In person and virtual events, training, webinars, workshops, annual celebrations, and more.
The AGM will be held in conjunction with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Summit in Vernon. Learn more and register at TOTABC.org/Summit
Leading up to the AGM, the Board Election will take place as follows:
Deadline to Become a Voting Stakeholder: August 29
Call for Nominations: August 30 - September 20 (3 weeks)
Electronic Voting: October 1 - 15 (2 weeks)
AGM, election results announced, and first board meeting: October 29
The 30th Annual Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) Golf Tournament will be hosted at Bighorn Golf & Country Club in Kamloops with a full day of food, drink, and fun. The event has been rescheduled to May 30, 2024.
A free introductory webinar on Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) to help participants understand how RNG is an adaptable option to lower carbon footprints in businesses, transportation, and residential sectors.
$30 | Registration is limited
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association Indigenous Tourism team is hosting a 2-hour virtual workshop to empower tourism professionals to engage with Indigenous neighbours, businesses, and communities within Canada.
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association recognizes that reconciliation is not easily defined. It is not linear and does not have a clear endpoint. Reconciliation is a continuous process, a journey, that leads to improved outcomes for Indigenous Peoples, and a better understanding how history has affected your communication and relationships with Indigenous Peoples, such as the Syilx, Nlaka'pamux, and Secwépemc nations in the Thompson Okanagan region.
We must do our part to right those wrongs, heal together, and create a new future that honours the unique gifts of the Indigenous people and communities.
The workshop will include:
A brief history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada
ReconciliACTION Ideas
How YOU can support ReconciliACTION
Overview of Call 92 of the 94 Calls to Action
Desiree Baker, Indigenous Consultant
Desiree is an independent contractor working with TOTA to share her knowledge of working with Indigenous people.
With a passion for people and community, Desiree collaborates with non-profits and economic development offices to work in partnership with Indigenous communities in order to establish strategic plans for respectful engagement and sustainable development for strong thriving communities.
For more than 20 years, Desiree has worked with various organizations such as First Nation Health Authority and the Sto:lo Nation, providing services such as:
Grant writing support for organizations
Economic development plans for Indigenous communities
Indigenous business plans for many First Nation business clients and communities
Desiree moved to the Okanagan region in January of 2021. She is originally from Alert Bay, home of the the U'mista Cultural Centre and the World's Tallest Totem Pole.
Presented by Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association and Desiree Baker
$30 | Registration is limited
As part of National Indigenous History Month in June and National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association Indigenous tourism team is hosting a 3-hour virtual session to share the history of Indigenous Peoples of Canada with anyone interested to learn.
Attendees will learn about the rich and diverse cultures, languages, and histories of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. Through cultural understanding, people and organisations will be better equipped to address and dismantle systemic barriers that exist for Indigenous peoples.
Learning to understand Indigenous cultures, histories, and languages can open the door to enriching partnerships, relationships, and respectful engagement.
It is also an opportunity to observe, celebrate, and acknowledge the sacrifices, strength, accomplishments, and futures of the Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is hosting the 2023 Thompson Okanagan Tourism Summit on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 in Kamloops, BC at the Thompson Rivers University Campus.
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association Indigenous Tourism team is hosting a 3-hour virtual workshop featuring Westbank First Nation elders to empower tourism professionals to engage with Indigenous neighbours, businesses, and communities within Canada.
$30 | Registration is limited.
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association held the 29th annual TOTA Golf Tournament at Black Mountain Golf Club in Kelowna.
Thompson Okanagan tourism stakeholders are invited to the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, October 13 from 9 to 10 AM PT at the Best Western Kelowna Hotel & Suites. The TOTA Golf Tournament will begin shortly after the AGM at Black Mountain Golf Club.
The new board candidates will be announced at the TOTA Annual General Meeting (AGM), along with reports on TOTA activities, finance, and governance.
Attendance is free however due to limited to capacity, registration is required.
Host: Glohaven Community Hub, Sponsored by TOTA
Location: The Vernon Town Theatre
Glohaven Community Hub presents the premiere Indigenous Showcase event, featuring Indigenous films, artisans, food and wine! Enrich your mind with these Canadian made films and leave with unique products from Indigenous artists and artisans.
Host: TOTA / Symphony Tourism Services / BCRTS
On May 12, learn how to integrate research into your marketing plan with this 3-hr interactive, online workshop for up to 20 participants in the Thompson Okanagan region. The engaging and collaborative workshop is intended to guide tourism operators in answering questions regarding their business and ideal customer/target markets.
Participants will build a better understanding of how to apply the data to implement marketing strategies through insights and data gathered from the Weekly Tracker, Monthly Visitor Highlights, EQ & Prizm Profile for the Thompson Okanagan region.
Tourism operators will leave the workshop knowing how to identify their ideal customer, tailor their message, and implement practical actions for reaching those customers.
Host: BC Hospitality Foundation, sponsored by TOTA
The BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF) is hosting the inaugural Okanagan Golf Tournament at The Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna to kick off the golf season on May 10, 2022, followed by legacy tournaments in Vancouver and Victoria this summer.
Annual golf tournaments are important fundraising events for BC Hospitality Foundation. Funds raised help hospitality workers across BC each year that are in a financial crisis due to a medical condition.
Host: BCRTS / Symphony Tourism Services / TOTA
As the tourism industry navigates the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS) and the regions, including Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), have produced reports with recent and ongoing regional market research to support tourism professionals in making business decisions.
To expand on this research, the BCRTS has partnered with Symphony Tourism Services, a subsidiary of TOTA, to deliver training programs on how to analyze the data and ensure you are using your marketing efforts in the most effective and efficient way possible.
The webinar will result in a better understanding of the customer segments, social values, and travel patterns of people visiting and living in your area for you to then better market to them.
By learning how to interpret and utilize this market research, you will be able to better design marketing strategies that will target the right audience at the appropriate time of year for your business or organization.
This interactive webinar will introduce market research reports available to inform tourism businesses, including:
Weekly Tracker
Monthly Visitor Highlights
EQ & Prizm Profiles
And more
TOTA and Wine for the Planet hosted a Canadian Press Event to officially launch participation in the conference on April 20, 2022. The recording of the presentation is now available.
Learn how climate change is impacting wineries and how wineries can adapt and mitigate the issues.
On November 3 and 4, come together as a tourism community to learn from everything we've been through and think differently about how we can co-create a vibrant and resilient tourism industry in BC. The BCRTS Tourism Summit 2021 is a joint virtual event, in collaboration with the five regional destination management organizations of the British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS) and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
The BCRTS Tourism Summit 2021 is open to all tourism stakeholders and GSTC members at no cost.
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association held the 28th Annual Golf Tournament at Fairview Mountain Golf Club in Oliver.
