Taste of Place Leadership Program

The Culinary Tourism Alliance has launched the “Taste of Place Leadership Program” that will run from February 9 - April 24, 2026. This program will teach DMO professionals how to support the growth of culinary and agritourism in their communities through a blend of online group discussions, workbook activities, and self-paced online learning modules.

After completing this program, you will be able to:

• Define your destination's taste of place and identify storytelling opportunities

• Learn how to identify and evaluate your destination’s culinary and agritourism assets

• Provide targeted support to businesses in the Culinary Tourism Value Chain

• Leverage best practices in culinary and agritourism to help coach businesses to develop multisensory taste of place experiences

• Use strategic initiatives, culinary and agritourism trails, ambassador programs, and events to attract food tourists to your destination

After completing the program, you'll receive a Taste of Place Leadership certificate and your achievement will be celebrated online by the Culinary Tourism Alliance.

Destination BC Learning Centre - Digital Foundations - Digital Media & Advertising

Digital Foundations is a self-guided program that explores the why, what, where, and how of digital marketing.

The fifth of the seven modules, called Digital Media & Advertising, will help you learn how paid advertising can drive customer action, the types of ads available, and how to optimize your digital advertising strategy to maximize your budget.

Destination BC Learning Centre - Digital Foundations - Email Marketing

Digital Foundations is a self-guided program that explores the why, what, where, and how of digital marketing.

The fourth of the seven modules, called Email Marketing, will help you find tips to craft the perfect email subject line, learn email optimization strategies to take your email marketing to the next level, and explore metrics to focus on to hone your email marketing program.

Destination BC Learning Centre - Digital Foundations - Search Engine Optimization

Digital Foundations is a self-guided program that explores the why, what, where, and how of digital marketing.

The third of the seven modules, called Search Engine Optimization, will help you understand the components of a successful SEO strategy and identify some of the ways you can get started.

Destination BC Learning Centre - Digital Foundations - Social Media

Digital Foundations is a self-guided program that explores the why, what, where, and how of digital marketing.

The second of the seven modules, called Social Media, will help you explore key social channels to determine which are a fit for your business and will share tips to engage your audience in good times and bad.

Destination BC Activity Research

Destination BC has released five publications and research profiles relevant to various activities and sectors in British Columbia. These reports detail 2025 sector profiles for outdoor recreation, cycling tourism, Indigenous tourism, ski tourism, and wine tourism.

Destination BC Learning Centre - Digital Foundations - Getting Started with Digital Marketing

Digital Foundations is a self-guided program that explores the why, what, where, and how of digital marketing.

The first of the seven modules, called Getting Started with Digital Marketing, will help you determine what you aim to achieve with digital marketing and help you identify your target audience and the priority channels where you will focus.

Financial Capability Workshop for Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs

All Nations Trust Company (ANTCO) will be running a financial capability workshop for Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs in Kamloops following the success of their Penticton based workshops.

In this workshop, you will learn how to create a personal budget that supports both your financial goals and your business success.
 
WHERE: ANTCO Boardroom, 520 Chief Eli La Rue Way, Kamloops BC
TIME: 9:00am - 4:00pm
DATE: November 24th OR November 25th, 2025
TO REGISTER CONTACT: April at 778-471-8340 or aprilp@antco.ca
 
Participants will enjoy a light breakfast, lunch, swag, door prizes, and a small honorarium.
 
You must be an Indigenous Female to attend. (First Nations, Inuit, or Metis).

TOTA and Tourism AI Network are Partnering to Develop a Data-Driven Tool for Tourism

The Tourism AI Network (TAIN), in partnership with Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and RJA Consulting, has announced a new collaboration to design and develop TourismOps AI, a data-driven tool aimed at solving the industry's biggest challenge: fragmented data and complex reporting.

The planned TourismOps AI platform is initially being designed to help organizations:

• Unify Data: Combine internal data into one secure AI platform.

• Automate Reporting: Simplify and automate multi-funder reports.

• Reduce Administrative Burden: Spend less time on spreadsheets and systems.

• Tell a Deeper Story: Move beyond simple visitor spend to highlight the full impact of your destination.

TOTA Research Snapshot - October

Once a month, through our newsletter and News Centre, TOTA will bring you a sample of the key visitation and accommodation trends shaping our industry, courtesy of the team at Symphony Tourism Services.

Below is a detailed overview of October's report. We encourage you to monitor our newsletters for ongoing research highlights.

BetterTable x Food Mesh Webinar

Did you know that reducing food waste isn’t just good for the planet—it can also boost your bottom line?

Join FoodMesh and BetterTable for an interactive 30-minute webinar designed specially for hospitality professionals in the North Okanagan. You’ll discover simple, practical ways to cut waste, save money, and strengthen your connection to the local community.

