News & Resources
The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.
Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC is Accepting Applications
Apply by February 20, 2025 for the Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC.
The Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC supports grants that help shape meaningful outdoor recreation and nature-based activities in British Columbia.
The second intake of this fund opens on January 20, 2025. Interested applicants can check out previous grant recipients, or apply directly by February 20, 2025.
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. This free session focuses 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 January 30.
DBC Tourism Digital Academy
The Tourism Digital Academy is a free 8-week course for tourism businesses in BC who are interested in developing their digital marketing skills.
The Tourism Digital Academy is a free 8-week course for tourism businesses in BC who are interested in developing their digital marketing skills.
These courses are designed for business owners or marketing team members and include self-directed learning and live interactive sessions on digital marketing planning, SEO best practices, content marketing, and more.
The Winter intake running from January 29 to March 19 is accepting applicants.
Applications for BCTCRI Micro-Grant Program Open Until January 28
The intake period for BCTCRI Project 2 is open until January 28, 2025.
Applications for the BCTCRI Project 2 are open until January 28, 2025.
Eligible businesses can apply for funding up to $15,000 to build upon or implement a climate resiliency plan.
Free Beverage Industry Training Program - Offered in the Shuswap and North Okanagan
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association and the Okanagan College Salmon Arm and Vernon campus are thrilled to introduce the 2025 Accelerated Beverage Industry Training (BIT) Program, held at Okanagan College's Salmon Arm and Vernon Campus.
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association and the Okanagan College Salmon Arm and Vernon campus are thrilled to introduce the 2025 Accelerated Beverage Industry Training (BIT) Program, held at Okanagan College's Salmon Arm and Vernon Campus. This program offers fully funded training for individuals new to or experienced in the beverage industry. It covers essential skills like customer service, beverage sensory training, and sustainable practices, alongside industry certifications such as FoodSafe and WHMIS.
Open to eligible Shuswap and North Okanagan residents, the program supports professional growth through mentorship, hands-on learning, and reimbursements for childcare, travel, and accommodations.
The Shuswap BIT program will run from January 27 to February 7, 2025, Monday to Friday, 9:00 - 4:00 pm with in-person classes.
Applications close January 19th, 2025
The North Okanagan BIT program February 3 to February 14, 2025, Monday to Friday, 9:00 - 4:00 pm with in-person classes.
Applications close January 26th 2025
Help spread the word with your network by sharing program information using the following resources:
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.
BC Tourism Climate Resiliency Initiative Micro Grant Program
This funding will support the implementation of recommendations in these businesses’ sustainability and climate adaptation planning.
Starting January 7, 2025, tourism businesses, non-profits, and Indigenous organizations within the tourism industry can apply for a micro-grant of up to $15,000 for projects that reduce energy use, waste, water consumption, and more. This funding will support the implementation of recommendations in these businesses’ sustainability and climate adaptation planning.
DBC Learning Centre
Destination BC has a learning centre with free resources, tools, articles, videos, and guides including:
Digital Marketing
Experience Development
Social Media Marketing
Travel Trade & Travel Media
Applying Insights
Safety & Emergency Preparedness
Accessible Tourism
BC’s Destination Brand Resources
Access the resources from the learning centre here.
BCTCRI Micro-Grant Program Intake Information Session
Learn more about the micro-grant funding available for tourism businesses to implement sustainability and climate adaptation plans or certifications.
Register for the Monday, December 16, 2024 information session here.
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 January 14 & 16.
CRA GST/HST Information Session
The Canada Revenue Agency is holding information sessions on the GST/HST and how they will be applied during the GST/HST break.
The Canada Revenue Agency is holding information sessions on the GST/HST and how they will be applied during the GST/HST break.
English Information Session
Date: Monday, December 9, 2024
Time: 2:30 to 3:30 pm EST
Location: Microsoft Teams Live (English)
French Information Session
Date: Monday, December 9, 2024
Time: 1:00 to 2:00 pm EST
Location: Microsoft Teams Live (French)
You can also submit your questions to the CRA in advance using this link: GST/HST information session - Your questions for the Canada Revenue Agency.
