Giro Okanagan, a new company owned by Kelowna entrepreneur Gord Hotchkiss, is designed to attract cyclists from around the world to tour the beautiful South Okanagan. The tours will be based out of Penticton and will allow cyclists to visit sites across the entire region, including many here in Osoyoos. Hotchkiss is convinced the cycling tourism business can be as successful in the South Okanagan as it has become in such places as Italy, Spain and France. Giro Okanagan will arrange all of the visits to wineries and restaurants across the region for its customers. Hotchkiss got the idea for Giro Okanagan after going on an extended cycling tour in Italy in 2013 and spending time at a “bike hotel” that catered specifically to tourists cycling across the Tuscany region, he said. Cycling tourism is huge business across Europe and many other parts of the world and is has become an increasingly growing and popular market in British Columbia and the South Okanagan, said Hotchkiss. (Photo supplied)

Giro Okanagan, a new company owned by Kelowna entrepreneur Gord Hotchkiss, is designed to attract cyclists from around the world to tour the beautiful South Okanagan. The tours will be based out of Penticton and will allow cyclists to visit sites across the entire region, including many here in Osoyoos. Hotchkiss is convinced the cycling tourism business can be as successful in the South Okanagan as it has become in such places as Italy, Spain and France. Giro Okanagan will arrange all of the visits to wineries and restaurants across the region for its customers. Hotchkiss got the idea for Giro Okanagan after going on an extended cycling tour in Italy in 2013 and spending time at a “bike hotel” that catered specifically to tourists cycling across the Tuscany region, he said. Cycling tourism is huge business across Europe and many other parts of the world and is has become an increasingly growing and popular market in British Columbia and the South Okanagan, said Hotchkiss. (Photo supplied)

A Kelowna cycling enthusiast and new business owner is convinced the South Okanagan can attract cyclists from around the world interested in “slow tourism” and the opportunity to enjoy the world-class beauty offered across the region.

“I believe the South Okanagan can become a world-class cycling destination comparable to anything offered in Italy, Spain or France,” said Gord Hotchkiss, the proud new owner of Giro Okanagan, which launched last week.

Giro is the Italian word for “tour” and his business plan is to try and attract cyclists of all abilities to the South Okanagan for a vacation focused on enjoying some of the finest trails and road cycling in the country, along with the incredible beauty this region has to offer, said Hotchkiss.

All packages will include opportunities to visit and enjoy the finest wineries, restaurants and hotels the South Okanagan has to offer, he said.

While his new business venture will be based out of Kelowna, the “hub” for all cycling tours that will be offered will be out of Penticton, he said.

Cycling tours will be offered throughout the South Okanagan stretching from Peachland to Osoyoos and all places in between, he said.

“This venture will combine the world-class cycling offered across the region with an immersive vacation experience that is a showcase for the slow tourism movement,” he said. “Slow tourism is about taking your time and basically soaking in everything a certain region has to offer.

“We will have packages for competitive road racers who still compete at a high level and want the opportunity to compete in a beautiful setting, but the majority of our focus will be on people who want to take their time while cycling and enjoy everything the South Okanagan has to offer.”

Hotchkiss got the idea for Giro Okanagan after going on an extended cycling tour in Italy in 2013 and spending time at a “bike hotel” that catered specifically to tourists cycling across the Tuscany region, he said.

Cycling tourism is huge business across Europe and many other parts of the world and it has become an increasingly growing and popular market in British Columbia and the South Okanagan, said Hotchkiss.

“The concept of cycling destination resorts has grown in popularity in locations such as Italy, Spain and France,” he said. “These resorts offer a wide variety of route options with the convenience of staying in one location.

“This allows guests to gain a greater appreciation for the area and also gives them more flexibility in planning a cycling holiday.”

Giro Okanagan will be one of the first cycling destination resort offerings in North America, he said.

