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Member Events & Development

Member Events, Workshops, Training & Certifications

You must be a current Travel Penticton member, in good standing, in order to participate in, or receive funding, for any of our member events, workshops, training, or other programs or certifications.


Savvy at Grape Savvy booth at TRUE 2023

TRUE Penticton Tourism Expo

TRUE is back again for 2024! The 7th Annual TRUE Penticton Tourism Expo will take place this year on Sunday, April 7, 2024.

When: Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 10am-3pm
Where: Penticton Trade and Convention Centre

Booth cost starts at $134+gst, for a 10’x10′ booth with a 6′ skirted table and 2 chairs.

After the expo has ended, we will invite all exhibitors to relax and mingle with other exhibitors and the Travel Penticton team at an after-party. Food and drinks will be provided, along with prize giveaways!

Download the booking form here.

This lively industry event is your opportunity to stand in the spotlight and tell hundreds of local tourism professionals, the community, and tourists about the new and exciting things that are happening within your business this season, and the opportunity to network with other industry leaders. Make sure that your business stays top of mind!

Whether you’re a business owner or work directly in the tourism industry, TRUE Penticton is a great place for you and your staff to brush up on local knowledge that will impress your guests and visitors. We recommend you encourage all frontline staff to attend so they can share their new knowledge with clients, guests and visitors and enhance your business’ customer service.

Discover new adventures or reacquaint yourself with amazing activities, attractions, accommodations, restaurants, wineries, breweries, cideries, local events and so much more happening in and around Penticton. 

View the TRUE event on Visit Penticton’s website here.


Okanagan Creation Story and Okanagan Protocols Sessions

Anona Kampe of the Penticton Indian Band will be presenting an Okanagan Creation Story and Okanagan Protocols Session and we’d like to extend an invitation to our members to attend this session for free.

These protocols are important for us to learn and understand as we move forward in relationship building, business and in general with Indigenous Peoples.

Anona’s traditional name is sknir̓mn, which translates to Buttercup. She is a singer, drum carrier, beadworker, storyteller, dancer, teacher, harvester, disciplinarian, knowledge keeper, future Elder in training, water protector and a woman who follows Okanagan protocols.

When: Friday, April 19, 2024, 9am-11:30am at The Standard Space

Travel Penticton is offering spots in the Okanagan Creation Story and Okanagan Protocols Session to our members for FREE (Regular cost is $40.00 per person). *No shows will be charged for full amount of the session.* There is a limited number of spots available for the Okanagan Creation Story and Okanagan Protocols Sessions, so contact us today to reserve your spot for the next session date. As the class size is limited, we are also limiting the FREE spots to 2 persons per member business.

For more information and upcoming session dates, contact Alice Simpson, Visitor & Member Services Coordinator, 


Rainbow Registered Accreditation – LBGT+ Friendly Accreditation Program

Rainbow Registered logo

Not only is having 2SLGBTQIA+-friendly policies in your company the right thing to do – it’s also good for business. That’s why Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce, with Tourism HR Canada, have collaborated to launch the Rainbow Registered 2SLGBTQI+ Friendly Accreditation Program.

Travel Penticton and the Penticton Visitor Centre is proud to be Rainbow Registered. When you see a Rainbow Registered symbol, you know the business or organization meets a stringent set of standards to ensure 2SLGBTQI+ customers feel safe, welcomed, and accepted. We are excited to be part of a national network of 2SLGBTQI+inclusive organizations.

The accreditation program grants a time-limited recognition to businesses and organizations for demonstrating compliance with the quality standard. Accredited businesses are deemed market ready for the 2SLGBTQI+ customer and given the right to be associated with the program’s prestigious Rainbow Registered designation mark.

Travel Penticton is offering funding for Penticton tourism and hospitality businesses to support inclusive tourism. The funding will assist up to 10 local Travel Penticton member businesses in obtaining their Rainbow Registered accreditation – Canada’s only national standard for lgbt+ safe and welcoming spaces. We will cover between $299-$599+GST towards the application fee for 10 Travel Penticton member businesses, which will cover 100% of the cost for small or medium businesses for their first year plus sign-up fee, will cover 75% of the first year and sign-up fee for large businesses.

