The best of the best in British Columbia Tourism have been recognized with this year’s BC Tourism & Hospitality Awards.
Announced March 10 as part of the 2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference, co-hosted in Richmond by the British Columbia Hotel Association and Tourism Industry Association of BC, the nine awards recognize and celebrate excellence within British Columbia’s tourism and hospitality industry.
The winners were recognized at a gala presented by Indigenous Tourism BC.
2022 Winners & Finalists
Accessibility Award winner – Kootenay Adaptive Sport Association, a non-profit organization working on the design and implementation of adaptive mountain biking trail standards, development of instruction, guiding and sport development tools.
Finalists: Museum of Surrey and BC Wildlife Park Kamloops
Businesswoman of the Year Award winner – Teara Fraser, founder and lead executive, Iskwew Air, which provides scheduled flights, charters and maintenance services, including scheduled flights between YVR South and Qualicum Beach Airport and charter services to communities around the province of British Columbia.
Finalists: Marion Harper Treskin, dual property general manager, JW Marriott Parq Vancouver & The DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection; and Nancy Arsenault, managing partner, Tourism Café.
Community Contribution & Impact Award winner – British Columbia Tourism Resiliency Network, “a long-term resiliency program providing BC tourism businesses with meaningful, one-on-one support to navigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, adapt and work towards eventual recovery.”
Finalists: Small Ship Tour Operators Association of BC and Fraser Valley DMO Group.
Employees First Award winner – Accent Inns, with hotels in Victoria, Greater Vancouver, Kelowna and Kamloops, and its cousin chain, Hotel Zed, with hotels in Victoria, Tofino and Kelowna.
Finalist: GolfBC Group
Hotelier of the Year winner – David Rooper, general manager, Old House Hotel & Spa, a West Coast-inspired property in the Comox Valley.
Finalist: Madone Pelan, general manager, the Oak Bay Beach Hotel and Marion Harper Treskin, dual property general manager, JW Marriott Parq Vancouver & The DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection.
Indigenous Operator of the Year Award winner – Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, exploring the heritage and living culture of the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations, within a stunning centre located on six forested acres along Fitzsimmons Creek in Whistler’s Upper Village.
Finalists: Gulf Island Seaplanes and Quaaout Lodge & Talking Rock Resort.
The Malahat SkyWalk, outside Victoria, earned the Innovation Award in the 2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality Awards.
Innovation Award winner – Malahat SkyWalk, an accessible 600-metre TreeWalk through a southern Vancouver Island arbutus forest to a spectacular spiral ramp rising 32 metres to a sightseeing lookout offering views of Finlayson Arm, Saanich Peninsula, Mount Baker and the distant Coast Mountains.
Finalists: Wine Growers British Columbia and SKY Helicopters.
Professional Excellence (DMO) Award winner – Tourism Revelstoke, a member-driven, non-profit destination marketing organization working to connect the world to Revelstoke, promote it as the year-round mountain destination of choice.
Finalists: Travel Penticton and Tourism Hope, Cascades & Canyons.
Sustainability Award winner – Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort, an authentic wilderness lodge and ranch experience and hideaway at Siwash Lake, BC, is a National Geographic-honoured luxury guest ranch and wilderness resort offering five-star horseback riding and eco adventures.
Finalists: Bella Coola Heli Sports and The Parkside Hotel & Spa.
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