Wellness Travel BC

Cheryl is a dynamic hospitality and tourism leader with over 35 years of experience turning bold ideas into lasting results. She’s the founder of Wellness Travel BC.com—the first and only guide to wellness travel in BC, Yukon, and Alberta—featuring over 50 inspiring hotels, resorts, and destinations, including the spectacular Thompson Okanagan. Cheryl also hosts a popular podcast that brings together health experts and tourism leaders to explore the art of balance and wellbeing on the road and at home.

Tourism Sun Peaks

Colin Brost is the Senior Director of Destination & Market Development at Tourism Sun Peaks, where he leads strategic initiatives to grow one of Canada’s premier year-round mountain resorts. With more than 20 years of experience in tourism marketing, sales, and destination development, he has built a reputation for forging strong partnerships, driving innovative campaigns, and expanding international markets.

Beyond his work at Tourism Sun Peaks, Colin holds a Diploma in Recreation Service Delivery and a Bachelor’s in Tourism Management from Vancouver Island University (VIU). His career reflects a deep commitment to tourism that benefits both visitors and the communities they explore, shaped by his global perspective from living and working in Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden.

Colin recently served five years as a member of Destination Canada’s International Leisure Advisory Committee, where he contributed to national discussions on market trends, campaign strategies, and opportunities to strengthen Canada’s position in the global leisure travel market. His collaborative approach ensured that regional perspectives were represented in strategies that impact the entire country’s tourism economy.

Locally, Colin holds community leadership roles as Board Member for the Kamloops Airport Authority Society and Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association. 

AH-HA Healing

Janice Taylor is a visionary tech entrepreneur, Harvard scholar, and three-time founder redefining what’s possible for human potential. As the creator of Emotional Fitness and CEO of AH-HA Healing, Janice is leading a new era of holistic wellness—where trauma-informed integration, AI-driven innovation, and immersive retreats converge to unlock lasting transformation. With more than two decades of research spanning psychology, game theory, and technology, Janice’s proprietary Emotional Fitness methodology is setting a global standard for emotional and mental wellbeing. Her mission is to address the root causes of emotional pain and make healing deeply personal, sciencebacked, and accessible. Currently completing her Master’s in Psychology at Harvard University, Janice is focused on advancing the next generation of emotional wellness solutions while continuing to create real-world impact through AHHA’s retreats and platform.

Okanagan College

Joe Baker is Dean at Okanagan College’s School of Business which includes leadership of tourism-related programs and strategic planning for the College’s future Centre for Food, Wine and Tourism expected to open in late 2027. He joined the College in early 2024.

Joe’s career spans 25 years and includes leadership roles in restaurants, hotels and academic institutions including being Dean at Centennial College’s School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts and Director at George Brown College’s Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts, both located in Toronto.

Joe serves on the Board of Directors with Tourism HR Canada and has previously served on several local, provincial and national not-for-profit organizations connected to the tourism sector.

Culinary Tourism Alliance

Rebecca Mackenzie is a passionate champion of the intersection between food, agriculture, tourism, arts, and culture. As President & CEO of the Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA), she’s led the development of award-winning experiences like Prince Edward County’s Taste Trail and the Feast On® certification program, helping travelers connect more deeply to place through taste.

At the CTA, Rebecca drives regional to national food tourism initiatives, including the newly launched Great Taste of Canada. She leads community-based projects, strategic partnerships, and marketing campaigns that put Canadian culinary destinations on the global map.

A recognized leader in the field, Rebecca is Past Chair of both the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) and Visit The County, and is a long-standing member of the UNWTO’s Gastronomic Tourism Network. She’s authored key chapters on food tourism, designed academic programs, and contributed to international publications on gastronomic tourism. Rebecca supported the development of the Food Tourism Entrepreneurship post-graduate program at George Brown College and taught Taste of Place for 3 years.

Rebecca holds a Master’s in Global Leadership from Royal Roads University, where she focused on sustainable development and the power of tourism to do good. She achieve her Certified Destination Management Executive Accreditation from Destinations International in 2024.

Splitting her time between Toronto and Prince Edward County, Rebecca shares her passion for taste of place with her husband Andrew, their two sons Jack and Liam, and their Silver Lab, Blueberry.

Kelowna International Airport

Sam’s interest in aviation developed early, at a young age he was involved with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets where he achieved his private pilot’s license at the age of 17. In 1988 he commenced his airport career at Vancouver International Airport and in 1992 he assumed the position of Superintendent Airport Operations at Kelowna International Airport and has held numerous positions, including Assistant General Manager jobs for both Airport Operations and Airport Development while achieving his International Accredited Airport Executive designation in 1997. In July 2008 Sam was appointed the Airport Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Kelowna International Airport – one of the top nine airports in Canada serving just over 2.1 million passengers in 2024. As Airport CEO, Sam currently is a board member of Tourism Kelowna, Airports Council International – World Board Committee, and serving as past Chair of Airports Council International – North America. Sam was also recently awarded Kelowna Chambers Business Person of the year.

Tourism Business Development

Tracy Zeisberger is a seasoned professional in tourism development with over a decade of experience supporting businesses across British Columbia. Her focus is helping businesses succeed in the travel trade, and she is a trusted advisor in the areas of market readiness, product development, and building partnerships within the industry.

Tracy's career has been built on a strong foundation in sales, community engagement and stakeholder relations. She has a diverse skill set that includes developing tailored sales strategies and working closely with destination marketing organizations. One of her key achievements includes creating a comprehensive sales and marketing strategy for the launch of a major Vancouver Island tourism attraction, helping them successfully build international markets early in their business.

With her blend of strategic insight and hands-on experience, Tracy brings practical, well-rounded expertise to help tourism businesses navigate the complexities of the travel trade and drive sustainable growth. Her ability to connect with a wide range of stakeholders makes her a valuable resource for any business looking to thrive in today's competitive global market.