The Okanagan Bucket List Unveiled at YLW
What’s on Your Bucket List? The Okanagan Bucket List Unveiled at YLW
(KELOWNA, BC) – A new era of partnership in marketing and promotion of the Okanagan Region to visitors from around the world was officially launched today during a special ceremony at the Kelowna International Airport (YLW).
Today, YLW introduces visitors through its gates extraordinary tourism experiences from across the region an innovative program entitled the “Okanagan Bucket List”. Administered by the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), the Okanagan Bucket List program highlights four tourism product category leaders in ski, wine, spa, and golf – Big White Ski Resort, Mission Hill Winery, Sparkling Hill Resort and Predator Ridge Resort – each offering an iconic experience unique to the Okanagan. In this private and public partnership TELUS is the corporate sponsor. TELUS embraces the vision of this campaign and realizes there will be significant economic benefits through continued growth in the Tourism Industry.
The inspiration of this program came from the recently completed Thompson Okanagan Regional Tourism Strategy that identified the critical need to identify and promote the Region’s signature experiences utilizing cooperative tactics to effectively compete in the rapidly changing global tourism marketplace.
TOTA’s President and CEO, Glenn Mandziuk made the announcement in front of a gate at the airport noting, “the Okanagan Region has a number of truly outstanding experiences that can set this area apart and this Bucket List program goes to the core of the cooperative nature of the Regional Strategy. YLW provides the perfect launching point for a program that will utilize a variety of promotional tactics to raise awareness in the global marketplace about what the Okanagan has to offer as a premier year-round tourism destination.”
Mandziuk continues, “When someone is attracted to one of these Okanagan Bucket List iconic experiences it means greater success for all tourism businesses in the area. I want to congratulate the founding partners in this initiative for supporting this strategy. This program will be adding more product offerings from businesses across the Region in the months to come. TOTA’s committed to encouraging our tourism partners who are willing to create experiences that deliver, “if you can dream it, we can deliver it.”
“The Okanagan Bucket List is a simple but powerful marketing franchise demonstrating that we are stronger together than in isolation.” explains Brad Pelletier VP of Predator Ridge. “The more we as a region partner come together to influence and promote our product and experiences, the greater the experience the tourist will have in the Okanagan.”
The Kelowna International Airport (YLW) has entered into an advertising agreement with TOTA that will involve advertisements on the exterior and interior of the seven airport bridges promoting the Okanagan Bucket List products to visitors. “As the gateway to almost 1.5 million visitors to the Okanagan each year,” says Airport Director Sam Samaddar, “YLW plays a huge part in linking travelers to each of these amazing experiences”.
The advertising commitment at YLW is for five years and is the start of the roll-out of the Okanagan Bucket List. The initiative is also about encouraging others in the region to participate alongside the founding members by promoting signature experiences unique to the Okanagan on www.okanaganbucketlist.com.
“I believe we are known for the company we keep and the combined influence of Mission Hill, Big White, Sparkling Hill and Predator Ridge is very exciting. This launch today with Kelowna Airport, TOTA and TELUS is the flagship platform for the Okanagan Bucket List,” concludes Pelletier.
Big White raves about their champagne powder, and so they should. With the bountiful snow, superbly groomed runs and massive blue skies, it’s no wonder Canada’s largest ski-in ski-out resort is an international destination.
Recently recognized by Travel + Leisure magazine as "one of the top five winery restaurants in the world,” Mission Hill Family Estate Winery is the centerpiece of the Canadian wine tourism industry.
Swarovski crystal-infused Sparkling Hill is astonishing. This modern oasis offers a most remarkable European-inspired experience and an unforgettable personal journey toward whole body health and wellness.
In addition to their two critically-acclaimed golf courses, state-of-the-art facilities and bragging rights as ‘The Official Summer Home of Hockey Canada’ Predator Ridge Resort is a thriving community of 650+ homes which offers a way of life other people can only dream about.
Finding out what is on the Okanagan Bucket List starts with a visit to the website at www.OkanaganBucketList.com.
For more information contact:
Glenn Mandziuk, CEO
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Assn. (TOTA)
Tel: 250-860-5999 ext 216
Email: ceo@totabc.com
Contact Big White Central Reservations
Toll Free (North America): 1.800.663.2772
Direct Line: 250.765.8888
Email: cenres@bigwhite.com