Kelowna: The Ultimate Hybrid Meeting Destination

HUNDREDS EXPECTED TO ATTEND INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS TOURISM CONFERENCE

2019 EDITION

THE ULTIMATE HYBRID MEETING DESTINATION

(AND OTHER REASONS TO MEET HERE)

LOCAL BUSINESS LEADER CHAMPIONS KELOWNA ACROSS THE GLOBE

LEVERAGING INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL TO ENGAGE AUDIENCES, GROW CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

CREATE A CULTURE OF WELLNESS, CENTRE YOUR MEETING IN KELOWNA

SPOTLIGHT: AWARD-WINNING CHEF MARK FILATOW

KELOWNA ALWAYS WOWS. Set against a backdrop of picturesque valley mountains and rolling vineyards, BC’s fastest growing city can’t help but capture the hearts and minds of those who are lucky enough to meet here.

CONTACT US Seeking insights, inspiration or assistance with planning your next event?

Jennifer Horsnell Director of Business and Destination Development tel: 250.861.1515 ext. 205 toll free: 1.800.663.4345 email: jennifer@tourismkelowna.com Julia Garner Business Development tel: 250.861.1515 ext. 217 toll free: 1.800.663.4345 email: julia@tourismkelowna.com Pat Gappmayr Business Development Consultant (TORONTO) tel: 416.265.3464 email: pat@tourismkelowna.com Nicolle Gomez de Sousa Business Development Consultant (CALGARY) tel: 587.716.5599 email: nicolle@tourismkelowna.com

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EASY TO GET TO AND GET AROUND. Delegates can land here from 70 different destinations. Once you’re here? Little traffic and virtually no congestion means most everything is within a 20minute commute – easy-tomaneuver, even on foot.

GENUINE HOSPITALITY. With lux lakeside wineries perfect for executive retreats, midsize urban hotels that specialize in getting down to business, and elegant lakefront resorts where business blends with pleasure; there’s always a warm welcome when you meet in Kelowna.

WHERE TRADITIONAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL INTERSECT. Whether meeting in a conference

centre, hotel ballroom, an innovation hub, at UBCO, or a lakefront winery – there’s over 110,000 sq. ft. of meeting space in Kelowna – sized for groups of up to 600.

FOODIE HEAVEN. There’s a reason top chefs from across Canada and North America come to Kelowna. Fresh, local, abundant and dynamic, our farmto-table culinary, wine, and craft beverage scene is as innovative as it is flavourful.

one conference location your attendees will want to come early and stay late.

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MEET WHERE THE EXPERTS ARE. With innovators across digital tech, aerospace and advanced manufacturing and agricultural industries, it’s easy to leverage Kelowna’s intellectual capital to augment your conference agenda.

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BALANCE BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE. Before, after, or in-between conference sessions delegates can experience five distinct wine trails, three ski resorts, and one of the longest golf seasons in Canada. This is #exploreKelowna

GREENING YOUR MEETINGS IN KELOWNA 01 S U S T A I N A B L E

Today’s meeting planner is looking for destinations, venues, and experiences that promote a clean and healthy environment, support local communities, and leave a positive legacy impact on their host community. Here are some of the ways planners are greening their meetings in Kelowna.

REDUCE RE-USE RECYCLE The easiest way to green your meeting? Book a property that embraces sustainable operations. “Reducing our environmental footprint by mitigating waste, reducing energy and water consumption, and increasing our use of renewable energy is all part of Marriott’s Serve 360 initiative,” says Joseph Clohessy, general manager of the Delta Hotels

by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort. “Everything we do is guided by Marriott’s 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Goals and the UN Sustainable

Development Goals,” says Clohessy who counts food waste mitigation, guest room recycling, the elimination of plastic straws, the use of eggs laid in a cage-free environment, and the tracking of their energy consumption as the foundation of sustainable operations.

