Masthead photo credit: Scott Rowed – Winter at Radium Hot Springs
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
What a fabulous winter this has been! Reports from our ski partners are extremely positive, with great early season conditions and a trend to seeing more skier visits than in recent years. As we enter into the final phase of the season, we hope the great conditions continue and that the spring break visitation is also record setting.
At Kootenay Rockies Tourism, we are in the last quarter of our fiscal year and moving quickly toward our new path that will see new program opportunities and changes to our role as part of Destination BC’s new corporate strategy. We look forward to the new challenges and we will keep the lines of communication open with all of our industry partners as we grow and evolve together.
I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Tyler Beckley, one of our Vice-Chairs and the owner/operator of Three Bars Guest Ranch. Tyler is the successful Kootenay Rockies candidate to retain a seat on the Tourism Marketing Committee. Tyler joins our Board Chair and Tourism Revelstoke Marketing Manager, Thom Tischik and myself on this provincial advisory committee. Tyler replaces our outgoing representative, Mike McPhee of Island Lake Lodge. On behalf of the Board of Directors and myself, a huge thank you to Mike for his representation of our area while on this committee. Mike’s insights, comments and feedback to the committee and Destination BC were always informative and appreciated.
The new members of the Tourism Marketing Committee are:
- Michael J. Ballingall, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, Big White Ski Resort (Thompson Okanagan)
- Tyler Beckley, Owner/General Manager, Three Bars Guest Ranch (Kootenay Rockies)
- Mike Randall, Marketing Director, Langara Fishing & Wildlife Lodge (Northern BC)
- Ty Speer, CEO, Tourism Vancouver (Vancouver, Coast & Mountains)
- Brenda Baptiste, Board Chair and Interim CEO, Aboriginal Tourism BC (provincial representative)
- Anne Murray, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Vancouver Airport Authority (member at large)
For more information on the Tourism Marketing Committee, including a complete list of members, click HERE.
I also want to remind you that we have two Instagram accounts, @KootenayRockies and @PowderHighway. Currently, Kootenay Rockies has 789 followers and Powder Highway has 1,930. With permission, we repost and share our partners photos and I encourage you to check out some of the fantastic images posted.
A reminder for tourism businesses…please continue to send any updates about your business that would be relevant to share at our appointments during tradeshows such as Rendez Vous Canada, which is taking place in April. Tour operators are very keen to learn of new product and opportunities for their clients. Keep in mind the new product offers must be commissionable and be able to book in advance.
Lastly, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the retirement of a long time Destination BC employee, Cindy Burr. Cindy has worked in the Media Relations department for many years now and has shared her love of skiing and travelling in this province with many, many travel writers and journalists from all over the world. She has been a huge supporter of all of our resorts and our regional businesses and we have many success stories that have had her involvement from the onset.
We will miss working with Cindy, but we know she will continue to be an ambassador and perhaps have more time now to continue skiing and exploring in this region with her friends and family.
KOOTENAY ROCKIES PUBLICATIONS – ORDER YOUR COPIES TODAY!
The brand new Kootenay Rockies Touring & Exploring Guide has arrived and is available for your brochure racks. The 62-page tall traveller size (6″ X 10 3/4″) replaces our traditional 8 1/2″ X 11″ size publication. The guide showcases regional parks, hot springs, communities, and festivals & events with beautiful imagery and is filled with everything there is to see and do in the region.
The Kootenay Rockies Golf Map is also new for this upcoming golf season. This new multi year map replaces the traditional Golf Vacations Guide and highlights all of the amazing golf product in our region – 27 championship courses, along with a selection of 9-hole layouts.
The entire collection of Kootenay Rockies visitor guides and maps can be viewed on KOOTENAYBROCHURES.CA.
To order your Kootenay Rockies publications please email Reception@KootenayRockies.com or call 1.800.661.6603
STAKEHOLDER PROFILES:
NELSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Congratulations to the Nelson Chamber of Commerce on the completion of the Regional Visitor Gateway (RVG) in the newly restored and improved Canadian Pacific station house. The original station house was built in 1910. The station house has been vacant and boarded up for more than 20 years. Much needed sources of funding came from the Columbia Basin Trust, the City of Nelson, the Regional District of Central Kootenay, and more. It is an exciting story of renovation using a mix of old-world building practices and modern technology.
