b'FIRST FIVE YEARSOUTSIDE THE BOXBy the time restrictions were lifted in spring 2022, there was a massive gap in the market for affordable wine tourism. This is when Swaislands business began to take a turn for the better. I decided that rather than getting more of the same buses and operating the same way, why not operate differently than everybody else and create a more affordable solution for people to support the industry? she reflects.Swaislandputonherthinkingcap and decided to purchase four historic Vancouver trolleybuses, which had been out of commission since 2017. She spent an entire off-season buried in transpor-tation licensing applications and driv-ers licence upgrades before purchasing the old colourful buses. I actually drove them myself across the highest mountain pass in Canada to get them back up to the Okanagan! she laughs. And by May of 2022, I launched the Okanagans first and only hop-on, hop-off tourism service. Savannah Swaisland proved the skeptics wrong when she pushed ahead with plans to incorporate historic trolleybuses intoGrape Savvy Wine Tours has had to adapt her wine touring business many times to unpredictable circumstances, My goal was to create an innovativeground to a standstill with the COVID-19whether due to a global pandemic, fires approach to traditional wine tours withpandemic. Seasonal tourism businessesor floods. But Swaisland believes success my sommelier experience and vineyardwere ordered to halt operation, andwouldnt have been possible without all credibility, she says. I was able to useSwaisland was forced to close for half thethe hardships. Despite the competitive that experience to elevate the wine tourindustry of wine tourism and steady growth season in both her second and third yearin the Okanagan, she was able to move into a really immersive and sensory expe- in business. I had to adapt, and I startedher business forward and fill a vacuum, rience that, right out of the gate, differen- doing virtual, online tasting seminars tobranching into an area that had previously tiated me from competitors. still support my industry, she says.been missing. It was an interesting road to get to where I am today, adds Swaisland. I was in fine dining restaurant management at a young age and really fell in love with wine. And in 2013 I moved up to the Okanagan and started learning how to grow and make wine. Swaisland also made the wise decision to go back to school, gaining the neces-sary viticulture diplomas and educa-tion. Looking to continue working inControl the field of viticulture but in a different capacity, Swaisland began a businessthe light in plan in 2018 for a new concepta wine touring company that would blend heryour life.passion for wine with her in-depth expe-rience in tourism and customer service. She attained her first $25,000 startup loan with All Nations Trust Company and soon after launched her new business.yycbeautifulblinds.caThen, as Swaisland was entering just her403-274-9558second season of operation, the world Indigenous BUSINESS REPORT87'