TOTA Board Retreat 2021/22
TOTA Board of Directors (Michael J. Ballingall, CEO Ellen Walker-Matthews, Meira LaRose, Bev DeSantis, Monica Seys, Sandra Oldfield, Dale Sivucha, Don Brogan, Andrea McFadden, and Gordon Fitzpatrick) with Canada Olympic Committee guests speakers Tricia Smith and Andrea Shaw at Predator Ridge Resort for the TOTA Board Retreat.
TOTA’s Board of Directors came together this week for the 2021/22 annual Board Retreat at Predator Ridge Resort. This was the first in person board meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions began in March 2020.
Several industry leaders shared insights on the State of the Tourism Industry including:
Scott Fraser, Chair and Richard Porges, CEO, Destination BC
Walt Judas, CEO, Tourism Association of BC
Ingrid Jarrett, CEO, BC Hotel Association
Brenda Baptiste, Chair, Indigenous Tourism BC
Geoff Ritchie, Senior Manager, Airport Development, Kelowna International Airport
Kelly Galaski, Managing Director, Symphony Tourism Services (a TOTA subsidiary)
TOTA board members also learned more about the BC 2030 Olympic bid from Tricia Smith, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Andrea Shaw, Vice President of Sponsorship, Sales and Marketing for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).
Through a simplified International Olympics Committee process, limited competition for 2030, and existing infrastructure from the Vancouver Olympics in 2021, the COC is working on a bid for the BC 2030 Olympics.
If deemed feasible the goal is to develop a regional footprint for the games which will expand beyond the footprint of 2010 in an effort to bring the Games to more places in the Province including the Thompson Okanagan. The event would lead to economic opportunity, tourism growth, and cultural enrichment, providing an opportunity for Indigenous reconciliation, access and inclusion, sports events, community engagement, and environmental stewardship.
The COC Project Team has commenced work on the Feasibility Phase and is engaging with partners to develop a plan.
On behalf of the TOTA Board of Directors, thank you to the guest speakers and to the Predator Ridge Resort team for the exceptional service, venue, and health and safety protocols.
Honorarium for George Hanson
On behalf of the association, a Student Bursary was presented to Okanagan College as an Honorarium in memory of George Hanson. George was the founder and owner of Seven Stones Winery in the Similkameen Valley, a past TOTA board director, a board director of Symphony Tourism Services (a TOTA subsidiary), and leader and advocate of the Thompson Okanagan tourism industry for many years. George passed away in February 2021 and is greatly missed.