Joining the Chamber of Commerce at this beautiful new location is NELSON KOOTENAY LAKE TOURISM.
For a full feature story check KOOTENAY BUSINESS MAGAZINE.
ELIZABETH LAKE LODGE
Congratulations to ELIZABETH LAKE LODGE owners George and Rachel Freitag on their expansion project. Upgrades to the facility included 4 additional 2-bedroom suites and a fitness centre. The award winning lodge boasts the ‘finest beds’ in Cranbrook and all rooms have a view of the Elizabeth Lake Bird Sanctuary.
Elizabeth Lake Lodge is a member of the Green Key Eco-Rating Program and has won the Trip Advisor Traveller’s Choice Hotel Award for the past 7 years.
ST. EUGENE GOLF RESORT CASINO
Welcome to the new Chief Executive Officer at ST EUGENE GOLF RESORT CASINO, Mr. Barry Zwueste. In his new role, Mr. Zwueste will oversee the growth and sustainability of all branches of the Resort including the Golf Course, Hotel and Casino.
Mr. Zwueste has been a senior executive in the hospitality industry for over 20 years. His experience includes senior management roles at several prestigious resorts and city center hotels across Canada including the Fantasyland Hotel, The Algonquin Resort, Jasper Park Lodge, and Chateau Lake Louise. Mr. Zwueste is also a founding partner with Bellstar Hotels and Resorts.
WELCOME TO THE FOLLOWING NEW PARTNERS:
BLUE LAKE CENTRE – SOUTH of FAIRMONT HOT SPRINGS
Summer camp programs, small group rentals, deluxe lodge and cabin accommodation.
BlueLakeCentre.com
ELK RIVER GUIDING CO & FLY SHOP – FERNIE
Guided fly-fishing trips on the Elk & Wigwam River.
ElkRiver.ca
FAR OUT GEAR RENTAL – RADIUM HOT SPRINGS
Rent or buy gear and accessories for outdoor activities.
RentFarOut.com
FERNIE RV RESORT
Brand new RV Resort with full-service hookups and many amenities.
FernieRVResort.com
KEEFER LAKE LODGE – MONASHEES
A premier cat-skiing destination with a 5-star lodge.
KeeferLakeLodge.com
POMONA CIDER MILL – BURTON
One of BC’s newest Craft Cideries, located near Nakusp, on the Arrow Lakes.
PomonaCiderMill.ca
MOUNTAIN HIGH ADVENTURES & SHUTTLES – FERNIE
Guided adventure watersport trips and shuttle service.
RaftFernie.com
THE TACO CLUB – REVELSTOKE
A contemporary restaurant with a cantina-style interior and a formal, diverse menu. Facebook/TheTacoClub
WASA COUNTRY PUB & GRILL
Great food & service, cold beer, free WiFi.
WasaCountryPub.com
DESTINATION BC – #BCSKICHAT
This winter, Destination BC is co-hosting Twitter Chats with SnowSeekers media to drive excitement and inspiration to ski BC and the Powder Highway. The Twitter chat includes a group of passionate participants – join the #BCSkiChat on February 24 for a 30 minute lively conversation on the highlights of the season so far with fans, locals and ambassadors of ski!
#BCSkiChat on Feb 24 at 1pm PST, 2pm MST.
Follow @DestinationBC and @KootRock for updates.
LOS ANGELES TRAVEL & ADVENTURE SHOW
Tourism Vancouver Island, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, Northern BC Tourism Association and Kootenay Rockies Tourism, Wendy Van Puymbroeck, will promote BC at the Travel & Adventure Show, February 27-28 in Los Angeles – the largest US consumer travel show. The regions will share a booth under the Destination BC banner.
