eLearningU Partnership Provides Access to 350+ Tourism Online Marketing Webinars

This exciting partnership between TOTA and eLearning University will provide our stakeholder's marketing learning assistance and professional development. Watch for this bi-weekly newsletter that will highlight a specific marketing-based theme among eLearning University's library of over 350 hours of recorded webinars.

Gaining Access

Submit your completed Subscription Form to have access to the webinar library and the recordings listed below. Once you have your account, you can watch the selected recordings in this email or browse the recording library at your leisure.

Register for eLearningU

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Recorded Webinar Theme of the Week: Content Marketing

Amplify Your Social Media Influence with Content Marketing

According to a recent study, when making buying decisions, consumers favor online informational content above both word-of-mouth and social media recommendations. This is why every business needs a content marketing strategy. Learn how to use content marketing to create and share content that provides relevant solutions that help your community, amplifies your expertise, and builds your business authority for ranking well with online search.

A Content Marketing World: 8 Things You Need to Be Doing with Your Content Right Now

Everyone is a publisher today. The challenge for brand marketers in both B2B and B2C is that the brand story is "owned" by multiple players in the organization and that brands need great content for effectively almost all online communications. Can you drive social media without content? No. Can you drive SEO without greatcontent? No.

Content marketing strategist Joe Pulizzi will share the latest research from the Content Marketing Institute on how brand marketers are using and allocating resources to content marketing, as well as share case studies from small and large brands about how they are developing content marketing strategies that generate passionate fans and subscribers to grow their businesses. Attendees will be able to take away a number of tactics that can be executed immediately to integrate into their content plans.

Content & SEO - Top 10 Tips for Travel and Tourism

Content continues to be King, but without proper focus, planning and attention to detail running a content marketing campaign can quickly become a wasted effort. Join Jeff to learn about how to plan, create, distribute and measure relevant, high-quality content, which will maximize your online visibility to drive traffic, generate targeted leads and improve your bottom line. Leave this webinar with content and SEO tips you can implement today!

New Support for Small Business: Canada United Small Business Relief Fund

Applications open October 26 for grants of up to $5,000 to cover costs of personal protective equipment, make physical modifications to business to meet health and safety requirements, and enhance digital/e-commerce capabilities.

For Small Business Week, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, announced an investment of $12 million in the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund.

The Canada United Small Business Relief Fund, which is managed by the OCC, is supporting Canadian businesses across different sectors and industries with grants of up to $5,000. These grants will help thousands of small business owners cover the costs of personal protective equipment, make physical modifications to their businesses to meet local health and safety requirements, and enhance their digital or e-commerce capabilities. This is especially important as we enter the second wave of the pandemic.

Canada United is a national fundraising campaign created by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) in collaboration with private sector partners and provincial and territorial chambers of commerce, including the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC). The campaign has been rallying support from Canadians for local small businesses in every corner of the country.

This investment builds on the Government of Canada’s continued support for small and local businesses through a wide range of COVID-19 emergency programs, such as the expanded Canada Emergency Business Account, the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and the new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy.

Quick facts

• Starting on October 26, small businesses can apply online through the Ontario Chamber of Commerce for the next wave of Canada United Small Business Relief Fund grants.

• Applications are open to small businesses across sectors and industries in every part of the country that have between $150,000 and $3 million in annual sales; have up to 75 employees; are registered in Canada; and would use the grant to cover the costs of personal protective equipment, make physical modifications to their businesses to meet local health and safety requirements, and enhance their digital or e-commerce capabilities.

• To support Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada introduced the largest relief package in our country’s history, which includes the following major programs for business owners and their employees:

  • The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) is helping businesses by covering up to 75% of payroll, retroactive to March 15 and with the intention of continuing support into summer 2021.

  • The expanded Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) will provide businesses with an additional $20,000 interest-free loan on top of the original $40,000 CEBA loan.

  • The new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, building on the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA), would provide simple and easy-to-access rent and mortgage support until June 2021 for qualifying organizations affected by the pandemic.

  • The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) is delivered through Canada’s regional development agencies and supports small businesses across Canada that have been unable to access existing relief measures. Originally vested with $962 million, the RRRF has been topped up with an additional $600 million. 

