The rebranding effort will include new vehicle wraps and television spots that will air during major sports presentations such as the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The (brief) playoff run of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks was a big boost for tourism in Vernon.
Hockey fans across the country got a glimpse into life in the North Okanagan thanks to 15- and 30-second video ads that ran during the recent Stanley Cup playoffs.
“We advertised in the first two rounds, but Vancouver lost out,” Tourism Vernon marketing coordinator Hannah Rusich said during a presentation to city council on Monday, June 24. “As the Edmonton Oilers got further and further in, it became more and more expensive to advertise.”
“The new brand video is currently rolling out across Canada and in U.S. markets through two television advertising campaigns with Rogers Media and NG Media. The commercial aired during a number of major sports games, including professional hockey and baseball.”
A digital version of the video can be viewed on Tourism Vernon’s YouTube channel.
Rusich said the video has been well received by the public and Vernon City Council.
“I could watch it over and over again,” Councilwoman Theresa Durning said.
The video campaign is one of three in Tourism Vernon’s new branding practice.
Tourism Vernon vehicles spotted around the North Okanagan have been given new branding wraps.
“Tourism Vernon’s vehicle has been rewrapped with the brand’s colours, font and imagery,” Mr Rusich said. “The vehicle is a key marketing activity from May through to August when our visitor services team will be attending events and going out into the community to provide information to locals and visitors.”
30,000 copies of the 2024-25 Vernon Tourism Guide have been printed and are ready for distribution in British Columbia, Alberta (including tourist information centres), at the airport and on BC ferries. Copies are also available at local hotels, campgrounds, restaurants and tourism-related businesses.
“This year’s guide is 72 pages long and includes visitor information such as Vernon’s tourism partners, popular attractions, maps, trip ideas and contact information for local businesses and travel organizations,” Rusich said. “New features this year include camping information, dog-travel information and seasonal itineraries.”
A digital version of the guide will be available on the Tourism Vernon website (tourismvernon.com) and will be shared electronically through Tourism Vernon’s consumer, media and trade e-newsletters.
