News & Resources
The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.
Glohaven Community Hub Seeking Investors
Glohaven is seeking investors / individuals who support the tourism industry and community-based projects.
To learn more, contact Glohaven CEO and Founder, Michael Benedek, at Mike@Glohaven.com.
Glohaven is a destination management ecosystem that supports tourism communities to increase tourism innovation in Canada. The digital community hub seamlessly integrates a variety of local tourism products, experiences, information, and tools into one platform to easily connect to the growing audience of socially conscious consumers in the online world.
Currently, Glohaven is:
Commercializing with key customers like the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
Onboarding the first round of Beta test vendors to https://Glohaven.com, with plans to open the platform to public users in December. Testing will begin with a few pilot community marketplaces including Osoyoos and Vernon, with several Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) members.
Curating custom Globoxes™ (tourism gift boxes) for a variety of clients this year including major destination resorts and tourism organizations.
Investment Opportunity
To fuel growth over the next 12 - 18 months, Glohaven opened a $1.5 Million round of funding, with $200,000 secured. Glohaven is seeking investors / individuals who support the tourism industry and community-based projects. Through this investment opportunity, individuals from B.C. who invest in Glohaven receive a 30% refundable tax credit through the Province of BC / Investment Capital Branch / Eligible Business Corporation program.
To learn more, contact Glohaven CEO and Founder, Michael Benedek, at Mike@Glohaven.com.
Glohaven Community Hub Partnership With Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
Glohaven Community Hub, a Thompson Okanagan software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform empowering tourism communities with innovative and sustainable destination management solutions, has announced a partnership with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) to amplify the voices of Indigenous-owned tourism businesses and to provide consumers with the opportunity to demonstrate economic reconciliation by consciously shopping for and supporting the unique products and experiences of Indigenous creators.
Glohaven Community Hub, a Thompson Okanagan software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform empowering tourism communities with innovative and sustainable destination management solutions, has announced a partnership with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC).
In recognition of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, Glohaven and ITAC are collaborating to amplify the voices of Indigenous-owned tourism businesses and to provide consumers with the opportunity to demonstrate economic reconciliation by consciously shopping for and supporting the unique products and experiences of Indigenous creators.
The objective of the partnership between Glohaven and ITAC is to provide Indigenous tourism communities and businesses with the digital infrastructure and direct-to-consumer sales channels they need to be more accessible to a broader audience of socially conscious consumers in the online world.
Glohaven and ITAC recognize the power of working together, leveraging each other’s unique skills and resources to support Indigenous tourism businesses with innovative, creative, and tangible sales and marketing solutions. Furthermore, this partnership contributes to the performance of Canada’s visitor economy as a sustainable Indigenous tourism destination.
About Glohaven Community Hub
Glohaven is a community of people who’ve come together for the purpose of making tourism in Canada more innovative.
With a heart and soul for ‘local,’ Glohaven cares about people, the planet, and profits that create meaningful, impactful change.
Glohaven’s digital community hub is built from the “Inside Out” starting at the community level. Every community and its members can participate in the collaborative process to create a locally represented, inclusive online marketplace that reflects the unique products, values, and culture of each community.
Glohaven is currently testing an open Beta version of its platform. This means Glohaven is not done developing the platform, but has enough features built to run the platform at its minimum functionality. Over time, the functionality of the platform will increase and new features will appear.
About The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is a national non-profit Indigenous tourism industry organization established in 2015. ITAC is the lead organization tasked with growing and promoting the Indigenous tourism industry across the country. Inspired by a vision for a thriving Indigenous tourism economy sharing authentic, memorable and enriching experiences, ITAC develops relationships with groups and regions with similar mandates to enable collective support, product development, promotion and marketing of authentic Indigenous tourism businesses in a respectful protocol.
The head office of ITAC is located in Vancouver, BC, on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Sə̓lílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Kal Grad 2022 Globox™ Fundraiser | Raffle Ends March 15, 2022
The 2022 Kalamalka Secondary School and Glohaven Community Hub online raffle ticket campaign has launched with nearly $12,000 worth of amazing prizes from an incredible 45 local Okanagan businesses, including Indigenous businesses and Biosphere Committed Companies.
