Big White Ski Resort Hosts Donation Drive for International Women's Day

In celebration of International Women's Day, Big White Ski Resort Ltd is hosting a week-long donation drive for the Kelowna Women's Shelter. The resort has set-up drop-off bins at the Concierge Desk in the Village Centre Mall for donations of gently used clothing, household items, non-perishable food, and/or gift cards for collection and distribution. Donations will be accepted until Sunday, March 14. 

The drive was spearheaded by Ashley Vander Laan, Food and Beverage Manager at Big White Ski Resort.

"I was fortunate to grow up with amazing and strong women in my life who shaped me into my weird and wonderful self," she says. "I have continued to grow and be inspired by some of the most outstanding women I’ve met here at Big White; from the amazing women in various leadership roles to entrepreneurs and amazing moms, friends, and sisters that form this wonderfully supportive community at Big White.

"I wanted to share some of what makes us so wonderful and to give back to our community, that’s when I reached out to Esther at the Kelowna Women’s Shelter, and the initiative was born!"

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The Kelowna Women’s Shelter provides free food, shelter, counselling, support and preventive education to women and their children who have experienced partner violence. To donate directly, head to kelownawomensshelter.ca

This year's International Women's Day theme is "Choose to Challenge." To learn more, head to internationalwomensday.com. 

Big White Ski Resort has also asked its team members and community to send in a photo of themselves and their company/department for a video. You can watch the video here. here

Canada’s Airports Reinforce Call for Government Action as Expected Losses Grow with New Travel Restrictions

March 4, 2021 | Canadian Airports Council

Canada’s airport are calling on federal and provincial  governments to work with airports and other industry stakeholders as a matter of  urgency if our country is to emerge from the pandemic with a functioning air sector that  supports Canadian travel, tourism and trade. The air sector needs a plan that will reverse domestic and international travel restrictions when the time is right, and ensure  Canada has a strong, competitive air sector on the other side of this crisis.  

With the increase in air travel restrictions, and new quarantine and testing requirements  imposed during the last quarter of 2020 and early 2021, the Canadian Airport Council’s  December outlook projects that revenue losses for Canada’s airports have deepened to $5.5 billion for 2020 and 2021 – a $1 billion deterioration since the last analysis was  released in August. Given that no more than 20 percent of the measures outlined in the  federal Fall Economic Statement will come in the form of direct grants to address  operational losses, Canada’s airports expect to take on about $2.8 billion in additional  debt in 2020 and 2021. 

Daniel-Robert Gooch, president of the Canadian Airports Council is worried that the effects will be permanent. “While the federal government has been supportive, it is  missing the sense of urgency to act quickly and decisively. The reality is that these  

losses are unsustainable. Without government action, air travel will not only become a  lot more expensive, but Canadians everywhere will have fewer choices of routes and  destinations, including at the four major hub airports.”

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Prior to the onset of COVID-19, the majority of Canada’s airports were almost entirely  funded through passenger and aeronautical fees, which have dropped catastrophically  with passenger traffic at zero to 15 per cent of pre-COVID levels at most airports.  Unfortunately, the government’s mitigations such as ground lease rent relief and the  Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy provided only minimal aid. 

“These measures provided some assistance, but not enough to help support airports  dealing with higher costs and cratering revenues,” Mr. Gooch said. “In fact, our analysis  shows that even their modest impact was far less than the government projected.” 

When the 2020 rent waiver was announced in March the government asserted that it  would provide the equivalent of $330 million in relief to the airport sector. The CAC’s  data, aggregated directly from airports, show that the waiver saved only $137 million,  90 per cent of which benefited just four airports. Moreover, the majority of Canadian  airports pay no rent, so most airports saw no benefit from the waiver at all. 

Similarly, the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) provided $139 million in support  to airports in 2020 – a fraction of the $1.7 billion that the federal government says has  been provided to “air sector workers” – with 84 per cent going to the four busiest  airports. Moreover, about 200 municipal airports in Canada are not even eligible to  participate in the program. 

If the government does not increase its support, airports will have no choice but to  make some stark choices that will have a direct impact on their passengers and  communities. They can raise their fees significantly, continue to take on unprecedented  amounts of new debt, or reduce operations even more dramatically. 

To complicate matters further, air travel is very price-sensitive and airports must  compete with each other for service. If their rates increase too much, air carriers may  elect not to return or may do so at fares that are no longer competitive, driving  Canadians to fly on foreign air carriers and out of American airports as part of a vicious  spiral that further degrades air connectivity for Canadian communities. 

