UNWTO Releases Inclusive Recovery Guide for Women in Tourism

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As the sector enters the second year of an unprecedented crisis, the impact this has had on women in tourism has been made clear. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the pandemic, and the unprecedented drop in international tourist arrivals, risks rolling back progress made towards achieving gender equality and efforts to empower women and girls

-UNWTO

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Tourism is a Proven Driver of Equality and Opportunity

UNWTO data shows that women make up the majority of the tourism workforce (54%). However it was identified that women are often concentrated in low-skilled or informal work. Due to that concentration is means that women in tourism are feeling the economic shock caused by the pandemic crisis more acutely and quicker than their male counterparts.

UNWTO is marking International Women’s Day 2021 with the release of our Inclusive Recovery Guide for women in tourism, compiled in collaboration with UN Women.

Read more

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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

Opportunities to Support Labour Force

Mentoring | Job Placements | Virtual Job Fair

TOTA is facilitating two virtual Tourism Skills Training Programs in order to support displaced employees and professionals transitioning to a career in the tourism industry. The curriculum prepares participants to work in various tourism and hospitality positions in the Thompson Okanagan region with a focus on serving domestic markets in 2021, ultimately increasing the labour pool for tourism companies. Curriculum topics were determined by TOTA through survey responses from tourism operators about labour needs, skills gaps, and general feedback.

Industry support is essential to help these up and coming tourism professionals achieve success as they journey down the path of their career.

TOTA is seeking tourism operators to provide mentoring during the program and job placements post-program for up to 75 job-ready participants.

 You may choose to participate with one or all of these opportunities. Please submit a form for each corresponding opportunity.

 The upcoming opportunities for tourism operators to get involved are:

Mentoring for 8 Weeks | Apply by March 16

By volunteering as a mentor you can make a difference for a budding tourism professional by sharing career advice, positive support, and encouraging words. Connect with a participant through virtual meetings or phone calls for 1 hour per week for an 8 week period between March 18 and June 13. We will attempt to match you with a mentee in your community or region.

Job Postings & Work Placements

Are you hiring? TOTA is matching participants with work placements. Participants will have a strong understanding of current tourism industry practices from the curriculum, have varying professional experience, and are seeking a range of positions from entry level to middle management roles. 

Sign up to receive a list of potential candidates based on location, interest, and experience. Job postings will be shared during and after the Job Fair.

Virtual Job Fair | April 22, 2021

TOTA is hosting a virtual job fair for Tourism Skills Training program participants on April 22. Employers will host a virtual booth and have the opportunity to meet with participants. Tech support for the virtual platform will be provided.

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After you sign up, we will contact you with further details.

Spread the Word

Please share these industry opportunities with any tourism managers and leaders in the Thompson Okanagan tourism industry that may be interested.

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Contact Us

Feel free to contact us if you have further questions about TOTA's Training Centre and programs:

Barbara Bonnough
Training Program Manager
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA)
(778) 752-5877 |  Training@TOTABC.com

 The Tourism Skills Training Programs are 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.

Inaugural Virtual Youth Summit on Climate Friendly Travel | April 29

The Strong Earth Youth Summit (SEYS) is named in honor of Maurice Strong, the architect of the Climate Framework and UN Sustainable Development for half a century.

The virtual event, held on April 29, will be in partnership with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), British Columbia, Canada; Institute of Tourism Studies, Malta (ITS); and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO). Events will be held in three centres, with regional outreach - the Mekong for Asia Pacific; Malta for Europe, Middle East and Africa and British Columbia for the Americas.

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Get ready for two full days of penetrating insights and a great line-up of speakers! The summit will highlight the urgent need for Climate Friendly Travel and spread the much needed message of Climate Hope.

SEYS will highlight the need for a clean and green post-COVID future for the tourism sector, in accordance with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and 2050 Paris Agreement. A full line up of sessions and speakers will follow in the coming weeks.

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Why Climate Friendly Travel is important

Climate change is an existential threat!

The climate crisis requires urgent action across all sectors. Climate Friendly Travel (CFT) provides a conduit to the long-term transformation to a cleaner and greener Travel and Tourism industry. CFT will help businesses in the industry shift to more climate friendly operations.

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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. 

Electric Car Charging Stations in Kelowna

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Have an electric car, but are unsure if Kelowna has the right charging station for your car? Below is a map of over 20 different charging stations in Kelowna and area. 

Look for more information? Download your Tourism Kelowna’s online digital visitors' guide to go paperless.

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TOTA Fast Facts

Tourism Research Summary

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association is pleased to once again bring you Friday Fast Facts providing an ongoing snapshot of how the tourism industry is being impacted as a result of COVID-19 and an overview of how things are changing as we begin moving through these first stages of recovery.

