Posts tagged Press Release
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and TOTA partner to benefit students in TRU’s tourism management program and support the TRU Tourism Innovation Lab

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to benefit students in TRU’s tourism management program and support the TRU Tourism Innovation Lab.

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TOTA to Host "7 Celebrations" Series of Themed Local Festivals to Reconnect in the Thompson Okanagan

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) announced a line-up of seven diverse and dazzling events to officially commemorate the reopening of the Thompson Okanagan region post-pandemic, and to celebrate its people and cultures. The 7 Celebrations - Reconnect in the Thompson Okanagan is an invitation to revisit the sights, sounds, people, and culture through a region-wide celebration set to take place now through March 2023. The festivals are set in various areas of the Thompson Okanagan, in the Shuswap, the North and South Okanagan, Boundary Country, North Thompson, and Gold Country.

The 7 Celebrations event schedule and details can be found at ThompsonOkanagan.com/7-Celebrations

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Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association Supports Women of Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality through Sponsorship of Empower Her Event by WORTH Association

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) has signed on as a Bronze Sponsor for the Empower Her series of events, organized by the Women of Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Association.

Empower Her is WORTH’s signature networking and panel discussion event for women in hospitality and tourism. WORTH is hosting the fifth edition of the event in 2022 and 2023 to educate, elevate, and empower women in the industry - and first in the Thompson Okanagan region.

The Thompson Okanagan event will be held on Tuesday, October 18 at the Coast Capri Hotel in Kelowna at 6 PM to 9:30 PM. The panel will feature four panelists who will examine ways organizations and individuals can accelerate women into leadership roles at the senior level.

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New Program Aims to "Spark" Innovative Tourism Ideas in Thompson Nicola

A new program aimed at sparking and supporting innovative tourism ideas in the Thompson Nicola area of the Thompson Okanagan tourism region in British Columbia was officially announced by local and provincial tourism partners.

The “Spark” Mentorships & Grants Program will match selected applicants from the area with a tourism mentor and provide a $3,000 grant to supplement additional partner support, to help bring new tourism ideas to the next level of development.

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TOTA Launches Community Well-Being Survey on International Day of Happiness

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) launched a Community Well-Being Survey, on the International Day of Happiness, March 20, 2022. The survey, a partnership with Planet Happiness (a project of the Happiness Alliance), is meant to strengthen the relationship between the tourism industry and residents of the Thompson Okanagan region of British Columbia.

Thompson Okanagan residents, including tourism professionals, are invited to complete the survey. Once completed you will receive a personal report highlighting your results compared to the average results of other residents in the region.

Learn More & Take Survey →

Individuals and companies are encouraged to share the survey with team members and communities. To make sharing easy, TOTA has prepared a Media Kit with sample promotion materials for email and social media.

View Media Kit →

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Claim Your bookeco Sustainable Tourism Listing

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and bookeco have formed a strategic alliance and partnership to promote sustainable tourism products and services in the Thompson Okanagan.

Tourism businesses who demonstrate sustainable practices can register to be featured on the bookeco website, which will increase bookings and revenue by attracting sustainability focused customers to their business.

TOTA encourages all businesses taking sustainable actions to create a profile on bookeco to help customers easily find sustainable tourism providers in the Thompson Okanagan region.

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British Columbia Tourism Resiliency Network Wins BC Tourism & Hospitality Award for Community Contribution

The British Columbia Tourism Resiliency Network (BCTRN) has been recognized with the award for Community Contribution & Impact at the 2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference, for demonstrating social responsibility through efforts to enhance social and cultural impact, fostering collaboration, and building resiliency in communities.

The BC Tourism Resiliency Network has helped 2,033 tourism businesses to date, including 158 Indigenous-owned, 440 women-owned, and 6 youth-owned businesses in communities spanning the province.

As one of the partners, TOTA supported over 970 Thompson Okanagan tourism companies through the regional Tourism Resiliency Program.

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Thompson Okanagan & bookeco Join Forces to Connect People with Eco-Friendly Tourism Providers

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and bookeco have formed a strategic alliance and partnership to promote sustainable tourism products and services in the Thompson Okanagan region of British Columbia, Canada.

As part of the partnership, bookeco will feature the Thompson Okanagan as a sustainable destination.

Thompson Okanagan tourism businesses who demonstrate sustainable practices will have the opportunity to be featured on the bookeco website. TOTA Biosphere Committed Companies will receive up to 4 months free when they sign up for the bookeco Advantage Plan.

The partnership agreement will also include a series of projects to promote sustainable tourism and responsible tourism providers through email and social media initiatives.

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Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association Collaborates with Green Wine Future 2022

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) has joined with Green Wine Future (GWF) as one of its corporate sponsors and strategic partners. The event is the most ambitious environmental conference ever organized for the wine community and will launch as a fully online gathering May 23-26, 2022.

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BCRTS Tourism Summit Brings Industry Together to Create a Stronger, More Resilient, and Inclusive Future

The BCRTS Tourism Summit 2021 will provide an opportunity for the sector to come together as a tourism community, learn from the challenges of the past two years, and think differently about how to co-create a more vibrant and resilient tourism industry in BC.

Reimagining the Future of Tourism: Rebuild, Reframe and Rethink is the theme of the joint virtual Summit, taking place November 3rd and 4th. The no-cost event for tourism businesses is a collaboration between the five regional destination management organizations of the British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS) and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). The event will feature more than 40 tourism experts who will share their global, regional, and local expertise.

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Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association partners with Peter B. Gustavson School of Business to offer new virtual Tourism Skill Training Program

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) has teamed up with the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria, BC to provide job readiness training for Thompson Okanagan residents through a new, free certificate program.

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The Travel Foundation and TOTA Join Forces to Develop New Approaches for Destination Management and Regenerative Tourism

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is announcing a formal partnership with the Travel Foundation under the shared vision that, if managed well, tourism is a force for good. The focus of this partnership will be supporting the Thompson Okanagan region and global community through the development of new approaches, destination management strategies, tools, and knowledge products.

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Thompson Okanagan Wins World's Responsible Tourism Award for the Third Consecutive Year

Among the world's leading travel, tourism, and hospitality brands, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) was named the 2020 World’s Responsible Tourism Award Winner for the third consecutive year at the 27th Annual World Travel Awards. This announcement follows TOTA’s win of North America’s Responsible Tourism Award in November, and recognizes many years of continued leadership efforts to exceed global standards of sustainable tourism.

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TOTA Joins Forces with Planet Happiness and Thompson Rivers University to Measure Happiness and Well-Being of Thompson Okanagan Residents

Strengthening our understanding of the impact of tourism on the well-being of communities, use of the Happiness Index survey aims to demonstrate that measuring destination well-being and happiness is as important as tracking profits and visitor arrivals and supports responsible destination management.

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TOTA and SUNx Malta Announce Launch of Global Climate Friendly Travel Registry & Maurice Strong Climate Friendly Travel Youth Summit

During Climate Week NYC 2020, TOTA, SUNx Malta, and the World Travel and Tourism Council announced the launch of the global Climate Friendly Travel Registry for 2050 Climate Neutral & Sustainability Ambitions, as well as the Maurice Strong Climate Friendly Travel Youth Summit.

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TOTA and go2HR Partner to Support Businesses on Occupational Health & Safety Through COVID-19 Pandemic

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and go2HR are supporting Biosphere Committed Companies in the region with resources for occupational health and safety, including enhancements specifically pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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