At Tourism Kelowna, we’re always looking for new and effective ways to keep our members informed and engaged. We know staying on top of important updates, opportunities, and news can be tough—especially when information gets buried within inboxes or missed entirely. That’s why we’re excited to introduce a new social media tool to further our connection with you: Members-Only Instagram Stories through Instagram’s “Close Friends” feature.
Why We’re Doing This
Many of our members actively manage their own social media accounts, making platforms like Instagram a direct and effective communication channel. By using Close Friends Stories, we can share timely updates and industry news in a quick, accessible format—right where many of you are already spending your time.
This approach adds another layer of value to your Tourism Kelowna membership by offering:
- Simplified access to important updates.
- Real-time reminders about key initiatives and deadlines.
- An additional connection between your business and our team.
- A new touchpoint for engagement and participation.
What You Can Expect
- Links to new Industry News Centre posts.
- Updates on major events and conferences.
- Recaps and key takeaways from our AGM and other industry events.
- Opportunities to get involved in Tourism Kelowna marketing programs and initiatives.
- Relevant local, regional, and national news that impacts tourism.
- Calls for content and collaboration.
All of this will be visible only to our curated “Close Friends” list, which will include Tourism Kelowna members who follow us on Instagram.
How to Get Added
To be included in our Private Stories, you'll need to:
- Be a Tourism Kelowna Member.
- Follow @tourismkelowna on Instagram.
- Send us a DM or email with your Instagram handle so we can add you to the Close Friends list.
Please note: Most member accounts have been added already, but do reach out via Instagram DM or email if you are unsure if you've been included.
Our Goals
This tactic is part of a broader strategy to:
- Improve engagement with our members.
- Increase awareness of our initiatives and opportunities.
- Drive more traffic to our Industry News Centre.
- Encourage participation in events, conferences, and learning sessions.
- Provide useful, relevant, and timely information that helps you and your business succeed.
Over the coming months, we’ll be tracking how this new feature performs and gathering feedback from members to ensure it’s meeting your needs.
Staying Connected
We’re excited to use this new tool to make our updates more accessible and engaging. If you’re active on Instagram, this is a great way to stay in the loop without having to dig through emails or miss out on important opportunities. There’s no cost to participate—this is just another benefit of your Tourism Kelowna membership.
Connect with me at darby@tourismkelowna.com for any questions, to be added to the list, or to be removed.