We will continue to gain and share business intelligence and insights which come directly from tourism stakeholders in our region via telephone and online surveys; data from our partnership with Environics Analytics received and analyzed weekly, and additional research has been sourced through the UN World Tourism Organization, Destination Canada, Destination BC, British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat, BC Hotel Association, go2HR, Community DMO Partners, and others.

Now more than ever we understand the importance of providing timely data that will assist you in making informed decisions, understanding how industry and consumers are responding, both in the Thompson Okanagan and the province as a whole, and that will assist you in making adjustments to how you do business.

Watch for Friday Fast Fact bi-weekly and for more information please visit Research Roundup on TOTA News Centre.

Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association is proudly supported by the British Columbia Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture.

- TOTA Research

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Biweekly Fast Facts

A New Look · Carbon Training Workshops

Biosphere Commitment Monthly Newsletter

A New Look

Our Biosphere Commitment Program Newsletter has a new look this month! With the majority of communication and engagement moving online, you might find it overwhelming to keep up with all of the industry newsletters you receive. That's why we are launching a new format that summarizes the content into four major categories:

• Biosphere Member Highlights

• Sustainability News

• Industry Trends

• Education & Training

Click on Read More below each section, which will direct you to our News Centre to read the content that interests you. 

Another exciting update is our upcoming carbon workshop sessions. We are excited to deliver two Carbon Training Workshops in collaboration with GreenStep on March 4 and March 25. See the post below for further details.

Stay up to date on the latest news about the Biosphere Commitment Program by subscribing to our Biosphere Monthly Newsletter below. 

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TOTA Carbon Training Workshop

An emission reduction opportunity you don't want to miss!

For many small and mid-sized businesses, measuring your carbon footprint is easier than you may think. In partnership with GreenStep, TOTA will be hosting two carbon training workshop sessions in March to outline the key steps to measure the carbon footprint of your business, and then uncover opportunities to both reduce emissions and save money. These sessions will be highly interactive, engaging, and leave you with actionable steps. The two sessions build on each other, as outlined below.

• 1st session - Thursday, March 4 - 10:00 to 11:30 AM

  • Open to all TOTA stakeholders 

  • Overview of the Carbon Challenge and how to select emissions sources that apply to your organization

  • Identifying data you need to collect and how to collect it

  • Brief intro to EcoBase carbon software

• 2nd session - Thursday, March 25 - 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

  • Requires a subscription for EcoBase carbon software (1 year subscription included with the Biosphere Commitment Program).

  • A deeper dive into how to use EcoBase to calculate your footprint, and how to identify opportunities, set and achieve emission reduction targets, and offset your remaining carbon footprint

The sessions will also be recorded in case you are not able to attend live. 

Read More

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News Highlights

A Few Biosphere Updates Highlights from this month:

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Want to keep up to date with Biosphere News? Subscribe to our Biosphere Monthly Newsletter or connect with us through the Biosphere Facebook page.

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.

One topic Remaining | Ideas Labs: Peer-to-Peer Learning for B.C. Tourism Business Operators

Are you interested in joining tourism colleagues from around the province for engaging, informative, peer-to-peer learning sessions with a focus on sharing ideas and co-creating solutions?

Ideas Labs, a series of online workshops on tourism industry topics, are part of the BC Tourism Resiliency Network's suite of programs to support long term resiliency of tourism businesses as we collectively navigate the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These 45-minute facilitated small group discussions are guided by a presentation from an inspiring Industry Topic Specialist. 

Registration is now open for the last topic of the 2021 series:

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Building Back Better: Contributing to a Better Future for Tourism

COVID-19 has presented the tourism industry with a choice to consider: emerge doing business as usual or use responsible, sustainable principles to contribute to a better future for the industry. This session explores ways that tourism can look at sustainable, responsible and regenerative practices as an investment in building back better for long-term returns. Andrea McFadden will kick start the Ideas Lab conversation, sharing what Okanagan Herb and Lavender Farm is doing to build back better and contribute to a better future for tourism.

Dates/times in Pacific Time:

• February 17, 2021 at 10am

• February 24, 2021 at 2pm

• March 2, 2021 at 2pm

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For more information and to register: https://tourismresiliency.ca/ideas-labs/

Space is limited to 12 participants across the province, so if you register, please attend or cancel with sufficient notice.

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

TOTA Fast Facts

Tourism Research Summary

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association is pleased to once again bring you Friday Fast Facts providing an ongoing snapshot of how the tourism industry is being impacted as a result of COVID-19 and an overview of how things are changing as we begin moving through these first stages of recovery.

