Kelowna continues to strengthen its position as a leading destination for collaboration and thought leadership at the provincial level, proudly hosting the inaugural BC Accelerator Program from October 20 to 22. This first-of-its-kind event for BC brought together 41 international travel trade buyers and 41 tourism suppliers from across the province for a dynamic exchange of ideas, connections, and opportunities.
Launched by Destination British Columbia (DBC), the BC Accelerator Program is part of a pilot project aimed at furthering growth opportunities for tourism businesses in the province. The program provided export training to tourism businesses, which they then put into practice at the live travel trade marketplace activation.
The event showcased the best of BC hospitality, set against the remarkable backdrop of Eldorado Resort. Delegates explored the province through pre-event familiarization tours, with some groups visiting Mission Hill Family Estate and 50th Parallel Estate Winery for tastings and tours. On Tuesday evening, they gathered at BNA Brewing Co. & Eatery for an evening of bowling, live music, and local flavour.
Tourism Kelowna’s Business Development team played a key role in bringing this important event to the region. By preparing a comprehensive and competitive bid package, the team successfully secured Kelowna as the host destination, further solidifying the city’s reputation as a vibrant hub for meetings, conferences, and travel trade events in British Columbia.
In addition to its hosting role, Tourism Kelowna had the opportunity to participate in several program elements, including the Explore BC Showcase, an exclusive session designed to bring community and regional destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and travel trade buyers together. This component provided a valuable forum for sharing information about our local tourism businesses and how their products could enhance both group and FIT (Flexible Independent Travel) itineraries, as well as learning more about the unique preferences of travellers from BC's key international markets.
Hosting the BC Accelerator Program not only elevated Kelowna’s visibility among global buyers but also demonstrated the region’s capacity to deliver high-calibre, collaborative industry events. The program's success underscored what’s possible when provincial partners, local suppliers, and destination organizations come together to grow BC’s tourism economy.
For more information about the event or about Tourism Kelowna's business development strategy, please contact me at nicolle@tourismkelowna.com.