The team will give a keynote presentation in the Destination Theatre encouraging Californians to discover BC and their WILD WITHIN! Destination BC recently launched The Wild Within VR Experience, using Oculus Rift technology. The audience in the Destination Theatre will receive their own Google Cardboard to view The Wild Within VR Experience as an interactive, three-dimensional video that will allow them to experience British Columbia in a truly immersive way, as if they were actually there.
DESTINATION CANADA
Destination Canada’s Canadian Signature Experiences (CSE) has added 10 new awe-inspiring authentic year-round adventures to its collection.
Congratulations to ALPINE RAFTING in Golden, BC and owner Val Pleym as your business was chosen as one of the 10 new Canadian Signature Experiences!
The Alpine Rafting experience is described as ‘Ride a paddle board down a Rocky Mountain River on the Wapta Falls Wild & Scenic Tour in BC’s Yoho National Park, following ancient Indigenous routes and witnessing spectacular waterfalls.’
CSE has grown to 196 members that offer experiences from coast to coast to coast. For the full press release click Destination Canada MEDIA RELEASE.
RECENT MEDIA COVERAGE
Working as part of the DBC Media Team and with the support of our regional tourism partners & businesses, the following media coverage was generated.
‘With a strong U.S. dollar, now’s the time to fulfill your dream ski vacation in Canada’. A feature story with Revelstoke Mountain Resort.
As one Revelstokian put it, “For Americans, everything here is about 40 percent off.” (Grant Gunderson)
Authored by Rachel Walker who writes about travel, the environment and family from her home in Boulder, Colorado. Find her on Twitter at @racheljowalker.
Two feature stories in the Gloucester Times by Dave Sartwell, who was recently in Golden and Revelstoke for the North American Snowsports Journalists’ Association.
Revelstoke has a lot to offer adventurous skiers!
“Adventure skiers know that there is no ski mountain like Revelstoke in all of North America. Over 5,620 feet of vertical. Let me repeat, over 5,620 feet of vertical! When you add to the fact that they get blanketed by an average of 35-40 feet of dry champagne powder, you get a skiing paradise. Every steep rider owes it to themselves to make the pilgrimage.”
Click HERE for the full Revelstoke story.
Getting a kick out of Kicking Horse!
“We were skiing at Kicking Horse Mountain in the heart of southern British Columbia, the Champagne Powder Capital of Canada. Located in the Purcell Mountains, this is a HUGE mountain with over 4,100 feet of vertical from a peak of 8,033 feet. What distinguishes this ski area from the others is the height of the base at 3,900 feet. Where others can be getting rain, Kicking Horse will be receiving snow.”
WEEKEND TRIP: THE SWEET SIDECOUNTRY OF REVELSTOKE AND KICKING HORSE
“I found it a few hours west of Calgary, in the very southeast part of the Province along the borders of the States and Alberta. Tucked away in this forgotten area is a string of seven ski resorts that together make up the POWDER HIGHWAY.”
An article by Will McGough in Elevation Outdoors, February 19, 2016.
Click HERE for the full story.
SOCIAL MEDIA WORKSHOP – GET SOCIAL – SAVE THE DATE!
The Social Media Content Production and Amplification Workshop powered by TELUS comes to Cranbrook on April 15 at the College of the Rockies.
Workshop topics are designed for people who work in a variety of business’, including the tourism and hospitality industry. Learn valuable social media insights, tips and trips from leading social media experts.
Award-winning speakers include:
- Matt Mosteller, (PowderMatt), one of BC’s most famous bloggers and Senior VP at Resorts of the Canadian Rockies.
- Jeff Bartlett, (PhotoJBartlett), a Jasper based adventure photographer and writer, globe-traveller and former Eddie Bauer ambassador.
- Chris Wheeler, (ApresWheeler), a videographer and social media expert who helped promote the 2010 Olympics in Whistler.
Pick one session or attend the full day. April 15, 10am to 4pm. Cost is $10+GST per 2 hour session or $25+GST for the full workshop which includes lunch.
Register HERE with workshop host and tourism partner – Seekers Media.
