Michael J. Ballingall named the 2025 Business Leader of the Year

Michael J. Ballingall, the Senior Vice President of Big White Ski Resort Ltd., has been named the 2025 Business Leader of the Year by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards independent judging panel.

He is being recognized for providing leadership and long-standing contributions to the tourism and hospitality industry, his role in expanding the international reach of Big White Ski Resort, and his commitment to tourism development across the Thompson Okanagan region. He will be presented with the award at the Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards Gala on October 30, 2025.

BetterTable x Food Mesh Webinar

Did you know that reducing food waste isn’t just good for the planet—it can also boost your bottom line?

Join FoodMesh and BetterTable for an interactive 30-minute webinar designed specially for hospitality professionals in the North Okanagan. You’ll discover simple, practical ways to cut waste, save money, and strengthen your connection to the local community.

Why attend?
- Boost profits: Learn proven strategies to reduce waste and maximize your food cost savings.
- Stay ahead of the curve: Get insights on food waste trends, policies, and best practices shaping the industry in the Okanagan and beyond.
- Get inspired by peers: Hear real-world examples from chefs and restaurateurs already making food waste work for them.
- Do good locally: Find out how donating surplus food supports Okanagan residents, while unlocking tax incentives and meeting regulations with ease.

This session is short, engaging, and packed with takeaways you can start using right away in your restaurant, café, or food service operation.

Don’t miss this chance to turn food waste into profit and purpose.

Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM PST
Length: 30 minutes
Where: Online (free with registration)

Register today and start turning food waste into profit and purpose: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0rDU7zQyRt6rqwcRUEFaGg#/registration

Applications are open for the Valleys and Vineyards “Spark” Program

The Valleys & Vineyards “Spark” Mentorships & Grants Program will match selected applicants with a tourism mentor, provide a $3,000 grant, and offer additional partner support to help take their new tourism ideas to the next level of development.

Applications from tourism small businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations based in British Columbia are encouraged to apply from October 1 - November 12, 2025.

Applications can be submitted on the Tourism Innovation website.

What is Valleys & Vineyards?

Valleys & Vineyards is one of the six destination brands that are part of Destination BC’s Super, Natural British Columbia® brand family. 

Valleys & Vineyards is located within the territories of the Syilx Okanagan Nation and Secwépemc Nation in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys.

Destination Think’s 24 Hours of Tourism Innovation

Destination Think is launching the second annual 24 Hours of Travel Innovation, on World Tourism Day 2025, September 25, 2025.

This is a free, online, global event showcasing 27 destinations from Canada, the U.S., Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. This event highlights innovative case studies demonstrating how tourism can positively impact the environment, culture, communities, and economies. This will create a knowledge hub to inspire responsible tourism practices worldwide.

The event starts September 26, 2025 (09:00 NZST / September 25, 14:00 PST), and those interested can register using the link below.

TOTA Research Snapshot - September

Once a month, through our newsletter and News Centre, TOTA will bring you a sample of the key visitation and accommodation trends shaping our industry, courtesy of the team at Symphony Tourism Services.

Below is a detailed overview of September's report. We encourage you to monitor our newsletters for ongoing research highlights.

TOTA Research Snapshot - July

Once a month, through our newsletter and News Centre, TOTA will bring you a sample of the key visitation and accommodation trends shaping our industry, courtesy of the team at Symphony Tourism Services.

Below is a detailed overview of July's report. We encourage you to monitor our newsletters for ongoing research highlights.

Webinar: Breaking Barriers: Navigating Interprovincial Alcohol Trade for B.C. Producers

Selling alcohol across provincial borders in Canada can be complex, with different rules on distribution, storage, labelling, and D2C sales.
Join BC BTAC and Export Navigator for a 90-minute online webinar on September 24, 2025, 10:00 - 11:30 (PT) to:

• Understand provincial differences in sales, storage, and labeling

• Get clarity on CFTA, QA/lab testing, and regulatory efforts

• Identify where opportunities exist for your products

• Access tools and guidance to support your expansion

The Consumer Journey: Bringing BC’s Iconic Destination Brands to Life

Join Destination BC on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 10:00am (PT) for an exclusive virtual event showcasing the full consumer launch of our Iconic Destination Brands across the global travel ecosystem.

In this session, you’ll explore how the Iconic brands are coming to life across key touchpoints in the consumer journey. You’ll get a look at the evolution of the Super, Natural British Columbia® brand and the Let the Outside In creative platform, DBC’s media plan, and activations across travel trade, travel media, and access to new tools for industry partners to leverage awareness of the new brands.

Category 1 Campfire Prohibition for the Kamloops Fire Centre

Category 1 campfire prohibitions are in effect for the Kamloops Fire Centre until October 17, or, until the orders are rescinded.

As of Aug. 28, the following open fires are prohibited in the Kamloops Fire Centre;

• Category 1 campfires as defined in the Wildfire Regulation;

• Category 2 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation; and,

• Category 3 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation

Tourism Operator Sustainability Training Course

Synergy Enterprises is offering a five-part virtual course, designed for tourism operators who want to lead with purpose, build resilience, and embed sustainability into their everyday operations.

This five-module course runs every other Wednesday starting on September 17, 2025, and ending on November 12. Each course is 3 hours long and starts at 10:00 am PST.

Tourism Industry partners can use code promo2025 for 15% off at checkout.

Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association seeks new board members

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is hosting its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on October 22, 2025, at the KF Centre for Excellence in Kelowna, BC.