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The CAC has identified a number of government-led actions to avoid the worst of these  outcomes, including  

• Working inclusively with Canada’s airports and industry partners on a plan to  safely restart air travel when it is safe to do. 

• Implementing a moratorium on ground lease rents and provide options for  interest-free loans (or equivalent operational support) until the business  recovers, which could take five years or longer.

• Expanding national transportation infrastructure funding to meet safety and  security requirements and adapt to COVID-19 and climate change. 

• Making permanent the elevated Airports Capital Assistance Program funding and  expanded eligibility criteria to ensure sustainable recovery at Canada’s regional  airports. 

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”Since the outset of the pandemic, airports have worked with transport, border and  public health officials, among others, to ensure that air travel is as healthy and safe as  possible and to continue to provide essential and emergency services for Canadians,”  said Mr. Gooch. “We look forward to working with our government colleagues to  rebuild confidence in air travel and save the industry from long term and irreparable  damage. 

Sustainable Project of the Year Award Winner for 2020

Best Western PLUS Kamloops selected as the 2020 Sustainable Project of the Year Award Winner!

The Best Western PLUS Kamloops Hotel was able to accomplish no small feat in their renovation refresh on their 4th floor. The goal going into the project was to repurpose, resell or recycle 90% of the materials being changed. They are very proud, and so are we, that they were able to beat that goal and achieve 95%!

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Jen Krohn - Best Western PLUS Kamloops

“At the Best Western PLUS Kamloops Hotel, owner John Hampel has been carrying on the passion his father started, building to a sustainable standard. The Hampel family were the first hoteliers in Kamloops to add solar and geothermal to hotels. When they started planning the Best Western PLUS, John Hampel took his father’s passion and experience and built the hotel to “Green Hotel” standards. We have geothermal heating for all public areas and pool, heat pumps, Power smart lighting, etc. to name a few items. Our footprint is 45% of a standard hotel of this size. This Biosphere award means a lot to the owner and the team who operates the hotel. We have always strived to be green, sustainable and give back to our community. This award shows our passion has been recognized by our peers. The Biosphere Commitment Program has allowed us to continue and grow our Green Programs. As Kamloops “Award Winning Eco-friendly Hotel”, the award shows we are maintaining a high standard in all areas of our operations, including sustainability!”

- Jen Krohn, Operations Manager, Best Western PLUS Kamloops

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Best Western Plus Lobby

Best Western Plus Kamloops Pool

Best Western Plus Kamloops Exterior

Sustainable Renovation Details

• Original window dressings and skirtings were sold to another local Kamloops property

• All hallway and room carpets were able to be recycled but they were able to repurpose 20% internally in storage areas, 35% was sold to local motels/hotels and the remaining carpet was donated to Habitat for Humanity. The only part of the project that was unable to be recycled or reused was the carpet bases due to the glue and other materials which only contributed to 5% lost in being a 100% sustainable project.

• The vinyl baseboards were purchased to allow them to recycled or reused in the future, while the hallway baseboards were made from 85% recycled material.

• The new carpet and vinyl planks were again ordered to the same commitment to be recycled at same end of life.

• 24 toilets were donated to Habitat for Humanity which resulted in all 24 being able to be resold locally. The new replacement toilets are 25% more efficient than the original toilets.

• Since choosing to replace the beds on the 4th floor earlier than needed, they were able to use 40% of the beds on another floor that had high use beds (ie. team rooms). The remaining beds were donated to Ask Wellness, where the beds were then stripped, recycled or reused 98% of the material. The new beds are made from a higher amount of recycled materials than the original beds.

• The room furniture is solid wood and granite toppings, thus being able to refresh them effectively.

ShareYourLoveForBC Contest

We are very lucky to live in British Columbia. There is so much to do and to love, which is why Destination BC has created a contest, Share Your Love For BC, to hear what you love most about this province. All you need to do is send in a photo with a brief description and your submissions will be entered into a draw where you have the opportunity to win $500 in gift cards or vouchers to spend at up to 3 local businesses in your own community. This contest will end on March 22nd.

For more information visit ShareYourLoveForBC.com.

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If you would like to share this contest with your customers, use the stakeholder toolkit to find contest details, suggested messaging, graphics and imagery, and ways you can participate.