BUY LOCAL Reduce your carbon footprint and shipping costs by purchasing delegate gifts locally. Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm creates unique delegate gift packages from its east Kelowna farm: culinary teas, bath salts, natural room mists, lip and perfume balms, body butters, and more. In a move to improve their own environmental footprint, Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm is the first in North America to integrate Sulapac—a fully biodegradable, microplastic-free packaging made entirely from wood— into their product line.

“It is our social and environmental responsibility as a retailer to choose the best packaging options we can for our products,” states Andrea McFadden, owner and founder of Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm.

LEAVE A LEGACY Team building can take on any measure of activities, but for those who wish to leave a legacy impact in the community, they can provide manpower to the local organizations managing Kelowna’s community gardens.

“Bringing groups to our community gardens is a great way to connect visitors with Kelowna’s agricultural industry.

By doing good, they’re giving back to Kelowna,” says Jillian Wegner, a founding partner of Kelowna Concierge, a destination management agency in Kelowna.

The start of something fresh They grow their own food, train their own chefs, host culinary classes, and cater to groups throughout the valley while nourishing and building community. Start Fresh Kitchen is a collaborative kitchen and social enterprise with a mission to: • Connect people with their food.

• Train and create access to long-term employment.

• Feed the community through private and public culinary classes.

• Make their enterprise self-sustaining by catering private group events throughout the Okanagan.

Providing access to nourishing food, meaningful work, and education are the foundations of sustainable communities.

In 2018 alone Start Fresh raised $29,000 for local charities, provided over 1,000 hours of free education, and supplied local schools with 240 subsidized lunches for children. “Catering private events helps us fund the work we are doing through the Fresh Start Project to educate people on where their food comes from, how to grow it, how to prepare it, and more,” says Chef and Founder of Start Fresh Kitchen, Michael Buffett.

“When organizations choose to work with social enterprises such as ours, they’re getting much more than a great meal; they’re helping build community.”

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KNOW 33 4,500 KELOWNA Largest Ballroom

14,044 square feet 1,305 square metres

# of Hotels

Largest Gala

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1,000

Craft Spirit Distilleries

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Museums

Total Group Hotel Rooms

Craft Breweries

10th

05

Cideries

Total Meeting Space

110,000 square feet 10,219 square metres

Art Galleries

Colleges

44

100+ Beaches

04 Universities

Restaurants & Cafés

Golf Courses

Lakes

Licensed Wineries

busiest airport in Canada

attendees

Cultural Arts Centres

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Days of Sunshine

05 13 05 19 30 304

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01 Reasons to meet here?

Millions

https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Canada/Cities/sunshine-annual-average.php

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#exploreKelowna

KELOWNA TO WELCOME HUNDREDS AT INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS TOURISM CONFERENCE

03 I N T E R N A C I O N A L

Some 700 delegates from around the world will meet in Kelowna to address innovative solutions for the growing demand for Indigenous tourism experiences. Kelowna and the surrounding Okanagan Valley will host the 8th annual IITC Conference in November 2019.

Winning one of the world’s most forwardthinking conferences on Indigenous tourism was a collaborative effort between multiple stakeholders, including the province, the city, and the Interior Salish First Nations People whose traditional territory includes Kelowna.

“Securing this first major Indigenous conference speaks to the winning power of collaborative, community-driven bids,” says Lisanne Ballantyne, president & CEO of Tourism Kelowna. “We stepped up as full partner to bring a new, national audience to our market during shoulder season. Beyond the immediate economic impact, we have established Kelowna as an inclusive, respect­ ful, and welcoming gathering place for Indigenous communities and group business to meet in the future.”

“The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) have been pioneers in

establishing and growing a thriving Indigenous tourism industry in Canada and I am very pleased to see the exceptional collaboration with regional Indigenous communities to ensure IITC is a success next year,” says Keith Henry, CEO & president of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC).

With one in three visitors to Canada seeking Indigenous travel experiences, the conference provides a unique opportunity for dialogue and sharing of best practices amongst Indigenous tourism operators from around the globe. Key to the discussions: sustainability and protection of culture, language, and heritage.

