Like for so many others, everything changed for our team when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in mid-March, 2020. Each week, Pursuit President David Barry delivered a team message aimed to keep our staff connected, informed and committed to resiliency. This message was shared with the team on May 22, 2020.
Expect the unexpected.
More than just words, this phrase seems to capture the mood of the last 62 days. In just over two months, we’ve adapted our lifestyles to do everything possible in the fight against a deadly enemy. We can take pride in knowing that our actions and the steps we’ve taken as a company have played a small part in helping to flatten the curve.
Slowly and with gratitude we’re moving into a new phase of hope and optimism. If there’s one thing we’ve learned in all this though, it’s that “expect the unexpected” isn’t just a catchphrase. It feels more like a “catch-all”. We’ve proven to ourselves and to each other that by being on our toes and looking around corners we can adapt to any circumstances, no matter how strange they are. I’m grateful to be part of this team.
Remember something we’ve talked about before. Service is something you provide to someone; hospitality is how you make someone feel. If I’m wearing a mask, can a guest see my welcoming smile? If I’m a team leader, how do I make sure my team of colleagues feels safe at work? We will answer these important questions together. Slowly and carefully.
Our geographies are gradually coming out of hibernation. In Alaska, we’re taking new bookings from groups that are excited to visit us, and in Glacier we’re putting the finishing touches on the RV Park and the new Golfing to the Sun Mini Golf. In Jasper and Banff, we’ve shared more than 13,000 meals with our team and community through Easy Eats. In Vancouver, we're preparing to fuel our guests’ wanderlust by introducing them to FlyOver Iceland, and in Reykjavík we’ve welcomed nearly 1,000 happy explorers and are getting ready for more with the country reopening safely to foreign guests on June 15.
From Columbia Falls to Jasper and Denver to Reykjavík, the tide is turning and we’re easing our way forward. There is sun in the forecast across the Pursuit world this weekend. It’s a subtle reminder that we can count on the changing of the seasons, we can count on the power of shared experiences, and we can count on each other.
Stay well, stay safe, and keep smiling.
David Barry
President, Pursuit