We will continue to gain and share business intelligence and insights which come directly from tourism stakeholders in our region via telephone and online surveys; data from our partnership with Environics Analytics received and analyzed weekly, and additional research has been sourced through the UN World Tourism Organization, Destination Canada, Destination BC, British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat, BC Hotel Association, go2HR, Community DMO Partners, and others.

Now more than ever we understand the importance of providing timely data that will assist you in making informed decisions, understanding how industry and consumers are responding, both in the Thompson Okanagan and the province as a whole, and that will assist you in making adjustments to how you do business.

Watch for Friday Fast Fact bi-weekly and for more information please visit Research Roundup on TOTA News Centre.

Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association is proudly supported by the British Columbia Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture.

- TOTA Research

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Biweekly Fast Facts

Agri-Tourism Entrepreneur Skills Training Program: Now Accepting Applications for Central Okanagan Delivery

 Course Dates:
February 26 - June 4, 2021 (13 weeks)
3 days / week, 9 AM - 4 PM
Delivered Online and In-Person (Kelowna)

Application Deadline:
February 17, 2021

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 Agri-Tourism Entrepreneur Skills Training Program, a free program to guide participants to develop a market-ready, shelf-stable product to offer in local retail, domestic, and international markets. The program will be delivered online and in-person in Kelowna.

The Agri-Tourism Entrepreneur Skills Training Program helps farmers, crafters, and artisans to launch and develop packaged food product lines from the Thompson Okanagan region. This 13-week, fully funded program will guide participants to develop a market-ready, shelf-stable product to offer in local retail, domestic, and international markets.

The blend of live online learning sessions, self-led online industry certificates, and hands-on practical experience in a processing kitchen will rapidly cover many topics aimed to expand small food businesses and support food processing in the Thompson Okanagan region.

Participants will come together 3 days per week in both virtual class sessions and in the processing kitchen, facilitated by a diverse roster of experienced small business instructors and industry guest speakers. The program will include virtual tours to connect participants directly to the Thompson Okanagan agri-tourism sector.

The program will involve participant teamwork and culminate in a presentation of the final agri-tourism product and business concept to a panel of industry experts.

Applicant Eligibility Requirements:

• Living in the Central Okanagan area, with access to reliable transportation to commute to Kelowna for regularly scheduled in-person sessions.

• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and protected persons legally able to work in Canada.

• Currently unemployed or precariously employed (casual, seasonal, or part-time) or employed but at risk and in need of training for new opportunities.

• Over 15 years of age.

For more information:

Website: TOTABC.org/Training/agri-tourism

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 Government of Canada through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce Development Agreement.

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Share This Opportunity

Feel free to share this opportunity with farmers, crafters, and artisans of the Thompson Okanagan looking to launch new product lines, particularly unemployed, at-risk, part-time, casual, and seasonal employees.

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

TOTA Biosphere Team Introduction

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This month we are featuring the team members that make up the Biosphere Commitment Program team at TOTA, which consists of five key members who come from various backgrounds and skill sets. From business development, community engagement to program analyst, the Biosphere Commitment Program team has a passion for evolving sustainability throughout the Thompson Okanagan by connecting directly with TOTA’s stakeholders.

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"The Biosphere Commitment Program supports stakeholders to find a balance between the environmental, cultural and socio-economic dimensions of sustainability and attract visitors that value authentic, meaningful and sustainable experiences. I look forward to working with Biosphere Committed Companies and continuing to evolve this program to help measure your organization's sustainability performance over time."

- Kaitie, Director of Sustainability & Stewardship

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"Sustainability is a complex topic with various elements, indicators and metrics that can sometimes be overwhelming. The good news is that you are not on this journey alone. The Biosphere Commitment Program supports your organization to develop a plan to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals that is measurable and effective. Biosphere provides value-added programs to support you on your sustainability journey and TOTA is continually working with our partners to provide additional development opportunities through assessments, training, toolkits and more."

- Louisa, Technology & Communications Coordinator

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"Most of us don't realize that by simply reviewing our bills every month and just being aware of our daily energy use practices, we can cut down a lot on our utility costs. As TOTA's Energy Analyst, my job is to work with your business and identify those hidden low hanging fruits which could save you some dollars! All you have to do is let us know that you are interested!"

- Thivya, Energy Anaylst

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"Being able to connect with the Biosphere members and help evolve the program has been a really fun project for me. Through Biosphere communications I enjoy discussing sustainable tourism support in the region and hearing Biosphere members stories. I look forward to connecting more with Biosphere Members in 2021 and reveal what we have been working on these past months."

