Bayview

ing at allowing a room rate reduction for not having dailycleaning.We have LED lighting,andmake use of programs to do that kind of replacement.Becausewe aren’t on amunicipal septic systemor well water,we run our own lagoon systemand insist that all required chemicals are environmentally friendly.” BVM: Howdo youmarket your resort? Hounsome: “I’mpast chair of CVOA(CanadianVa- cationOwnershipAssociation) and currentlyon the Board of Directors.I’malso president of Resorts of Ontario.Certainly,repeat referral is 60 to 65 percent on average.Much of the rest is done through Resorts of Ontario,a bigmarketing agency that does a lot of digital programs with print backup.I also havemany good referral agents on the internet,like Resortsand- Lodges.com.I reallywatchmy stats to seewhat kind of traffic I’mgetting.I do our own in-house newsletters and have someonewhoworks three to four days a weekpurelyon social media and email blasts,etc.for newbusiness. “We have fun using the term‘two turns fromToronto’ hikes,snowshoeing,and cross-country skiing.We have a heated outdoor pool,and a recreation buildingwith an indoor pool,games area,exercise area,billiards, squash court,and hot tub.Guests can ice fish,kayak, canoe,paddleboard,water ski.In the summer,we have awhole inflatablewater park that’s tons of fun.We also offer nine to tenweeks of familyprogramming in the summertime; not many resorts still do this kind of all-inclusive family resort experience. “We go all out.Kids’camps for ages three and up; entertainment everynight; threemeals a day.Some people have been coming here year after year for 65 years.Abig group has come for over 40 years; it’s a tradition.People get their own tablewhen they stay three or more nights,and theywant a specific table that’s theirs! Samewith their room–the one beside might be exactly the same,but theyneed their particu- lar number every time. “We have our own restaurant; guests can choose from3-meal and 2-meal packages,or just bookand come in to dine.Corporate retreats are our bread and butter.About 35 to 40 percent of our business is groups–companyChristmas parties,weekendwed- dings,conferences,social retreats.Becausewe’re rural, andwe haven’t got cable yet,we put our own tower in several years ago.So,we haveWiFi through everyunit. Summer is whenwe do themost business and have about 95 employees on staff.Inwinter,there’s a core staff of 30–part-timers bring it to about 55.Our stron- gest market is Ontario guests within a 3-hour drive. U.S.visitors account for around 10 percent of summer business. “On the sustainability front,we recycle all our cook- ing grease.We do a towel program; this year I’m look- BAYVIEWWILDWOOD RESORT DIANNE (STANTON) HOUNSOME FIFTH-GENERA- TION OPERATOR OF BAYVIEW WILDWOOD RESORT