• In addition to broad support programs, the government’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan includes targeted measures to help tourism businesses, rural communities, artists and athletes, innovative high-growth businesses, Indigenous-owned businesses, women entrepreneurs, farmers and agri-food businesses, and more.

The new application window will be open on Monday, October 26, 2020.

Skills Development Survey | Open Until November 6

Repeatedly we hear that a critical area of concern is in building the employee base in this region. Our team at TOTA is working to solve this issue, including the development of a specialized Tourism Professional Skills Training Program.

We believe this initiative will help to build a much needed base of trained employees.

Participants will receive training to develop specialized in-demand tourism skills, followed by a work placement to gain on the job experience to enhance the participant’s employability skills. The training will be delivered in a group environment, supported by a range of activities which may include counselling, vocational and/or learning assessments, work experience, job search skills, mentorship, referral to community resources, and post-project follow up.

Hiring graduates with these specialized skillsets will enable hospitality and tourism employers to focus on delivering high quality guest experiences and growing a sustainable and resilient business.

This unique program will focus on the areas of need that you as Tourism Stakeholders provide to us in the Skills Development Survey. Please take the time to complete this brief survey to help us better understand the employment needs of the industry.

If you are interested in hiring program participants for the 2021 peak season, you have the option to include your contact details and an Expression of Interest at the end of the survey.

It is another survey but one that can directly support the growth of the industry and your business in the future.

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.

TOTA Joins Forces with Planet Happiness and Thompson Rivers University to Measure Happiness and Well-Being of Thompson Okanagan Residents

Kelowna, BC (October 06, 2020) - The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), Planet Happiness, and Thompson Rivers University (TRU) have formed a long-term partnership to measure the happiness and well-being of residents and communities within the Thompson Okanagan region through the Happiness Index survey. Strengthening our understanding of the impact of tourism on the well-being of communities, use of the Happiness Index survey aims to demonstrate that measuring destination well-being and happiness is as important as tracking profits and visitor arrivals and supports responsible destination management.

"The long-term viability of destinations depends on tourism improving the quality of life of local communities. Over time, the Happiness Index will help measure how well this is being done by engaging with residents directly," said Glenn Mandziuk, President and CEO of TOTA. "These findings will assist TOTA in assessing how the region is meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as well as inform our ongoing efforts toward tourism recovery and resiliency."

Planet Happiness works with tourism organizations and universities, such as TOTA and TRU, to deploy the Happiness Index and focus the attention of everyone involved on using tourism to improve the quality of life in tourism destinations.

“We support destinations to move beyond the narrow tourism dollar and GDP agenda. TOTA is promoting sustainable and quality tourism objectives in the region. We are delighted to join with both TRU and TOTA on the journey to happiness and well-being," said Dr. Paul Rogers, co-founder and director of Planet Happiness.

The Happiness Index is well established as part of a global initiative to measure well-being in tourism destinations linked to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with partners in 14 tourism destinations across ten countries. Indicators include satisfaction with life, access to nature and arts, community engagement, standard of living, life-long learning, and health. The Thompson Okanagan region includes Mount Robson Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies. The Thompson Okanagan region is the first Planet Happiness partnership in Canada.

"Planet Happiness will support TRU and TOTA by deploying what is perhaps the most progressive, adaptable, and easy to use Happiness Index survey on the planet," said Laura Musikanski, author, lawyer, and co-founder of Planet Happiness, a project of the Happiness Alliance. 

TRU tourism faculty member Dr. John Hull will assist with the project in the Thompson Okanagan region.

"Sustainability is a core value at TRU, where the university has been recognized as Canada's first platinum-ranked sustainable university and where the new vision for the university places priorities on community partnerships, lifelong learning, and research," said Doug Booth, Dean of the Faculty of Adventure, Culinary Arts, and Tourism at TRU. 

Visit TOTABC.org/happiness-index to learn more and stay updated on the launch of the first Thompson Okanagan Happiness Index Survey. 

