News & Resources
The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.
Make the Trip Home: a new domestic marketing campaign - DBC
Destination BC has launched Make the Trip Home: a new domestic marketing campaign designed to inspire BC residents to reconnect with the extraordinary places and experiences that exist right in their own backyard, while supporting local businesses, workers, and communities.
Starting April 24, this campaign encourages multi-day summer vacations within BC . The campaign will leverage mixed channels to help reach BC audiences.
So where do you come in? To help BC tourism partners get involved in the campaign DBC has created a Campaign Partner Toolkit that includes, social media templates that can be localized/customized, allowing partners to promote their offerings while aligning with the larger campaign, as well as messaging guidelines to help increase the message reach.
Community Futures British Columbia Workshops
Community Futures BC offers free, on-demand workshops for businesses in British Columbia.
These workshops can be accessed by signing up for a free myCommunityFutures account.
How Do You Measure Up? Tourism Sustainability Guide
The new How Do You Measure Up? Guide summarizes efforts across the tourism industry in BC on key environmental sustainability and climate resiliency indicators — including emissions, waste, and climate adaptation — and provides practical actions that businesses can take to measure and track their sustainability performance.
This guide provides helpful resources to businesses at any stage of their sustainability journey. This guide and additional resource are available through the BCTCRI Sustainability & Climate Adaptation Data Framework webpage.
Short-term Accommodation Registration Guidelines Webinar
May 1, 2025, is the provincial deadline to register short-term rental properties. Ahead of this, the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs has delivered a webinar to provide an overview of the registration guidelines, key dates, and what accommodations need to know to stay compliant.
Working with Travel Media - Destination BC
Travel media relations is an essential marketing channel to tell our brand story, build awareness and encourage travellers to visit BC.
Check out this guide to help you prepare your destination or tourism business to engage with travel media to tell your story, while outlining both the benefits and the potential pitfalls.
Emergency Preparedness Week - British Columbia
Emergency Preparedness Week, May 4th to 10th, is a great time to encourage preparedness in your communities! This year’s theme is “In it together.”
Emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time. Now, more than ever, it’s important to:
Work together on a shared goal of being prepared
Get to know your neighbours and community
Identify people around you who may need extra support
Be personally prepared so you can support others and your community
During the week, the PreparedBC team will host free webinars. Find out more and register today via Zoom. All attendees will be entered to win a four-person home emergency kit.
WORTH Beneficiary Fund for Single Moms in the Industry
Single moms within the food, beverage, tourism, or hospitality industry are juggling more than most, and they deserve more than applause.
With support from Cause We Care and in partnership with BCHA, WORTH is pleased to launch a dedicated Single Moms Cohort in May 2025, a supportive space for women navigating both leadership and parenthood.
Through personalized coaching, practical tools, and a strong community of peers, this cohort honours the realities of single motherhood while helping women thrive in their careers.
2SLGBTQI+ Newcomer Entrepreneur Initiative
The Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) offers the Advisor Access Program, a specialized initiative designed to support 2SLGBTQI+ newcomer entrepreneurs in Canada. This program provides structured sessions and personalized networking opportunities with expert advisors, focusing on common business challenges and tailored to the unique needs of 2SLGBTQI+
Applications are open now.
BC Tourism Week 2025 - April 7 - 11
BC Tourism Week is an annual celebration of the tourism industry in BC and across Canada. This week celebrates and showcases the destinations, businesses, and employees that make up this industry.
This year, BC Tourism Week takes place from April 7 to 11, 2025. The Tourism Industry Association of BC and Destination BC have created resources for businesses to celebrate and showcase the value of tourism.
Tourism Kamloops is seeking a candidate for the Director of Brand & Marketing
Tourism Kamloops is seeking an enthusiastic leader for the Director position of their brand & marketing department.
Applications are open until April 20, 2025, and interested candidates can send their resumes and cover letters to careers@tourismkamloops.com.
Destination Canada Traveller Segmentation Program
Destination Canada has released the Traveller Segmentation Program.
Destination Canada has released the Traveller Segmentation Program, which allows stakeholders to discover visitor behaviors and preferences to see what motivates, inspires, and drives travellers. This tool will enable more meaningful, targeted, and impactful marketing and destination management strategies.
Explore all the segmentation tools available in the new program.
Resources for Navigating Trade and Tariff Issues
The Government of Canada recently announced $6.5 billion in liquidity, advisory and other supports for Canadian workers and businesses including:
New financing and advisory services through the Business Development Bank of Canada Pivot.
