Tourism conference to experience world-class spa resort

Artist's rendering of the newly opened Sparkling Hill Resort just south of Vernon near Predator Ridge golf course.

Thompson-Okanagan tourism industry leaders and stakeholders have a treat in store for them at the upcoming 2010 Thompson-Okanagan Tourism (TOTA) Summit in November. They will get an up-close and very personal experience at the Sparkling Hill Resort and Wellness Hotel ( http://www.sparklinghill.com ), where the conference will be held from November 3rd to 5th.

Located on a scenic hilltop overlooking Okanagan Lake near the Predator Ridge Golf Resort, Sparkling Hill is a short drive south of Vernon and about 25 miles north of Kelowna.

The newly opened $100-million, 240,000-sq-ft European-inspired hotel is everyone’s dream of a spa vacation. Every aspect of the resort’s design including waterfalls, fireplaces and overhead lighting, incorporate Swarovski crystals.

The 152-room “wellness hotel” has 3 restaurants, a 35,000-sq-ft spa, 3 therapeutic pools, 8 unique saunas and steam rooms, and 48 treatment rooms offering more than 100 treatments catering to whole-body wellness. Hot-stone massage, moor mud wraps, reflexology, aromatherapy and a complete aesthetic program including facials and manicures are available on-site to clients. It also has North America’s first ‘cold sauna’ which has temperatures of -110 degrees Celcius.

Speaking about the concept of Sparkling Hill, CEO Hans-Peter Mayr says, “Our philosophy at Sparkling Hill Resort is to focus on our guests and what they need to do to relax and rejuvenate.”

TOTA Chief Executive Officer Glenn Mandziuk is very enthusiastic with the plan to hold its second annual Tourism Summit at this first-of-its-kind world-class resort. “We know that, in the future, Sparkling Hill will not only be a great attraction for regional and domestic visitors, he said, “it will also be of dramatic interest to international visitors from around the world.”

Mr. Mandziuk says that Sparkling Hill Resort has worked closely with TOTA to dramatically reduce the cost of the event for the delegates. All the amenities of the resort will be available for their enjoyment during the conference.

The Tourism Summit will bring together 150 to 200 of the region’s tourism leaders and stakeholders where they will be able to share the latest trends and information about the industry. National and international speakers and political leaders will take part and there will be hands-on workshops on tourism marketing, social media, the travel trade and wine and culinary tourism. More details will soon be available.

For more information about the 2010 Thompson-Okanagan Tourism Summit, contact Glenn Mandziuk at 250-860-5999 or email him at gmandziuk@totabc.com