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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 Planet Happiness:
Planet Happiness is a grassroots, big data project to introduce happiness  and well-being science, policy and practice to local communities, governments, and businesses connected to the travel and tourism industry. Dr. Paul Rogers, co-founder and director of Planet Happiness, has over 20 years of experience as a tourism advisor to national and local governments and has worked in more than a dozen countries across Asia, Africa, and Australia. For more information, visit OurHeritageOurHappiness.com.

About Happiness Alliance:
Happiness Alliance is a non-profit organization with a mission to contribute to the transformation of economies and societies so that the happiness of people, the well-being of communities, and the sustainability of ecosystems is the primary aim of governance, enterprise, and people. Since 2010, the Happiness Alliance has provided happiness and well-being tools and resources, including the Happiness Index. Executive director Laura Musikanski has authored multiple books and articles, and is also the co-author of the Happiness Policy Handbook. For more information, visit HappyCounts.org. 

About Thompson Rivers University (TRU): 
Since 1970, TRU has taken pride in providing an excellent education to students from a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives, serving more than 25,000 students on campuses in Kamloops and Williams Lake, and via distance or online courses and programs through Open Learning. From traditional academics to trades, from certificates to graduate degrees, TRU offers over 140 on-campus programs and 50-plus Open Learning programs. Research, creation and innovation thrive in TRU’s open, flexible learning environment. For more information, visit TRU.ca.

TOTA Nominated for World’s Responsible Tourism Award 2020 in World Travel Awards

Vote for TOTA - World's Responsible Tourism Award 2020

The World Travel Awards, a global initiative to recognize and reward excellence in travel and tourism, has opened voting for the 2020 international awards.

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is a nominee for the World's Responsible Tourism Award 2020. TOTA was the recipient of the 2018 and 2019 World’s Responsible Tourism Award and was named the 2020 Winner for North America earlier this year for our work and commitment to sustainability.

Achieving this recognition for a third year in a row would help TOTA spread the word on how the Thompson Okanagan tourism industry and our organization are working together to offer tourism services in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Nominees feature the winners of WTA’s regional awards (Europe, Asia, Oceania, Middle East, South America, Central America, North America, Africa, Indian Ocean & Caribbean) going head-to-head for the highest accolade in the industry.

Travel industry professionals and consumers worldwide are invited to cast their votes for travel brands that they consider to be the very best in the world. The nominee gaining the most votes for an award named as the winner.

Voting is open until October 25, 2020.

We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few moments to register and vote.

Thank you for your participation and support. Happy Voting!

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ABOUT THE WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

The World Travel Awards (WTA) was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, the WTA brand is recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire. Each year, WTA covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognize and celebrate individual and collective success within each key geographical region. For more information, visit WorldTravelAwards.com.

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.

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. 

Applications Open for Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP) – Due October 29, 2020

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association recommends that you review the details of a new funding opportunity through the Province of British Columbia: The Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP).

The application window for the CERIP is very short with a deadline of October 29, 2020.

The Province of British Columbia has allocated up to $90 million to support community economic resilience, tourism, heritage, and urban and rural economic development projects.

The CERIP provides an opportunity for Indigenous applicants, local governments, tourism organizations, heritage leaders, and not-for-profit organizations to apply for infrastructure funding that supports projects and initiatives for public use and that benefit and create jobs, support economic development and recovery from the impacts of COVID-19.

Eligible applicants can receive a one-time, 100% funded provincial grant to support four key streams:

• Community Economic Resilience supports initiatives through investment in short term, small scale public infrastructure meeting the economic recovery objectives of initial job creation in the community and ancillary job creation in other areas hard hit with COVID -19 such as local retail and services.

• Destination Development invests in the development, conservation, repair, or rehabilitation of new or existing tourism infrastructure and amenities to assist in the re-emergence and resiliency of the tourism sector, creating jobs that will provide long term benefits for the tourism sector and local communities.

• Unique Heritage Infrastructure supports projects focused on the conservation, repair, rehabilitation, and development of cultural heritage infrastructure to help communities safeguard and enjoy their heritage places while creating employment through the stewardship of cultural heritage.

• Rural Economic Recovery improves the prosperity and quality of life in rural communities through projects that create jobs, develop economic infrastructure, support a vibrant local business sector, and accelerate economic recovery.

