possibilities of moving from fossil fuels to zero-emission hydrogen as the primary energy source for commercial aviation.

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The Good News(letter) | October 8th

Through all the changes and uncertainty, we're continuously inspired by the resiliency and innovative spirit of the people behind the businesses. The Good News(letter) is brought to you twice a month by the TOTA team for a little bit of good news from around the Thompson Okanagan and globe.

 
 

Through all the changes and uncertainty, we're continuously inspired by the resiliency and innovative spirit of the people behind the businesses.

The Good News(letter) is brought to you twice a month by the TOTA team. 

Thompson Okanagan

TOTA's very own Sonja Gaudet was recently added to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Sonja is a three-time Paralympic Gold Medallist in wheelchair curling. She continues to raise funds and awareness to improve accessible environments, recreation and experiences for all.

Sonja is TOTA's Regional Access & Inclusion Liaison and can be reached her at accessibility@totabc.com.

 
 
 

Tourism Kelowna wanted to spread a little joy among the amazing people that make up the tourism industry and personally thank them for the great service they provide by participating in the 10 Million Acts of Kindness initiative. Over 10 days in September, the Tourism Kelowna team hand-delivered over 100 hundred gift bags to front-line staff of Tourism Kelowna stakeholders.

 

Trail upgrades along the Kettle Valley Rail (KVR) Trail, in the Central Okanagan have been completed. The upgrades were performed along a 16 km section between Bellevue Trestle (above Kelowna) and Chute Lake in the hopes to improve trail users experience. TOTA is pleased to have undertaken this work through the support of Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure (CERIP) program funding, received through theMinistry of Forest Lands Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development.

 

Around the Globe

Earlier this year, GOOD Travel and Eco Villa launched their Go Electric Eco Tour eGuide, a free, online guidebook designed to inspire New Zealand visitors and residents to try an electric vehicle and experience sustainable accommodations and tours in the South Island.

Through the partnership with Go Rentals, it’s now possible for guests to do the eco tour in a Tesla. Go Rental’s Tesla Model 3. 

 

One region in Belgium is developing a series of imaginative biking projects to cement its place as the cycling tourism capital of the country. The latest is a forest cycling trail called Cycling through the Trees that runs through Bosland, the largest adventure forest in Flanders. The trail gradually rises 32 feet in the air to then propel cyclists through a canopy of trees, offering a 360-degree experience.

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The Good News(letter) | September 17

Through all the changes and uncertainty, we're continuously inspired by the resiliency and innovative spirit of the people behind the businesses. The Good News(letter) is brought to you twice a month by the TOTA team for a little bit of good news from around the Thompson Okanagan and globe.

 
 

Through all the changes and uncertainty, we're continuously inspired by the resiliency and innovative spirit of the people behind the businesses.

The Good News(letter) is brought to you twice a month by the TOTA team. 

Thompson Okanagan

TasteFull Excursions is pleased to announce that it has been recognized as a 2021 Travellers’ Choice Award winner by Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor awards celebrate businesses that consistently deliver fantastic experiences to both locals and visitors from around the globe, having earned great traveller reviews on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months. As challenging as the past year was, TasteFull Excursions stood out by continuously providing service excellence for their guests

 

After producing a full season of predominantly digital content, the Kamloops Symphony is excited to reunite with in-person audiences in Sagebrush Theatre for the first time since March of 2020. Though the numbers will be limited, the KSO is thrilled to announce the first two concerts of their 2021-22 Season: Out of the Silence taking place on September 25 and 26, and Windscapes taking place on October 23 and 24. Both concerts will have a mix of in-person and live-streaming viewing options.

 

Uncorked Okanagan Wine Tours’ has been awarded a 2021 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for Travel Experiences. “This is an incredible honour and we sincerely thank all of our guests for sharing their tour experiences on Tripadvisor,” says Deb Harris, company owner. This award signifies that Uncorked Okanagan Wine tour's has consistently delivered fantastic experiences to travelers around the globe and have earned great traveler reviews on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months.