“The South Okanagan has a variety of cycling routes that simply can’t be touched by other locations” anywhere in the world, he said. “It sounds like a cliché to say this region is world class, but it really is. In one week, a guest can cycle every day through distinctly different terrains and environments – from desert to alpine high country to lush vineyards.’

The South Okanagan is a natural fit for the slow tourism movement, where the goal is to offer authentic, intimate and connected experiences that go beyond the typical vacation, he said.

“Giro Okanagan will be offering farm-to-table dinner experiences … we wanted to make sure our guests had a chance to have that experience,” he said. “It’s one of the many things that make this region unique.”

The idea of being able to cycle across magnificent terrain and then stop into some of Canada’s best wineries and restaurants is going to have huge appeal to cycling enthusiasts, said Hotchkiss.

A big part of his job over the past several months has been establishing an extensive network of tourism partners, including artisans, winemakers, chefs, restaurant owners and hotel managers stretching from Osoyoos to Peachland, said Hotchkiss.

“We want this to be an immersive representation of the best the South Okanagan has to offer,” he said.

“We have some amazing, world-class experiences spread throughout the South Okanagan and we have some exceptional cycling routes. If you can bring those two things together into a seamless offering, you can offer a remarkable and unforgettable vacation. That’s our goal.’

Giro Okanagan will offer vacation packages starting in September and will run through a full season next spring, with limited offerings during the summer months, said Hotchkiss.

For many reasons, July and August are not the best months to cycle across the South Okanagan because of the intense heat, huge amount of tourists that make the roads and highways extremely busy and results in hotels that are full to capacity, he said.

“We want to make sure guests have the best possible experience and it’s much harder to guarantee that in the summer months,” he said. “Spring and fall are far better times to be on a bike.”

Hotchkiss will “arrange everything” for those who sign up for a Giro Okanagan vacation.

“I will take care of all the accommodations and we will even provide the bikes if people don’t want to bring their own,” he said. “We will arrange all of the cycling tours and all of the visits to wineries and restaurants. All they have to do is show up. They won’t have to worry about anything. This is arguably the most beautiful part of the world’s most beautiful country so people will want to visit.”

You can learn more by visiting the website at www.girookanagan.com, calling Hotchkiss at 1-778-484-7100 or sending him an email at [email protected].

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times

Giro Okanagan, a new company owned by Kelowna entrepreneur Gord Hotchkiss, is designed to attract cyclists from around the world to tour the beautiful South Okanagan. The tours will be based out of Penticton and will allow cyclists to visit sites across the entire region, including many here in Osoyoos. Hotchkiss is convinced the cycling tourism business can be as successful in the South Okanagan as it has become in such places as Italy, Spain and France. Giro Okanagan will arrange all of the visits to wineries and restaurants across the region for its customers. Hotchkiss got the idea for Giro Okanagan after going on an extended cycling tour in Italy in 2013 and spending time at a “bike hotel” that catered specifically to tourists cycling across the Tuscany region, he said. Cycling tourism is huge business across Europe and many other parts of the world and is has become an increasingly growing and popular market in British Columbia and the South Okanagan, said Hotchkiss. (Photo supplied)

Giro Okanagan, a new company owned by Kelowna entrepreneur Gord Hotchkiss, is designed to attract cyclists from around the world to tour the beautiful South Okanagan. The tours will be based out of Penticton and will allow cyclists to visit sites across the entire region, including many here in Osoyoos. Hotchkiss is convinced the cycling tourism business can be as successful in the South Okanagan as it has become in such places as Italy, Spain and France. Giro Okanagan will arrange all of the visits to wineries and restaurants across the region for its customers. Hotchkiss got the idea for Giro Okanagan after going on an extended cycling tour in Italy in 2013 and spending time at a “bike hotel” that catered specifically to tourists cycling across the Tuscany region, he said. Cycling tourism is huge business across Europe and many other parts of the world and is has become an increasingly growing and popular market in British Columbia and the South Okanagan, said Hotchkiss. (Photo supplied)