ON RETREAT Whether it’s a strategic planning session with senior execs, an advisory group with diverse interests, or blue-sky sessions to chart a new course of business, move beyond your office boardroom and find inspiration, connection, and new ideas in Kelowna’s lakefront resort and luxury winery retreats.

Eldorado on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake provide plenty of privacy and seclusion.

Between them they offer plenty of unique spaces for groups to disconnect, dream up new ideas, and strategize.

On the western shore of Okanagan Lake, The Cove, all-suite resort’s tranquil setting is perfect to hatch big ideas or put the wheels of corporate transformation in motion.

Waterfront resorts like the Manteo Resort or the Hotel

There’s no more secluded (or inspired) location to

KELOWNA CONFERENCE HOTELS Best Western Plus Kelowna Hotel & Suites 176 guest rooms | 5,910 sq. ft. of meeting space Coast Capri Hotel 185 guest rooms | 16,000 sq. ft. of meeting space

gather small groups for strategic discussions than in family-owned wineries surrounding the city. Many, such as Quails’ Gate Estate Winery and Summerhill Pyramid Winery, offer corporate retreat packages in luxury, vineyard-side homes. Day meetings? Many wineries offer unique spaces for groups to brainstorm and strategize by day, then celebrate their new direction over a wine-paired reception or dinner at night.

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Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Kelowna 156 guest rooms | 2,786 sq. ft. of meeting space

Ramada Hotel & Conference Centre by Wyndham 135 guest rooms | 6,749 sq. ft. of meeting space

Four Points by Sheraton Kelowna Airport 120 guest rooms | 4,664 sq. ft. of meeting space

Royal Anne Hotel 52 guest rooms | 4,084 sq. ft. of meeting space

The Cove Lakeside Resort 120 suites | 6,000 sq. ft. of meeting space

Kanata Kelowna Hotel & Conference Centre 190 guest rooms | 4,500 sq. ft. of meeting space

Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort 324 guest rooms | 35,000 sq. ft. of meeting space

Manteo Resort 78 guest rooms, 24 villas | 5,270 sq. ft. of meeting space

Hotel Eldorado 53 guest rooms | 3,797 sq. ft. of meeting space

Prestige Beach House 67 guest rooms | 2,020 sq. ft. of meeting space

N F E R E N C E

Sandman Hotel & Suites 221 guest rooms | 5,118 sq. ft. of meeting space University of British Columbia Okanagan 500 guest rooms | 35,000 sq. ft. of meeting space

METABRIDGE — this by-invite retreat for Canadian tech CEOs is an opportunity for business founders to leverage Kelowna’s intellectual capital to connect with top influencers to help scale international growth.

#exploreKelowna

05 C U L T U R E

C R E AT E A C U LT U R E O F WELLNESS, CENTRE YOUR MEETING IN KELOWNA As organizations embrace the cultural shift of mindful, health-focused events it’s important to choose destinations and experiences that align with organizational values. With wellness amongst the top 10 trends affecting the meetings industry, according to Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), Director of Business and Destination Development for Tourism Kelowna, Jennifer Horsnell notes, “Planners are seeking destinations where delegates can be active, connect with each other over community tables, and where

INSPIRED SETTING; abundant active experiences; fresh, healthy food; community-building culinary experiences.

Kelowna checks all the boxes.

they can still have work-life balance, even when they’re attending a conference.”

STAY FIT, BUILD TEAM SPIRIT With fitness trackers on almost everyone’s arm, counting steps is an easy way to improve one’s wellbeing.

Meeting planners are taking note and choosing pedestrianfriendly meeting sites that offer plenty of opportunities for fresh air breaks.

Offer your group a guided running clinic before business gets underway; it’s a great way to see Kelowna and get a work-out in. Go for a group hike. Knox Mountain in Kelowna’s north end offers easy to moderately challenging trails and some of the best views of the city from its summit; it’s also a great location for a team photo op. Kelowna is also a cyclist’s dream – from urban trails to single track mountain

biking, to the scenic Myra Canyon Trestles, guided bike tours offer history, inspired views, and a great way to experience the city. The Kelowna Yacht Club can help provide kayaking coffee breaks, or SUP (stand-up paddleboard) sessions before business gets underway.