Application fees are as follows:

  • Small businesses (10 employees or less) – $250/year for 3 years, plus a $49 sign-up fee
  • Medium businesses (11-100 employees) – $400/year for 3 years, plus a $199 sign-up fee
  • Large businesses (101+ employees) – $525/year for 3 years, plus a $274 sign-up fee

There is a limited number of only 10 spots available to Travel Penticton Members, so contact us today to reserve your spot. For more information contact Paige Schulz, Marketing & Member Services Manager,  .

Click here for more information about Rainbow Registered Accreditation.


SuperHost TrainingSuper Host logo

SuperHost is a suite of quality customer service training courses for front-line employees. It offers relevant, up-to-date content and best practices that meet the current needs and expectations of employers and visitors. First launched in 1985, SuperHost is recognized as the standard for customer service excellence in BC.

This training is perfect for your frontline staff, and options include Foundations of Service Quality and Service For All.

Travel Penticton is offering both Foundations of Service Quality & Service For All to our members for FREE (Regular cost is $123.90 per person), to sign up their frontline employees for the online training. There is a limited number of SuperHost Training spots available to Travel Penticton Members, so contact us today to reserve your spots.

For more information contact Paige Schulz, Marketing & Member Services Manager,


St. John Ambulance First Aid Training and Certification

Saint John Ambulance logo

St. John Ambulance has been ensuring the health, safety and quality of life for Canadians for over 135 years. St. John Ambulance offers the most comprehensive, state-of-the-art first aid and CPR training programs.

Travel Penticton is offering our members a limited number of FREE spots for the Emergency First Aid for Industry (Regular cost is $120.00 per person). *No shows will be charged for full amount of the course.* Students are required to bring or purchase a CPR Pocket Mask for use during the course. This product can be purchased at the branch on the morning of the class. The cost for the mask is $14.55 including tax and members will be responsible for this purchase. This course meets the CSA standards for Basic First Aid.

The Emergency First Aid for industry certification course has been developed from the St. John Ambulance First Aid and CPR program. This is a one-day (8 hour) in-class course.

This course meets first aid requirements for:

  1.  WorkSafeBC  – Occupational First Aid (OFA) Level 1
  2.  Canada Labour Code Basic First Aid.
  3.  Alberta Occupational Health & Safety (Emergency First Aid)

Upon successful completion, candidates will be issued a St. John Ambulance Emergency First Aid for Industry certificate.

When: Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 8:30am*-4:30pm at St. John Ambulance (*must arrive by 8:15am)

There is a limited number of spots available for the Emergency First Aid for Industry (OFA 1), so contact us today to reserve your spot for the next course date. As the class size is limited, we are also limiting the FREE spots to 1 person per member business. If space allows, you are able to pay for additional spots if you wish to send more than 1 person.

For more information and upcoming course dates, or to reserve your spot for the next course, contact Alice Simpson, Visitor & Member Services Coordinator, 

Click here to learn more about the Emergency First Aid for Industry (OFA 1) course.


Member Photography

SOLD OUT. As a benefit to our Travel Penticton members, we are providing the opportunity for local photographer, Stuart Bish, to come to your accommodation and take pictures of your rooms and property interior and exterior, or local photographer, Sandy Wei, to come to your tourism and hospitality business, restaurant, winery, brewery, shop or gallery and take pictures of your business. We will provide this complimentary photography session to assist with your marketing efforts.

Travel Penticton is providing a limited number of spots to our members for this FREE photography offer, for a 1.5 hour photo shoot ($750-$800 value).

Slots for the free photography can be booked now to reserve your space, with the photoshoot date and time confirmed at a later date if you are still undergoing renovations or want to wait until later in the year for the shoot. An allocated 1.5 hours will be spent at your location. A group staff photo can also be included within the shoot. If you wish for the photographer to stay longer and capture additional images, this will be at an additional cost to you, with the rate to be confirmed by the photographer. If models or people will be included in the photoshoot at your accommodation property, this will require additional time.

