Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association



		As we persevere through the cold temperatures with February just around the corner, we hope you are enjoying this wintry season with thoughts of spring not too far away. The good news is that the winter product suppliers are happy and for the remainder of us, we’re halfway to the meltdown. For those of you looking at this on a beach somewhere, good on ya!! Read on, enjoy and don’t forget our Annual General Meeting coming up in Salmon Arm on March 27th. In this issue, the topics included are: Travel Trade Report Media Update Marketing Update The BC Tourism Industry Conference ATBC's 2008 Aboriginal Tourism Awards Interior Savings Financial Report Reawaken Your Entrepreneurial Spirit A conference about attracting culinary tourists iTravel is looking for export-ready partners Blogs and how they can affect you The motorcoach travel resurgence among US consumers And a study that says gays and lesbians are a "dream market" for tourism Travel Trade Report Jackie Frederick - Director of Sales Gary Aldus – Sales Manager TOTA will be attending the following trade shows on your behalf. Please let us know if you will be attending these or other shows in the future. If there are sufficient numbers traveling to these shows, TOTA may, based on availability, arrange networking opportunities for the region. Please contact Jackie Frederick, Director of Sales at 250-860-5999 or jfrederick@totabc.com January Tampa RV Consumer Show - January 2008 Quartzite RV Consumer Show - January 2008 February American Bus Association Trade Show - February 2008 March ITB - May 2008 Spotlight UK Trade Show - June 2008 Showcase China Trade Show (tentative) Rendez Vous - May 2008 September Student Youth Travel Association - September 2008 October Showcase Korea - October 2008 Kanata Japan - October 2008 TOTA attended Tourism BC and Travel Alberta’s Canada’s West Marketplace Trade show in Whistler November 25-29th. TOTA also sponsored a post fam tour of the region with support from Tourism Sun Peaks and Tourism Kamloops. Ten tour operators representing five countries were escorted for three days from Whistler to Sun Peaks and into the Kelowna area. Many thanks go to suppliers and Charter Bus Lines for hosting. Thompson Okanagan Tourism - Canada West Marketplace Post Fam Tour participants at Sun Peaks Resort Tourism BC staff and Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association In December, TOTA paid sales calls to 15 Receptive Tour Operators in Vancouver. Jackie and Gary also had meetings with representatives from the Canadian Tourism Commission and the North American and Overseas Travel Trade department of Tourism BC. The month of January so far has seen Jackie embark with Tourism BC on a 10 day sales mission to the USA east coast to visit several major receptive operators and CTC staff. Market updates from Tourism BC Perhaps some of your clients are from one or more of the following countries. Do you want to capture more of their friends or family on a holiday? Tourism BC researches and compiles data including emerging trends on British Columbia’s tourism markets. Australia Germany Japan New Zealand South Korea Taiwan United Kingdom To learn more on the following markets, click here http://www.tourismbc.com/market_profiles.asp?id=1607 Tourism BC attended trade shows in 2008-2009 Are you interested in participating in or learning more on trade shows in Europe and the South Pacific? Click here for more information. Activity Guide Opportunities from German Tour Operator SK Touristik currently operates several group and FIT programs into the Thompson Okanagan. It’s expected to result in 4,000 visitors touring our region in 2008. SK Touristik is offering listings to TOTA members in their Activity & Attractions Guide. This is a terrific economical opportunity for operators wishing to provide incentive advertising to capture more of the German RV market. For more information, please contact Sarah Boemer at info@skitouristik.de or click here for more information. Market Ready Product Members and Images In the normal course of work for us, it is not uncommon for operators in the industry to ask us for images of Thompson Okanagan products or services for familiarity and/or marketing purposes. These are usually dealt in a “one-off” basis but over a year, the requests for images seem to add up. In turn, this means that we usually have to contact members to access an image of theirs. To provide timely responses, we ask that members send in a “wow” image to us so that we can forward it on to qualified leads. We will build a library of images to only be used for this purpose - to provide greater exposure of your product to buyers. Please e-mail your best photo that ideally shows that it is in the Thompson Okanagan (a little background is preferable with no close-ups) to Gary Aldus at galdus@totabc.com Media Update Miles Prodan, Executive Director TOTA is proud that the region has been named for the second year in a row as a top destination for travel worldwide. Last year, the Okanagan Valley was named by Frommers' guidebooks among their top 2007 destinations. This year Shermans Travel has listed the Okanagan Valley among their Top 10 Places to go for 2008. Unpaid media coverage is an important and critical aspect of TOTA's marketing activities. It has proven to be the most cost effective and efficient marketing tools we have in raising consumer awareness of the region as a travel destination. Marketing Update Carolyn Carr, Director of Marketing Alison Steward, Marketing Manager Big demand for Spring Marketing Opportunities! Spring touring sections are already selling well. Co-op marketing opportunities are available in the 10th Anniversary edition of the Van Dop Arts & Cultural Guide, BC Wine Trails Spring issue, the Edmonton Journal's Gems of BC and Westworld BC and Alberta. TOTA has an expanded section in the 10th Anniversary edition of the Van Dop Arts & Cultural Guide reaching over 100,000 enthusiasts every year. Following the success of the 2007 BC Wine Report and its annual Golf publication, the Edmonton Journal’s new Gems of BC publication presents the best of both by taking readers on wine and culinary tours, ultimate golfing experiences and reporting on what’s new in spas and active lifestyle vacations. Rockin’ the Thompson Okanagan! Almost 6 million viewers coast to coast will soon be seeing and hearing a lot about Kamloops, Vernon, Osoyoos and the new Thompson Okanagan Golf Trail. The communities and the golf courses have struck a sponsorship deal with the Canadian Curling Federation, TSN and CBC to run TV ads during the World Championship Briers coverage in February and March. 66% of Curlers and Curling fans play golf, 76% take long distance vacations each year and they have exceptionally strong sponsorship affinity with 77% reporting they are likely to try a new product or service for the first time if it is a sponsor of a Brier. 2008 Tour Planner Grow your business with TOTA’s 2008 Tour Planner! A completely new concept, the planner is designed to be customized to the needs of each individual travel trade operator. The Planner, the accompanying website and specifically targeted sample itineraries offer a comprehensive package focusing on export ready tour product in the TOTA region. For more information on advertising opportunities contact: George Tinling at 250-860-5999 or gtinling@totabc.com Top				Page 1: Travel Trade Report Media Update Marketing Update Page 2: The Tourism Event of the Year is just 20 days away... Call for Nominations for ATBC's 2008 Aboriginal Tourism Awards - deadline for nominations is drawing near: Feb. 1. Interior Savings Financial Report Reawaken Your Entrepreneurial Spirit - How to find others like you Conference Serves Up Ingredients For Attracting Culinary Tourists Calling all interested export ready partners! Trust us – Blog is not a Star Trek Term Motorcoach Travel Resurgence Among US Consumers Study Says Gays and Lesbians Are a "Dream Market" for Tourism