Prizes include:
2 Indigenous Globoxes™ (featured experiences: a getaway to Spirit Ridge Resort and a Moccasin Trails excursion)
1 Remarkably Loved Globox™ (featured experience: a getaway to Sparkling Hill Resort).
1 Family Fun Globox™ (featured experience: Sicamous Houseboats Vacation package)
1 Eldorado Resort VIP Globox™ (featuring a getaway to the Eldorado Resort in Kelowna)
Tickets: 1 for $20, 3 for $50, OR 7 for $100
Raffle Ends: March 15
Building on the successful Globox™ fundraiser of 2021, the 2022 graduating class of Kalamalka Secondary School in Vernon are again working with Glohaven Community Hub to support their fundraising efforts.
KSS usually raises 10K-12K through their annual Apple Pie Fundraiser, however the event was unable to proceed in 2021 due to COVID. Instead, the Kal Grad Globox™ Raffle 2021 raised over $14,000 - making it the single most successful fundraiser in the history of Kal High School.
The 2022 online raffle ticket campaign has launched with nearly $12,000 worth of amazing prizes from an incredible 45 local Okanagan businesses, including Indigenous businesses and Biosphere Committed Companies.
Prizes include:
2 Indigenous Globoxes™ (featured experiences: a getaway to Spirit Ridge Resort and a Moccasin Trails excursion)
1 Remarkably Loved Globox™ (featured experience: a getaway to Sparkling Hill Resort).
1 Family Fun Globox™ (featured experience: Sicamous Houseboats Vacation package)
1 Eldorado Resort VIP Globox™ (featuring a getaway to the Eldorado Resort in Kelowna)
1 for $20, 3 for $50, OR 7 for $100!
Raffle Ends: March 15th at 11:59 pm
About
This type of fundraising campaign is one of the ways Glohaven is supporting communities, partners, and the creators of local products and experiences (Glohaven offers to purchase their products / experiences).
They call this a TRIPLE WIN; the 2022 Kalamalka High School Grads WIN with their graduation expenses being covered, the local businesses involved WIN with fabulous exposure, and the recipients of the 5 fabulous Globox™ prizes WIN! Anything that is raised in surplus, will be left as a legacy gift for the school and put towards an outdoor learning structure.
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If you have products or experiences that you would like to participate in these fundraising opportunities to spread the word about your business, contact: angela@glohaven.com.
Glohaven Community Hub Announces Indigenous Globox™ Campaign with Shop First Nations & Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
Glohaven Community Hub, Shop First Nations, and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) are collaborating on the Indigenous Globox™ Campaign, an Indigenous gift box featuring authentically local First Nations products and experiences from the Nlaka’pamux, Syilx Okanagan, and Secwepemc in the Thompson Okanagan region.
Glohaven Community Hub (Glohaven.com), a socially impactful eCommerce platform that makes it easier for people to explore, shop, and support local economies in a more sustainable way, has announced a collaboration with Shop First Nations (SFN) and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA). In recognition of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, the organizations are co-creating an Indigenous gift box platform that will feature authentically local First Nations products and experiences from the Nlaka’pamux, Syilx Okanagan, and Secwepemc.
Through the Indigenous Globox™ Campaign, Glohaven and Shop First Nations will work with tourism partners like TOTA to develop, promote, and distribute a specially curated gift box that will showcase the creations of local Indigenous artisans, crafters, and experience providers in the Thompson Okanagan region.
The Indigenous Globox™ contains several Indigenous products from the Thompson Okanagan region, including:
Cover art by Syilx artist Janine Lott;
Angie’s N8ive Beading Orange Shirt Day pin and hoop earrings;
Moose Hide Campaign pins;
LIVN GIVN art card;
Stickers from Shop First Nations and North Okanagan Apparel;
Calling My Spirit Back book by Elaine Alec;
Okanagan Select Smoked Salmon made with organic Maple Roch syrup;
Glohaven Community Hub recycled plastic tote bag;
Up The Hill At Loakin’s Chocolate and Roses Lotion Bar, Birch Bath Salts, and a 2-pack of Rose Petal Blend Tea.
The Beginnings of the Globox™
In 2021, TOTA and Glohaven Community Hub connected and discovered a shared goal to support the many small and medium size tourism businesses in the Thompson Okanagan region. TOTA and Glohaven worked together to create the Globox™, a tourism gift box showcasing a variety of locally curated products and experiences from Thompson Okanagan businesses. Each Globox™ proudly features at least one Indigenous product or experience as well as a product or experience from a Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Committed Company.
“TOTA appreciates our ongoing relationship with Glohaven and working together with their team to help bring awareness to Indigenous Tourism experiences and products within the region,” said TOTA CEO, Ellen Walker-Matthews. “It has also provided a tremendous opportunity to elevate the many Biosphere Committed Companies we work with throughout the Thompson Okanagan.”
