News & Resources

The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.

 
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Free Business Mentorship Sessions with Okanagan College Instructors

Okanagan College instructors are available to deliver virtual, one-hour individually tailored business counselling sessions on a variety of leadership soft skills, business administration, and hospitality topics.

This service is offered free of charge through the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Resiliency Program, for a limited time.

Register for an Okanagan College Mentorship Meeting →

 

Okanagan College instructors are available to deliver virtual, one-hour individually tailored business counselling sessions based on expressed areas of need.

This service is offered free of charge through the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Resiliency Program, for a limited time. Mentors can provide support on a variety of leadership soft skills, business administration, and hospitality topics.

Register for an Okanagan College Mentorship Meeting →

 
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New Province-wide Program Supports B.C.’s Anchor Tourism Organizations

The newly announced Major Anchor Attractions Program provides one-time emergency funding to major anchor attractions and tour bus companies that service tourism attractions to help them operate at minimal levels until domestic travel resumes and it's safe to gather indoors in small groups. The application window will be open until June 7 with funds provided in July 2021.

The Province is now accepting applications for support through B.C.’s new major anchor attractions and tour bus companies funding program.

 The newly announced Major Anchor Attractions Program provides one-time emergency funding to major anchor attractions and tour bus companies that service tourism attractions to help them operate at minimal levels until domestic travel resumes and it's safe to gather indoors in small groups. The program is available to businesses and not-for-profits.

Anchor attractions and tour bus companies face high fixed costs because of their infrastructure and minimum staffing requirements. With funding announced in Budget 2021, the $50-million BC Major Anchor Attractions Program may offer up to $1 million per attraction through one-time grants.

Eligible expenses include payroll, rent and utility costs related to restarting or ramping up operations in preparation for gradual reopening in alignment with provincial health orders. The funding is available for not-for-profit organizations and businesses.

 The application window will be open until June 7 with funds provided in July 2021.


Quick Facts:

Examples of criteria and eligible organizations include:

  • major anchor attractions in urban centres that receive 75,000 or more visitors per year – eligible for up to $1 million.

  • major anchor attractions in rural areas that receive 15,000 or more visitors per year – eligible for up to $500,000.

  • tour bus companies that serve 30,000 or more passengers per year – eligible for up to $500,000.

  • examples of “turnstile” attractions eligible for the program include amusement parks, wildlife parks, botanical gardens, heritage institutions, museums, galleries and science centres.

For more information, including eligibility requirements, visit gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/economic-recovery/attractions-program.

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Destination BC Stay Local, Support Local Campaign

In alignment with the latest travel restrictions, Destination BC will begin airing a 30-second public service announcement (PSA) and will continue to encourage British Columbians to stay local while adhering to the latest public health orders by sharing community guides for outdoor dining and take-out options.

 

Public Service Announcement

In alignment with the latest travel restrictions, Destination BC will begin airing a 30-second public service announcement (PSA) the week of May 3, encouraging BC residents to “Stay Local, Support Local” so we can bend the curve and save our summer. The video will air on Global TV, CTV, City TV and CBC, and will be distributed through paid ads on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram until restrictions are lifted and people can resume travel within the province.

Community Guides for Outdoor Dining & Takeout

BC residents are more interested than ever in spending time outside to improve their physical and mental well-being, and that they want to continue supporting their community by buying direct from local businesses and producers.

As a warmer season unfolds, and in an effort to encourage British Columbians to stay local while adhering to the latest public health orders, Destination BC will continue to curate and share community guides that feature outdoor dining and take-out options on HelloBC.com and other consumer-facing channels.

Here’s where partners come in:

  1. Let your local DMO know if you create content that promotes food and drink establishments that are a) currently open; b) follow current public health orders; and c) have posted information about their health and safety protocols to their website.

  2. Ask your local destination marketing organization (DMO) about their take-out and/or outdoor dining guide (as described above) for your community or area for DBC to promote.

