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.

Community Emergency Preparedness Fund

The Province is improving emergency preparedness across British Columbia by providing nearly $2 million through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) to local governments and First Nations.

This funding will support 51 communities in developing and updating their public notification and evacuation route plans through 42 projects. These initiatives include mapping routes, enhancing public notification strategies, and conducting training exercises to test plans before an emergency strikes.

The Value of Tourism - Destination Canada’s New Landing Page

The team at Destination Canada is leading Team Canada with insight and research into unlocking the potential of Canada’s second-largest service export: tourism.

Destination Canada reveals that:

• 1 in 10 jobs in Canada relies on tourism

• There are 265,800 tourism businesses in 5000 communities

• Tourism contributes $130B annual revenue to the Canadian economy

Read more about the unique qualities of Canadian tourism and explore the new landing page outlining the Value of Tourism.

Booking.com’s 2025 Sustainable Travel Report

Booking.com has released the 10th edition of their annual research with insights from 32,000 travellers in 34 countries.

The 2025 Sustainable Travel Report reveals that more than half of global travellers now recognize the impact of tourism on local communities, not just the environment. While 57% view tourism as a net positive in their own areas, many cite concerns such as traffic, overcrowding, and rising living costs.

Instead of supporting caps on visitor numbers, travellers are in favour of investments in infrastructure like public transport, waste management, and environmental conservation. The report also finds that globally, mindful travel habits are becoming more mainstream, and travelling sustainably is a key priority for travellers.

BC Rivers Day 2025

BC Rivers Day returns for its 45th annual celebration on Sunday, September 28, 2025, marking one of the province’s largest community-driven environmental events. The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC) has organized this day to bring together citizens, organizations, and communities to honour and safeguard the health of British Columbia’s rivers and waterways.

This event encourages stewardship, education, and community action while highlighting the importance of BC’s rivers.

To support efforts made towards the stewardship of BC’s rivers, ORCBC will offer $300 micro-grants to eligible groups organizing BC Rivers Day events. These funds are intended to cover event materials, educational supplies, or refreshments.

For more details about the micro-grants and BC Rivers Day, visit the ORCBC website.

Okanagan Gondola Breaks Ground

Ridge North America has begun construction on the Okanagan Gondola, a new all-ages tourism destination located between Kelowna and Vernon, offering panoramic views, immersive trails, and elevated dining. The project aims to enhance the region’s cultural and outdoor appeal while blending seamlessly with the natural landscape.

A groundbreaking ceremony held July 10 included representatives from Ridge North America, project partners Doppelmayr and Funis, and the Regional District of North Okanagan. For more information, visit okanagangondola.com

Tourism Kamloops Announces the Freeride Fund

Tourism Kamloops has announced the launch of the Freeride Fund, a trail maintenance and community giveback initiative focused on Kamloops’ sanctioned trail networks and the need for sustainable trail upkeep.

The Freeride Fund ensures that sanctioned trail networks in Kamloops are supported and sustained, enabled through a formal partnership with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Foundation (TOTF). As a provincially registered non-profit society with CRA charitable status, TOTF provides the charitable framework to receive and manage donations. This partnership ensures that every contribution is tax-deductible (for amounts $20 and above) and fully directed to trail maintenance in Kamloops.

World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards Entry Deadline

Entries for the 2025 World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards will be accepted until June 30th.

This is a free opportunity for individuals and organizations globally to be recognized for their contributions to sustainable travel and tourism. There are 30 categories available, covering a full range of sustainable practices within the industry.

Winners will be celebrated at the 2nd annual Gala Ceremony at Terra, Expo City Dubai, on October 29, 2025. Global voting will take place between July 14 and August 30.

YKA Link

Kamloops area tourism partners have launched YKA LINK (Leveraging Investment, Networking, and Knowledge), a new initiative to boost tourism and air service in the region.

Announced at the BC Aviation Council Conference in early June, the project aims to establish Kamloops Airport (YKA) as the primary gateway to the Interior. This alliance involves Kamloops Airport, TOTA, Tourism Sun Peaks, Tourism Kamloops, and the Thompson Nicola Regional District, and is supported by Destination BC.

YKA LINK will focus on coordinated marketing and route development to attract new air services and increase visitor numbers. The initiative seeks to enhance regional visibility and collaboration, connecting visitors to the diverse travel corridor of the North Thompson, Nicola Valleys, Shuswap, and Cariboo regions. This project will support the year-round visitor economy by improving access for both leisure and business travelers.

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.

Tourism Climate Adaptation and Environmental Sustainability Business Survey Report

The first-ever province-wide Tourism Climate Adaptation and Environmental Sustainability Business Survey was successful, with more than 550 tourism businesses participating between January 21 and February 21, 2025.

The results provide baseline data on a common set of measures that will track sustainable practices and climate adaptation initiatives across the tourism industry in BC.

Key findings across three priority areas:

Emissions

• Tourism-related GHG emissions represent 3.1% of total industry emissions in BC

• 40% of tourism businesses have invested in energy management

• Transportation accounts for 68% of tourism-related emissions, primarily from domestic air travel and ground vehicle fuel consumption

Waste Management

• 17% of tourism businesses have performed waste audits in the past two years

• 40% have invested in waste management practices like reducing single-use plastics and food waste diversion

Climate Adaptation

• 27% of tourism businesses feel prepared for natural events like wildfires, floods, and droughts

• 64% have invested in climate adaptation measures, with 17% participating in FireSmarting programs

Bringing the Salmon Home 2024-2025 Annual Report

Last summer the technical team at Bringing the Salmon Home translocated 57 adult sockeye from the Okanagan and released them into the Arrow Lakes Reservoir. In November, they witnessed a tagged adult female sockeye in a creek north of Castlegar: the first adult salmon recorded returning into an Arrow Lakes spawning tributary in over 85 years.

The full 2024-2025 report highlights the Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative, an Indigenous-led collaboration of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, Secwépemc Nation, and Ktunaxa Nation, with Canada and British Columbia.

Manufacturing Excellence Forum - Kelowna

Join EMC for a dynamic in-person event tailored to tackle today’s manufacturing challenges while unlocking opportunities for future growth. Designed to spark ideas, foster collaboration, and drive innovation, this forum will leave you energized, informed, and ready to lead with confidence.

Monday, May 12, 2025 8:00 am PST

Hear presentations from industry and industry partners on sustainability in manufacturing and productivity and join a tour of local manufacturing facilities.  For more information and to register, click here.

Destination BC Thompson Okanagan Regional Profile

Destination BC has released 6 regional profiles that detail the overview of the region’s tourism industry. This profile includes:

• Resident perceptions about tourism

• Top regional markets

• Regional comparisons

• Top regional activities

• and more

Please download the full profile to learn about the tourism research and region.

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.

Camping reservations now open for Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Park

On April 2, 2025, people can begin reserving camping. Tent pad rentals will be available at any of the seven backcountry campgrounds along the Berg Lake Trail for arrivals starting June 26, 2025, the same day the entire trail is scheduled to reopen. Reservations will open for the entire season and are required to stay at campgrounds along the trail until Sept. 29, 2025.

Visitors are encouraged to check the park webpage for updates about the final phase of construction: https://bcparks.ca/mount-robson-park/