The Kootenay Tourism Summit
will take place at the Best Western Plus Fernie Mountain Lodge
on October 27-28, 2026
Join us for the Kootenay Tourism Summit in beautiful Fernie!
THE KOOTENAY TOURISM SUMMIT AGENDA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27 – DAY 1
9:00am Optional Morning Tours
(Fernie Heritage Tour or Fairy Creek Falls Hike & Intro to the New Paleo Trail)
11:30am Registration Opens
12:30pm Welcome
Presenters: Brad Parsell, CEO with Kootenay Rockies Tourism | Mayor Nic Milligan with the City of Fernie
1:00pm Destination Think Collective Presentation
Presenters: Rodney Payne, CEO with Destination Think | Brad Parsell, CEO with Kootenay Rockies Tourism
(As Kootenay Rockies Tourism enters a new era of leadership, we are taking inspiration from tourism organizations that are leading the way in destination stewardship and regenerative tourism. Join Rodney Payne and Brad Parsell as they share innovative tourism solutions already at work in other parts of the world.)
2:15pm Break
2:30pm Kootenay Radness: Kootenay Film Commission Presentation
Presenter: Theresa Wood with the Columbia Valley Economic Development
(Theresa Wood will feature recent film & TV projects shot in the Kootenays, set jetting and the opportunity to attract more productions to the region.)
3:00pm Indigenous Tourism Panel
Moderator: Paula Amos, Chief Marketing & Development Officer with Indigenous Tourism BC
Panellist: Leanna Gravelle with the Ktunaxa Interpretative Centre | Jared Basil with the Yaqan Nukiy First Nation
(Indigenous Tourism BC presents a panel discussion on the value of authentic Indigenous tourism, how to respectfully work with First Nations and how non-Indigenous allies can meaningfully support Indigenous tourism in the Kootenays.)
4:30pm Delegates make their way to the White Bistro Cafe & Bistro at the Red Tree Lodge
5:00pm Fernie Radness: Welcome Reception hosted by ‘Tourism Fernie’
7:30pm Free Evening
8:00pm Optional Evening Tour
(Fernie Ghost Tour)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28 – DAY 2
8:00am Breakfast Served
9:00am Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association 49th Annual General Meeting
(Tristen Maclaggan, Acting Chair of Kootenay Rockies Tourism, will lead the business of the Annual General Meeting including presentation of financials & operational highlights from previous year, and the announcement of the new Board of Directors.)
9:45am Beyond Wildfires: Building Destination Resilience
Presenter: Corrine Bundschuh, Emergency Management Specialist with Kootenay Rockies Tourism
(Throughout the summer of 2026, KRT responded to wildfires, evacuation notifications, access restrictions, infrastructure disruptions, and rapidly changing travel conditions across the region. Drawing on key moments from that response, Corrine goes behind the scenes of KRT’s work and explores what the summer taught us about supporting visitors, tourism businesses and resilient destinations.)
10:15am Break
10:45am Kootenay Radness: Kamu Sauna Presentation
Presenter: Becky Pelkonen, Co-Founder of Kamu Sauna
(Becky Pelkonen will explore sauna culture and wellness trends in tourism. As co-founder of Kamu Sauna, Becky champions sauna as an electronic-free space for deep connection, community and renewal and will explore the role sauna culture offers the future of wellness tourism in the Kootenay Rockies region.)
11:15am Airbnb Title Sponsorship Presentation
Presenter: Kim Howson, Policy Associate with Airbnb
(Airbnb is a global online marketplace that connects travellers with hosts offering short-term accommodations, from private rooms to homes and unique stays.)
11:30am Arts & Culture Panel
Moderator: Robyn Goldsmith, Executive Director with Arts Revelstoke
Panelists: Jess Leahey with Revelstoke Outdoor Art Movement | Sydney Black, Executive Director with the Nelson & District Arts Council | Logan Thackery, Executive & Artistic Director with the Art Gallery of Golden-Kicking Horse Culture
(Arts and culture are the secret sauce that gives the Kootenays its ‘funkiness’ and character – and has become critical to the visitor experience in many communities.)
12:30pm Networking Lunch
1:30pm Kootenay Radness: Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise (KORE) ReHub Presentation
Presenters: Kevin Pennock, Executive Director with KORE | Michael Crowe, President & CEO with the College of the Rockies
(Both will give a presentation on the new ReHub Circular Technology Centre at the Cranbrook College of the Rockies campus – BC’s first rural clean-manufacturing and repair facility dedicated to circular innovation, workforce training and small-batch production for outdoor gear.)
2:00pm Destination Stewardship in Action Panel
Moderator: Chris McCurry, Director of Destination Stewardship with Kootenay Rockies Tourism
Panelists: Jikke Gyorki, Executive Officer with Tourism Fernie | Jeremiah Pauw, Owner of Peacock Hospitality Group | Mike Rubenstein, General Manager of Whitewater Mountain Resort | Lyle Wilson, Owner of Nipika Mountain Resort | Kyla Egan, Executive Director with Tourism Revelstoke
(This panel explores how organizations and operators in the Kootenay Rockies are embracing practical, sustainable, and regenerative principles in their operations to help protect the place we all love – the Koots!)
