Travel Penticton MRDT Renewal

Travel Penticton Society is the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the City of Penticton. We are responsible for facilitating external marketing initiatives and advertising to build destination awareness and attract visitors to Penticton and area.

These marketing initiatives, member cooperative opportunities, member development and training, community event support and more are made possible through the implementation of the Municipal Regional District Tax (MRDT), a 2%-3% consumer based tax collected by accommodation properties within the municipal boundaries of Penticton.

In 2022 the plan is to change the rate of MRDT in Penticton from 2% to 3% and as such a new application must be submitted to the Province not less than 9 months prior to the official renewal date of June 30, 2022.  

Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions we are unable to host in-person strategy sessions.  We therefore request you look through the assembly of information provided, which should give you an understanding of, in brief, what Travel Penticton has accomplished over the past 4 years, what the MRDT is, the process involved in submitting for the renewal and the proposed use of the additional MRDT.

	MRDT Marketing Activities 2017-2020 Despite all the challenges we have faced over the past four years, our Team and Board have remained resilient and focused on our primary objective, which is to support and market the tourism destination of Penticton in a sustainable manner that strengthens the local economy and enriches the quality of life. This report serves to highlight the hard work and dedication of Travel Penticton and the numerous innovative projects that have contributed to our success.
	MRDT Your Questions Answered There has been much community discussion over the years regarding MRDT, which has led to some confusion round the purpose and administration of the tax. This document provides answers to some of the key questions that have been raised.
	MRDT Renewal 2022 – 2027 To better align with the surrounding MRDT communities in the Okanagan, Travel Penticton is seeking support to change MRDT from 2% to 3%*. This change will allow Penticton to remain competitive in the tourism marketplace and provide significant support for COVID-19 recovery and those unknowns as part of the on-going pandemic and after-effects to the tourism and hospitality industry.
	MRDT – Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions Changing the MRDT rate in Penticton from 2% to 3% would yield additional annual revenue and Travel Penticton is considering utilizing a portion of this extra revenue to create a Convention Bureau (CB) as an addition to current marketing and member services. A CB would help to promote Penticton’s privately and City owned meeting and convention facilities, which are are a significant contributor our tourism economy, particularly in the quieter seasons.

A full copy of the MRDT Program Requirements can be viewed HERE.

In complement to the above documentation, Travel Penticton is also in the process of developing a new Five Year Strategic Plan for 2022-2026 and we welcome input from our tourism stakeholders. Please email if you have any suggestions, comments or questions.

Five-Year Destination Marketing Strategy 2022-2026 This document represents the latest version of the strategic marketing direction for the tourism sector in Penticton and surrounding area over the next five years. Updates may be made until the date of final submission – September 30, 2021.

Once finalized the Five-Year Destination Marketing Strategy for 2022-2026 will be available on our member resources page HERE.