CERIP is designed to support projects that are construction ready in 2021 and can be completed by March 31, 2023. Projects must start by December 31, 2021. 

Indigenous and local government applicants are encouraged to consider partnering with not-for-profit applicants in local communities wherever possible for their consideration and applicability to CERIP.

Every grant application is assessed in the context of the program eligibility guidelines. The final approval of projects and funds will occur when a new cabinet is sworn in.

Program information such as application instructions and links to resource documents are available at gov.bc.ca/CERIP.

The ministries and their delivery partner contacts are available to provide advice as you prepare your application. For information on the four streams, please see specific contacts in the table below:

Applications are now open. The application window for the CERIP is very short with a deadline of October 29, 2020.

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Additional Information

For more information or to answer any questions, please contact:
Mike Overend
Director of Sustainability
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
e: IndustrySupport@TOTABC.com
t: (778) 721-5462

The ministries and their delivery partner contacts are available to provide advice as you prepare your application. For information on the four streams, please see specific contacts below:

Rural Economic Recovery:
Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
Rural Policy and Programs Branch
Email: ruraldevelopment@gov.bc.ca
Phone: 250 356-7950

Destination Development:
Tourism, Arts and Culture Tourism Sector Strategy Division
Dawn Rueckl
Email: tourismpolicy@gov.bc.ca
Phone: (778) 698-1802

Unique Heritage:
Infrastructure Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
Indigenous applicants: First Peoples’ Cultural Council
Karen Aird
Email: karen@fpcc.ca
All other applicants: Thompson/Okanagan
Paul Gravett
Email: pgravett@heritagebc.ca

Community Economic Resilience:
Municipal Affairs and Housing Local Government Infrastructure & Finance
Email: infra@gov.bc.ca
Phone: 250 387-4060

Call for Nominees for Destination BC Tourism Marketing Committee

Destination BC is seeking nominees to join the Tourism Marketing Committee. The committee will have one representative from the Thompson Okanagan for a three-year term (January 2021 to December 2023).

Committee members work with Destination BC to provide input on the long-term, sustainable growth of BC’s tourism industry.

The application deadline is Tuesday October 27, 2020.

TOTA and SUNx Malta Announce Launch of Global Climate Friendly Travel Registry & Maurice Strong Climate Friendly Travel Youth Summit

Kelowna, BC (September 25, 2020) - The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) has partnered with the Strong Universal Network (SUNx), to develop resilient, Climate Friendly Travel, in alignment with the Paris 1.5 Trajectory and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Today, during Climate Week NYC 2020, TOTA, SUNx Malta, and the World Travel and Tourism Council announced the launch of the global Climate Friendly Travel Registry for 2050 Climate Neutral & Sustainability Ambitions, as well as the Maurice Strong Climate Friendly Travel Youth Summit.

"Reducing carbon emissions is not an option, it is a necessity," said Glenn Mandziuk, President and CEO of TOTA. "We are all understanding the tremendous threat that Climate Change is to the world and are honored to partner with  SUNx as a charter member of the Climate Friendly Travel Registry for 2050."

The Climate Friendly Travel Registry for 2050 Climate Neutral & Sustainability Ambitions is linked to the UNFCCC Climate Action Portal and is open to all Travel and Tourism companies and communities, anywhere in the world. The idea of a Climate Neutral Ambitions Registry was built into the Paris Agreement as a way for businesses to transparently declare and progressively increase their carbon reduction ambitions through 2050, with the greater mission of stabilizing global temperatures at tolerable levels for human survival.

"We are delighted to have the award winning Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association as a launch partner for our Climate Friendly Travel Registry. Their commitment to sustainability is second to none," said Professor Geoffrey Lipman, President of SUNx Malta. "We are doubly pleased by their agreement to host the Annual Maurice Strong Climate Friendly Travel Youth Summit, not only because it is a lasting legacy to the father of sustainable development, but it will highlight Maurice's intense climate activism nearly half a century before the Paris Agreement."

The SUNx System for Climate Friendly Travel recognizes the importance of placing Climate Resilience at the core of corporate and community planning decisions, with the Travel and Tourism sector as a major contributor and potential leader when it comes to human development and climate action.