GET CENTRED Travel can be stressful for even the most seasoned road warriors; however, starting off each day of your conference with a private yoga or Pilates class, or mindful meditation session, helps attendees get centred and ready for a day of learning and networking.

Hosting classes off-site, according to Tommi Hanley, regional director of Cantrav Services, a DMC with offices in Kelowna, gives visitors an opportunity to discover Kelowna’s hidden treasures.

“I love early morning and early

evening group yoga classes at Okanagan Lavender and Herb Farm,” says Hanley.

“They buzz with the sound of bees pollinating hundreds of plants. And when we coordinate group yoga classes at Soma Craft Cidery and Farm, we often add a tour and cider tasting afterward; it’s a great way to sample the flavours of Kelowna.”

FRESH, LOCAL, HEALTHY Attending a conference may nourish the mind, but it’s the hosted events that nourish the body, and the connections delegates make with each other that nourishes the soul. With Kelowna’s famous culinary scene, a network of acclaimed chefs, and a wide range of unique offsite venues it’s easy to create fresh, local, and healthy

dining experiences during meetings hosted here.

Planners often choose to showcase Kelowna’s abundant farm-to-table culinary scene on Dine Arounds that include the likes of RauDZ Regional Table, pioneers in the farmto-table movement, and KRAFTY Kitchen + Bar, where farm-fresh fare comes with a side order of hip hop.

Waterfront Wines earned its “Best Okanagan Restaurant” designation from Vancouver Magazine for its commitment to locally-sourced ingredients, while the Terrace Restaurant at Mission Hill Winery and Old Vines Restaurant at Quails’ Gate Winery offer dazzling water and vineyard views and wine-paired, locally-sourced menus.

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PARTNERS TO HELP YOU PLAN BlueStar Coachlines luxury & executive style coaches, washrooms, onboard Wi-Fi and audio visual equipment, 25 coaches 11–56 seats Cantrav Services transportation, site selection, customized tours, team building, entertainment, staffing, branded experiences Distinctly Kelowna Tours winery, agri, culinary adventure and sightseeing tours, transportation services

Impact Events marketing, public relations, site selection, team building, entertainment & speakers, event design

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Kelowna Concierge airport shuttle, transportation, unique custom tours, team building, concierge & corporate services

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Wicked Wine Tours winery, agri, culinary adventure and sightseeing tours, transportation services

#exploreKelowna

ANY SEASON, LOTS OF REASONS TO EXPERIENCE KELOWNA

07 S E A S O N S

SPRING — SCORE ONE WITH YOUR TEAM Whether you play Kelowna’s easy-going or ego-shattering courses, group golf outings are anything but ordinary here. Thanks to our temperate climate, we enjoy one of the longest golf seasons in Canada, teeing off some years as early as February, and hitting the 19th hole for the last time in late October. And with some 19 courses in the greater Kelowna area, there’s a course for every level of player and group tournament.

Rugged and refined best describes the experience of golfing at Gallagher’s Canyon, championship course at canyon’s edge in the mountains surrounding Kelowna. Adjacent, the

nine-hole Pinnacle course is perfect for a group outing or a quick scramble-style event.

Tucked into the foothills of east Kelowna is the Harvest Golf Club – perfect for tournament play, or for offering delegates an opportunity to tune up their game. The course itself is one of the most scenic in Kelowna with sweeping views to the lake and the mountains.

You know your team is playing in Kelowna – where else do fairways, bunkers, and greens border vineyards and fruit orchards?

