Tourism Kelowna Sites BC Transit
May 14 by Jennifer Horsnell / Sales
Recently our M&IT Sales Team has been hosting a variety of meeting planners on site inspections in our city. This week we are welcoming BC Transit to Kelowna to view eight of our hotel properties, a few restaurants and a couple of off-site venues. BC Transit is considering Kelowna as the host city for their 2013 Workshop next spring.
It seems to be a growing trend to host one-on-one site inspections rather than larger group familiarization tours. We like this new development as it gives us the opportunity to completly customize the itinerary for our client and allows us to really build a relationship.
If you have a client that needs to see Kelowna in order to secure a piece of business, please contact me at jennifer@tourismkelowna.com for more information on how Tourism Kelowna can assist.
Studio & Farm Tour Orientation
May 11 by Tom Ignatzi / Consumer Programs
An orientation session took place in April to officially launch the 2012 Studio & Farm Tour program. Attendees took part in a speed networking session to share what makes their business unique and discuss ideas on how best to refer visitors to each other using the new brochure. Members of the local media also attended to gather stories, take photos and conduct many interviews.
The new Farm to Table component was debuted featuring many well known local chefs and restauranteurs. Wine, food samples, displays and photos all provided a taste of the 2012 Studio & Farm Tour experience.
You can pick up a Studio & Farm Tour brochure (see image on right) at our Visitor Centres or any of the participating businesses. It's a free brochure and has been very popular with our tourists!
If you would like more information about participating in The Studio & Farm Tour or Farm to Table program, contact me for more information on this and other advertising programs at tom@tourismkelowna.com or 250-861-1515 ext. 211.
Visitor Sales & Services Team - always learning
Apr 30 by Diana Dors / Visitor Services
Tourism Kelowna's Senior Managers hosted an evening workshop for the Administrative, Sales and Marketing staff, along with the Visitor Sales & Services staff and volunteers. Thirty-four (the majority being Airport Info Kiosk Volunteers) were in attendance to hear Nancy Cameron - CEO, Jennifer Horsnell - Director of Sales, Shauna Merritt - Marketing Manager, and Catherine Frechette - Communications Manager present in-depth information about Tourism Kelowna's 2012 Sales and Marketing Plan, roles within the organization and how this tremendous team and our concerted efforts are linked to one another. This was an excellent opportunity for the volunteers to meet the corporate team and to gain additional knowledge about what each of us does and how it all ties into our marketing efforts.
Our Visitor Sales & Services team is always eager to learn new things and experience new stakeholders' products. If you would like to provide the opportunity to invite the team for a site visit or presentation to showcase your business, please contact me at diana@tourismkelowna.com or 250.861.1515 ext. 207.
Kelowna Selected for National Conference
Apr 18 by Jenny Rutherfurd / Sales
I recently worked with the Sales Team at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort and Conference Centre on a site inspection for the meeting planner for the Canadian Federation of Mental Health Nurses. This national organisation was considering Kelowna for their 2013 Conference and I'm pleased to report that Kelowna was selected!
This conference will attract 350 delegates from all across Canada who will not only stay at and take part in meetings at the hotel and conference centre, but will also utilise local transportation companies, restaurants, activities as well as an off-site evening event for all 350 delegates.
For more information on site inspection opportunities, please contact me at
250-861-1515 x 204 or jenny@tourismkelowna.com
Tourism Kelowna's New Real Estate Development Advertising Program
Apr 13 by Tom Ignatzi / Consumer Programs
As residents, we know that Kelowna offers one of the best lifestyles in Canada --and so do the thousands of people who choose to relocate or purchase vacation homes here every year. Our Travel Counsellors often hear the words, "I want to live here" from our visitors. With the implementation of our new Real Estate Development Advertising Program, we now have the ability to provide comprehensive information to these visitors on participating Real Estate developments.
The new advertising program is exclusive to Real Estate developments and is designed to expand their exposure to potential relocation and vacation home customers at a new point of inquiry.
For more information on this new program and other advertising programs through Tourism Kelowna, please contact me at tom@tourismkelowna.com or 250-861-1515 ext. 211.
Golf Courses Ready for 2012 Season
Apr 2 by Sharon Williams / golfkelowna.com
Kelowna courses are preparing to open this week. Behind the scenes, the courses have been busily preparing clubhouses and courses for the upcoming season. Here are a few of the improvements and updates completed over the winter months.
- Two Eagles has added on to their very popular restaurant "Nineteen", they have expanded and enclosed a section of their outdoor patio with floor to ceiling windows, it gorgeous!
- The Harvest has done renos to its front foyer and dining area. New chairs make the dining room even more comfortable.
- Gallagher's Canyon has done a complete update to its restaurant, including big screen TV's , the perfect place to watch the game, after the game.
- Kelowna Springs, Sunset Ranch and Shannon Lake have updated their clubhouses, modern and fresh!
- Kelowna Golf & Country - installed a new irrigation system this winter
- Okanagan Club - The Bear & The Quail - the new greens installed last year are ready to play this year, they've had a year to grow and mature. Play will be better than ever.
