News & Resources
The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.
Destination Canada’s Radical Ambassadors Visit the Thompson Okanagan
Destination Canada has created The Canada Specialist Program that entails bringing a select group of Australian Travel Agents to Canadian destinations with the mission of showcasing Canada, naturally to their networks. In fall 2025 TOTA in collaboration with Destination BC hosted this select group of travel agents in the region.
Destination Canada has created The Canada Specialist Program that entails bringing a select group of Australian Travel Agents to Canadian destinations with the mission of showcasing Canada, naturally to their networks. This fall, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) in collaboration with Destination BC hosted this select group in the Thompson Okanagan.
The group began their adventure in Penticton then travelled north to Kelowna and ended in Vernon and then carried on to Vancouver and the Yukon.
This program offers the agents the opportunity to experience the destination they are selling and showcase it on their channels. The group was amazed by the vibrancy of an Okanagan fall and the kindness they found in the people they met along the way.
Read their recap of their adventures in their piece in KARRYON.
Thank you to the businesses and communities that helped us host this group.
Photos by Eunica Pineda and Monica Leeck
Destination BC’s First BC Accelerator Program Hosted in Kelowna
The TOTA Marketing and Communications Team attended and helped plan Destination BC’s inaugural BC Accelerator Program bringing the opportunity for businesses to meet with top tier travel trade buyers from BC’s key international markets.
Destination BC hosted their inaugural BC Accelerator Program in Kelowna at the Eldorado Resort from October 20 to 22. This program was launched as a pilot project aimed at furthering growth opportunities for tourism businesses in the province and connecting businesses with top tier tour operators. The event brought together 41 international travel trade buyers and 41 tourism suppliers from across the province for the opportunity to connect and learn more about the travel trade industry and what the province has to offer.
The TOTA team was happy to assist in the planning of this event and appreciated the opportunity to showcase this region to top tier international buyers. The feedback from businesses and buyers has been overwhelmingly positive and we hope to see this program continue in the future.
Photos by Darren Hull and Destination BC
Along with having the conference hosted in the Thompson Okanagan in Kelowna, we had the opportunity to host a Pre FAM (Familiarization Tour) in collaboration with Destination BC. Taking 12 international buyers from from Mexico, China, Canada, United States, and the United Kingdom through the Thompson Okanagan along Highway 97 through the Valleys and Vineyards. The group travelled along Highway 3 to Osoyoos then continued North to Oliver, Penticton, Vernon, and back to Kelowna.
The buyers were thrilled to experience the Highway 97 road trip for their own reference when selling BC road trips to their customers and admired the variety of experiences this region has to offer, along with the warmth and professionalism of the business owners and staff.
Thank you to the communities and businesses that hosted this group.
Direct Flights from Downtown Vancouver to Okanagan Lake Now Available
Harbour Air and Eldorado Resort have partnered to provide weekly round trip flights from Downtown Vancouver to a private dock situated in the Eldorado Resort Marina on Okanagan Lake for summer 2021. A special package will combine air travel through Harbour Air and accommodation at the Eldorado Resort.
Harbour Air and Eldorado Resort announced an official partnership to provide weekly round trip flights from Downtown Vancouver to a private dock situated in the Eldorado Resort Marina on Okanagan Lake. A special package will combine air travel through Harbour Air and accommodation at the Eldorado Resort.
Mark Jeanes, the General Manager of Eldorado Resort said, “the Eldorado Resort is delighted to be working in partnership with Harbour Air who, as many people may know, is the largest all-seaplane airline in the world. Harbour Air customers have come to expect the very best in terms of service excellence and safety, and so for the Eldorado Resort, working with Harbour Air was a natural fit for us. This new air service also creates another seamless option for guests from the Lower Mainland wanting to come and explore the Okanagan, with the flight time being just over an hour from city centre to city centre.”
“Getting people directly to the heart of where they want to be on the coast is what we are known for,” said Harbour Air’s CEO, Greg McDougall. “Now, with working with the beautiful Eldorado Resort, we finally have an opportunity to offer that same service into a beautiful property on Okanagan Lake and we couldn’t be more excited.”
Eldorado Resort is a world class full-service waterfront resort and Kelowna’s only full waterfront resort, with two hotels beautifully located on the shores of Okanagan Lake, minutes from downtown, golf, wineries, and ski resorts. The Eldorado Resort onsite dining experiences uses fresh, regional farm-to-table ingredients and local Okanagan wine.
This unique opportunity will operate from July to September 6, 2021.