Growing Indigenous Tourism & Economic Reconciliation through the Indigenous Globox™
“Indigenous tourism was the fastest growing sector in the Canadian tourism industry prior to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Glohaven CEO, Michael Benedek. “With leisure and business travel grinding to a halt during the pandemic, many tourism businesses - especially those owned by Indigenous entrepreneurs - have been severely impacted by significant losses of revenue and livelihoods.”
“The goal of the Indigenous Globox Campaign is to amplify the voices of Indigenous owned businesses and provide consumers with the opportunity to demonstrate economic reconciliation by consciously shopping for and supporting the unique products and experiences of Indigenous creators,” said Shop First Nations President, Rob Schulz.
TOTA, Glohaven, and Shop First Nations recognize the power of working together to leverage each other's unique skills and resources to support Indigenous businesses with innovative, creative, and tangible sales and marketing solutions. Furthermore, this campaign contributes to the recognition of the Thompson Okanagan region as a sustainable Indigenous tourism destination.
Show Your Support for Indigenous Owned Businesses in the Thompson Okanagan
You can show your support for Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses based in the Thompson Okanagan by:
Purchasing an Indigenous Globox™ at www.Globox.Market/products/Indigenous-Globox™
Learning about and supporting Indigenous businesses and artists, like Syilx artist Janine Lott, creator of the Indigenous Globox™ cover art - watch the Glohaven video about Janine's work to learn more.
Visiting TOTA’s Indigenous Tourism webpage.
Taking a photo of your favourite Indigenous product or business in the Thompson Okanagan, then posting your photo to social media with these tags: #GlohavenCommunityHub #ShopFirstNations #IndigenousBC #IndigenousBusiness #ThompsonOkanagan #ExploreBC
About Glohaven Community Hub
Glohaven is a socially impactful eCommerce platform that offers a greater sense of community and connection to 'local' in the online world.
On one side of the platform, Glohaven provides tourism organizations and their stakeholders with direct-to-consumer sales, marketing, and distribution channels that generate and retain more revenue, representation, and control on a local level.
On the other side of the platform, Glohaven.com is an eCommerce marketplace that makes it easier for people to explore, shop, and support local economies in a more sustainable way.
About Shop First Nations
Shop First Nations (SFN) is an Indigenous-owned digital platform seeking to enable Reconciliation through impactful consumer purchasing, e-commerce and digital marketing, and education initiatives. SFN’s mission is to support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis businesses by encouraging consumers to invest in Indigenous goods and services, and supporting such businesses in the digital economy while honoring the Truth and Reconciliation 94 Calls to Action.
Follow SFN on Instagram, Facebook, or by joining the Facebook group for supporting Indigenous businesses in BC.
About the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is a non-profit society governed by an elected Board of Directors, which represents business and community tourism interests throughout the Thompson Okanagan region of British Columbia. TOTA is supported by and representative of Destination BC and the BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport. It is an industry-led organization that represents and supports all business and community tourism interests in the region, while also helping to implement provincial tourism policies.
The Thompson Okanagan region lies on the traditional territory of the Syilx, Nlaka'pamux, and Secwépemc peoples.
Learn more on the industry website, TOTABC.org and the traveller website, ThompsonOkanagan.com.
For more information, contact:
Angela Case
Chief Creative Officer, Glohaven Community Hub
Email: Angela@Glohaven.com
Phone: 1.250.307.9227
Glohaven is Inviting Biosphere Committed Companies to Globox
As a joint venture with TOTA, the Globox™ is thoughtfully curated with authentically local products and experiences and will proudly feature one Indigenous product or experience, as well as one product or experience from a Biosphere Committed Company.
Are you a creator of authentic local products and experiences? Would you like to be featured in a tourism gift box called Globox™? Glohaven Community Hub is a community-based eCommerce platform that makes it easier for people to shop and support local. Glohaven's core values are community engagement, collaboration, authenticity, sustainability, and accessibility for all.
The team at Glohaven is reaching out to find vendors in the Thompson Okanagan region to purchase products and experiences from to feature in Globox™. Each Globox is thoughtfully curated with authentically local products and experiences and will proudly feature one Indigenous product or experience, as well as one product or experience from a Biosphere Committed Company.
Please sign up below to express your interest and the Glohaven team will get in touch with further details.