GOLF COURSE VENUES Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Club 18 hole championship course, 9 hole mid-length course, banquet seating – 150, seasonal patio – 80 Harvest Golf Club 18 hole championship course, golf academy, banquet seating – 160, lawn and garden receptions – 250

08 E X P E R I E N

SUN-SPLASHED SUMMER It’s hard to name a more inspiring location to host a meeting or incentive than Kelowna. Cradled in the heart of British Columbia’s central interior mountains, bordered by lakes, vineyards, and orchards, you’d be forgiven if you think one of the fastest growing cities in Canada is actually a resort.

Here, conference hotels offer breathtaking waterfront and mountain views. Soft sandy beaches are within steps of meeting rooms. Add in the Okanagan’s famous summer weather, and you’ve got an ideal setting that fosters new ideas, inspires

your delegates, and provides plenty of outdoor recreation before, after, or in between conference sessions.

Just glancing at sun-splashed Okanagan Lake is enough to motivate delegates to get out on the water. Stretching 95 kilometers from end to end, who could resist a dip in the lake after a full day of conferencing? When the calm, warm waters beckon, delegates can head to Kelowna’s Downtown Marina where pontoon boats, speed boats, and jet skis are available for rent.

Looking for a more active way to experience the lake?

Groups can arrange guided excursions on dragon boats, stand-up paddle boards, or kayaks. Or, head into the water for parasailing, kite surfing, swimming, scuba diving (yes, scuba!), or hydroflying. No experience? No problem. Local outfitters teach techniques to safely maneuver away from our lake monster, Ogopogo. Pack your briefcase, bathing suit, and your sense of adventure – this is one conference location that blends work and play seamlessly.

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#exploreKelowna

09 S E A S O N S

IN AUTUMN, DRINK IT ALL IN The roots of British Columbia’s wine industry first took hold in Kelowna. The region’s unique terroir, influenced by sun, soil, mountains, and lakes distinguishes the vintages created here from anywhere else in Canada. Some five wine trails and 44 wineries (and 180 others within a short drive), pair perfectly with the farm-totable philosophy of the region’s growers and chefs.

Whether your group sips, swirls, and savours vintages at lake-view wineries, sips in the shadow of a replica Egyptian pyramid, or samples a flight in an urban winery in the city’s Packing District, there are plenty of unique spaces for conference-goers to say “cheers!”

Kelowna has become one of BC’s fastest-growing craft beverage destinations where orchard fruits are infused into craft spirits, ciders, and locally-made beers. Meeting

planners can easily infuse these local flavours into their programming with group tastings in the north end Packing District, downtown, and beyond. More than an informal way to bring colleagues together, touring local wineries, distilleries, and craft breweries also provides unique learning opportunities.

CRAFT BEVERAGE SCENE Craft Beer Market 100 beer on tap, 50% from BC, rooftop patio, shuffleboard, local menu, private functions – 450, semi-private – 85 Okanagan Spirits group tastings, distilling demonstrations, educational tours, cocktail creations, in-distillery events – 75 Smile Cycle Tours winery, brewery, and distillery group tours, downtown city tours, unique custom tours, team building

EXPERIENCE WINTER The secret is out. Winter is one of the best seasons to meet in Kelowna. Not only do you get the benefit of one of the best value periods and some of the mildest winter weather in Canada, but, for conference delegates seeking a bit of winter chill, it’s just a 45-minute drive away from Kelowna’s backyard mountain resort, Big White Ski Resort.

conference. “You just need to bring your boots and we’ll look after everything else,” says Michael J. Ballingall, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Big White Ski Resort. “People come from all over the world to visit Kelowna in convention season…and if they’re skiers, they know to extend a day or two to hit the slopes at Big White.”

There’s a reason it’s called Big White. At 2,700+ acres the mountain is huge, the vertical is awesome, 119 runs offer a variety of terrain for every level of skier, and the champagne powder is famously deep, averaging 750 cm | 24.5 ft.

Whether you head to Big White, pre- or postconference, or spend a day making turns during your event, alpine skiing isn’t the only activity you’ll find atop Big White. Test your boarding and ski-cross skills at Big White’s TELUS Park, explore 25 combined kilometres of Nordic and wilderness trails,

There’s no need to haul all your ski gear to your

snowshoe Big White’s back country trails, skate Canada’s highest outdoor rink, or make like a kid again flying down the tubing run.