- Amy, Regional Brand Ambassador

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"Despite 2020 being one of the most challenging years for tourism businesses, we have seen Biosphere Committed Companies continue to make progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and contribute to making the Thompson Okanagan a more responsible destination."

- Kavan, Event & Industry Relations Specialist

Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association partners with Peter B. Gustavson School of Business to offer new virtual Tourism Skill Training Program

Victoria, British Columbia (Jan 28 , 2021) – The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) has teamed up with the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria, BC to provide job readiness training for Thompson Okanagan residents through a new, free certificate program.

In this fully funded, online learning program, participants will receive instruction, mentorship, employment coaching, and job placement support delivered full-time over 13 weeks. The new Thompson Okanagan Tourism Skills Training Program will prepare participants to work within all areas of the tourism and hospitality industry. Blending live virtual learning sessions and self-led online industry certificate programs, the program covers the changing landscape of the tourism industry, with featured guest speakers and virtual tours to connect participants to the typically dynamic and growing Thompson Okanagan tourism industry.

“During this unfortunate tourism slowdown, this is a great opportunity for tourism workers to upskill,” said Saul Klein, Dean of the Gustavson School of Business. “We are proud to be partnering with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association to help provide opportunities for those working in industries hard-hit by the pandemic.”

“Once we are finally in the recovery stage of tourism opening up once again across the Thompson Okanagan, we know that labour will be in high demand,” said Ellen Walker-Matthews, TOTA Sr. Vice President and Acting CEO . “We hope people see this as a tremendous opportunity to learn about the many career opportunities in the tourism industry that are available today and for the future.”

Developed in response to the decline of international tourism and the increase in domestic tourism in 2021, this program will support people whose jobs have been impacted by COVID-19, as well as help Thompson Okanagan businesses capitalize on domestic tourism through skills development for the region’s tourism labour force.

The program hopes to attract new Canadians, persons with disabilities and Indigenous people. Workers over 55 years of age are also encouraged to apply. Applicants also must be currently unemployed or precariously employed (casual, seasonal, or part-time). The application deadline is February 3, 2021, with classes held February 8 to May 5, 2021. Up to 60 students will be accommodated, with a second similar program being planned for March. For more information about the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Skills Training Program, please visit TOTABC.org/Training.

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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 Thompson Okanagan region of British Columbia. Supported by the British Columbia Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport, TOTA 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 the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business

The Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria is dedicated to providing a non-traditional business education and a dynamic learning environment that develops principled managers and leaders who can drive innovation and social change. Located in Victoria, BC at the University of Victoria, Gustavson is among the fewer than one percent of the world's business schools that hold both AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) accreditation. Gustavson offers BCom, MBA, MGB, MM and PhD programs, and has 104 international exchange partners. For more information, visit: uvic.ca/gustavson.

Media Contact

Kathryn Wu
Account Manager
Beattie Tartan
C: 604-968-5153
E: Kathryn.Wu@beattiegroup.com

TOTA Fast Facts

Tourism Research Summary

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association is pleased to bring you TOTA Fast Facts, an ongoing snapshot of how the tourism industry has been impacted as a result of COVID-19 and an overview of how things are changing as we begin moving through the stages of recovery. This timely data will assist you in making informed decisions through understanding how industry and consumers are responding, both in the Thompson Okanagan and the province as a whole.

Business intelligence and insights are collected from tourism stakeholders in our region; data from our partnership with Environics Analytics; and research through the UN World Tourism Organization, Destination Canada, Destination BC, British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat, BC Hotel Association, go2HR, Community DMO Partners, and others.

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Biweekly Fast Facts

Ideas Labs: Peer-To-Peer Learning For B.C. Tourism Business Operators

Are you interested in joining tourism colleagues from around the province for engaging, informative, peer-to-peer learning sessions with a focus on sharing ideas and co-creating solutions?

From January to March 2021, the BC Tourism Resiliency Network together with the Tourism Café and the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat are pleased to be launching a new series of 12 Ideas Labs on four original topics selected by industry across the province

Ideas Labs are part of the BC Tourism Resiliency Network's suite of programs to support long term resiliency of tourism businesses as we collectively navigate the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These 45-minute facilitated small group discussions are guided by a presentation from an inspiring Industry Topic Specialist.

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Ideas Labs Topics in 2021:

• Cultivating Customer Loyalty: A Visitor's Lens

• Evolving the Meetings & Events Experience

• Business Model Innovation for a Sustainable Future

• Building Back Better: Contributing to a Better Future for Tourism

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For more information and to register: https://tourismresiliency.ca/ideas-labs/

Space is limited to 12 participants across the province, so if you register, please attend or cancel with sufficient notice.