"We see this as a tremendous opportunity to let our Cardmembers and participating wineries help support the future of this region and the growing wine, restaurant and tourism industries in the Okanagan," says Tracey Szczur, Director of Merchant Services Marketing, American Express. "We have worked with the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society before on other projects but this marks a first time working to directly benefit students and programs at Okanagan College."

"We’re excited to see our member wineries choose to participate in this," says Gary Reynolds, President of the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society and the owner of Lake Breeze Vineyards in Naramata. "We believe that the School of Business at Okanagan College will play a pivotal role in training future team members for all areas of our wineries. The ability to partner with American Express demonstrates that the society, its members, American Express and the College are investing in the future."

"There is growing interest in and support of the College’s hospitality and tourism programs, as well as its wine programs," notes Steve Tuck, President of the Okanagan College Foundation. "Partnerships and programs such as these help draw attention to those programs and – more importantly – help encourage those students who are charting careers in these areas."

In 2006, the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society created a new award program for students in the College’s advanced culinary arts diploma program.

The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society now has 80 member wineries and over 45 tourism operators that work collaboratively to bring the world to Okanagan Wine Country. The society organizes four annual Okanagan Wine Festivals and pursues a high profile marketing strategy to attract wine tourists on a year round basis. The 10 day Okanagan Fall Wine Festival is the oldest of the four festivals and is consistently awarded the designation of "Top 100 Events in North America." Its success has led to the establishment of the 10-day Okanagan Spring Wine Festival, the iconic five-day Icewine Festival held in January at Sun Peaks Resort north of Kamloops, B.C. and the intimate two-day Okanagan Summer Wine Festival at Silver Star Mountain Resort near Vernon.

American Express in Canada operates as Amex Canada Inc. and Amex Bank of Canada. Both are wholly owned subsidiaries of the New York based American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., the largest operating unit of the American Express Company. Amex Canada Inc. operates the Business Travel, Travel Services Network and Travellers Cheques divisions in Canada. Amex Bank of Canada is the issuer of American Express Cards in Canada. American Express opened its first offices in Toronto and Hamilton in 1853 and now employs more than 3,700 Canadians coast-to-coast.