3:30pm Closing Remarks by Brad Parsell, CEO with Kootenay Rockies Tourism
Summit Registration is $249.99
Includes 2-day Summit Sessions, Tuesday evening Social,
Wednesday breakfast and lunch.
FREE OPTIONAL COMMUNITY TOURS Hosted by Tourism Fernie.
Sign up for guided tours on the Summit Registration Form – link above.
Experience more of Fernie!
OCTOBER 26 – EVENING PRIOR TO SUMMIT
FERNIE GHOST TOUR, 6:30pm | Tour Duration: 1.5 hr | Meeting place: Station Square, 591-1st Avenue
Guided tour through downtown highlighting local history legends.
OCTOBER 27 – FIRST DAY OF THE SUMMIT
FERNIE HERITAGE TOUR, 9am | Tour Duration: 1 hr | Meeting place: Fernie Museum, 491-2nd Avenue
Guided downtown tour exploring historic hotels and past districts.
FAIRY CREEK FALLS HIKE & INTRO TO NEW PALEO TRAIL, 9am
Tour Duration: 2.5 hr | Meeting place: Fernie Visitor Centre, 102 Commerce Road
5-km hike showcasing Fernie’s natural beauty and fossil history.
FERNIE GHOST TOUR, 8pm | Tour Duration: 1.5 hr | Meeting place: Station Square, 591-1st Avenue
Guided tour through downtown highlighting local history legends.
OCTOBER 29 – POST-SUMMIT
FERNIE HERITAGE TOUR, 9am | Tour Duration: 1 hr | Meeting place: Fernie Museum, 491-2nd Avenue
Guided downtown tour exploring historic hotels and past districts.
FAIRY CREEK FALLS HIKE & INTRO TO NEW PALEO TRAIL, 9am
Tour Duration: 2.5 hr | Meeting place: Fernie Visitor Centre, 102 Commerce Road
5-km hike showcasing Fernie’s natural beauty and fossil history.
SUSTAINABILITY TOUR – IT’S AT THE FOREFRONT OF PEACOCK HOSPITALITY GROUP, 9am
Tour Duration: 1-1.5 hr | Meeting place: Fernie Fox Hotel
Tour Highlights include solar installations, energy monitoring and much more including their broader approach to operating a sustainable hospitality business.
ACCOMMODATION is booked directly by delegates and not included in the Summit Registration.
Here are a few closeby lodging suggestions:
- Best Western Fernie Mountain Lodge
1622 7th Ave (Summit venue)
Quote code: 2220 for Conference group rate of $190.31 (for the nights of Oct 27 & 28 only) for Standard Queen Rooms.
Call to book / 250-423-5500 / 1-866-423-5566 - Stayin.club (various locations)
15% discount is offered to delegates
Book online using Code: ROCKIES2026
- Park Place Lodge – 742 Highway #3
(1 km from venue)
Classic hotel room, starting at $154
Use Code: KRT26 / 250-423-6871 / 1-888-381-7275 - Snow Valley Lodging – 1041 7th Avenue
(2 kms from venue)
15% discount is offered to delegates
Call or email 250-423-4421
Info@FernieAccommodations.com
Our KOOTENAY TOURISM SUMMIT Sponsors
HOST SPONSOR:
Tourism Fernie Society is a Destination Marketing & Management Organization with the mission to sustainability increase visitation and revenue for stakeholders in Fernie and surrounding area through effective tourism marketing, programs and destination management.
TITLE SPONSOR:
Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home and has since grown to over 5.5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2.6 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays, experiences and services that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.
GOLD SPONSORS:
Near + Far is an experience agency for place-based brands. We bring strategic thinking that questions the obvious path, design that communicates rather than decorates, and technology that serves the experience. We’re not here to manufacture a story, but to make sure nothing gets in the way of the real one.
Click Maint is a Canadian maintenance management platform that helps organizations simplify work orders, maintenance requests, assets, equipment, inspections and preventative maintenance. For hotels, resorts, attractions, recreation operators and other tourism businesses, maintenance plays a direct role in guest experience, safety, staff efficiency and seasonal readiness. Click Maint gives teams an easy-to-use system to track what needs to be done, who is responsible and what has been completed.
go2HR is the human resources and health & safety association for British Columbia’s tourism and hospitality industry. go2HR exists to drive strong work forces and safe workplaces that deliver world-class tourism and hospitality experiences in BC. Through training, research, advisory services and industry partnerships, go2HR supports employers and workers at every stage, helping build a stronger tourism and hospitality sector for BC.
Banff Jasper Collection by Pursuit connects guests to some of the world’s most celebrated destinations through attractions, accommodations, dining, retail and transportation services. Their portfolio includes well-known experiences such as the Banff Gondola, Columbia Icefield Adventure, Golden Skybridge, Maligne Lake Cruise and Lake Minnewanka. Banff Jasper Collection is focused on creating unforgettable guest experiences while supporting the communities and natural environments in which they operate.
Financial Statement link to be updated early Sept 2026.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Kootenay Tourism Summit in October!