In partnership with Destination British Columbia, Thompson Okanagan Tourism works with Travel Trade to build destination awareness in our top markets. Our focus is to attract new business to the region and to increase overnight stays with existing key accounts. We target key accounts who bring tour groups and FIT travellers into our region. Travel trade assists with research, travel planning, new product bulletins, sample itineraries, destination information, stakeholder contacts, and travel trade familiarization trips.
Travel Trade Resources
Are you a member of the Travel Trade and require additional information about the region, including signature experiences, new product, and itinerary ideas? Check out our Travel Trade Planner.
National + Provincial Partnerships
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association partners with Destination BC and Destination Canada on trade initiatives in primary markets, both domestic and international.
TOTA also works with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and Indigenous Tourism BC.
TOTA works directly with many stakeholders, private PR firms and industry associations. MOU agreements are in place for the cross-promotion of routes into the Thompson Okanagan including the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association and the North Central Washington Economic Development District.
Regional Partnerships
TOTA works with the following regional partners to share story ideas, new product announcements, and hosting Travel Trade in region:
Marketplaces + Events
TOTA currently attends the following Travel Trade Marketplaces and events:
Destination Canada — Rendez-vous Canada — Annual, domestic and international travel businesses
Destination BC — Canada’s West Marketplace — Annual, domestic and international travel businesses
Destination BC — Explore BC —Bi-annual, domestic travel business (representing international business)
CITAP (Canadian Inbound Travel Association Pacific Asia) — Annual Winter Event and Summer Golf Tournament
Export-Ready Product + Transportation Updates
TOTA regularly advises the travel trade of new export-ready product, transportation changes and renovations and upgrades to existing export-ready product. E-blasts are sent out on a quarterly basis to a large list of travel trade representatives. Also, new product bulletins are prepared for distribution during attendance at Rendez-vous Canada, Canada’s West Marketplace, and Explore BC. Content from the bulletins is also presented on the travel trade website.
View the latest new product bulletin on the Travel Trade website.
View the latest Destination BC export-ready standards.
Hosting Travel Trade In Region
TOTA works in conjunction with Destination BC and Destination Canada to host travel trade familiarization (FAM’s) in region. Select key tour operator and receptive tour operator accounts are regularly invited into the region for short but comprehensive inspections of the region to raise awareness of product offering which can be included in custom itineraries. Focus is also put on building travel into different sub-regions in shoulder and low seasons. Travel Trade itineraries are planned in partnership with TOTA by Destination BC and are also driven by stakeholders requesting travel trade at their business. Logistics and arrangements are managed by TOTA in partnership with sub-regional partners who best represent their respective destinations.
Destination Information Support
TOTA provides support for Travel Trade by providing a wide range of services. When contact is made through Destination BC or directly with TOTA, requests for destination information are sent directly to tour operators and travel agencies. When approved by Travel Trade in advance, TOTA will notify stakeholders when they have been asked to provide more information on their products or services.
TOTA produces a Travel Trade map and an online travel trade planner. The call to action from marketplace appointments will be to direct Travel Trade to the online planner and/or to respond through TOTA’s CRM system. TOTA can provide images and b-roll through the online travel trade planner or if contacted directly. TOTA maintains an online image library to which access can be requested and permission is provided with a direct link.
As a stakeholder in the Travel Trade industry, we showcase information about the region, including signature experiences, new product, and itinerary ideas that are available for you to use in our Travel Trade Planner.
Travel Trade Communications
Thompson Okanagan Tourism maintains a CRM system that manages the communications and tracking of Travel Trade accounts. Each time a member of the travel trade is newly engaged with TOTA, they have an account set up in the CRM system which contains basic contact information along with as much insight as possible on their tour itineraries and business in general. Following attendance at a trade marketplace and event, trade accounts are updated to reflect the discussions during appointments and to update contact information. This system is also used to target travel trade with regular communications including TOTA new product bulletins.
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