After successful, long-term careers in the retail sector, primarily in fashion and cosmetics, Karen Levis and her husband decided in 1993 to get out of the city and try their hand at operating a lodge in the remote West Coast community of Bamfield.
The lodge includes 7 accommodation units, a communal living room and large dining room. They operate year-round and offer weekend getaways including meal plans and all-inclusive fishing and sightseeing charters. The remoteness of the area is a definite draw to guests but it presents challenges to the operator. Despite it being remote, the guests still expect to be pampered at the level they would be in more urban areas. This necessitates meal planning around infrequent grocery and supply deliveries (the boat arrives from Port Alberni three times per week) and finding and retaining staff where there are few people to draw from in a small community.
The definite up-side is the thrill and gratification of making something wonderful happen for people visiting Bamfield whether it be through helping them explore the area, catching a prize salmon or serving them a beautiful meal. However, despite loving to deal with guests, you can not underestimate the reality of running full tilt all summer, being tied down to an operation 7 days a week, and then worrying about income over the winter months.
Numerous sales and marketing courses, along with networking skills acquired during her sales career proved invaluable for operating a lodge. Karen said, "we were so green when we opened the lodge. I have to credit a representative from Tourism BC for identifying improvements we could make to the lodge to increase the guest experience. Opening a business involves lots of trial and error and reliance on the surrounding community—never underestimate how helpful even your competitors can be!"
Karen's advice to someone thinking about operating a lodge is to look carefully at the local community and what outside issues could affect your business. For example, is the community resource-based, meaning could the community close down in the event of a resource drying up? Are you located in an environmentally sensitive area that could impact the activities you undertake?
Karen says she has a great love for tourism and the opportunities it affords people of all ages—there are so many facets to it that allow people room to grow, even in retirement!
