The Kelowna Hotel Motel Association, representing over 30 properties, fully supports the rezoning of land on the Queensway Jetty parking lot in Kelowna for the construction of a new Visitor Centre.  

We the undersigned fully support the proposed Tourism Kelowna new Visitor Centre on the Queensway Jetty in Kelowna which will be the subject of a Public Hearing in Kelowna January 24, 2017 at 6pm.

We fully support the design and location of this vital new public facility which will be paid for by Tourism Kelowna, not city taxpayers. 

We urge Kelowna City Council to approve this project.

Tourism Kelowna has demonstrated a willingness to listen and has made changes to its original proposal after listening to public input: the marketing and administration offices have been removed and the building has been realigned and removed entirely from Simpson Covenant lands.

This has changed the building from a two-floor building to a single floor building with a vaulted ceiling – reducing the floor space by 40%.

This is the right project at the right time in the right place.  

About the new Visitor Centre:

• The City of Kelowna (and local taxpayers) are not required to fund the construction of the visitor centre; Tourism Kelowna is responsible for raising or borrowing all the funds needed. This will be done with traditional financing whereby the mortgage will be paid by transferring the current rent paid to the Chamber of Commerce for the highway location to the mortgage payment, and through the securing of local partnerships, sponsorships, donations and grants.

• Tourism Kelowna has extensively researched the need and opportunity for a new visitor centre placed strategically in the main tourism district and high-volume pedestrian traffic area. The Queensway Jetty is the optimum site which will enable Tourism Kelowna to create more customers for all businesses who serve our visitors.

•  A prominent Centre will attract the attention of visitors and enable Tourism Kelowna to unlock more spending by showcasing the scope and diversity of area activities and attractions.  Visitors will see and do more, stay longer and grow tourism through their referrals.  This benefits all citizens as it will create jobs and higher tax revenues.

• In comparably-sized communities, 78 per cent of North American visitor centres have moved off highways and into high volume pedestrian areas. Kelowna must follow this modern trend or be left behind.

•  The building will be set back from the water by 15 metres and there will be new public space consisting of waterfront walkways, benches and seating areas, and green space surrounding the building.  That means the beautiful lakeside view will be unaffected.

• This activated space will encourage more people to this portion of the waterfront, space that is currently a parking lot, which will add to the feeling of community and excitement in the area. 

•  Accessible public washrooms will be provided.

• Tourism Kelowna has always been fully open and transparent and hosted a voluntary public information session on November 9, 2016, to collect information from the public. At this open house, participants were invited to share feedback in a number of ways, including a survey. The survey results showed a majority of respondents (73%) supported the new visitor centre at this location. An additional 10 percent were neutral.  Only 17% were opposed.

If you support the proposed Tourism Kelowna new Visitor Centre on the Queensway Jetty, please sign this petition and we hope to see you at the public hearing on January 24th at 6 pm.