Innovation at UNWTO | 2020 A Year in Review · UN Innovation Toolkit

A Glance at Innovation At UNWTO

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) believes that innovation is the key to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. To drive the digitalization of tourism, create an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem that will maximize the potential of the sector in terms of economic growth, job creation and sustainable development, and to anticipate, address and overcome the new challenges and trends of the tourism sector, in 2018 UNWTO developed a framework for Innovation, Education, Digital Transformation and Investments.

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UNWTO Innovation Services 2020: A Year in Review

This past year has presented unprecedented challenges to the sector, but has also stimulated innovation to recover and build back a safer, more resilient sector. Entrepreneurs have provided ground-breaking ideas and solutions to reboot the sector, specially aimed at mitigating the impact of COVID-19. This year’s top winning and shortlisted Startups came from all regions of the world, especially Europe and the Americas.

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UNSSC live with UNWTO on the UN Innovation Toolkit –Partnerships to Achieve the SDGs

Following the success of last year’s first United Nations Innovation Toolkit online event, the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) is hosting a second edition, geared towards fostering innovations in partnerships. 

This is the second event, taking place on 25 February 2021 14:00-15:00 CET is hosted in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Google, the Vice Minister of Tourism of Colombia, Telefónica and Refundit. In the form of a moderated panel discussion, this multi-stakeholder event will explore the use and contextualization of the UN Innovation Toolkit, with a special focus on one of the critical pillars of innovation: Partnerships.

About Moccasin Trails Consulting

Moccasin Trails Consulting is an Indigenous-owned company dedicated to supporting economic development - specifically in Indigenous tourism, partnership building between Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations, inspiring keynote presentations, skills development, training, and more. The company was formed around Indigenous values, cultures, teachings, and beliefs, and therefore know how to navigate and recognize opportunity and hardship within Indigenous communities rural or urban.

Before the Pandemic Moccasin Trails also provided Cultural Tours of ancestral paths, which they look forward to continuing once restrictions permit.

Market Segmentation Insights

To support businesses and communities, we will be supplying visitor and market insights to support Experience and Market Development for your Recovery Strategy.

NEW data is now available through Environics Analytics and we will share highlights as our new baseline report series is released. The updated system now profiles 67 market clusters. These clusters are associated with Destination Canada’s 9 Explorer Quotient market segmentation types known as “EQ”.

No matter how you need your market research profiled, we can access this information by activity, social values, demographics, psychographics and location….anywhere in Canada or the USA.

We can access 67 market profiles to define the ideal target audiences for your marketing campaigns. Through custom reports we can assist you in targeting these markets.

Quick Facts:

For your Recovery Planning – target the right markets for your experience offering. With over 67 profiles, here are some highlights of 3.

Affluent families and couples will have the means to keep travelling.

Highlights of Urban Sanctuary - The- A-LIST

The most affluent households in Canada with a net worth just under $5 million make up 90,425 households or 281,999 of the population with an average household income of $545,511. For the luxury market these University educated homeowners are clustered in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton and Montreal.

Highlights of Middle-aged Upscale Suburbanites - Turbo Burbs

The wealthiest suburban segment, Turbo Burbs is a haven for middle-aged families found in the outer-ring subdivisions of a handful of large cities representing 162,533 households with an average household income of $212,649 and children between the ages of 10 and 25. More than 90 percent of households live in recently built single-detached homes, with an average dwelling value of more than $700,000. Top BC locations for this segment are the Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country and Prince George

Highlights of Suburban, upscale middle-aged families – Family Mode

Comprising more than a million people, Family Mode is one of the largest segments— and growing. Home to large, suburban families living in recently built houses, this lifestyle is rooted in midsize cities surrounding large metro areas. Its neighbourhoods are filled with maintainers between 35 and 54, and children over the age of 10. The members of Family Mode straddle two worlds: close enough to downtown for their work but far enough away to enjoy outdoorsy activities. These families like golfing, gardening, canoeing and power boating. Average household income $141,436 making up 337,797 households. Top BC locations for this segment are Kamloops and Chilliwack.

Source: Environics Analytics

For more information on Research or Fees for Services Contact:

Kelly Galaski, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, Managing Director for Symphony Tourism Services
Kelly@totabc.com
778-721-5448

For more research information by TOTA, Visit us online at: https://totabc.org/research/

See more posts in the same category: Research

Tourism Skills Training Program: Application Now Open for Free Virtual Certification

Online Course Dates:
February 8 - May 5, 2021 (Mon - Thurs, 9 AM - 4 PM)

Application Deadline:
February 3, 2021

Limited seats available

TOTA has received government funding to provide tourism training skills programs and we are pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the Canadian Tourism Professional (CTP) Program, a free Domestic Tourism Certification for the Thompson Okanagan Region.

