Greater Westside Board of Trade

What Greater Westside Board of Trade does

The Greater Westside Board of Trade (GWBOT) is a private, membership-based business association founded in 1951 and headquartered at 2372 Dobbin Rd, West Kelowna, British Columbia. The organization represents approximately 400 businesses across the Greater Westside region, encompassing West Kelowna City, Westbank First Nation, and the Regional District of Central Okanagan, and is affiliated with the BC Chamber of Commerce and Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Its core function is providing collective business advocacy to municipal, regional, provincial, and federal government, while also delivering networking, promotional, and cost-saving services to small and mid-size member businesses across hospitality, retail, professional services, tourism, and home-based verticals.

GWBOT's core offerings center on the Business Membership program, which includes an online Business Directory listing with logo, website, and social media links, access to over 20 annual networking events (including the monthly Business After Hours attended by 100+ business owners, the Annual Golf Tournament at Shannon Lake Golf Club, and the 24th Annual Key Business Awards spanning 15 categories), and the Member Advantage Program aggregating vendor discounts across fuel, payment processing, shipping, payroll, travel, and the Chambers Plan group insurance program. Adjacent services include Certificate of Origin and e-ATA Carnet issuance via the TradeCert platform, a Greater Westside Business Watch crime prevention program in coordination with West Kelowna RCMP, and e-blast advertising. Technology stack is non-proprietary: Glue Up association management software for event and renewal workflows, Constant Contact for newsletters, and a standard WordPress-based public website.

The revenue model is subscription-based on tiered annual membership dues priced by employee count: $210/year for 1-3 employees, $230 for 4-10, $265 for 11-20, $295 for 21-35, and $355 for 36-50, with a $25/year prorated directory listing add-on and a $25 one-time initial fee plus GST. Dues are prorated across the Oct 1 - Sept 30 fiscal year. Supplementary revenue is generated from event sponsorships (golf tournament, Key Business Awards), $100 paid e-blasts beyond the annual complimentary member e-blast, non-member Certificate of Origin service ($75), and member-to-member deal-platform participation. Go-to-market is event-driven and community-based: the organization acquires and retains members through direct outreach, the website application flow, and word-of-mouth from networking events, with no formal sales team and operations run by a small (1-10) staff led by Executive Director Heather Robinson and a member-elected board of directors.

Name

Greater Westside Board of Trade

Legal name

Greater Westside Board of Trade

Website

https://gwboardoftrade.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Greater Westside Board of Trade is a membership-based business association serving approximately 400 SMBs in the Greater Westside/West Kelowna, BC region. It delivers collective government advocacy, networking events, a business directory, the Key Business Awards, and vendor discount programs funded by tiered annual dues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kelowna

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The primary revenue stream comes from annual membership fees structured by company size (employee count). Fees range from $210/year for 1-3 employees to $355/year for 36-50 employees, with prorated rates and a $25 one-time initial fee plus GST. An additional $25/year (prorated) is charged for Web Link/Social Media directory listing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Greater Westside Board of Trade is a private, membership-based business association serving approximately 400 businesses in the Greater Westside (West Kelowna) region of British Columbia. It provides business advocacy to all levels of government, hosts over 20 networking events annually (including Business After Hours, luncheons, and a golf tournament), runs the annual Key Business Awards program, and offers member discount programs, an online business directory, and group insurance access.