The call for nominations for voting members begins on August 23, and the deadline to become a voting is August 22.

Registration is open for the BC Music Festival Symposium

Registration is now open for the BC Music Festival Symposium in Victoria, BC, on September 12-14. Running in tandem with Rifflandia Festival (Sept 11-14), the Symposium will include a chance to connect with festival colleagues around the province, learn from inspiring presenters and experience the Rifflandia Festival. 

Please register by August 15 to secure your spot.

The Canadian Tourism Awards

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is presenting the Canadian Tourism Awards, which recognize individuals, organizations, and businesses for their excellence in the tourism sector. With twelve categories, there is plenty of opportunity to shine a spotlight on your favourite business.

TIAC is encouraging you to submit your nomination(s) before the deadline on September 10th.

Motivating Seasonal Employees to Return Toolkit

As the season progresses, go2HR has developed tools to help identify the exceptional talent you want to bring back next year. Employees who return save you time, reduce training costs, and help build a stronger team.
 
The go2HR HR Toolkit offers 4 simple strategies to engage your seasonal workers now and throughout the off-season.

Pacific Coastal to offer non-stop flight service between Kelowna and Cranbrook

Pacific Coastal Airlines has announced a new non-stop flight service between Kelowna (YLW) and Cranbrook (YXC), set to begin on Monday, October 27, 2025.

This route, part of their Winter 2025/2026 schedule, will operate daily using a 19-passenger Beechcraft 1900 aircraft.

With the introduction of this route, Pacific Coastal Airlines will now serve 20 destinations across British Columbia, more than any other airline, a new milestone for the airline.

Tourism Industry Association of Canada 2025 Budget Submission

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) has prepared a written submission for the Fall 2025 Budget pre-budget consultations. The document outlines six key recommendations to the Government of Canada aimed at accelerating long-term growth and strengthening the tourism sector's global competitiveness.

Tourism Industry Association of Canada's Six Recommendations

• Recommendation 1: Implement a tailored Capital Gains Reinvestment Deduction to stimulate re-investment into capital-intensive tourism projects.

• Recommendation 2: Streamline the Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) to incentivize tourism investment and modernization.

• Recommendation 3: Develop a national, multi-modal transportation strategy that expands and enhances rural-urban connectivity and improves traveller access to and throughout Canada.

• Recommendation 4: Increase Destination Canada's annual base parliamentary appropriation to generate additional positive returns on the Government's strategic investments in attracting international visitors and drive economic growth across the country.

• Recommendation 5: Provide consistent funding for Destination Canada's International Convention Attraction Fund through an annual investment of $20 million.

• Recommendation 6: Provide annual core funding to Tourism HR Canada (THRC) in support of vital workforce development needs through an annual investment of $3 million.

Chief Robert Louie has been appointed to the Order of British Columbia

Chief Robert Louie (Simo), from West Kelowna, has been appointed to the Order of British Columbia for his significant contributions to Indigenous self-governance and economic development. His leadership has established a national benchmark for community empowerment. It has been instrumental in creating a model for how the tourism industry can collaborate with and support local Indigenous communities.

Indigenous Tourism BC Employment Opportunity - Director of Development & Governance

Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) is seeking an experienced professional to join its organization as the Director of Development & Governance. As a key leadership position, the successful candidate will report to the senior leadership team and play a pivotal role in advancing ITBC’s strategic growth and governance capacity.

The successful candidate will have:

• Extensive knowledge, experience, and wisdom of Indigenous cultures, specifically the diverse cultures within the First Nations of British Columbia

• A minimum of 7-10 years in a senior management position, preferably in a field related to the tourism industry, policy/governance, or not-for-profit organizations.

• Post-secondary education in Tourism, Business, Indigenous studies, or a related field

• Superior knowledge of multiple operational functions and principles, including project management, employee management, finance and Stakeholder/community engagement

• Strong knowledge of nonprofit governance, board development and organizational policy

• Excellent communication, facilitation and relationship building

• Knowledge of reconciliation, Indigenous governance and decolonizing approaches to leadership

Interested applicants should submit a current CV and letter of interest to Gail Joe at gail@indigenousbc.com by August 15, 2025.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Training for Leaders

go2HR is offering an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) training bundle for business leaders. For $150.00 CAD, you can access four courses, including:

• An Introduction to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI): Gain a solid understanding of key EDI concepts, terminology, and the importance of fostering an equitable and diverse workplace.

• Navigating Cultural Diversity in the Workplace: Explore cultural perspectives around time, power, and communication to better support and engage with diverse teams.

• SuperHost® Foundations of Inclusive Service: Service For All™: Equip yourself and your team to deliver respectful, inclusive service to all customers, clients, and colleagues.

• Supervisor Training Module: Promoting EDI Principles: Learn practical strategies for supervisors to embed EDI values into everyday leadership, support diverse team members, and create a positive, inclusive work environment.

This bundle provides training with actionable skills for leaders to champion inclusion and collaboration within their workplaces.

Register today for the Southern Interior Regional Economic Summit

Early bird registration is available until August 29 for the Southern Interior Regional Economic Summit (SIRES).

SIRES is a collaborative space where leaders come together to shape the future of economic development across British Columbia’s Southern Interior. Their mission is to strengthen the regions’ economies through inclusive dialogue, practical strategies, and cross-sector partnerships that reflect the diverse voices of Southern Interior.

Join industry leaders in Salmon Arm on November 3-5, 2025, at the Prestige Harbourfront Resort Salmon Arm.

For more information and to take advantage of early bird registration prices visit https://www.sires.ca/ .