 

Around the Globe

The Portuguese island of Madeira is looking to capitalize on the rise in numbers of a unique kind of traveler—digital nomads—by building a town entirely specialized for their residency. Realizing that the rise in telecommuting, and that the staggering beauty of the island would be deeply appealing to digital nomads, Madeira has created Digital Nomad Village, a place with fast internet, exclusive hotel property, community events, and a free office space.

 

Velas Resorts has given 100 healthcare heroes a free spa vacation at their resort in Mexico to say thank you for their great hearts during the worldwide pandemic. During April the public voted for their favourite stories among 350 nominations. The chosen workers received an all-inclusive stay of 4 days and 3 nights in the luxury resort, with food and drinks prepared by its premiere chefs and restaurants

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Thompson Okanagan Tourism News Summary | Week of September 6, 2021

The latest good news stories, industry resources, sustainable tourism updates, and market research.

 

News Highlights

The Good News(letter) | September 3

Through all the changes and uncertainty, we're continuously inspired by the resiliency and innovative spirit of the people behind the businesses. The Good News(letter) is brought to you twice a month by the TOTA team for a little bit of good news from around the Thompson Okanagan and globe.

Read More →

Business Resources

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:

Apply for DER3 Digital Resiliency Free Program Before September 14

Innovate BC's DER3, or Digital Economy: Rapid Response + Resiliency program, provides free advisory services and mentorship to B.C. businesses outside of the Lower Mainland. The DER3 program helps businesses expand or create their digital presence, with the help of a business coach. Register for this great opportunity before program intake ends on September 14.

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Free Virtual Learning Sessions for Tourism Businesses - Destination BC + Small Business BC

Destination BC has partnered with Small Business BC to provide tourism stakeholders across the province with free access to Small Business BC’s webinars and online education to support COVID-19 recovery and help mitigate ongoing impacts. There is no charge to tourism stakeholders. Services are delivered online, by phone, email, webinar or in person (if available).

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Sustainable Tourism

TOTA’s Destination Stewardship team offers presentations over Zoom to share how tourism businesses can participate in TOTA's Biosphere Commitment Program. Learn more about:

Schedule a Biosphere Presentation →

New Biosphere Committed Member - August

Learn more about the newest Biosphere Committed Company, Manteo at Eldorado Resort. Manteo is constantly seeking new ways to enrich their local community by creating a safe and healthy environment for all, with an emphasis on diversity and equality.

Read More →

The Ripple Effect

The ripple effect is real and it matters. What is most important to realize about the ripple effect is that action is required. The IPCC report is not only a reminder of the dire situation we find ourselves in but also an invitation to remember that small actions taken by individuals and within companies matter — but only if real action exists and is visible and shared with others.

Read More →

Research Spotlight

Fast Facts Thompson Okanagan Tourism Research Summary

A bi-weekly roundup of B.C. tourism research to provide an ongoing snapshot of the tourism industry over time.

Measuring Canadian Travel Patterns - Thompson Okanagan

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.

COVID-19 Tourism Impact Report - June

Report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism businesses gathered through industry surveys by tourism businesses around the Thompson Okanagan and British Columbia.

 
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The Good News(letter) | September 3

Through all the changes and uncertainty, we're continuously inspired by the resiliency and innovative spirit of the people behind the businesses. The Good News(letter) is brought to you twice a month by the TOTA team for a little bit of good news from around the Thompson Okanagan and globe.

 
 

Through all the changes and uncertainty, we're continuously inspired by the resiliency and innovative spirit of the people behind the businesses.

The Good News(letter) is brought to you twice a month by the TOTA team. 

Thompson Okanagan

The Globe Café & Tapas Bar was proud to collect and deliver over 20 boxes of staple food and personal care items this summer from the supportive residents of Big White for the Kelowna Community Fridge.