Financing through Farm Credit Canada’s Trade Disruption Customer Support program for the agriculture and food industry.
Support for eligible Canadian exporters.
Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) has also launched a new intake of the CanExport SME program.
PacifiCan is currently accepting expressions of interest for our Business Scale-up and Productivity program, which supports high-growth companies in B.C. to scale-up operations, commercialize technology, improve productivity and/or diversify markets.
BCRFA Introduce Industry Training & Development Fund
The BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association (BCRFA), along with Uber is launching a new training and development fund to help empower the next generation of their industry through education and opportunity.
The BCRFA Development Fund will support members with incoming talents. The grant program will help employers finance education and professional development for people interested in pursuing long-term careers in the industry.
The first opportunity to apply begins on April 1st!
Resources for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs
The Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Small Business Branch is offering business advisory services for entrepreneurs and business owners to start, manage, and grow their businesses at no cost.
These services include:
Free one-on-one consultations with expert advisors,
Access to resources designed to help businesses start, grow and thrive,
Guidance on navigating government programs and funding opportunities.
Webinar: Wildfire Resilience - April 8, 2025
The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC is hosting a webinar on wildfire resilience on April 8, 2025, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM PT. This is a free to attend webinar, that will involve a panel based discussion.
This webinar will highlight the importance of preparation and mitigation, how recreation groups can get involved, and information about possible funding sources.
$3,500 Hiring Incentive from B.C. Youth in Manufacturing Initiative
Are you a winery, brewery, or outdoor gear manufacturer looking to grow your workforce while reducing hiring expenses? The B.C. Youth in Manufacturing Initiative provides a $3,500 hiring incentive per youth placement, helping you bring fresh talent into your organization at a lower cost.
What’s in It for You?
$3,500 per hire to help offset wages and training costs.
Industry-specific training included at no cost to you:
Manufacturing Foundations – Teaches adaptability, problem-solving, communication, and accountability.
Lean Fundamentals – Equips participants with Lean Thinking to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
Who’s Eligible?
Youth aged 16-24, residing in B.C., and eligible to work in Canada.
Positions available across production, service, and administration.
Employers can hire multiple participants.
How It Works:
Quick & Easy Application: Apply online in just 5 minutes.
Consent Forms: Our team will guide you through the required paperwork.
Online Training: Participants complete training modules to enhance their skills.
Employment & Incentive: Once youth fulfill work-hour requirements (240 hours for high school students, 320 for others), employers receive the $3,500 incentive.
Take advantage of this opportunity to reduce hiring costs while shaping the future of B.C.’s manufacturing industry.
Resources for Canadian Workers and Businesses
The Government of Canada has put in new measures to help Canadian workers and businesses navigate the impact of the recently imposed tariffs.
This includes:
Launching the Trade Impact Program through Export Development Canada.
Making $500 million in favourably priced loans available through the Business Development Bank of Canada to support impacted businesses in sectors directly targeted by tariffs, as well as companies in their supply chains.
Providing $1 billion in new financing through Farm Credit Canada to reduce financial barriers for the Canadian agriculture and food industry.
Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples Workshop
Sign up for the “Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples Workshop” designed for tourism professionals in the BC tourism industry. These free sessions focus on strengthening relations and community connections.
Sessions will:
Build Stronger Relationships: Learn key strategies for respectful, effective collaboration.
Enhance Cultural Awareness: Gain insights into Indigenous history and contemporary issues.
Practical Learning: Interactive content focused on real-world applications.
Register now for sessions on March 20, 2025
Take the Canadian Tourism Data Collective Utilization Survey
The Canadian Tourism Data Collective (CTDC) was launched in May 2024, and Simon Fraser University is running a survey to assess the awareness and usage of the CTDC tool.
Participant feedback will help improve data accessibility for industry stakeholders and support research on tourism resilience.
This anonymous survey will take 5–10 minutes to complete. Complete the survey by March 27, 2025, for a chance to win a $200 Amazon gift card.
Destination Events Program - New Province of BC Grant
The Destination Events Program (DEP) in British Columbia offers funding to support tourism, arts, culture, and sport events across the province. Eligible organizations—including Indigenous communities, not-for-profits, businesses, and local governments—can apply for up to 10% of their total event budget, with a maximum of $200,000 per event.
Open for applications on April 7 - May 5, 2025