Energy Conservation and Management Workshop for South Okanagan Hotels and Businesses
Join the RDOS, FortisBC, and the City of Penticton on November 15th for free a half-day interactive workshop to share and learn about energy conservation, management initiatives, various incentives, and other project supports available for hotels and businesses in the South Okanagan.
The upcoming workshop will address the following key topics:
FortisBC Small Business Program
Case Study 1.1: Energy Monitoring and Management at Tin Whistle
Case Study 1.2: Analyzing Monthly Electricity Bills
City of Penticton – Energy Programs
FortisBC rebate and incentive programs
Case Study 2: Retrofitting Building
Case Study 3: Heat Pumps
Case Study 4: Lighting Retrofits
The workshop will be held in person at the Penticton Lakeside Resort on November 15th from 9:00 -13:00 with breakfast included.
Register Today for this Workshop.
Take the go2HR Employer Survey
Take the go2HR Employer Survey by November 1, 2024.
Help go2HR shape the future of tourism and hospitality by participating in the Employer Survey. Insights from this survey will be used to better understand the key human resource, health and safety, and training issues and opportunities facing the tourism and hospitality industry in BC.
Respondents will be entered to win one of six $500 regional travel credits, which can be used for a BC world-class experience.
Please complete the survey by November 1, 2024.
Funding Opportunities Available
The Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation has made a list of available funding opportunities for eligible businesses, organizations, and communities.
ETSI-BC Fall 2024 Funding Intake
The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior has announced its fall funding intake with $625,000 available this funding cycle for different projects.
Local communities, First Nations, economic development organizations, and industry groups within the Southern Interior of British Columbia are eligible to apply.
BCTCRI: Project One Fall Application Intake is Now Open
Project One of the BC Tourism Climate Resiliency Initiative (BCTCRI)– Facilitated Sustainable Tourism and Climate Adaptation Planning for Tourism Businesses, provides free support to BC-based tourism businesses looking to include sustainability measures into their operations, strategy, and storytelling.
Applicants are connected with a program advisor who will work one-on-one with businesses to help them develop a customized plan to improve sustainability within their operations.
The Fall 2024 intake is now open and accepting applications on a first-come, first-served basis.
Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples® Workshop
Registration is now open for the Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples® workshop.
In an effort to support community-based needs within the industry Destination BC (DBC) is running two free virtual training sessions titled “Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples®” these session aims to deepen Indigenous awareness and strengthen community connections.
These workshops will help attendees build:
Indigenous Awareness
&
Indigenous Relations
Registration is now open for the fall sessions running on October 21, 2024, and December 5, 2024.
Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP) Grant Intake Now Open
The Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP) is a grant launched by the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation (JEDI) that supports projects that promote economic diversification, resilience, clean growth opportunities, and infrastructure development.
The Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP) is a grant launched by the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation (JEDI), with a funding allocation of $33M per year. REDIP supports projects that promote the following:
Economic diversification
Resilience
Clean growth opportunities
Infrastructure development
Learn more and apply for the third intake of REDIP. This intake will close on October 31st at 11:59 PM PST.
OUT for Business (OFB) Mentorship Program
OUT For Business (OFB) is Canada's only national mentorship program for 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs, offering support through one-on-one and group mentoring sessions.
The program connects experienced business leaders with the next generation of 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, fostering knowledge exchange and network building.
Applications are now open for the 2024/2025 cohort. This 10-month program encourages participation from individuals with intersecting identities.
For more information about OFB, contact Idara Effiom, Mentorship Manager, at idara.effiom@cglcc.ca.
Destination BC Tourism Digital Academy Registration Opens
Destination BC has once again launched the Tourism Digital Academy.
Destination BC has once again launched the Tourism Digital Academy. The Tourism Digital Academy is a free, 8-week digital marketing program for BC tourism businesses who are interested in building their knowledge and skills in digital marketing to an intermediate level.
Designed for business owners or their marketing team members, this comprehensive program is focused on providing practical, actionable guidance to complete your digital marketing plan. From setting your goals, to building a better understanding of SEO, website usability, content, email marketing, analytics and more – you’ll leave the program with the confidence and knowledge to put that plan into action.
Intake for October 8, 2024 - November 27, 2024 is now open!
Intake for October 15, 2024 - December 4, 2024 is now open!
Learn more and Register for this program by visiting Destinationbc.ca/Learning-Centre.