If your group is not able to make it to the ski hill, check out downtown Kelowna’s lakeside outdoor skating rink, arrange for attendees to explore the Kelowna Art Gallery, local museums, wineries, cider houses, and craft breweries and distilleries, or get chill in one of Kelowna’s relaxing spas.

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WHAT’S ON (more like what isn’t) KFX - Kelowna Fan Experience March 22 – 24, 2019 Okanagan Spring Wine Festival May 1 – 12, 2019 Great Okanagan Beer Festival May 9 – 11, 2019 Kelowna Pride June 15 – 22, 2019 Kelowna Wine Country Half Marathon June 23, 2019 Kelowna Apple Triathlon July 6 – 7, 2019 Rock the Lake August 9 – 11, 2019 Feast of Fields August 11, 2019 Denim on the Diamond August 31, 2019 Hopscotch Festival September 27 – 28, 2019 Okanagan Fall Wine Festival September 27 – October 6, 2019 SunRype Okanagan Marathon October 19 & 20, 2019 Skate Canada International October 25 – 27, 2019 Memorial Cup Presented by Kia May 22 – 31, 2020

#exploreKelowna

FIND THE OKANAGAN’S FRESHEST FLAVOURS IN KELOWNA

11 F L A V O U R S

Experience an old-world approach to eating that begins right at the farmer’s gate.

When conference-goers dine out in Kelowna they can shake hands with growers who produce some of Kelowna’s finest foods, share a glass with wine makers, brew masters, and master distillers. They can watch chefs transform humble ingredients into a flavourful meal before their eyes. There’s no better way to connect a diverse group of people than over a shared table of well-prepared food.

Kelowna is renowned for its hyper-local culinary scene, thanks to the abundance of fruit orchards, family farms, and small-batch food

artisans that call Kelowna home. Within minutes of the downtown core are acres and acres of farmland growing tree fruit to nuts, and everything in between.

Just the sort of culinary playground that has attracted some of Canada’s most innovative chefs.

Five distinct wine trails, 40+ wineries, a growing ale trail, and award-winning craft distilleries: what’s in the glass is as good as what’s on the table in Kelowna. The city’s craft beverage-makers offer their own refreshing interpretation of “authentically local” libations that enhance corporate events at unique venues throughout the city.

Spotlight: Chef Mark Filatow Fresh and abundant produce, a dynamic wine scene, and plenty of outdoor adventures drew acclaimed chef and sommelier, Mark Filatow to Kelowna. In the years since he moved here, Filatow has opened three restaurants (Fresco, Waterfront Wines, and Waterfront Café), launched his own catering business, and represented B.C. at the Canadian Culinary Championships.

“We knew we wanted a four-season place. We’re big skiers, bikers, water, people and hikers. Kelowna won out not only because of the extra-curricular activities but for the fantastic wine scene that was burgeoning at the time, and the great farms providing amazing produce which is really a chef’s dream playground.

Kelowna really has the best of all worlds.”

Filatow, a down-to-earth, approachable chef and sommelier, is amongst the region’s most respected culinarians. Partnering with passionate local producers to showcase the Okanagan’s best ingredients is just the sort of dedication to his craft that has landed Filatow’s Waterfront Wines at the top of Vancouver Magazine Awards “Best of the Okanagan” for eight years running.

“When I opened Waterfront, Kelowna was on the front edge of what we now call the farm-to-fork culinary scene,” says Filatow, who has taken that localized concept beyond the restaurant into his off-site catering business where he creates high-end dining experiences totally “from scratch.”

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Though based in Kelowna, Filatow caters events throughout the Okanagan Valley. When pressed to name his favourite off-site venue, he admits one of his favourites is Kelowna’s Tantalus Winery, where single vineyard vintages are presented in BC’s first LEEDS-certified, state-of-the-art winery.