To honour Maurice Strong’s legacy as a Sustainable Development pioneer, TOTA and SUNx are also partnering to launch the Maurice Strong Climate Friendly Travel Youth Summit. The inaugural summit will take place on April 29, 2021 as a virtual event, in partnership with the Malta Ministry for Tourism and Consumer Protection, and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office.

Show your support for Climate Friendly Travel and join the Registry for 2050 Climate Neutral & Sustainability Ambitions: ClimateFriendly.travel

The announcement was recorded as part of a Climate Week NYC 2020 event. TOTA, SUNx Malta, and the World Travel and Tourism Council made the announcement and followed with a Q&A session.

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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 SUNx :
The Strong Universal Network (SUNx) is a global Travel & Tourism Climate Response system, designed to act as a catalyst for the sector to develop Climate Friendly Travel as well as a conduit to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) driven New Climate Economy. Operating globally from Malta, with a Registry of Climate Neutral Ambitions; a Climate Friendly Travel Diploma and an SDG17 led Climate Champions outreach program. Established as a legacy to Maurice Strong, Climate Activist and Sustainable Development Pioneer. In 2019, through a partnership with Malta’s Ministry for Tourism and Consumer Protection and Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), SUNx Malta was created to establish Malta as a Global Centre for Climate Friendly Travel. For more information, visit TheSunProgram.com.

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.

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.

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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

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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

Province of B.C. Launching Tourism Task Force to Reignite Tourism Sector

Ten business and industry leaders have been appointed to a new task force focused on reigniting B.C.’s tourism sector and enhancing its long-term competitiveness, including TOTA President & CEO Glenn Mandziuk.

The Province is allocating $50 million in the Economic Recovery Plan to implement new measures that result from the Tourism Task Force’s work. The Tourism Task Force will:

• Seek innovative and creative ideas from stakeholders, experts and the public about how to help B.C.’s tourism industry recover in the short, medium and long term.

• Solicit input on how the industry can become more sustainable in the future.

• Present a final report to the minister by Dec. 31, 2020.

B.C. Tourism Task Force Members

Members of the Tourism Task Force have varied backgrounds including business, labour and the not-for-profit sector.

• Tamara Vrooman, president and CEO, Vancouver International Airport (chair);

• Walt Judas, CEO, Tourism Industry Association of BC;

• Brenda Baptiste, chair, Indigenous Tourism BC;

• Nancy Small, chair, BC Destination Management Organization Association, Tourism Richmond;

• Ingrid Jarrett, president and CEO, BC Hotel Association;

• Rod Harris, adjunct professor, Royal Roads University;

• Glenn Mandziuk, vice-chair, Minister’s Tourism Engagement Council, and president and CEO, ‎Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association;

• Richard Porges, interim president and CEO, Destination BC

• Amy Thacker, chair, BC Tourism Regional Secretariat, and CEO, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association; and

• a representative from the Labour sector, to be named.

Making Your Space Accessible to All

Accessible Business Feature: Upside Cidery

Creating a space for all was the inspiration behind the opening of Upside Cidery. A space that welcomes anyone from families with children to business professionals, and everyone in between. They even welcome dogs into their space.

Upside Cidery is an organic cidery located on 18 acres of land on Gale Road behind Route 97 in Kelowna. This land was originally used to crush gravel for the building of the highway when it was first purchased in 1970 by the co-owner, Mike Large’s father. Both owners, Mike Large and Isaac Potash, grew up farming with Isaac’s family farm being one of the first organic farms.

The building that houses Upside Cidery was created in a way that upon arrival, is easy for everyone to access and move around. They have a paved and flat parking lot with a designated accessible stall and three stalls along the side of the building that can accommodate a vehicle with a side lift or ramp. Their open floor concept allows for lots of space to maneuver around in the cidery and the washrooms are very accessible. 

Isaac Potach

Having only opened in June of 2019, the cidery is very successful and has become a very popular hangout for locals. The atmosphere is extremely welcoming and the staff are very friendly and accommodating. With the vision of everyone being welcome and able to enjoy Upside Cidery, Isaac was eager to do what he could when TOTA Accessibility specialist, Sonja Gaudet, brought to his attention, on her visit to the cidery, that there was no accessible seating in the building, only high tops and picnic tables. 

