It’s been an exciting few months for Tourism Kamloops, with two major awards shining a spotlight on the city and giving the local tourism team a well-earned moment of recognition on both the national and international stage.
“It’s been an exciting last couple of months, bringing celebration and focus on some of the key campaigns,” says Lisa White, Director of Brand and Marketing. “Our team has been working really hard and the awards are a great way to celebrate them.”
The first win came with a National Marketing Canada Award for the “Room to Roam” campaign. The project captures the heart of Kamloops’ spirit, scenery and relaxed adventurous way of life. “It celebrates who we are as a destination and how we represent the community,” says White. “We leaned into our wide-open spaces and natural surroundings that people like to enjoy here in Kamloops.”
Tourism Kamloops CEO Eric Fisher was in Toronto to accept the award, representing our fair city on a national stage. “We are so grateful to see that recognition. It is really a celebration for our team and the desert landscapes, beautiful trails, and the slower adventure-paced life that Kamloops has to offer.”
Not long after the national win, Tourism Kamloops then picked up an international WebAward from the Web Marketing Association, recognizing their Travel Standard of Excellence. This award celebrates the organization’s completely refreshed KamloopsTourism.com website, which has already become a favorite tool for both travellers and locals to plan their weekends, their holidays, and get a better look at what Kamloops is all about.
“We really focused on accessibility, modern designs, and navigation,” said White. “It is a great way for travellers to plan their vacation to Kamloops, and for locals to stay current on all the cool things that Kamloops has to offer. Our events calendar is one of our most visited pages for Kamloops residents to check out what their weekend adventures could look like.”
Visitors are encouraged to explore the clean, accessible new website for themselves. “I think at the end of the day, our goal is to share awareness of Kamloops. What we have to offer and who we are. It’s another lens, another tool to share our destination story and inspire others to come and see what Kamloops has to offer,” White went on.
On top of those achievements, Tourism Kamloops also recently earned Biosphere Certification, an international sustainability standard that took a year and a half of dedication to complete. White was excited to share: “Some team members did it all off the side of their desk. Going through 17 sustainable goals and sustainable practices. This team worked so hard to bring it all to fruition. It just really helps to bring a focus of sustainability.”
White says the certification is about more than a badge of honor — it’s about leadership. “It’s a lot of work. Big kudos to the team. It’s something we need to maintain and submit evidence that we are still keeping our commitment as a sustainable organization.” That includes everything from recycling, composting, internal planning. It’s a diverse portfolio, one that Tourism Kamloops want to inspire others to achieve.
“It’s more important to be a bit of a leader, White said. “To be there to support others to receive their biocertification.”
All together, these milestones help to showcase Kamloops on an international scale. And as White puts it, the momentum is only growing.