This 13-week full-time virtual program is an opportunity for unemployed, casual, seasonal and part-time employees to upgrade their skills, knowledge, and industry connections to overcome the challenges through this uncertain time. 

The Canadian Tourism Professional Program will prepare 60 participants to work in various tourism and hospitality positions in the Thompson Okanagan region with a focus on serving domestic markets in traditional employment and/or self-employment. Participants will receive instruction, mentorship, employment coaching, and job placement support.

Applicant Eligibility Requirements:

• Living in Thompson Okanagan region of British Columbia (including Shuswap, Boundary Country, Similkameen, and Gold Country/Nicola Valley)

• Legally able to work in Canada

• Currently unemployed or working casual, seasonal, or part-time

• Over 15 years of age

For more information:

Website: TOTABC.org/Training
Email: Training@TOTABC.com
Phone: (778) 752-5877

Delivered by the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) in cooperation with the University of Victoria-Peter B. Gustavson School of Business and supported by the Province of British Columbia.

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Share This Opportunity

Feel free to share this opportunity with potential employees of the Thompson Okanagan tourism industry, particularly unemployed or part-time, casual, and seasonal employees looking to expand their career.

We have provided sample content to share on bulletins, email newsletters, website listings, and social media:

BC Hospitality & Tourism Industry Update & 2021 Outlook

The BC Hotel Association, Tourism Industry Association of BC, and the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat outlined the state of the Tourism & Hospitality industry and mapped the outlook for 2021.

State of the Indigenous Tourism Video Released by Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada

Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) released a State of Indigenous Tourism Industry video showcasing the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the Indigenous tourism industry at their 2020 AGM on December 15. Tied to ITAC’s second wave response and advocacy efforts to the Federal Government, ITAC hopes to receive the requested $18.2 M to support the Indigenous tourism industry and its immediate needs.

This emotional video showcases members from across Canada, including Thompson Okanagan’s Moccasin Trails, an Indigenous tour company operated by TOTA’s past Board Chair, Frank Antoine. In the video, Frank speaks about the challenges for Indigenous tourism companies at 3:24, 4:00, 6:02, and 8:14.

Watch the State of Indigenous Tourism Industry Video

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About the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada

The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is the lead organization tasked with growing the Indigenous tourism industry across the country.  Inspired by a vision for a thriving Indigenous tourism economy sharing authentic, memorable and enriching experiences, ITAC develops relationships with other groups and regions with similar mandates. By uniting the Indigenous tourism industry in Canada, ITAC works to enable collective support, product development, promotion and marketing of authentic Indigenous cultural tourism businesses in a respectful protocol.  Due to COVID-19, ITAC recently released a report on the financial challenges facing Indigenous tourism operators and recommended stimulus solutions. As well, a 2020-2021 revised action plan focused on sustaining Indigenous tourism in the face of COVID-19 was released in March.

Expansion of Midway Trail Network Through Community Collaboration

A new trail in the Midway Trail Network

After a storm caused tremendous damage to the Midway Trail Network in 2018, Osoyoos Indian Band, West Boundary Community Forest, community volunteers, and foresters worked together to restore the recreational use trails in Boundary Country and develop 1,000 meters of new trail, which can accessed through the existing Midway Trail Network. Hikers and bikers can now experience areas in the community forest that were to overgrown or filled with downed trees.

The need for the project started in the summer of 2018 when a strong windstorm came through the southern Boundary region and blew over a vast number of trees.

Midway may only have a population of 649 people, but the community hosts thousands of visitors throughout the year who venture into the West Boundary Community Forest (WBCF) to explore the extensive Midway Trails network on mountain bike, snowshoes, or hiking. As locals, visitors, and school groups are actively out in the Community Forest, it was to proactively improve the health of the forest for future generations, and to remove dead and fallen trees that could pose a wildfire threat.

“This project has been a community effort,” said Dan Macmaster, Fibre Manager for Vaagen Fibre Canada and Forest Manager of the WBCF. “Our team at Vaagen worked to develop the prescription, and then supervise and implement the work using funding dollars provided by FESBC and the WBCF. This project is on actively used trail systems, so it was important to engage the community to ensure their involvement and buy in, including our First Nations partners in the planning and implementation phases.”