  3. Share photos of outdoor dining on Instagram with #ExploreBC and your local DMO hashtag

Here are some examples of content created by BC DMOs:

 
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Air Canada Reaches Funding Agreement with Federal Government

Air Canada and the Government of Canada have reached a series of debt and equity financing agreements that allow the airline to access up to $5.8 billion in liquidity through the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility program. As part of the package, Air Canada has agreed to resume service or access to its network for nearly all regional communities where service was suspended due to COVID-19; refund customers whose flights were cancelled as a result of the global pandemic; and maintain current employment levels.

 
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Air Canada and the Government of Canada have reached a series of debt and equity financing agreements that allow the airline to access up to $5.8 billion in liquidity through the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility program. As part of the package, Air Canada has agreed to resume service or access to its network for nearly all regional communities where service was suspended due to COVID-19; refund customers whose flights were cancelled as a result of the global pandemic; and maintain current employment levels.

 
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New Tourism Digital Marketing Expert Certification Program through the BCRTS and eLearningU

All tourism businesses in our region can gain complimentary access to the Digital Marketing Expert Certification Program by eLearningU, as well as FREE access to 50 live webinars over the course of the year, and a full webinar library of 350+ recordings.

As a member of the British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS), Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association is pleased to announce that all tourism businesses in our region can gain access to the Digital Marketing Expert Certification Program by eLearningU. Tourism businesses can sign up for a FREE subscription to eLearningU, where, upon registration, they will be provided a username and password for their account. Multiple people within the same organization are welcome to join the program.

In addition to the Tourism Digital Marketing Certification Program, registered members will have FREE access to 50 live webinars over the course of the year, and a full webinar library of 350+ recordings. 

Become a Tourism Digital Marketing Expert

After registering for your free eLearningU subscription, follow the link below to access your Tourism Digital Marketing Certificate dashboard. There are 5 Certifications in this program, broken down into individual certificates, they are as follows:

  • Tourism Social Media Marketing Certificate (14 courses, 14 hours)

  • Tourism Content Marketing Certificate (6 courses, 6 hours)

  • Tourism SEO/SEM Marketing Certificate (8 courses, 8 hours)

  • Tourism General Marketing Certificate (7 courses, 7 hours)

  • After each of these are complete, the Tourism Digital Marketing Expert (TDME) Certification is awarded.

Check out the Program Here

Each course is compiled of a 1-hour video training and a 5-question quiz. The quizzes come directly from the content in the video training and must be passed in order to complete the lesson. You may retake the quiz in order to pass. The goal is to verify that you have reviewed and learned the information presented.

Sections and lessons do not have to be done in order, so if something seems more interesting or useful, complete that one first and finish the rest at your leisure. As we are apart of the launch of this exciting program, the sooner you sign up, the more live webinars you will be able to attend. All required webinars will be added to the library after their live premiere.


Background

The TOTA Tourism Resiliency Program, part of the BC Tourism Resiliency Network, provides long-term support to tourism businesses to navigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, adapt services, and work towards eventual recovery. As part of TOTA's Tourism Resiliency Program, tourism businesses can access the following FREE supports:

For more information on TOTA's Tourism Resiliency Program, go to TOTABC.org/resiliency.


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BC Hotel Association Partners with BC Regional Tourism Secretariat and STR to Support Tourism Resiliency

The not-for-profit organizations will utilize vital industry insights and tools from STR to advance BC accommodation sector in response to COVID-19.

The not-for-profit organizations will utilize vital industry insights and tools from STR to advance BC accommodation sector in response to COVID-19.

VANCOUVER, BC (September 22, 2020): The British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA) is working in partnership with the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS) and STR to offer informed recovery strategies for BC accommodators that have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Using industry data from STR – the sector’s leading data benchmarking and analytics provider – BCHA and BCRTS will develop tools and strategies to support people and communities at the heart of BC’s tourism industry.

“Supporting tourism in Canada is one of STR’s top priorities, so we are proud to partner with the British Columbia Hotel Association and the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat” says Emile Gourieux, Business Development Executive, Hotels at STR. “Through our hotel benchmarking platform, we provide organizations like the BCHA and the BCRTS with the information they need to both successfully advocate on behalf of their members and create effective marketing strategies that will drive tourism to communities across British Columbia.”

