Summerland Chamber Reviews the Year

2015 has been an exceptional year of new projects and exciting opportunities for the Summerland Chamber.  Here’s a short list of some of those accomplishments:

• Tourism Management: The Chamber provides comprehensive Destination Management Services to the District of Summerland.  We welcome more than 12,000 visitors each year to our Visitor Centre, provide images, content and design for the Summerland Visitor Guide, manage the image bank and handle all tourism marketing for our town.
• Regional Bike Path Guides and Summerland Specific Hike and Bike Trail Map: Building on our region’s tourism and economic development focus on biking as an economic driver, we were a partner in the creation of a comprehensive South Okanagan regional bike map and we also used that data as well as other Summerland hiking material to create a new local bike/hike map.
• GoMedia: In 2015 Destination Canada hosted their annual international travel media conference in Penticton.  We were exhibitors at this conference and also hosted more than 50 international writers through two ½ day fam tours in Summerland.  We have created a new media section with stories and images on the tourismsummerland.com website and the event has already generated media coverage for our community.
• New chamber website: Our new Chamber website was launched in May.  A clean new look with important information front and centre helps us promote our members and the work of the Chamber, a comprehensive new business directory makes local business easy to find and the site’s responsive design means it is user friendly on all digital platforms, from laptops to handheld devices.  As the Summerland Chamber represents 100% of local businesses, this site is a very important promotional tool for our business community.
• Our Connected Community video: Launched in February, this video showcases the value of shopping locally.  When we support local businesses, that money flows out to all the local organizations and non-profit groups that make our community vibrant.
• Sector Meetings: This year we hosted a number of meetings within particular sectors to improve our connections to our members and hear their issues.
• Business Walks: The Chamber Board, joined by District of Summerland Mayor and Council, also made significant connections with our business community via Summerland’s first ‘Business Walk’.   Seven teams, each made up of a Board member and Councillor were able to meet 66 businesses on the morning of Oct. 22.  A survey was also extended to our membership to gather feedback.  90% of respondents said that business was steady or improving and also shared their perspectives on what we can do to improve the business climate in our community.  The full report, issued on November 9, is available on the Chamber website.
• Regional Economic Development: The Chamber represents Summerland on the South Okanagan Economic Development Consortium as part of our business retention, attraction and expansion portfolio. This year the regional group has focused on a series of business solutions forums, labour market development and retention, regional airport promotion, ag sector growth and the development of a regional business directory.
• Summerland Business and Community Awards Gala: Held the last Saturday of February, the 77^th awards Gala celebrated of the best of our Summerland businesses and community supporters. Nomination forms for the 78^th Gala will be available shortly.
• Festival of Lights: The 28^th annual Festival of Lights, organized each year by the Summerland Chamber, celebrated a Country Christmas theme and was bigger and better than ever. Attendance was excellent and the festival attracted new vendors and activities.  We’re looking forward to more festival excitement in 2016.
• Growing Web and Social Media Presence: The Chamber reaches thousands of unique visitors each year through our three websites at summerlandchamber.com; tourismsummerland.com and summerlandlightup.com. We also have more than 7,000 daily followers across our 3 Facebook pages, 3 twitter accounts, Instagram, Pinterest and Blog. 

Please connect with us online at SummerlandChamber.com to learn more about our work in Summerland and the South Okanagan. The Summerland Chamber of Commerce wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Christine Petkau is Executive Director at the Summerland Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at cpetkau@summerlandchamber.com.