BELLSTAR ANNOUNCES NEW WINE VILLAGE FOR OLIVER
(Excerpt from the press release)


Co-operators Development Corporation Limited (CDCL) and Bellstar Hotels & Resorts Ltd. have announced their initiative to co-create the Oliver Wine Village, an experiential riverfront re-development in downtown Oliver, British Columbia.

Matthew McKechnie, CDCL’s Chief Operating Officer said, “This partnership will create the Okanagan’s next great culinary tourist destination.� Bellstar’s Executive Vice President, Jon Zwickel adds, “Bellstar is proud to have been selected as co-developer. We will bring together the region’s wine, culinary, agriculture and education communities to create an exceptional destination.�

The Wine Village:

Embracing Smart Growth principles and committed to sustainable tourism, the project will create an authentically themed community, focused on celebrating the culture and heritage of the South Okanagan and its relationship to food, wine and agriculture. The experiential riverfront development will include...

The Wine Village Inn & Spa: a condo-hotel with a unique restaurant, conference facilities, rejuvenation spa, pool and other exceptional amenities.

The Okanagan Wine Interpretive Centre: an interactive facility with a mandate to educate wine lovers on the magical process of the grape's journey from the vine to the glass.

The Okanagan Culinary Arts Centre: a centre for 'foodies' to learn from experts how people gather, prepare, eat, and think about food.

The Wine Village Residences: exceptional riverfront living in an experiential wine village.

The Wine Village Shops: a collection of unique local boutiques and restaurants.


Culinary Tourism:

It is the hottest emerging niche market in the travel industry. Unique food and drink incorporating educational components will define the flavour of the Oliver Wine Village.
The Travel Industry Association (TIA) notes that 27 million American leisure travelers engage in culinary or wine-related activities while traveling. This group is younger, more affluent and better educated than non-culinary travelers and they are motivated by unique experiences, reinforcing the benefits of focusing on a destination’s individual environmental and cultural elements.