KELOWNA – Tourism Kelowna’s Visitor Sales & Services Manager, Chris Lewis, was recently named a “30 Under 30” by the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). Every year DMAI recognizes thirty young people who demonstrate exceptional potential as future leaders of the international tourism industry. Tourism Kelowna’s Lewis is the only Canadian named to the international list and joins recipients from other destinations including Bermuda, San Francisco and Seattle.
Lewis, a geography graduate from UBCO, has been with the Tourism Kelowna team for three years. As Visitor Sales & Services Manager, Lewis manages Tourism Kelowna’s two Visitor Centres and a team of staff and volunteers who help visitors plan their visits to Kelowna and once here, showcase its many attractions, activities and services.
“We’re very proud of Chris and the successes he has achieved here at Tourism Kelowna this early in his career,” said Nancy Cameron, President and CEO of Tourism Kelowna. “Throughout his many roles and responsibilities, Chris keeps our visitors wants and needs top of mind and is completely committed to offering a memorable travel and vacation experience to guests visiting Kelowna. This in turn creates more customers for area tourism businesses. While the award was created to honour future leaders, Chris is already a gifted leader and makes a huge impact on behalf of the Tourism Kelowna team and our many tourism partners.”
Since joining Tourism Kelowna’s team, Lewis has increased the number of volunteer Visitor Service volunteers by 200 per cent, has created a mobile visitor services team to help people who don’t make it to the Visitor Centres and has created opportunities for local tourism operators to come together, network, learn and develop partnerships.
Lewis will be honoured at DMAI’s Annual Convention in Minneapolis in August. This is the sixth year the award program has recognized future tourism leaders.
Tourism draws in over 1.5 million visitors annually who spend over $279 million in annual spending. The local tourism industry represents 7,100 direct jobs and contributes over $335 million in direct GDP to the local economy. (Source 2011 Economic Impact Study conducted by InterVistas Consulting Group).