AGM / Tourism Summit

THE KOOTENAY TOURISM SUMMIT AGENDA

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27 – DAY 1

9:00am Optional Morning Tours
(Fairy Creek Falls Hike & Intro to the New Paleo Trail or Fernie Heritage Tour)

11:30am Registration Opens

SPEAKERS BIO’S

12:30pm Welcome
Presenters: Brad Parsell, CEO with Kootenay Rockies Tourism | Former 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
(With new leadership at Kootenay Rockies Tourism, we’re looking at who’s leading the way in destination stewardship and regenerative tourism and what we can learn from them. Rodney Payne with Destination Think and Brad Parsell with Kootenay Rockies Tourism, walk through innovative solutions already working 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
(Film and tourism can work together to drive economic impact and support communities year-round. Drawing on real Kootenay and Canadian productions, Theresa Wood of Columbia Valley Economic Development explores how film can boost shoulder-season visitors spending and keep a destination top of mind long after filming wraps up.)

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 hosts a panel on what makes Indigenous tourism authentic and why it matters. The conversation explores how to work respectfully with First Nations and how non-Indigenous allies can meaningfully support Indigenous tourism in the Kootenay Rockies.)

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

SPEAKERS BIO’S

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 Presentation
Presenter: Corrine Bundschuh, Emergency Management Specialist with Kootenay Rockies Tourism
(Wildfires. Evacuation notices. Closures. Conditions that changed by the hour. Corrine Bundschuh with Kootenay Rockies Tourism pulls back the curtain on how KRT responded this summer and what it taught us about supporting visitors, tourism businesses, and a more resilient destination.)

10:15am Break

10:45am Riding the Sauna Wave: Global Wellness Trends and What They Mean for the Kootenays Presentation
Presenter: Becky Pelkonen, Co-Founder of Kamu Sauna & Niamh Murphy, Operations & Development with Kamu Sauna
(Sauna is having a global moment, and the Kootenay Rockies are right in the middle of it. Becky Pelkonen and Niamh Murphy of Kamu Sauna, co-founders of Sauna for All, draw on hundreds of saunas worldwide to share the trends driving the boom, what travellers are looking for, and why this region is well placed to lead Canada’s sauna scene.)

11:15am Airbnb Title Sponsorship Presentation
Presenter: Kim Howson, Policy – Western Canada with Airbnb
(Kim Howson, who leads policy and government relations for Airbnb across Western Canada, shares travel trends and insights from the Kootenays and how Airbnb works with governments, communities, and tourism partners.)

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 Turner, Executive & Artistic Director with the Art Gallery of Golden-Kicking Horse Culture
(Leaders from Kootenay arts organizations come together to explore how art, culture, and storytelling create more meaningful, memorable visitor experiences. Panelist share practical takeaways attendees can bring back to their own organizations and look at the arts as both an economic driver and a tangible way for tourism businesses to invest in their 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
(Kevin Pennock with KORE and Michael Crowe with College of the Rockies, introduce the new ReHub Circular Technology Centre at the College’s Cranbrook campus. It’s BC’s first rural clean-manufacturing and repair facility, built for circular innovation, hands-on workforce training, and small-batch production of 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 | Kyle Caçador-Florence, Brand Director of Whitewater Mountain Resort | Lyle Wilson, Owner of Nipika Mountain Resort | Kyla Egan, Executive Director with Tourism Revelstoke
(This panel highlights Kootenay organizations and tourism operators putting practical, sustainable principles into action to protect the places we all love. Panelists get real about what stewardship takes, from financial investment, staff time to operational challenges and share concrete ideas attendees can apply in their own organizations.)

3:30pm Closing Remarks by Brad Parsell, CEO with Kootenay Rockies Tourism

2026 KRTA AGM AGENDA | 2025 KRTA AGM MINUTES | 2025-26 KRTA FINANCIAL REPORT | KRTA PARTNERS

Summit Registration is $249.99
Includes 2-day Summit Sessions, Tuesday evening Social,
Wednesday breakfast and lunch.

FAIRY CREEK FALLS HIKE & INTRO TO NEW PALEO TRAIL, 9:00am | Tour Duration: 2.5 hr | Meeting place: Fernie Visitor Centre, 102 Commerce Road
Enjoy the guided Fairy Creek Falls hike + Intro to the New Paleo Trail. Did you know this region was once covered by a warm inland sea more than 165 million years ago? During the Kootenay Tourism Summit, you can take an exciting journey into a fascinating chapter of British Columbia’s natural history.  
– Book Now: Tues, Oct 27 or Thurs, Oct 29

FERNIE FOX HOTEL SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS TOUR, 9:00am | Tour Duration: 1-1.5 hr | Meeting place: Fernie Fox Hotel
The Fernie Fox Hotel (Peacock Hospitality Group)is offering this sustainability tour, an opportunity for delegates a chance to see what that looks like in practice. Get an inside look at their approach to sustainable hospitality, including solar installations, heat pump systems, energy monitoring, water conservation, waste reduction, Living Wage Employer Accreditation, and Green Key certification efforts. 
– Book Now: Thurs, Oct 29

FERNIE GHOST TOUR, 6:30pm or 8:00pm | Tour Duration: 1.5 hr | Meeting place: Station Square, 591-1st Avenue
Delegates that are brave enough to uncover some of the city’s spookier stories will hear tales of the city’s haunted past, explore historic streets after dark, and see a different side of Fernie. 
– Book Now: Mon, Oct 26 (6:30pm) or Tues, Oct 27 (8:00pm)

FERNIE HERITAGE TOUR, 9:00am | Tour Duration: 1 hr | Meeting place: Fernie Museum, 491-2nd Avenue
Explore iconic historic buildings and locations, discover the stories behind Fernie’s unique architecture, and look for traces of the 1908 Great Fire that changed the city forever. 
– Book Now: Tues, Oct 27 or Thurs, Oct 29

• 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

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.