Product overview

The Greater Westside Board of Trade operates as a business membership organization offering a unified suite of advocacy, networking, and promotional services for Westside and Okanagan businesses. The core offering is the Business Membership program, which provides access to the Business Directory, member-to-member discount programs, and networking events including Business After Hours gatherings and the Annual Golf Tournament. The organization also runs the annual Key Business Awards recognizing excellence across 15 categories. Members can access the Member Advantage Program providing discounts on fuel, payment processing, payroll, shipping, and insurance. Additional services include Certificate of Origin certification for exports, the Business Watch crime prevention program, and e-blast advertising opportunities. The portfolio is architecturally a platform of interconnected membership benefits rather than a software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to group buying power securing better rates on insurance, payment processing, payroll services, fuel, and shipping
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BC Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Greater Westside Board of Trade is a proud member of the BC Chamber of Commerce. This membership automatically extends to all GWBOT members, giving them representation in policy development at the provincial level. The BC Chamber represents more than 30,000 businesses province-wide.
• Canadian Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Greater Westside Board of Trade is a proud member of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. This membership automatically extends to all GWBOT members, giving them representation at the federal level. The Canadian Chamber represents over 200,000 businesses nationally.
• Central Okanagan Economic Development CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Board of Trade participates in the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission. Director Rebecca Myers represents GWBOT on this commission. The commission provides information on quality of life and business climate for those interested in bringing business to the Central Okanagan.
• City of West KelownacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Board of Trade works closely with the City of West Kelowna, speaking for the business community at public hearings and engaging with civic managers at events. The City sponsors the Key Business Awards (Community & Public Service category).
• Westbank First NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Board of Trade communicates with Westbank First Nation on business issues affecting the Greater Westside. WFN sponsors the Indigenous Business category in the Key Business Awards and the organization works together on economic development.
• YLW Airport Advisory CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVice President Julie Pringle represents GWBOT on the Kelowna International Airport Advisory Committee, providing business community input on airport operations and development.
• Okanagan Chambers of Commerce NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Board of Trade works with other Okanagan Chambers of Commerce in the region for networking and policy coordination.
• Kubera (Payment Processing)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerKubera provides payment processing systems to members with reduced rates and enhanced support. Members contact the Board office to access this benefit.
• PayworksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPayworks provides cloud-based payroll, HR, and time management solutions to members at 20% off setup and recurring fees.
• Freightcom (Chamber Shipping Program)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMembers save 70-75% on shipping courier costs through the Chamber Shipping Program, including pallet shipping discounts.
• Elavon (Payment Processing)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerElavon provides payment processing with online, in-store, and mobile capabilities through Converge platform. Includes dedicated account managers and 24/7 multilingual support.
• Chambers Plan (Group Insurance)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMore than 30,000 small-to-midsize businesses choose the Chambers Plan, Canada's #1 employee benefits plan for small business. Provides health, dental, and disability coverage through pooled membership buying power.
• Shell (Fuel Discount)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMembers receive 8 cents/litre fuel discount at Shell for the first four months after sign-up, and 4 cents/litre thereafter (valid until September 30, 2024 for initial sign-up).
• Whistler 48-Hour ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMembers save 40-50% on stays at Whistler through Whiski Jack Resorts exclusive 'Whistler 48 Hour Club' program.
• Global Advantage Travel & EntertainmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive BC Chamber program offering hotel, car rental, and entertainment discounts worldwide (10-20% average savings, can exceed 50%).

Scale indicators3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Chamber of Commerce: The national chamber to which GWBOT affiliates. Directly comparable in operating model (membership dues, advocacy, member benefits) but operating at a national scale.
• BC Chamber of Commerce: The provincial umbrella chamber to which GWBOT belongs. Comparable as a higher-tier chamber of commerce offering the same member benefit stack (Chambers Plan, shipping, fuel) at a broader provincial scale.

Direct peers

• Kelowna Chamber of Commerce: The neighboring city chamber of commerce serving Kelowna proper. Directly comparable as a regional SMB chamber offering advocacy, networking events, and member benefits in the same Okanagan market.
• Vancouver Board of Trade: A British Columbia-based board of trade offering the same core mix of advocacy, networking, policy work, and member benefit programs. Comparable in governance (member-elected board) and product structure.

Others

• Glue Up: An all-in-one association management software provider used by GWBOT itself (and thousands of chambers globally). Thematically related as the technology backbone of chamber operations.
• Chambers Plan: Canada's #1 group insurance plan for small business, distributed through chambers of commerce. A core product partner to GWBOT and comparable as a chamber-distributed member benefit product.

Regional players

• Calgary Chamber of Commerce: A mid-sized Canadian chamber in a different province offering the same core mix of advocacy, networking events, member benefits, and policy work. Comparable operating model, different geographic market.
• Edmonton Chamber of Commerce: A Canadian regional chamber of commerce with a similar product suite (advocacy, member benefits, events, business directory). Comparable in operating model though serving a different urban market.
• Toronto Region Board of Trade: A large Canadian board of trade offering advocacy and member benefits in a different region. Operationally similar — dues tiers, advocacy tiering, member events — but at metropolitan scale.
• Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce: A neighboring Okanagan chamber serving Penticton and the wine country. Comparable as a regional SMB chamber with a tourism/hospitality-leaning membership, similar dues structure, and shared advocacy partners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/gwboardoftrade
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/greater-westside-board-of-trade
• Facebookfacebook.com/Greater.Westside.Board.Of.Trade

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Greater Westside Board of Trade