As part of the partnership, BCHA and BCRTS will receive weekly reports from STR on trends and insights that inform the current and future realities of the accommodation sector. In addition to effectively communicating these findings to members and stakeholders, the organizations will work together to further develop and deliver education and revenue management training programs for the industry, while strengthening STR insights through promoting the program.

“The pandemic’s impact on our industry has been devastating and many accommodators in our province have substantiated concerns over their properties closing permanently”, says Ingrid Jarrett, President and CEO of the BCHA. “Having our finger on the pulse of industry is now more important than ever”. She continues, “in addition to advocating on behalf of our members, we are committed to providing education to support recovery and resiliency, providing vital training that will better equip accommodators with the tools needed for their businesses to survive and prosper. Our work with STR and the BCRTS will be paramount in this.”

Glenn Mandziuk, President & CEO of The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), and Chair of the BCRTS adds, “hotels are a fundamental component to the tourism industry at large. By generating a more informed understanding of the current climate and trends affecting accommodators on a greater scale, we can action educated strategies and foster tourism growth across each of the five regional tourism organizations the BCRTS represents.”

To learn more about the BC Hotel Association, or to inquire about becoming a member, contact Mike Macleod, Director of Member and Business Development at membership@bcha.com. Visit tourismresiliency.ca for more information on the BC Tourism Resiliency Network led by the BCRTS.


About the BC Hotel Association:

The British Columbia Hotel Association is a non-profit organization that works on behalf of accommodators at federal, provincial, and community levels, and champions issues such as taxation, tourism, marketing, corporate relations, labour, and consumer services. The BCHA has over 600 hotel members and 120 associate members, representing an industry made up of over 80,000 rooms and more than 60,000 employees. For more information, visit bcha.com.

About British Columbia’s Regional Tourism Secretariat:

British Columbia’s Regional Tourism Secretariat is a coalition of industry-led, not-for-profit organizations that provide a trusted voice for businesses, communities, and residents. Consisting of the five regional tourism organizations, including the Thompson Okanagan, the goal of Secretariat is to put people and communities at the heart of BC’s tourism industry.

About STR:

STR provides premium data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights for global hospitality sectors. Founded in 1985, STR maintains a presence in 15 countries with a corporate North American headquarters in Hendersonville, Tennessee, an international headquarters in London, and an Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore. STR was acquired in October 2019 by CoStar Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSGP), the leading provider of commercial real estate information, analytics and online marketplaces. For more information, please visit www.str.com and www.costargroup.com


Media Contacts:

Kelsey Millman
Communications for BC Hotel Association
(Beattie Tartan)
communications@bcha.com
604.351.3623

Haley Luther
STR
Communications Coordinator
hluther@str.com
615.824.8664 ext. 3500

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TOTA and Okanagan College Support Tourism Industry Through Expert Business Mentorship as Part of Resiliency Program

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association has signed a formal agreement with Okanagan College to provide one-on-one business training and mentoring sessions to tourism industry businesses and assist in managing COVID-19 related challenges. This collaboration forms part of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Resiliency Program, which has been established to provide support to the tourism industry to aid in recovery and regeneration.

Kelowna, BC (August 11th, 2020) - The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association has signed a formal agreement with Okanagan College to provide one-on-one business training and mentoring sessions to tourism industry businesses and assist in managing COVID-19 related challenges. This collaboration forms part of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Resiliency Program, which has been established to provide support to the tourism industry to aid in recovery and regeneration.

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TOTA's Resiliency Program Advisors are working together with Okanagan College staff and expert instructors to deliver virtual, one-hour individually tailored business counseling sessions based on expressed areas of need. Subject experts drawn from Okanagan College instructors have been assembled to provide support and mentorship in a wide variety of relevant subject areas including Leadership Soft Skills, Business Administration, and Hospitality topics.

“Okanagan College students, alumni, and employees lend their expertise to the tourism industry in so many ways and have for many years; this is yet another way we can continue to do that. We are very proud to be a part of the fabric of this industry that is so vital to our region, and to be able to contribute to its resiliency by providing innovative mentoring, education, and training to TOTA members,” said Bill Gillett, Dean of Okanagan College’s School of Business.

