-Eleven local hotels, motels and resorts to participate in “Ski Osoyoos” packages-

OSOYOOS TIMES-January 21, 2009-

By Karen KnelsenrnOsoyoos Times

Destination Osoyoos (DO), the Mount Baldy Ski Area and a number of Osoyoos's hotels and resorts have partnered together to promote Osoyoos as a winter destination.
Officially launching its winter tourism push, called Destination Winter, on Jan. 14 at the Osoyoos Visitors Centre, DO unveiled an aggressive $60,000 advertising campaign to run in newspapers, radio spots, television commercials and Internet advertisements for the next three months.
We've become a very strong partner with our Mount Baldy Ski Area, said DO Chief Executive Officer Glenn Mandziuk.
All of the hotel industry has come together with us.
Along with the Destination Winter slogan comes a Ski Osoyoos package advertising winter attractions in the Osoyoos area complete with ski and stay deals that include two night and five night packages.
The two-night deal costs anywhere from $55 to $105 per person per day and the five-night deal ranges from $52 to $91 per person per day.
The packages involve 11 different hotels, motels and resorts in the area.
They include the Best Western Sunrise Inn, the Boundary Motel, Casa Del Mila Oro Resort and Spa, Coast Osoyoos Beach Hotel, Destiny Beach Resort, Holiday Inn, Lakeview Motel, Safari Beach Resort, Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort and Spa, Walnut Beach Resort and the Westridge Motor Inn.
The campaign also includes the launch of a website that offers online booking.
Mandziuk said the campaign is aimed at three key markets including B.C.'s Fraser Valley and Kelowna areas and the Wenatchee area in Washington state.
These are very strong, aggressive approaches, Mandziuk said.
He also said the campaign is meant to help boost business for other industries in Osoyoos such as restaurants, gas stations, retailers and spas.
He added, however, that he doesn't expect Osoyoos's shoulder winter season to suddenly snap into hustle-and-bustle mode overnight.
Rome wasn't built in a day, Mandziuk said, but added that he has faith in the winter product DO is now focusing on.
We know that we will be successful at the end of the day.
Mandziuk said there are also plans to expand the campaign in March to include golf packages.
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