Spotlight on Nootka Island Lodge in British Columbia - Tim Cyr

www.NootkaIslandLodge.com

What motivated you to start your business?

I grew up in interior British Columbia.  I have loved fishing for as long as I can remember. We did a lot of trout fishing so my dad looked into purchasing a fresh water fishing lodge. At 18, we re-located to Vancouver Island and the opportunity to purchase what is now Nootka Island Lodge.

31 years later we are still here.  We are pioneers of a sort in that we established the first fishing lodge on the NW side of Vancouver Island.

What makes your business different/standout?  

We are known for our personal service – our staff ratio is almost 1 to 1. Our philosophy is to treat the guests right and they will keep coming back. Some of our guests have been coming to the lodge for over 25 years.  We are family owned and operated and we know that a happy guest refers and keeps our lodge sold.

Do you have and advice for people looking for your product of service? What should they look for and what should they avoid? 

 It is important to really ask questions and know what is included in the packages.  A lodge cannot be judged on price alone.

Some of the questions to ask when you are comparing lodges - Ask about distance to the fishing grounds, experience in the area, time in business, amenities, how easy is the lodge to get to, etc. One common comment we hear is that the fishing is better up north.  Check the government’s published  statistics - the rod to fish ratio is consistently better on the coast of Nootka Sound.

Describe a memorable or favorite client experience.  

We work with “Make a Wish” Foundation and  about 15 years ago we had a call out of the Anaheim, California office asking us to fulfill a wish for a terminally ill young man who had never been salmon fishing.  We took both he and his dad out and on his first day, he personally caught 5 salmon – all over 20 lbs with 3 of those over 30 lbs – few people do that in a lifetime.  The experience was priceless but to top it off, about 3 years ago, I got an email from the young man telling me he had beat cancer so far and was doing well.

Where do you go to find new clients? What marketing avenues deliver the best results for you? 

Word of mouth and repeat business still accounts for over 30% of our business – our guests sell our lodge. Once you get them there, you make the client experience fantastic and you have friends for life.  We do stay in touch with all our clients via email as well.  Otherwise, Trade shows (especially SCI) – are a great resource and we are currently expanding our Facebook to connect with the clients as well.

List your services, products or species you offer:

World Class Salmon, Halibut, Bottom Fishing on Nootka Island in Nootka Sound, British Columbia. Nootka Island Lodge - Simply a Great Place to BE!

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