Where TOTA Program Advisors identify similar needs among multiple businesses, they will work with Okanagan College to create and deliver topic-specific webinars designed to address those needs. This expansion reflects an ongoing recognition that while every business is unique, often the challenges tourism businesses face are shared. Together, TOTA and Okanagan College are looking to support the tourism industry in the most targeted and efficient way possible.

"Industry resiliency is our key priority and the cornerstone of our efforts. This program is part of meeting immediate needs following the COVID-19 Pandemic," said Glenn Mandziuk, President and CEO of TOTA. "We are proud to be partnering with Okanagan College and know their expertise will serve as a tremendous resource for tourism businesses as we navigate the way forward."

To participate, register for the Thompson Okanagan Resiliency Program:


About the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA):
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association is a non-profit society, governed by an elected Board of Directors, which represents business and community tourism interests throughout the region, and is supported by the British Columbia Ministry of Tourism, Arts, & Culture. 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. For more information, visit TOTABC.org.

About Okanagan College:  
Okanagan College is a dedicated learner-centred institution, serving the largest number of post-secondary school students in the B.C. Interior. Okanagan College instructors bring out the best from the more than 20,000 people who take courses or programs through four regional campuses. Over the years, the College has done much to respond to the growing and shifting needs of the communities it serves. For more information, visit Okanagan.BC.ca


 For more information, contact:

Ellen-Walker Matthews

Vice President, Stewardship

Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association

industry@totabc.com

(236) 361-4433

 
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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.

Kelowna, BC (July 31, 2020) - 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.

As part of the Biosphere Commitment Program, go2HR provides Biosphere Committed Companies with added value through the go2HR Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Biosphere Framework. The go2HR OHS Framework offers a roadmap for participating organizations to help them establish and maintain an effective health and safety program. Eligible businesses may choose to progress to the Certificate of Recognition (COR) program, a voluntary audit and incentive program.

"In the midst of a global Pandemic, occupational health and safety are of immeasurable importance for industry and community resiliency. Our partnership with go2HR has been of great value to businesses aligned with the Biosphere Adhesion Initiative," said Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President and CEO. "go2HR provides best practice training and resources for tourism businesses looking to enhance their workplace health and safety operations, which is now more important than ever. This partnership also helps our region align with several key Sustainable Development Goals as we continue to align with global sustainability objectives."

The go2HR OHS program includes one-on-one consultations, training sessions, online webinars, access to resources, and opportunities to complete certification programs.

“The importance of health & safety cannot be overstated, in the interest of workers, communities, and guests. go2HR is very pleased to partner with TOTA to support tourism employers in the region create and maintain safe workplaces, especially during these challenging times,” said Krista Bax, CEO, go2HR.

TOTA and go2HR have been in partnership for several years to enhance regional efforts and align tourism businesses with the Biosphere Destination Certification and the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.


To learn more about this program, please contact:

Mike Overend
industrysupport@totabc.com
(778) 721-5462

Ginger Brunner
gbrunner@go2hr.ca
(250) 469-1032


About the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA):
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association is a non-profit society, governed by an elected Board of Directors, which represents business and community tourism interests throughout the region, and is supported by the British Columbia Ministry of Tourism, Arts, & Culture. 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. For more information, visit TOTABC.org.

About go2HR:
goHR is BC's tourism human resource and health and safety association and Certificate of Recognition (COR) certifying partner with WorkSafeBC. A non-profit, industry-led organization, go2HR provides health and safety and HR support and resources for industry employers as well as training and certification programs for prospective and current tourism and hospitality employees. For more information, visit go2.hr.ca.

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Register Now - Reputation Management Webinar - May 5th, 2020

Reputation Management Webinar - Tuesday May 5th, 2020 - 10:00 am.

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) invite you to join us for a Reputation Management Webinar hosted by the BCRTS as part of our ongoing industry support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic through the Tourism Resiliency Network Program.

This webinar, presented by Deirdre Campbell, Managing Director, Canada for Beattie Tartan will talk through the critical steps our tourism and hospitality businesses should take to build and maintain a trusted brand image during a global crisis.

To register for the Reputation Management Webinar Tuesday,May 5th, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. go to: Webinar Registration

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