“Making your space accessible doesn’t have to be expensive or daunting.”

— Isaac Potach

Isaac immediately called up his builder to create two tables that were wheelchair accessible and comfortable for anyone that struggles to sit at high top tables. One of these tables is able to be moved inside and out. 

Without hesitation and within a couple of weeks, Upside was able to create a space that truly is for everyone. Along with the accessible seating, they are now planning to design a tasting bar that will be at an accessible height for seated tastings by next year.

Creating a space for all, although may seem initially overwhelming, is not a complicated task. In order for people with mobility requirements to participate and experience the services and products available in the tourism space, there are three accessible features to address first. These features will help to ensure an enjoyable and memorable experience, worthy of several repeat visits and recommendations to MANY friends and family members! Keep it simple and start with these aspects to make your space accessible to all.

Simple, but Key Priorities

Accessible Parking

• Paved or hard packed crush grade gravel surface. 

• Designate accessible parking spaces with: 

  • Clearly marked lines.

  • Accessible parking signage on a post at the front of the parking space.

• Ensure spaces are wide enough to accommodate a vehicle that may have a side lift or ramp - 3.9 meters wide.

• For gravel surface parking lots:

  • Designate accessible parking closest to the main entrance access route.  

  • Using spray paint is very effective for marking parking space lines.

• When your able to re-paint your parking lot lines, here are best practice recommendations - Accessible Parking Stall 

Main Entrance Access

• Level/minimal slope access route to the main entrance.

• Curb cut access from the parking area to the main entrance access route

  • Curb Cuts - Best Practice Recommendations

• If main entrance access is via stairs - ramp access is required. 

  • Ramp - Best Practice Recommendations 

• Automatic/low touch/no touch main entrance door - minimum width 81.5 cm 

  • NABCO - Automatic Entrance Systems

  • DEPENDABLE - Automatic Door & Gates 

• OR easy push/pull main entrance door.

  • If applicable, loosen tension on overhead automatic door tension bar/closer unit.

  • Weather permitting, keeping the main entrance door in the open position is a temporary option.

• Level/no step door thresholds.  

  • Threshold ramps are a very inexpensive and easy way to eliminate a step-up door threshold that you may have anywhere throughout your site. 

  • Rubber Threshold Ramp

  • Threshold Transition Ramp

Accessible Washrooms

• Ensure your washroom is wheelchair accessible. 

• Automatic, low touch or easy push/pull door - minimum width 81.5 cm.

  • NABCO - Automatic Entrance Systems

  • DEPENDABLE - Automatic Door & Gates 

• Grab bars beside the toilet.

• Roll under sink vanity height - minimum 68.5 cm / maximum 86.5 cm

• 152 cm floor space free of any obstruction.

  • An easy initial adjustment to allow for more space inside the washroom, is to ensure that the swing of the door swings out.  This is also for safety reasons, in case someone were to fall up against the door inside the washroom and access was required.

• Until a full renovation is possible, work with the washroom you presently have to re-configure, adjust and modify as best as possible to the best practice recommendations found here - Accessible Washroom 

Further Recommendations

If your experience offers food & beverage service -  ensure you have lower height tasting bars & table options for wheelchair users and individuals who require or prefer to be seated while eating and/or tasting.

• Minimum height - 68.5 cm / floor to bottom of surface 

• Maximum height -  86.5 cm / floor to bottom of surface

Learn more about Accessibility Recommendations

Remember, accessibility and inclusion is so much more than what we build into our physical environment.  It is a collective positive energy and attitude that can be felt upon entering any environment.  It transcends directly from the heart and creates a feeling of belonging and freedom.  This powerful and open mindset towards full integration inspires meaningful and authentic connections with one another, enriching the lives of EVERYONE along its path.

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TOTA’s Accessibility video, Accessibility in a New Light, gives us a better understanding of the importance and positive impact accessibility and inclusivity in our community can have on individuals.

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About the Author

Born and raised in Kelowna, Jenna loves being able to be a tourist in her own backyard. As a Brand Ambassador for the Thompson Okanagan region, she hopes to be able to showcase the region’s local businesses and natural attractions to encourage others to come and enjoy them in a safe and sustainable way.