The Osoyoos Indian Band and their forestry team provided archaeology assessments at the outset and members of the Band have been involved in post-harvest treatments like bucking and piling trees.

“This project work has been a very light touch on the landscape using an innovative harvesting/forwarding system to minimize soil disturbance. Plus, we are doing hand treatments where possible,” said Macmaster. “We’ve even had school groups come in to learn more about their community forest and do some of the hands-on work.”

Through daily inspections by the Midway Trail Society volunteers, blowdown from the storm was noted as significant, and an aerial inspection by the WBCF verified the extent of the damage. Because the area is already susceptible to the Douglas-fir beetle, the downed trees needed to be removed to prevent further infestation in the local forest. The Mayors of Midway and Greenwood were very supportive of the project, and a Director of the WBCF Board has heard excellent reviews from local residents and community leaders alike.

“We are pleased to see the hard work of so many make an improved difference for our Community Forest and for the Midway Trails,” said Ross Elliot, Director on the Board of the WBCF. “We expressed early on to the Midway Trails Society members and to the residents of Midway and Greenwood who have joint ownership of this Community Forest that there was a lot of work to be done. The $94,200 in FESBC funding, in conjunction with a $139,500 contribution from the WBCF, has allowed us to get the work underway. Moving forward, we will continue to rely on our community volunteers to maintain the trails well into the future for everyone to enjoy.”

Noting the many benefits of the project is FESBC Operations Manager, Gord Pratt: “Our team likes to see projects that request FESBC-funding cover a number of our purposes, and this project is doing just that. Not only are excessive fuel loads being reduced to mitigate increased wildfire risk, but the work is making the forest healthier. This in turn helps create enhanced wildlife habitat, maintain forest recreation opportunities, and ensures timber supply for future generations. When marginal stands can be harvested and brought to the local mill, projects like this also create economic benefits, including jobs for the community.”

To see the project area in relation to the Midway Trails System, visit the West Boundary Community Forest website. The interpretive trail map signs will be updated for 2021.

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Submitted by Forest Enhancement Society of BC

Rocky Mountaineer Wins Big in 2020 as World’s Leading Luxury Train, Best Sustainable Train Journey, and More

Rocky Mountaineer has earned global recognition from the World Travel Awards as World’s Leading Luxury Train experience and Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel Award for Best Sustainable Train Journey, following several other awards earlier this year: Best Rail Supplier at the Nexion Travel Group Supplier of the Year Awards, Favourite Rail provider in the Baxter Travel Media Agents’ Choice Awards, and Best Rail Company at the prestigious Travel Weekly Globe Travel Awards in the UK.

Photo Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Travelling through diverse landscapes, Black Canyon and the Thompson River on the First Passage to the West and Journey Through the Clouds route.

Photo Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Arid landscape, Black Canyon and the Thompson River.

Photo Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Pyramid Falls in the North Thompson Journey through the Clouds route.

Photo Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Guests capturing photos of Mount Robson from the GoldLeaf Service vestibule on Journey through the Clouds through the North Thompson.

Photo Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Approaching Mount Fitzwilliam on the BC-Alberta Border, en route to/from the North Thompson.

Photo Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

View from the GoldLeaf Service vestibule on First Passage to the West route passing Shuswap Lake.

Rocky Mountaineer in the Thompson Okanagan Region

Rocky Mountaineer features several rail routes which travel through the Thompson Okanagan region with a night stay in Kamloops, including:

• First Passage to the West: Vancouver to Kamloops, passing through the Shuswap, to Banff/Lake Louise

• Journey Through the Clouds: Vancouver to Kamloops, passing through the Shuswap, Pyramid Falls, and Mount Robson to Jasper

• Multiple circle routes

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World Travel Awards: World’s Leading Luxury Train

The World Travel Awards are a global initiative to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry. Rocky Mountaineer was crowned the winner after a year-long search for the world’s top travel, tourism and hospitality brands. Votes were cast by travel industry professionals and a record number of the public from around the world.

This is the ninth World Travel Award for Rocky Mountaineer, which also received the award for World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012; and World’s Leading Luxury Travel Product in 2010.

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) received the 2020 World’s Responsible Tourism Award for the third consecutive year and will host the World Travel Awards North America Gala Ceremony at Predator Ridge Resort in Vernon this Autumn 2021.