For more information on our golf reservations system at www.golfkelowna.com, contact me: sharon@tourismkelowna.com. [nbsp]
Kelowna Events Get Hosting BC Grants
Mar 28 by Chad Douglas / Sports & Events
Congratulations to BC Hockey and the Central Okanagan Youth Soccer Association (COYSA) for having their Kelowna area sport events qualify for fresh funding through the BC Games Society’s Hosting BC Program.
BC Hockey receives $5,000 for hosting the 2012 Male U16 BC Cup hockey tournament, April 12-15 at Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna (soon to be Kraft Hockeyville?). Westside Minor Hockey Association, District of West Kelowna, Mount Boucherie Secondary School and Okanagan College are welcoming BC Hockey and its top 160 prospects. COYSA gets $3,000 to host 48 teams during BC Soccer's 2012 Youth B Cup Girls Soccer Provincials, July 5-8 at Mission Recreation Park.
Tourism Kelowna is proud to have produced winning bids for these prestigious events. Thanks to all involved including the honourable Ben Stewart, Steve Thomson and Norm Letnick, our MLAs who go to bat for us at the provincial level. For more information on bidding or funding development, contact me at 250-861-1515 ext. 209 or chad@tourismkelowna.com.
Apply Now for Events Fund: Round 2
Mar 23 by Chad Douglas / Sports & Events
Calling all event planners: there are two weeks to go before the Friday, April 6 application deadline for the Tourism Kelowna Events Fund.
Will your new event attract enough participants or spectators (or both) to book at least 500 hotel rooms? Will your existing event attract enough new participants or spectators (or both) to do the same? Will your work help us put Kelowna on the Canadian event map? If you answer ‘yes’ to these important questions – as the Kelowna Rockets and Kelowna Secondary School did in 2011 – please checkout our Events Fund application.
And we encourage you to call me at 250-861-1515 ext. 209 with any questions. It never hurts to ask…or apply. Good luck!
Hot Off the Press!
Mar 15 by Jennifer Horsnell / Sales
The 2012 version of the Meetings & Incentive Travel brochure is now available!
In its seventh year the brochure serves as our fulfillment piece for tradeshows or when answering inquiries about venues and suppliers for the meetings and incentive travel market. This year are proud to have eighteen partners working with our program.
Click here to view the brochure or request your own e-version from me at
jennifer@tourismkelowna.com.
Tradeshow Season Kick-Off
Mar 15 by Jennifer Horsnell / Sales
This year Tourism Kelowna attended the Ottawa Gatineau Chapter of MPI's Tête à Tête tradeshow in Ottawa. Accompanied by representatives from Delta Grand Okanagan Resort & Conference Centre, Holiday Inn Express and Mission Hill Family Estate, Tourism Kelowna's Pat Gappmayr manned our tradeshow booth to promote meetings and conferences in Kelowna. With 59 companies stopping by our booth to chat with our representatives and enter our draw to win some fabulous Kelowna wines we are actively working the lead list to bring more business to our city.
For more information on this tradeshow and other sales and marketing opportunities for the Meetings & Incentive Travel Market please contact me at jennifer@tourismkelowna.com
Is it an apron?
Mar 9 by Diana Dors / Visitor Services
Nope. It's a seat-back pouch.
Tourism Kelowna recently commissioned a manufacturer to produce a seat-back pouch (see photo) for the purpose of displaying the Official Kelowna Visitors' Guide and the Kelowna Map Book as a value-added-service for visitors 
travelling in cabs, shuttles and tour vans. We rolled out the program this week by distributing them to drivers servicing the airport and they were very well received.
These two guides complement each other and both are excellent resources for visitors and locals alike. The Kelowna Visitors Guide is such a handy tool for the drivers to refer to when they are asked for recommendations and suggestions for what Kelowna has to offer in the way of attractions, activities, accommodations, dining, golf, wine, etc. Just another way for us to help drive business to you, our valued tourism stakeholders!
If you have any questions or comments, please contact me directly at 250.861.1515 ext. 207 or diana@tourismkelowna.com
Travel Media Association of Canada Event
Mar 9 by Catherine Frechette / Communications
Last weekend I attended the Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC - BC Chapter) Professional Development and Luncheon Event at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver. Approximately 60 TMAC members attended the day-long event, which included sessions on social media for journalists, an editors' panel, PR Do's and Don'ts, and a luncheon. Tourism Kelowna attended as a sponsor, along with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, Tourism Kamloops, and Penticton & Wine Country Tourism, meaning that I was able to speak to the group about fresh Kelowna story ideas in a presentation format. The presentation sparked some fantastic conversations with media who wanted more information on specific story ideas, and some of the audience members tweeted about our Kelowna tourism experiences from the room.
We drew a prize for media members at the end of the day: a package to come to the region this summer, spending a day in each destination. The winner was John Geary of Vancouver, whose writing has appeared in Canadian Wildlife magazine, Just for Canadian Doctors Magazine, Trazzler.com, Vancouver 24 Hours, and Coquitlam Now. We will look forward to welcoming John (pictured with me, Lee Morris of Tourism Kamloops, and Ellen Matthews of TOTA) this summer and to inspiring him with Kelowna story ideas for his columns!