Join us for an exciting conversation with panelists from Destination BC, Indigenous Tourism BC and local and Regional Tourism groups to learn about the exciting future of Tourism in the East Kootenays and how your business can engage with and capitalize on the investments and growth happening in the area.
 

Paula Amos
Chief Marketing and Development Officer
Indigenous Tourism BC
Paula Amos is of Hesquiaht and Squamish Nation descent, born and raised in the Nuu-chah-nulth territory on Vancouver Island. She has worked for ITBC for the past 18 years and is currently the Chief Marketing and Development Officer.
The Indigenous Tourism industry is a very rewarding avenue for sharing stories and educating the world about the rich and diverse Indigenous people in BC.  Arts, music and culture are a universal language that can be appreciated globally.
With ITBC, she works at connecting the opportunities between the Indigenous tourism industry and mainstream tourism. Paula works in partnership with all sectors of the tourism industry and believes that success comes through capacity building, teamwork, and building strong relationships with key industry players, Indigenous communities and government. Paula sat on the steering committee for the groundbreaking Blueprint Strategy for Aboriginal tourism in British Columbia. The Blueprint was the catalyst for developing Indigenous tourism in BC in 2006. She was also involved with the 2010 Aboriginal Tourism Working Group, in partnership with the 2010 Bid Corporation.


Richard Porges
Vice President, Corporate Development
Destination British Columbia
Richard Porges is Vice President, Corporate Development with Destination BC. Richard provides strategic leadership for Destination BC?s Corporate Communications, Research and Analytics, Human Resources, and Corporate Services departments. In addition to his role at Destination BC, Richard is also a regular lecturer in the Tourism Entrepreneurship program at the Management Centre of Innsbruck (MCI) and with the University of Victoria?s Department of Economics. Before joining Destination BC, Richard taught in the Economics, MBA and MPA programs at the University of Victoria and was a consultant for several government and non-profit organizations.



 

Kathy Cooper, CEO & Travel Trade
Kootenay Rockies Tourism

Kathy Cooper has been a key member of the Kootenay Rockies Team over the last 31 years, assisting the region in becoming a leader in the marketing of British Columbia as a premier tourism destination.
Kathy has been involved in many roles with the organization including project management, consumer advertising, travel trade, media relations, governance and HR.  Kathy has been the leader of a talented team of destination management and marketing specialists as CEO of the organization since 2012. She also sits on the Destination BC?s Tourism Marketing Committee for British Columbia and is a Director on the Go2HR Board.

Kristy Jahn-Smith
Executive Director - Cranbrook Tourism

Kristy is no stranger to the Kootenays having lived in Creston, Nelson and Cranbrook in the past.  An avid skier, cyclist and lover of most things outdoors she is thrilled to be back in Cranbrook to help showcase and promote the city to the rest of the world. Her career in marketing has included positions at a creative agency, a ski resort and in e-commerce. Over the years her time as a tourist has taken her to places like South Africa, India, Russia and Japan. She knows the power travel has to transform people and add richness to their lives. With tourism and related spending on the rise globally she believes Cranbrook?s time is here.