About the Author

Sonja Gaudet is a retired 3 X Paralympic Gold Medalist and most recently a Canadian Order of Sport Inductee 2020/21. She lives in Vernon with her husband Dan and two adult children, Alysha and Colten. Sonja has a passion in locating and creating accessible experiences in the Okanagan region. Some of her adventures include kayaking, exploring the accessible hiking trails with her dog Lina, and enjoying Charcuterie with her most recently discovered favorite glass of red wine, more than likely from somewhere in the South Okanagan or Similkameen region.

Swoop releases winter flying schedule, including flights between Kelowna International Airport and Toronto Pearson Airport

Swoop has released its winter schedule, announcing that the ultra-low fare airline will begin flights between the Kelowna International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport on October 25, 2020.

From Oct. 25, 2020 to Apr. 24, 2021, Swoop will connect Toronto and Kelowna with up to 4x weekly with service on Monday, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

“We are very pleased to see Swoop return to YLW for the winter travel season,” says Sam Samaddar, Director, Kelowna International Airport. “This ultra-low fare airline has great opportunities for Kelowna residents to visit family and friends or enjoy a winter getaway with four weekly flights to Toronto served by good arrival and departure times.”

With safety as its number one priority, Swoop has implemented a robust set of measures to safeguard a safe and healthy travel and work environment for its travellers and crew. This includes stricter boarding processes allowing for shorter queue wait times, traveller screening measures, increased sanitization, and enforcing face masks to be worn for the duration of the flight.

“Our winter schedule is in response to a growing rebound in travel, as we know travellers are eager to plan their next getaway,” says Charles Duncan, President, Swoop. “We remain committed as ever to making affordable air travel accessible for Canadians who are looking to reconnect with family and friends over the holidays or are looking for a change in scenery this winter.”

“It is time to travel again, and that can be done responsibly and safely,” states Duncan. “We are focusing our efforts on encouraging travel with our ability to provide ultra-low fares to price-sensitive travellers.”

“Together with our airline and agency partners, we remain committed to providing a safe, hygienic and efficient travel experience, so passengers can travel with confidence through Toronto Pearson,” says Craig Bradbrook, Chief Operating Officer, Greater Toronto Airports Authority.

The announcement reflects the next step in Swoop’s recovery plans. The airline has remained operational throughout the pandemic, adjusting its network to reflect fluctuating demand.

Traveller demand, travel advisories, and health and safety conditions will be monitored over the coming weeks and months, which may cause adjustments to this schedule. For added flexibility, Swoop travellers have the option to purchase ModiFly, which grants them a one-time date and time change to their booking.

For more information, please visit FlySwoop.com.

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About Swoop

Established in 2018, Swoop is Canada’s leading ultra-low-cost airline, independently operated as part of the WestJet Group of companies, offering point-to-point scheduled service to 23 seasonal and year-round destinations in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean. Swoop offers completely unbundled products and services, creating the unique opportunity for travellers to control their costs and customize their experience by purchasing only the extras they desire.

Swoop operates a modern fleet of nine Boeing 737-800 aircraft, equipped with in-seat power and Wi-Fi connectivity. Swoop’s mobile app allows travellers to quickly and easily book flights, manage bookings, check-in, view boarding passes, track flights and access Wi-Fi service in-flight. For more details on Swoop, visit FlySwoop.com.

TOTA, Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna, and Thoughtfull Offer Mental Health Support to Businesses Through COVID-19 Pandemic

Kelowna, BC (August 20, 2020) -  The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) has signed a formal agreement with the Canadian Mental Health Association, Kelowna & District branch (CMHA Kelowna) and Thoughtfull Workplace Wellness Strategies. As an extension to TOTA's industry resiliency efforts, planned collaborative initiatives aim to mitigate the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental well-being of tourism business operators and workers.

"Mental health is an essential ingredient for resiliency. The COVID-19 Pandemic has been devastating in many ways, greatly affecting the people behind the numbers and figures," said Glenn Mandziuk, President and CEO of TOTA. "This formal agreement with CMHA Kelowna and Thoughtfull will help bridge gaps by supporting not only the tourism industry, but the communities it so greatly depends on."