Why attend?
- Boost profits: Learn proven strategies to reduce waste and maximize your food cost savings.
- Stay ahead of the curve: Get insights on food waste trends, policies, and best practices shaping the industry in the Okanagan and beyond.
- Get inspired by peers: Hear real-world examples from chefs and restaurateurs already making food waste work for them.
- Do good locally: Find out how donating surplus food supports Okanagan residents, while unlocking tax incentives and meeting regulations with ease.

This session is short, engaging, and packed with takeaways you can start using right away in your restaurant, café, or food service operation.

Don’t miss this chance to turn food waste into profit and purpose.

Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM PST
Length: 30 minutes
Where: Online (free with registration)

Register today and start turning food waste into profit and purpose: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0rDU7zQyRt6rqwcRUEFaGg#/registration

Applications are open for the Valleys and Vineyards “Spark” Program

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

Applications from tourism small businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations based in British Columbia are encouraged to apply from October 1 - November 12, 2025.

Applications can be submitted on the Tourism Innovation website.

What is Valleys & Vineyards?

Valleys & Vineyards is one of the six destination brands that are part of Destination BC’s Super, Natural British Columbia® brand family. 

Valleys & Vineyards is located within the territories of the Syilx Okanagan Nation and Secwépemc Nation in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys.

Destination Think’s 24 Hours of Tourism Innovation

Destination Think is launching the second annual 24 Hours of Travel Innovation, on World Tourism Day 2025, September 25, 2025.

This is a free, online, global event showcasing 27 destinations from Canada, the U.S., Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. This event highlights innovative case studies demonstrating how tourism can positively impact the environment, culture, communities, and economies. This will create a knowledge hub to inspire responsible tourism practices worldwide.

The event starts September 26, 2025 (09:00 NZST / September 25, 14:00 PST), and those interested can register using the link below.

Webinar: Breaking Barriers: Navigating Interprovincial Alcohol Trade for B.C. Producers

Selling alcohol across provincial borders in Canada can be complex, with different rules on distribution, storage, labelling, and D2C sales.
Join BC BTAC and Export Navigator for a 90-minute online webinar on September 24, 2025, 10:00 - 11:30 (PT) to:

• Understand provincial differences in sales, storage, and labeling

• Get clarity on CFTA, QA/lab testing, and regulatory efforts

• Identify where opportunities exist for your products

• Access tools and guidance to support your expansion

The Consumer Journey: Bringing BC’s Iconic Destination Brands to Life

Join Destination BC on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 10:00am (PT) for an exclusive virtual event showcasing the full consumer launch of our Iconic Destination Brands across the global travel ecosystem.

In this session, you’ll explore how the Iconic brands are coming to life across key touchpoints in the consumer journey. You’ll get a look at the evolution of the Super, Natural British Columbia® brand and the Let the Outside In creative platform, DBC’s media plan, and activations across travel trade, travel media, and access to new tools for industry partners to leverage awareness of the new brands.

Category 1 Campfire Prohibition for the Kamloops Fire Centre

Category 1 campfire prohibitions are in effect for the Kamloops Fire Centre until October 17, or, until the orders are rescinded.

As of Aug. 28, the following open fires are prohibited in the Kamloops Fire Centre;

• Category 1 campfires as defined in the Wildfire Regulation;

• Category 2 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation; and,

• Category 3 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation

Tourism Operator Sustainability Training Course

Synergy Enterprises is offering a five-part virtual course, designed for tourism operators who want to lead with purpose, build resilience, and embed sustainability into their everyday operations.

This five-module course runs every other Wednesday starting on September 17, 2025, and ending on November 12. Each course is 3 hours long and starts at 10:00 am PST.

Tourism Industry partners can use code promo2025 for 15% off at checkout.

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.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Training for Leaders

go2HR is offering an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) training bundle for business leaders. For $150.00 CAD, you can access four courses, including:

• An Introduction to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI): Gain a solid understanding of key EDI concepts, terminology, and the importance of fostering an equitable and diverse workplace.

• Navigating Cultural Diversity in the Workplace: Explore cultural perspectives around time, power, and communication to better support and engage with diverse teams.

• SuperHost® Foundations of Inclusive Service: Service For All™: Equip yourself and your team to deliver respectful, inclusive service to all customers, clients, and colleagues.

• Supervisor Training Module: Promoting EDI Principles: Learn practical strategies for supervisors to embed EDI values into everyday leadership, support diverse team members, and create a positive, inclusive work environment.

This bundle provides training with actionable skills for leaders to champion inclusion and collaboration within their workplaces.

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.