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Lonely Planet Best in Travel: Sustainable Train Journey

Rocky Mountaineer received this award for taking steps to reduce carbon emissions, increase on-board recycling, and partner with organizations to protect the local wildlife.

Train travel is a sustainable method of transportation to the Thompson Okanagan region from both east and west. The Rocky Mountaineer is committed to sustainable tourism. The train line works to protect the areas it travels through and focuses on using resources wisely – including reducing carbon emissions. Further, the Rocky Mountaineer makes annual contributions to Tree Canada’s National Greening Program, which has resulted in over 13,500 new trees being planted across BC to date.

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About Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer offers premium train experiences between Vancouver and the Canadian Rocky Mountains, showcasing the best scenery Canada has to offer. Rocky Mountaineer is an exclusive travel experience that offers unparalleled journeys in its spacious glass-domed train coaches thanks to the pristine scenery, local gourmet cuisine, and attentive service. Since it was founded in 1990, Rocky Mountaineer has welcomed more than two million guests and become the largest privately-owned premium tourist train in the world. Learn are more at RockyMountaineer.com.

B.C. Appoints New Tourism Minister

B.C. Premier John Horgan has announced a new cabinet, including Melanie Mark as the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport.

“We look forward to working closely with Melanie Mark, the new Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport to tackle the significant challenges facing the industry, and ultimately moving the sector down the path to economic recovery,” said TOTA President & CEO Glenn Mandziuk. “As well, TOTA extends our sincere thanks and gratitude to the Honourable Lisa Beare for her leadership and steadfast support of the sector during the three years in which she served as Minister for the tourism industry.”

Melanie Mark’s became B.C.’s first female First Nations MLA when she was elected to represent Vancouver-Mount Pleasant in 2016. In 2017, she became the province’s first female First Nations cabinet minister, appointed to the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training.

Lisa Beare will now serve as Minister of Citizens’ Services.

Tobiano Named Canada’s Best Golf Course 2020 in World Travel Awards

Tobiano was named Canada's Best Golf Course 2020 during the World Golf Awards. Located on the sunny bluffs of Kamloops Lake in the Thompson Okanagan region of British Columbia, this recognition is one of many recent rankings received, including #15 in the Best Courses in Canada, Golf Digest 2020; #7 in the Top 50 Public Golf Courses, PGA of Canada 2019, and #5 Top 100 Golf Courses in Canada - Canadian Golf Magazine 2018. Tobiano continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of golfing.

Tobiano General Manager Terry Smith accredits the continued accolades for Tobiano to “a very solid foundation of exceptional golf course design; unwavering commitment to superior golf course maintenance; exceptional service from a very dedicated staff; and the ongoing support of those who love to golf Tobiano - our customers.”

The award was accepted by Tobiano’s architect Thomas McBroom, saying:

“It has been my great pleasure to design golf courses all over the world, however Tobiano still stands out as one of my all-time favourites - and we are thrilled to have been voted Canada’s Best Golf Course for 2020! On behalf of the entire team at Tobiano, we would like to thank the World Golf Awards, everyone who voted for us and our incredible staff who deliver the exhilarating Tobiano experience day in and day out. Few settings in Canada are better than Tobiano’s rugged lakeside terrain in Kamloops, British Columbia with views of Kamloops Lake from every hole, dramatic elevation changes, ravines, natural grasses, welcoming fairways and smooth undulating greens that make Tobiano one of the finest, most picturesque golf courses anywhere. I’ve said it before that “Tobiano is literally as good as it gets. and we’d like to thank all of you who agreed and look forward to welcoming everyone again for the 2021 golf season! “

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About the World Golf Awards

The World Golf Awards celebrates and rewards excellence in golf tourism, world-class courses, and golf destinations. The worldwide voting event consisted of a nomination process followed by voting from February 23, 2020 to September 1, 2020. Votes were made by professionals working within the golf travel and tourism industry and also cast by the public golf consumers. Learn on WorldGolfAwards.com

National Geographic Features Thompson Okanagan as "British Columbia’s Best Road Trip"

Screenshot of National Geographic article “British Columbia’s best road trip: Winding through wine country”

Destination Canada and National Geographic partnered with two British Columbia locals to share an epic road trip through the Thompson Okanagan region. According to the National Geographic article, "British Columbia’s Best Road Trip" starts from Vancouver with a drive through the Similkameen Valley to Osoyoos, then follows Route 97 through Oliver, Penticton, Naramata, Kelowna, Kamloops, Clearwater, and Valemount, then back to Vancouver.