“It’s an amazing venue to do a function in,” says Filatow, who notes that Tantalus, with the oldest Riesling vines in the valley, juxtaposes its heritage vines by creating modern wines served in a sleek venue overlooking the city and Okanagan Lake beyond. “The building has a story. The sunset view is incredible. Whether it’s a stand-up function in the Barrel Room, or a sit-down dinner in the Tasting Room; the whole experience is always amazing.”

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FILATOW’S RESTAURANTS AND CATERING BUSINESS VISIT: www.waterfrontrestaurant.ca

#exploreKelowna

LEVERAGE KELOWNA’S INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL 13 I N T E L L E C T U A L

Every meeting planner knows a great event is more than the quality of its speakers, breakout sessions or networking opportunities.

Today’s best events create opportunities for attendees to take advantage of the resources and connections beyond the conference centre. All it takes to create immersive, meaningful experiences? Choosing a host destination that aligns with your conference’s mission.

More and more conference and event organizers are choosing destinations where they can leverage local knowledge experts to help augment their conference agenda. In Kelowna, those knowledge experts are in found in the city’s growing digital tech, agriculture and advanced manufacturing and aerospace industries.

KELOWNA INGENUITY FUELS DIGITAL TECH INNOVATIONS When it comes to digital tech,

Kelowna is booming. With organizations such as Hyper Hippo Games, GetintheLoop, Yeti Farm Creative, and FreshGrade, tech is leading Kelowna’s growing economy.

A centre of excellence for gaming development, animation studios, medtech, agtech and software, as a service providers, the city plays an integral role in Canada’s Digital Tech Supercluster, and is emerging as British Columbia’s fastest growing tech centre.

THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS Climate, terroir, horticulture, and agriculture expertise are the key ingredients to agricultural innovation. When it comes to Canada’s growing wine and cannabis industries, the experts and innovators are in Kelowna and the Okanagan.

One of Canada’s most prolific and award-winning wine destinations, Kelowna is a burgeoning destination in the budding cannabis industry, and a knowledge hub for agriculture and agri-food research.

READY FOR TAKE-OFF Kelowna, with some 18 per cent of British Columbia’s aerospace businesses, plays an important role in Canada’s aerospace sector, the third largest in the world. With innovative research in advance materials manufacturing and aerospace and defence technology through the University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna researchers and engineers are helping to shape the future of flight craft.

Already an alluring conference destination, Kelowna’s innovative industries provide meeting planners with a unique opportunity to create immersive and engaging conference experiences through B2B exchanges, access to local knowledge experts and keynote speakers, on innovation tours, and with peer-to-peer networking.

Really, isn’t that why meetings are held in the first place?

LOCAL BUSINESS LEADER CHAMPIONS KELOWNA ACROSS THE GLOBE When Sam Fisher travels the globe meeting with tech giants, game developers, and production houses, one of the first things he does is show the Tourism Kelowna video.

“People are blown away,” says Fisher, president of Hyper Hippo Productions, the creator of such popular online games such as AdVenture Capitalist, headquartered in Kelowna. “The lake, the mountains, the golf courses, and miles of vineyards and orchards that surround the city; people are blown away that we get to live and create in this beautiful tech hub just a few hours from Vancouver.”

It’s this blend of lifestyle and high-value tech jobs that helps attract top talent to Kelowna where 693 digital technology businesses are driving $1.32 billion in direct economic impact to create the fastest growing tech hub in British Columbia, and a sought-after conference spot to connect with industry leaders such as Hyper Hippo.

“When we started we usually had to explain we were from ‘Kelowna... Canada... north of Seattle...’. Today we walk in to the some of the biggest tech companies in the world, where they greet us as the “Hippos from Kelowna”... they know where Kelowna is now... a true testament to the amazing tech hub Kelowna has become.”

14 The Innovation Centre is where technology focused businesses and entrepreneurs develop, commercialize, and scale up their innovations in the Okanagan. The state-ofthe-art facility is home to early-stage companies, non-profits, start-ups and social enterprises building British Columbia’s fastestgrowing tech community.

