Travel Trade Program
The Kootenay Rockies Travel Trade role includes working as part of an integrated team with Destination BC
to plan and execute tactical strategies for the North American and key international markets.
Key markets identified by Destination BC are North America, the United Kingdom,
Germany and Australia/New Zealand.
Attendance at trade shows allows Kootenay Rockies Tourism to develop relationships with tour operators, wholesalers and receptive tour operators to encourage international and North American tour operators to include export-ready product from all areas of the region into their tour packages.
We encourage operators to include circle tour routes and new products in their itineraries, contributing to increased overnight stays in the region. Familiarization tours and trade education are coordinated in conjunction with the overall provincial and international trade team tactics and led by Destination BC.
Each overseas office delivers a media relations program aiming to maximize editorial coverage and public relations activities. Budgets and activities are approved by the Trade Team at Destination BC in Vancouver. A key component of the strategy is attending travel trade marketplaces annually to develop relationships with key tour operators, wholesalers and receptive tour operators (RTOs) to update them on product developments, itineraries and new opportunities.
An Information Session on Working with Travel Trade was presented on March 15, 2022 by
Monica Leeck, Manager, Market Development with Destination BC.
The presentation included: How to work with International Tour Operators and Receptive Tour Operators (RTO), Gaining a better understanding of the travel trade world, Learning how working with RTOs and tour operators in BC’s top international markets can add incremental revenue opportunities for your business.
Learn who they are, how to work with them and why doing so can benefit your business.
PRESENTATION PDF and RECORDING
WORKING WITH TRAVEL TRADE & TRAVEL MEDIA – Videos, Guide & Tool
HELLOBC.COM/travel-trade
Trade Show Schedule
CANADIAN INBOUND TOURISM ASSOCIATION – Asia Pacific (CITAP)
December TBA, 2025 – Gatineau, PQ
CITAP works to improve the business environment for Regional Tourism Organizations (RTO) and their partners specializing in Asia Pacific Inbound Tourism. The 25th Anniversary CITAP+ Winter Function will consist of a full day of events, including morning educational sessions and an afternoon marketplace and dinner reception. They will also be collaborating with RTO members to organize official CITAP+ in-person sales missions.
TBA, 2026 – Toronto, ON
Canada’s premier international tourism industry marketplace. Appointments for business sessions of 12 minutes are scheduled by computer, based on requests from both buyers and sellers and are held over a 4 day period. The marketplace usually rotates between Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and Halifax.
Resources
KRRoadTrips.com displays a number of itineraries:
Regional, International, multi-province and activity based, viewable online here.
HelloBC.com/travel-trade is Destination BC’s Travel Trade website; a one stop shop for tools, resources and contacts to assist in promoting BC.
Further Information
RHIANNON PATERSON
Senior Program Advisor
Ph: 250-427-4838 Ext. 4