The article offers ample inspiration to entice people to plan a trip in the form of helpful recommendations, stunning photos, and mesmerizing videos. The producers have included everything needed to plan a road trip, with recommendations for places to stay, eat, and experience.

Featured activities include:

• Picnic or hike in the Similkameen Valley’s E.C. Manning Provincial Park

• Celebrate Indigenous culture in Osoyoos

• Taste local produce in Oliver

• Hike or bike in Penticton’s Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park and Naramata

• Visit wineries in Oliver, Penticton, Naramata, and Kelowna

• Hike or bike the Kettle Valley Rail Trail to the Myra Canyon Trestles from Kelowna

• Go apple picking and wine tasting in Kamloops

• Hike to a waterfall or go rafting in Wells Gray Provincial Park from Clearwater

• Helicopter tour of Mount Robson Provincial Park and the highest peak in the Canadian Rocky Mountains near Valemount

Air Canada Offers All-Business Class Jetz Aircraft Experience between Toronto & Kelowna this Winter

Air Canada is making its fleet of all-Business Class, Jetz charter aircraft available to customers for commercial flights as it redeploys the fleet on popular winter routes. Each of the airline's four Airbus A319 Jetz aircraft are configured with only 58 North American Business Class seats -- less than half the normal number of seats on this aircraft type -- providing an elevated level of comfort and service.

This winter, Air Canada Jetz will operate non-stop between Toronto and Kelowna.

Travellers now have a unique opportunity to travel like a pro athlete or a VIP and experience the premium Jetz service. Customers booking on a Jetz flight will enjoy such amenities as its all-Business Class seating configuration, upgraded meal service, and shorter boarding and deplaning times. These features, combined with Jetz's other attributes, create a private-jet-like experience.

Jetz aircraft typically transport customers such as professional sports teams, popular musical groups on tour, and corporate clients on a charter basis. With the current pandemic restrictions on sports events and other large gatherings, the aircraft are now available for commercial use.

When flying with Air Canada Jetz, customers will travel in a single cabin with 58 North American Business Class seats offering 42-to-49-inch seat pitch, including four facing seats with a table in the middle that can be booked for families and friends travelling together, and complimentary iPads for entertainment. Customers receive priority check-in and security clearance, Maple Leaf Lounge and Star Alliance Lounge access (where available) and aircraft leave from prime gate locations, requiring customers to begin boarding only 35 minutes prior departure. Customers will also be offered a premium, pre-packaged meal curated by celebrated Montreal chef Antonio Park with complimentary bar and beverage service.  All flights will be operated in accordance with Air Canada's biosafety protocols, centred around the Air Canada CleanCare+ program.

Customers will be able to book their Jetz flight beginning October 21, 2020 for travel during the Christmas period between December 12, 2020 and January 6, 2021, with a second schedule for March Break flights currently under development. Customers should consult aircanada.com/acjetz for schedule details, including operating days.

For customers looking to book leisure travel, Air Canada Vacations is currently developing Ultimate Escapes which include Jetz flights as well as stays at luxury hotels and resorts, private transfers, exclusive resort discounts, room upgrades and complimentary services. Details on Ultimate Escapes will be available shortly on aircanadavacations.com.

BC Hospitality Foundation Lottery | Tickets on Sale until November 1

Tickets for the BC: Our Beautiful Backyard Lottery are on sale now until midnight Sunday, November 1, 2020. Proceeds from the lottery will support the British Columbia Hospitality Foundation (BCHF). The BCHF provides financial support to hospitality workers in financial crisis due to a serious health condition to themselves or a family member. They also have a scholarship program to foster the development of the next generation of workers and industry leaders. The have helped over 430 people with more than 1.25 million dollars since their inception in 2006.

All prizes represent British Columbia’s tourism and hospitality sector and are redeemable in 2021. By purchasing tickets, you will not only support the BCHF, but also our tourism and hospitality industry!

New Grant Program: Small & Medium Business Recovery Grant

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) recommends that you review the details of the new Small and Medium Business Recovery Grant program, offered through the Province of British Columbia.

The $300 Million Small and Medium Business Recovery Grant program will provide grants to B.C. businesses that employ between 2 and 149 B.C. residents and that have experienced declines in revenue since March 10, 2020.

