Mexico Fiesta at YLW
A
mariachi band, skeletons and dancers are not something seen in Kelowna International
Airport every day, but on October 30, in celebration of the start of winter non- stop service to Mexico and the Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival, the airport terminal was very much alive with Mexican flavour.
Almost 1300 people attended the Mexico Travel Exhibition held at the airport to gather information, listen to presentations and a chance to win one of the many door prizes given away at the event.
There were 23 exhibitors on display including airlines and vacation groups: Air Canada Vacations, Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air, WestJet, Transat Holidays and Sunquest Vacations; travel agents: Capri Travel, Marlin Travel, Uniglobe Direct Travel and Tristar Travel and Cruise; and rounding out the group were various of Mexico hotels and resorts that made the trek here from Mexico just for this event. As a special guest, representatives from the Mexico Tourism Board were at the event speaking with members of the
public, provided a video presentation and served up some Mexican hot chocolate.
“This was a great opportunity for us to showcase our Country, our people and our resorts,” said Daniel Gutiérrez, Director Western Canada & Washington Mexico Tourism Board. “We were really pleased to see so many people attend and the interest they have in Mexico.”
Roberto and Vilo, relocated to Kelowna from Mexico, provided additional flavour to the festivities. For future performances by this duo they can be seen every Sunday evening at one of Kelowna’s favourite Mexican restaurant Hector’s Casa.
The event held for information, entertain- ment and for a chance to win one of the many great door prizes including travel vouchers and three trips for two to Mexico was free, including the vehicle parking. All that was asked for in return was items to be brought for the food bank. As an extra incentive, media outlets AM1150, 103.9 The Juice,
Kelowna.com and OK BCTV (partnering with Castanet) competed in a Dia de Muertos Altar Building contest. The
“We were really pleased to see so many people attend and the interest they have in Mexico.”
public voted for their favourite altar by placing their food donations as their vote. Competition was tight especially between
Kelowna.com and OK BCTV but first place with the most food donations and most authentic altar went to OK BCTV. Second place was awarded to Kelowna. com and 103.9 The Juice placed third in food votes. The big winners were of course the food banks. Kelowna Foodbank received 410 lbs items of food and $61.37 cash donation from the first place votes. West Kelowna Foodbank, which uses a different standard than the national standard for measuring – they count each item and times them by $3 per item - received 737 items of food at a value $2,211 from the
Kelowna.com altar and Lake Country Foodbank received 100 lbs of food from the remaining altars. >
WINTER 2010 15
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