Like many things, the world of travel-media relations has changed substantially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of mid-March this year, the travel media program here at Tourism Kelowna has been, for the most part, put on hold. Actively pitching travel to the area stopped, any familiarization trips that were being planned were canceled, and engaging with media took a new form by connecting virtually through newsletters, a TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) BC Chapter virtual mingler, and attendance at the Virtual Adventure Elevate conference, which included speed-dating-style appointments.
Through the summer and fall, articles based on past visits were still being published though, which helps to keep Kelowna top of mind with BC residents thinking of a getaway within the province and allows those outside of our borders to keep dreaming and planning for a trip once it’s safe to travel again. Here are some of the stories that included Kelowna these past months:
- April 2020, The Epoch Times "Okanagan Valley: The Edge of Viticulture"
- June 2020, Narcity "7 Beaches in BC That Feel Like a Vacation in the Caribbean"
- July 2020, Global BC "Explore BC: Kelowna's Downtown Marina"
- August 2020, Johnny Jet "4 Road Trips to Take in British Columbia"
- September 2020, Family Fun Canada "An Autumnal Escape to Kelowna"
- September 2020, Explore Mag "12 of the Best Lakes in British Columbia, Canada"
- October 2020, The Georgia Straight "Seven BC fall escapes for those feeling the urge to get out of town"
- October 2020, BC Living "5 Weekend Road Trips from Vancouver"
In late September and early October, in support of Destination Canada and Destination BC, we did have a handful of BC-based travel media and content creators in the area. Stories and articles created from those visits will come out in the coming months and will encourage BC residents to explore within the province while keeping health and safety a top priority.
While invitations to visit Kelowna are still on hold, media on confirmed assignments with Destination BC or other industry partners (TOTA, industry partners, stakeholders, etc.) will continue to be supported. If you have any questions about the current state of the travel media program at Tourism Kelowna, please contact me at carla@tourismkelowna.com or (250) 861-1515 ext. 204.