The Organization

Kootenay Rockies Tourism is a Destination Management and Marketing Organization (DMO) registered as a society with the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Relations, Province of British Columbia.

Our organization is contracted as an official agent of Tourism British Columbia, which was established as a legislated corporation in 1997, with funding levels linked to the BC tax on accommodation and with management authority held by an independent Board of Directors.


CHRIS DADSON President
The principal mandate of Kootenay Rockies Tourism is to generate incremental tourism revenues by developing, coordinating and delivering collaborative destination marketing initiatives on behalf of the tourism industry of the Kootenay Rockies region. The Association delivers these initiatives primarily through the Tourism Partners and the Community Tourism Opportunities Programs with strategic planning integrated with Tourism British Columbia and the province's other five regional Destination Marketing Organizations.

KRISTIN EITZENBERGER Receptionist Kristin@KootenayRockies.com	CHRIS ANDREWS Manager, Partner & Community Programs Andrews@KootenayRockies.com

In addition, Travel Trade and Media Relations activities are delivered within an integrated provincial Trade and Media Plan, prepared by the Trade and Media specialists of Tourism British Columbia, their in-market international staff and the six regional DMO's. Kootenay Rockies Tourism operates from the Kootenay Rockies Tourism Building in Kimberley, British Columbia. The Board of Directors is elected by the Marketing Partners at the Annual General Meeting and is charged with the responsibility of directing policy by which the management functions.

KATHY COOPER Regional Travel Trade Representative Kathy@KootenayRockies.com	HEIDI KORVEN, Coordinator Regional Media Relations Representative Heidi@KootenayRockies.com
Geographical boundaries which define the 'destination' for which marketing programs are conducted include the southeast corner of British Columbia, a region composed of a series of north/south extending valleys and mountain ranges including the Monashee, Columbia, Selkirk, Purcell and world-renowned Rocky Mountains. Our regional boundaries include the Alberta border with British Columbia in the east, the US border with Canada in the south and extend north to the centres of Revelstoke and Golden and west to the Thompson Okanagan region. The Kootenay Rockies destination of British Columbia is one of six designated destinations of BC. Others include Northern BC, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, Thompson Okanagan, Vancouver, Coast & Mountains and Vancouver Island.

KAREN COOK Manager, Publications & Website Karen@KootenayRockies.com	SHANNON HARRISON, Coordinator Partner & Community Programs Shannon@KootenayRockies.com

TOURISM PARTNERS Kootenay Rockies Tourism accepts applications for registration as a Tourism Partner, at no charge. Registration as a Tourism Partner is available to tourism businesses, organizations, communities and consortiums actively operating a business, facility or service which is a component of a destination vacation package and/or experience. Tourism Partners participating in any marketing initiatives under the Tourism Partners or Community Foundations Program will automatically become a Kootenay Rockies Marketing Partner. Your status as Marketing Partner will validate your eligibility to vote and hold office in the Association and be accorded all partner rights under the Constitution.
SIMON BROWN Accountant Simon@KootenayRockies.com	DORI SHEARER Accounting Assistant Dori@KootenayRockies.com


THE STRUCTURE Kootenay Rockies Tourism is a Destination Management Organization whose activities are delivered by the staff under the direction of an industry Board of Directors. The Board is elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association.
LAURIE REED, Coordinator Air Partner Programs Laurie@KootenayRockies.com	As well as directing the policies by which management operates, the Board of Directors are responsible for allocating the overall marketing budgets which are cost shared through a contractual agreement with partner organizations such as Tourism British Columbia. Within these budget allocations, each visitor activity has its own particular set of marketing initiatives based on distinct strategies. Project selection and promotional mix are determined by the Kootenay Rockies Tourism staff and are subject to program approval by Tourism British Columbia.




Click here to become a Kootenay Rockies Tourism Partner