The sustainably built, dynamic space includes meeting rooms and a technologically-advanced theatre which are available for rent.

C A P I T A L

#exploreKelowna

TAKE IT OFF-SITE The recently released meetings industry report published by Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) indicates leveraging the surroundings where business events are hosted is one of the top trends influencing the future of meetings and business events.

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When conference organizers select Kelowna, they can get down to business in any variety of off-site locations from theatres and art galleries, to scenic wineries, heritage and waterfront venues, to golf clubhouses, and just about everything in between. Here are just a few of our favourite off-site venues: Perched along Okanagan Lake, the Kelowna Yacht Club’s meeting rooms, and member’s lounge offer the best lake and mountain views in downtown for groups of up to 182.

Steps from downtown conference hotels are a variety of flexible, unique venues that transform into

exceptional event spaces to host business meetings, networking sessions or breakfast, lunch or dinner functions.

The Laurel Packinghouse, once a former fruit packing warehouse, is a great option to infuse Kelowna history and character to meetings and events.

The Rotary Centre for the Arts, with its light-filled, versatile spaces, makes for a great offsite venue, while the Kelowna Community Theatre is a great option for theatre-style presentations for larger groups.

UNIQUE VENUES Kelowna Yacht Club waterfront venue, panoramic views, lakefront patios, water activities and rentals, banquet seating – 180, reception – 350 The Cultural District six blocks of cafes, art galleries, cultural facilities and beautiful green spaces, variety of meeting & event spaces

MEET AT A WINERY Mission Hill Family Estate Winery: Enjoy chef’s tables, long table and loggia dinners for groups of various sizes, and gala banquets for up to 300 in the estate’s private courtyard.

Sandhill Tasting Room: Open concept, 8,000 sq. ft. tasting room features concrete floors, soaring ceilings, and plenty of natural light. Host up to 210 for a reception, or up to 46 in the Small Lots Barrel Room.

Quails’ Gate: Host business meetings and executive retreats for up to 32 guests, private wine-paired dinners for groups of select sizes, or arrange headline events for up to 200.

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50th Parallel Estate Winery: Party amongst the Pinot or inhale the aromas of wine in the making in the Tank Hall.

Groups of up to 200 are welcome here.

Summerhill Pyramid Winery: The first biodynamic winery in the area, Summerhill events feature menus made from organically grown ingredients paired with award-winning sparkling wine, with room for groups up to 350.

Gray Monk Winery: Perched on 75 scenic vine-filled acres overlooking the northern tip of Okanagan Lake and surrounding mountains, Gray Monk’s views will charm groups up to 60 in their meeting rooms or 180 in their restaurant and patio.

#exploreKelowna

HOW TO GET HERE Whether by plane, car, or motor coach, Kelowna, in British Columbia’s Central Okanagan, is always easy to access.

FLY YLW National carriers will have you touching down in Kelowna on daily non-stop flights from Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Winnipeg, and Edmonton. Regional

airlines offer daily flight service from Seattle and within British Columbia. Better yet, one-stop connections in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver or Edmonton make Kelowna accessible from just about anywhere in North America.

SCENIC HIGHWAYS Have a few hours? Drive or motor coach your group to Kelowna; the city is just a

four-hour scenic drive through BC’s magnificent coastal mountains from Vancouver.

COMPACT AND QUICK Kelowna’s compact size means that once you’re here, almost everything is within a short twenty-minute drive including downtown and lakeside hotels, golf courses, wineries, restaurants, and shops.

KELOWNA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT YLW links Kelowna to the world. Canada’s 10th busiest airport offers some 70 direct daily flights from across Canada and the Pacific Northwest with 10 airline partners.

EASY ACCESS - Fly non-stop from these cities.

Whitehorse Prince George Edmonton Calgary

Victoria

Cranbrook Vancouver

Winnipeg

Seattle Toronto

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