The 24/7 accessible Community Fridge downtown offers barrier free, stigma free access to those who need a helping hand during this pandemic and beyond. The Globe has become an official drop off location for donations at Big White.

 

The Community Recreational Initiatives Society (CRIS) celebrated it's 20th anniversary in August.

Founded in 2001 by Troy Becker and Lynnette Legrandeur, CRIS Adaptive Adventures began as a small organization of friends operating out of the founders' garage, to a large scale community of staff and volunteers with multiple operating locations around Kelowna offering trips and experiences from Osoyoos to Vernon and beyond.

 

In celebration of front line workers and first responders, Big White Ski Resort is offering a complimentary scenic chairlift ride tickets and 50% off MOO-Lix ice cream at The Globe Café & Tapas Bar in the village all Labour Day Long Weekend (from Thursday, September 2 to Monday, September 6). If you're a frontline worker, simply present an ID or paystub at the ticket window in the Big White Village Centre Mall.

 

Around the Globe

A new train ticketing startup in the UK offers an even more green incentive to ditch the car and travel by rail.

Trainhugger pledges to plant a tree for every journey booked through the business. The investment in nature comes at zero cost to the passenger as tickets cost the same as their competitors.

 

Berlin is a city renowned for its radicalism, and, in true form, activists from the Berlin Autofrei campaign are taking things one step further. They are demanding a complete ban on private automobile use in the 88km2 area within the S-bahn ring—a train line that circles much of the city’s urban area.

If they succeed, it will be the largest car-free urban area in the world.

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The Good News(letter) | August 20

Through all the changes and uncertainty, we're continuously inspired by the resiliency and innovative spirit of the people behind the businesses. The Good News(letter) is brought to you twice a month by the TOTA team for a little bit of good news from around the Thompson Okanagan and globe.

 
 

This summer has presented the Thompson Okanagan with much uncertainty. We're continuously inspired by the resiliency and kindness the communities, stakeholders, and businesses have showcased during these times. 

The Good News(letter) is brought to you twice a month by the TOTA team. 

Thompson Okanagan

The kitchen at Pizzamoreh is the new headquarters for producing hundreds of meals for people pushed from their homes by fires all over the region.

Dave Johnston began the process at the Peachland 50 Plus Activity Centre when Patsy Guest from Pizzamoreh offered up the kitchen to increase capacity. Donated foods are put together as meals that are brought to where they're needed in refrigerator trucks.

 

On August 16th Bright Jenny Coffee kicked off a pay-it-forward program for first responders and anyone displaced or affected by the wildfires. Customers have the opportunity to donate whatever amount they want to go toward buying someone a coffee. Donations are also being accept online at www.orderbrightjenny.ca.

To start things off, Bright Jenny's added $50.00 to the fund.

 

To support fellow British Columbians impacted by devastating losses and evacuations due to wildfires, Tantalus Winery donated all the proceeds raised from tasting fees on August 14/15 along with any additional donations to the Canadian Red Cross Fire Appeal.

 

On August 17th Karat Chocolate + Pastry donated and matched all proceeds from sold cupcakes to the Red Cross British Columbia Fires Appeal. Proceeds will be used for immediate and ongoing relief efforts, long term recovery, resiliency and preparedness for future events in British Columbia and impacted regions, including consequential events related to the fires.

Around the Globe

The Taoyuan Slow Food community, combined with the Tienmu Slow Food community, are announcing a new project in the North of Taiwan! By building connections between farmers and chefs, the “Pick Here!”project wants to create a new selling system in agriculture and increase awareness about good, clean and fair foods in the local area.

A huge thank you to everyone fighting the fires across the Thompson Okanagan region including those helping evacuees and residents in whatever way they can. Our hearts go out to everyone who has been evacuated and affected by the fires.

Would you like to be featured in the next Good News(letter)? Fill out our submission form and tell us your good news!

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