CMHA Kelowna and Thoughtfull, a workplace consulting and training social enterprise run by CMHA Kelowna, represent a valuable resource for TOTA to relay knowledge and expertise in education, human resources, occupational health and safety, as well as crisis intervention to businesses in the tourism industry. Thoughtfull's workplace advisors will collaborate with TOTA to provide insights for campaigns and resources contributing to physical, mental, and financial resilience.

"Tourism is such an important industry for this region, but we know that many operators and their employees are facing high levels of stress due to significant challenges and a lot of unknowns. Financial resilience is just one piece of the puzzle. We also need to support the mental well-being of everyone in this sector," said Aaryn Secker, Manager of Learning & Development for CMHA Kelowna and Thoughtfull.

As part of this agreement, industry members of the Thompson Okanagan Resiliency Program will be able to access tailored workplace psychological health and safety training and advising through Thoughtfull at an exclusive reduced and subsidized rate by contacting their dedicated TOTA Program Advisor. In addition, CMHA will deliver programming through an ongoing webinar series with "Return to the Workplace: Considerations for Supporting Staff Mental Health" and "De-escalating Conflict".

For more information about the Thompson Okanagan Resiliency Program and to register visit TOTABC.org/Tourism-Resiliency.
Or register by phone: 1-877-431-8489 (ext 8).

If you are already part of the Tourism Resiliency Program, please contact your program advisor directly for more information on this program offering. 

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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 Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna (CMHA Kelowna):
CMHA Kelowna is a registered non-profit charity serving the central Okanagan and part of a network of more than 80 Canadian Mental Health Association branches across the country. Each year they provide services and supports to more than 1.3 million Canadians through the combined efforts of more than 11,000 volunteers and staff in over 330 communities. CMHA Kelowna provides support through programs that promote positive mental health and support recovery, while championing the elimination of barriers that can prevent people from thriving. For more information, visit CMHAKelowna.org.

About Thoughtfull: 
Thoughtfull is a workplace training and advising social enterprise of CMHA Kelowna. With the average working individual spending 90,000 hours or more of their life at work, CMHA Kelowna recognizes that they cannot achieve a mentally healthy community without addressing psychological health and safety at work. Thoughtfull is guided by Canada’s National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. For more information, visit Thoughtfull.CMHAKelowna.com.

For more information, contact:

Ellen-Walker Matthews

Vice President, Stewardship

Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association

industry@totabc.com

(236) 361-4433

Marsha Walden Appointed as Destination Canada’s President & CEO

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages announced the appointment of Marsha Walden as Destination Canada’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

Walden joins Destination Canada from Destination British Columbia where she served as the President and CEO since 2013. There she successfully led the newly formed provincial Crown corporation to create ground-breaking strategies for tourism development and nationally recognized, data-driven performance marketing. Most recently, her attention has focused on leading the organization to support the ongoing recovery of BC’s tourism sector.

Destination Canada’s Board of Directors wishes to extend thanks to David Robinson, who led the organization as Interim President and CEO for the past six months, as well as the Senior Leadership team for their dedication and passion throughout the past months.

Walden’s first day with Destination Canada will be August 24, 2020.

Source: Destination Canada

Valemount Business Features

SmallBusinessEveryday.ca is a Canada-wide initiative of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) to encourage support of local businesses during this difficult time. As part of the campaign, Tourism Valemount has produced a series of 12 short video profiles of Valemount businesses with videography from Valemount Community TV (VCTV).

Beginning Monday, August 10, the videos will roll out on VCTV on Channel 7 locally and Channel 653 across Canada on the Bell and Telus satellite networks. They will play on VCTV back to back at 8:00 am, 12:00 pm, 6:00 pm, and 10:00 pm. Four local business profile videos will be released each week for the next three weeks.

Watch the videos at  VisitValemount.ca/gallery under ‘videos’.

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

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.

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:

• Visit TOTABC.org/Tourism-Resiliency

• Register by phone: 1-877-431-8489 (ext 8)

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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

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 For more information, contact:

Ellen-Walker Matthews

Vice President, Stewardship

Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association

industry@totabc.com

(236) 361-4433