Photos will be provided to Visit Penticton for print and promotional use. Members will receive a copy of web size and high resolution images for your own marketing and promotional purposes.

Unless you have undergone major renovations, if you have participated in this free photography offer in this past, you are not able to participate again this year due to limited availability.

There is a limited number of spots available to Travel Penticton members, so contact us today. For more information and to reserve your spot, contact Paige Schulz, Marketing & Member Services Manager,  .


Member Videography

SOLD OUT. As a benefit to our Travel Penticton members, we are providing the opportunity for local videographer, Drake Richardson, to create a video for your business. We will provide this complimentary videography session to assist with your marketing efforts.

Travel Penticton is providing a limited number of spots to our members for this FREE videography offer, for a 1-2 minute video.

Slots for the free videography can be booked now to reserve your space, with the filming date and time confirmed at a later date if you are want to wait until later in the year for the shoot. An approximate 1/2 day shoot will take place at your location. If you wish for the videographer to stay longer and capture additional footage, or if you wish to add on drone video or photography, this will be at an additional cost to you.

Videos and b-roll will be provided to Visit Penticton for promotional and future video project use. Members will receive a copy the final video for your own marketing and promotional purposes.

There is a limited number of spots available to Travel Penticton members, so contact us today. For more information and to reserve your spot, contact Paige Schulz, Marketing & Member Services Manager,  .


Go2HR Training CoursesGo 2 H R Logo

Travel Penticton is excited to learn about some of the free or low-cost training courses offered by go2HR below:

BSAFE – BC Safety Assured for Everyone – FREE
BSAFE™ is a new and FREE online health and safety training program for individuals and businesses in BC’s tourism and hospitality industry. Instill confidence amongst the general public to stay, dine, or shop at your local business. They are continually refreshing the course content to reflect Provincial Health Orders. Keep yourself and others safe.

Foundations of Workplace Safety logo

Foundations of Workplace Safety Course – FREE (limited time only)
Designed specifically for young or new workers, the online Foundations of Workplace Safety course will help you enter the workplace with knowledge and confidence. This course also provides a great refresher for anyone already working in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Occupational Health & Safety Program Fundamentals Course – FREE* (see requirements below – $99 value)
In this interactive nine-module course, you’ll learn the fundamental principles of occupational health and safety (OHS) in British Columbia. You’ll also gain an understanding of the key elements of a safety management system through a series of interactive exercises and quizzes.

*The cost of the OHS Program Fundamentals course is normally $99.00 plus applicable taxes. However, you can take the course at no charge if you are employed by a BC tourism and hospitality organization in one of the following WorkSafeBC classification units (CUs):

  • 761034 – Pub, bar, nightclub or lounge
  • 761035 – Restaurant or other dining establishment
  • 761038 – Ski hill
  • 761056 – Overnight or short-term accommodation

Biosphere Sustainability Accreditation

biosphere committed company logo

Many tourism businesses in Penticton and the South Okanagan have made the commitment to become a Biosphere Committed company, including Travel Penticton, and demonstrate their own pledge to incorporate sustainable practices within their business.

Biosphere is a Responsible Tourism System (RTS) certified by the Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI), an international accreditation body that maintains a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is affiliated to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), and is a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

The system is aligned with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and the Paris COP21 Accord to fight Climate Change. It is also aligned with the requisites and recommendations for certification of the World Charter on Sustainable Tourism +20.

The system offers a holistic approach to sustainability in which all distinctions associated with different aspects of sustainability (corporate social responsibility, service quality, environmental management, etc.) are integrated.

Click here for more information on Biosphere Sustainability Accreditation.

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Find Us

Travel Penticton Offices &
Penticton Visitor Centre
120-888 Westminster Ave W
Penticton, BC V2A 8S2

Phone: 250-276-2161
Toll Free: 1-800-663-5052
Email: admin@visitpenticton.com