Ellen Walker-Matthews

Ellen has held several roles with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) for the past 17 years including her current role for the past 6 years as President and CEO.

She has had a long career in the tourism industry and specifically the hotel industry since joining CP Hotels in 1979. Over the next 12 years she worked in Sales and Marketing with CP Hotels and later Delta Hotels and Resorts and eventually moved into the role of Regional Marketing Director for Delta Hotels prior to moving to the Okanagan Valley in 1992.

As a resident of the Okanagan she became the General Manager of the Ramada Courtyard Inn in Penticton before joining Tepic Management Group as Vice President and later Rim Hospitality Canada, opening and overseeing several hotels in BC and Alberta and throughout the western United States.

Ellen has been an active member in industry associations as well as service groups, including Director positions for the BC Summer Games, and the Okanagan Wine Info Centre, the District Governor’s Representative for the Penticton Rotary Club and as a member of the Summerland Rotary Club. As a personal passion Ellen is also an active board member with Colorectal Cancer Canada and the South Okanagan Medical Foundation.

Three fun facts: Ellen has walked two El Camino’s de Santigo the traditional way which from France to Santiago Spain, a 854 km trek completed in 34 days, and the Fishermans from Porto in Portugal to Santiago Spain, a 325 km trek completed in 11 days; she has collaborated on two books with a group of women, and founded and Chaired the Giants Head Grind – Christopher Walker Memorial Race in Summerland for 10 years.