The program will run until March 31, 2021 or until funds are fully deployed.

The B.C. Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant program will invest up to $300 million in targeted financial support for some of the hardest hit businesses in B.C. Grants of $10,000 to $30,000 are available and an additional $10,000 will be available to eligible tourism-related businesses that have been hit especially hard by COVID-19.

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The Recovery Grant is a five-step process:

The Recovery Grant is a five-step process:

1. Businesses apply for funding and provide information to demonstrate that they meet the eligibility criteria.

2. A business that meets the eligibility criteria will be matched with a professional services provider who will help develop a recovery plan or assess the business’s current one (a value up to $2000 in professional services, in addition to the grant amount).

3. Once a recovery plan is developed, submitted and if approved, funding will be provided to the business applicant to implement the actions outlined in the recovery plan.

4. Successful applicants must provide regular updates accounting for the spending and status of their recovery efforts that have been supported by grant funding.

5. All businesses agree to participate in a third-party audit at the end of the grant program.

For more information, email BusinessRecoveryGrantProgram@gov.bc.ca, or phone 1-833-254-4357. 

For a complete list of eligibility criteria, required documents, and to fill out an online application, visit: www.BCBusinessRecoveryGrant.com. 

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Additional Information

If you are part of the Tourism Resiliency Program and have questions about this grant opportunity, please contact your program advisor directly. 

For more information about the Thompson Okanagan Resiliency Program and to register visit TOTABC.org/Tourism-Resiliency, register by phone: 1-877-431-8489 (ext 8) or email recovery@totabc.com.

Tourism and Invasive Species Survey - Open Until October 15, 2020

The Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC) is developing a program to help raise awareness of invasive species throughout the tourism industry and provide tools, resources, and best practices for their prevention and management.  An initial step is to establish a baseline of current knowledge and practices around invasive species through an online survey to tourism operators, partners, and stakeholders across B.C. 

Does your business benefit from B.C.’s healthy environments and ecosystems?

Have you considered the potential impacts of invasive species to your business?

Is it possible that your activities could potentially introduce or spread invasive species?

Your feedback will provide valuable information to help protect the natural areas and biodiversity upon which tourism operators depend.

Participants will be entered into a draw to win an annual membership to the ISCBC and a $200 gift card to a Canadian Retailer!!

Please take 10 to 15 minutes to complete the survey. Participation is critical to support the program’s development and eventual success.

The Survey Closes Thursday, October 15, 2020

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Feel free to share the survey with other tourism businesses:
research.net/r/ISCBCTourism

On behalf of the Tourism Advisory team and the ISCBC we thank you in advance for your support!

To learn more about invasive species and the work the ISCBC does in the province, visit BCInvasives.ca.

Visit South Okanagan: New Tourism Initiative

Visit South Okanagan is a newly-launched tourism initiative comprised of the tourism associations of the following communities: Peachland, Summerland, Naramata, Penticton, Kaleden, Okanagan Falls, Oliver, and Osoyoos. This initiative offers information and resources for British Columbians to plan their next vacation.

Acting as the central hub, VisitSouthOkanagan.com offers detailed information about each community, in addition to trip planning resources — including how to access the region by land or air — plus, regional wine maps and blog posts outlining activities and points of interest throughout the region.

The Visit South Okanagan initiative is brought to you by the South Okanagan Tourism Alliance with support from the Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association, Heart of Wine Country (Okanagan Falls Winery Association), Naramata Bench Winery Association, and Bottleneck Drive (Summerland Winery Association). 

Find trip planning inspiration at VisitSouthOkanagan.com or on social media:
Facebook.com/VisitSouthOkanaganBC
Instagram.com/VisitSouthOkanagan

About the South Okanagan

An all-season destination, the South Okanagan is renowned for the warmest weather conditions in all of Canada. Its autumns are perfectly temperate, while winters are uncommonly mild and dry. A wide array of accommodation options — from resorts, to affordable family-friendly motels and B&Bs, to scenic private and provincial parks and campgrounds — means that visitors will have no trouble finding the perfect sanctuary to rest their heads at the end of each fun-filled day. 

From escaping into the great outdoors for an unforgettable hiking, cycling, or paddling adventure, tasting wines in the very vineyards where they were made, exploring historic downtown districts, or marvelling at postcard-perfect mountains and lakes as thousands of trees burst into fall colour, the South Okanagan offers something for visitors of all ages.