The head of tourism for the Thompson-Okanagan region has announced plans to retire in 2027, according to KelownaNow.

The retirement timeline gives the regional destination organization — which markets a tourism economy spanning Kelowna, Kamloops and the Okanagan Valley wine country — roughly two years to plan a leadership transition rather than scrambling to fill the post on short notice.

Succession planning of this length is relatively unusual in the destination marketing sector, where CEO departures more often trigger immediate searches. A 2027 exit allows the organization's board to structure a handover that overlaps budget cycles, partner contracts with hotels, wineries and ski operators, and multi-year funding agreements with municipal and provincial stakeholders.

For operators across the region — from hospitality groups in Kelowna to resort and tasting-room businesses dependent on destination marketing — the announcement signals continuity in the near term. The incumbent will remain in place through the coming seasons, when summer wine tourism and ski visitation drive the bulk of annual revenue for many Thompson-Okanagan businesses.

KelownaNow reports the retirement plans but has not detailed a successor process or an exact departure date within 2027. A formal search, internal promotion or interim arrangement would typically be decided by the organization's board in consultation with member municipalities and industry partners.

The announcement sets up an extended transition period for one of British Columbia's core tourism regions, with a new leader expected to take over a marketing mandate that supports thousands of hospitality and tourism-dependent businesses across the valley.