Tourism Kamloops Supports TRU’s Limitless Campaign
For Immediate Release
January 30, 2020 – Tourism Kamloops has joined the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Limitless campaign, announcing at the 4th Annual BOLD Hospitality Awards a $50,000 donation to fund hands-on learning opportunities for students.
Limitless is the university’s largest-ever fundraising campaign, with a goal to raise $50 million for TRU’s 50th anniversary, in support of students, research, equipment and community-related initiatives.
Left to Right - Dustin McIntyre - TRU, Director of Development, Beverley DeSantis - Tourism Kamloops CEO, Douglas Booth - TRU, Dean of the Faculty of Adventure, Culinary Arts, and Tourism, David Carter - TRU, Lecturer & Steve Earl - Tourism Kamloops Board Chair.
The $50,000 donation goes toward the Tourism Innovation Lab founded by Tourism Kamloops, a collaboration with the Kamloops Innovation Centre (KIC) and the department of Tourism Management. This funding gives students the opportunity to take ideas developed in class and, when successfully pitched, incubate and accelerate in partnership with KIC to transform them into new tourism businesses.
“Our partnership with TRU and KIC and investment in our students is a dedicated effort directly supporting the future of Kamloops as a robust tourism destination,” said Beverley DeSantis, Tourism Kamloops chief executive officer.
“Endorsed by our stakeholders, experience development is a top priority for Tourism Kamloops. To engage, mentor and guide future tourism entrepreneurs from idea to start-up to create the right experience, for the right visitor, at the right time is vital to a thriving visitor economy.”
“This combination of industry and academic partners helps establish an initiative that benefits students, the city and the tourism sector,” said Douglas Booth, dean of the Faculty of Adventure, Culinary Arts, and Tourism.
“The Tourism Innovation Lab is a perfect example of Thompson Rivers University working with a local enterprise, Tourism Kamloops, to provide an opportunity for students to develop entrepreneurial skills, tourism-based products and tourism-based ventures,” he said.
“These new skills, products and ventures will contribute to the prosperity, growth and sustainability of Kamloops and the Thompson-Okanagan region.”
Kamloops welcomes 1.8 million visitors annually and the local tourism industry generates nearly $500 million in economic impact each year. Retaining TRU tourism students and supporting their work benefits the whole city, noted DeSantis.
To date, TRU’s Limitless campaign has raised $42.7 million. For more information, go to tru.ca/limitless
Media Contacts:
Beverley DeSantis, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Kamloops
250-517-9094 | bev@tourismkamloops.com
Douglas Booth, Dean, Faculty of Adventure, Culinary Arts, and Tourism
250-852-7138 | dobooth@tru.ca
