News & Resources
The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.
TOTA Team Hosts a Valleys and Vineyards Media Trip
The TOTA Marketing and Communications Team in collaboration with Destination BC hosted a group of top tier international media in the Thompson Okanagan to showcase the Okanagan Valley and Destination BC’s new branding, Valleys and Vineyards.
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) Marketing and Communications Team in collaboration with Destination BC hosted a group of top tier international media in the Thompson Okanagan to showcase the Okanagan Valley and Destination BC’s new branding, Valleys and Vineyards. The trip hosted six media from Canada, the United States, Australia, China, and Mexico.
The group began in Kelowna and made their way south to Summerland, Penticton, Naramata, Oliver, and Osoyoos. The theme of the trip was savouring the gifts of the Okanagan highlighting the incredible farm to table cuisine, wineries, and outdoor experiences the region has to offer. Including the dark sky designations of Johns Family Nature Conservancy Regional Park as only the third Nocturnal Preserve and the efforts of Dark Sky Naramata, reinforcing the beauty in taking a step back and enjoying the wonders of nature.
Thank you to the businesses and communities that helped us host this group.
Photos by Garfield Wang, Monica Leeck
Resulting Coverage:
B.C.’s most delicious destination? I visited Canada’s first UNESCO ‘City of Gastronomy,’ and that was just the start - Toronto Star by Wing Sze Tang
TOTA Team Attended GoMedia 2025
The TOTA Marketing and Communications Team attended Destination Canada’s GoMedia Conference and had the opportunity to host a GoMedia Pre FAM in collaboration with Destination BC.
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) Marketing and Communications Team attended Destination Canada’s GoMedia Conference, September 14-18, 2025, hosted in Jasper Alberta along with 206 attendees, 79 international media and 79 industry partners. Here, the team had the opportunity to meet with sixteen international media in the marketplace, participate in professional development sessions, and network with industry partners and media from around the world.
Photos by Destination Canada
The team also had the opportunity to host a Pre FAM (Familiarization Tour) in collaboration with Destination BC. Taking six top tier media from Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan and China through the Thompson Valley on a Rainforest to Rockies road trip. The group began in Whistler and continued through to Kamloops, then Clearwater, and ended in Valemount.
The group was amazed by the beauty of the ever changing landscapes of this road trip, the unlimited access to the beautiful outdoors and parks in the region, and the kind people willing to share their home with visitors.
Thank you to the communities and businesses that hosted this group.
Photos by Kieran Murphy, Lin Chang, and Jenna Labossiere
TOTA Team Represents the Thompson Okanagan Region at the International Media Marketplace (IMM)
The TOTA marketing team represented the Thompson Okanagan region at the International Media Marketplace (IMM) in New York in January 2024. The team met with 25 top tier media in the media marketplace where they got to know the individual writers and creators.
The TOTA marketing team represented the Thompson Okanagan region at the International Media Marketplace (IMM) in New York in January 2024. There, along with 525 North American media and 390 international travel brands, they attended a full day educational summit, discussing topics such as AI best practices, the relevance of podcasts, the changing media landscape, and a panel with travel editors.
As well, the team met with 25 top tier media in the media marketplace where they got to know the individual writers and creators and discussed various topics related to the key pillars TOTA’s media team works to amplify. These pillars are Accessibility, Indigenous Culture, Year-round Travel, the Variety of Activities and Adventures in the Region, Wellness Travel, and Road Trips.
These conferences are important to create connections with top tier media in the hopes of eventually inviting them to the region for excellent media coverage. Team Canada had one of the largest turnouts at the conference with the BC team being the largest province represented.
Learn more about the International Media Marketplace.
Team BC - DMO Representatives from throughout BC
IMM Marketplace
Thompson Okanagan Showcased at GoMedia Canada
The TOTA Team Represented the Thompson Okanagan region at GoMedia Canada in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, September 25–27, 2023.
The TOTA team represented the Thompson Okanagan region at GoMedia Canada in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, September 25–27, 2023.
GoMedia offers a chance for top tier media and editors from multiple well known outlets to meet and learn about destinations throughout Canada. At this event, the TOTA team met with media delegates at a marketplace event and throughout the conference sharing stories and pitches of the region with the hope of resulting in media coverage.
Men’s Journal Lists Best Ski Resorts in Canada to Visit This Season, Including Sun Peaks , Big White, and SilverStar
Men's Journal published a list of the best ski resorts in Canada and listed three Thompson Okanagan destinations: Sun Peaks Resort at #2, Big White Ski Resort at #3, and SilverStar Mountain Resort as #4. Congratulations to the resorts for earning this national recognition!
Sun Peaks , Big White, and SilverStar
Men's Journal published a list of the best ski resorts in Canada and listed three Thompson Okanagan destinations: Sun Peaks Resort at #2, Big White Ski Resort at #3, and SilverStar Mountain Resort as #4.
Excerpts from the article:
2. Sun Peaks Resort
"Tucked deep in interior B.C., Sun Peaks Resort will be celebrating its 60th anniversary this winter. It’s Canada’s second-largest ski area, with 4,270 acres of skiable terrain, two alpine bowls, 138 runs, and 13 lifts. New activities here this season include Sun Peaks Backcountry Tours and avalanche training courses—plus public skating at a new Sun Peaks Centre featuring an NHL-sized ice rink."
3. Big White Ski Resort
"This family-friendly destination boasts Canada’s largest ski-in/ski-out resort village. With an annual average snowfall of 25 feet, this mountain is covered in dry, Okanagan Champagne Powder. There are 119 designated runs, 16 lifts, and 2,765 acres of skiable terrain. All lift tickets of three days or more include a flex day off—and online lift tickets are 25% off."
4. Silverstar Mountain Resort
"Silverstar boasts great powder, a festive mid-mountain ski village with ski-in/ski-out access, and Canada’s first all-inclusive lift ticket. There are four distinct mountain faces with 3,282 skiable acres. The mountain offers 132 runs, 12 lifts, and, on its backside, more 1,900 acres of black and double black diamond runs. Nordic skiers can head to the 60 miles of trails. The nearby Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre has a 2.5-mile lit track for night skiing, lift access to upper trails, and two certified biathlon ranges."