With summer time quick approaching, many conventional lodges have began gearing up for an anticipated enhance in each occupancy and actions at their properties. However for seasonal resorts like The Inn at Diamond Cove, such efforts have been in place for months and are important to make sure a profitable summer time.
The resort—which is positioned off the coast of Maine on Nice Diamond Island in Casco Bay and might solely be reached by ferry or boat from Portland’s Outdated Port district—opens its doorways in late Could and closes in mid-October. Nevertheless, in between there’s no scarcity of deliberate actions for company.
Previously military barracks that have been a part of Fort McKinley—a navy base constructed between 1891 and 1907 to defend Portland Harbor through the Spanish American Conflict—the Inn first opened in 2015 after being restored with consideration to historic element. It contains 42 condos—the vast majority of that are suites—with kitchens and balconies, picket porches, a swimming pool, and cabana bar.
Common Supervisor Erik O’Brien emphasised the significance of successfully ramping up transient workers for the resort, which is managed by Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based Colwen Lodges and is a member of Historic Lodges of America.
“One of many issues that we wish to do from a buyer engagement standpoint is herald our staff a little bit earlier so we can provide them the precise coaching as a result of it takes time. I’ve put collectively a program to coach anybody that can transfer to the island for the season, and we’ve already employed them in order that they’re able to go when the lights activate for us,” he mentioned.
O’Brien identified that most of the staff on the resort, and notably its waterfront restaurant Diamond’s Edge, are worldwide college students which are secured by means of the J-1 and H2B Visa packages.
The resort “takes satisfaction in collaborating within the J-1 program,” in keeping with O’Brien. He additional emphasised the variety of the workforce.
“It’s for overseas trade college students, and these college students come from anyplace so far as Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic, in addition to Columbia, Argentina, and Peru. We attempt to work with plenty of the South American nations and European nations,” he mentioned.
In the meantime, O’Brien famous the H2B program represents a unique sort of visa, “which is basically professionals from different nations.”
He continued, “A number of our cooks, cooks or housekeeping [workers] come from the H2B program.”
O’Brien touted the advantages of those packages and acknowledged he’s placing an enormous concentrate on creating group actions, akin to a baseball sport, for these staff to maintain them engaged.
“While you’re remoted on the island you might be restricted in what you are able to do. So, we’re engaged on a extremely nice exercise schedule the place each month we do one thing as a staff, and we take them out. I’m working [on building a schedule] to maintain our worker engagement up and to understand them as a result of they do plenty of work for us through the time that they’re right here,” he mentioned.
O’Brien—who famous July and August are peak months for the resort—talked particularly about a few of the actions which are being added to the resort’s annual occasion calendar. Some examples embrace Trivia Tuesdays within the foyer of the resort, film evening by the pool, which features a BBQ, and a Fourth of July parade with adorned golfcarts that concludes on the resort. As well as, company have entry to strolling trails, secluded seashores, tennis, yoga, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
O’Brien touted the resort as a singular getaway for company to go away all of it behind, whereas acknowledging that cellphone service generally is a little bit of a problem.
“I prefer to market this as a small inn the place you’ll be able to utterly unplug. It’s a real place to essentially really feel such as you’re distant, however you’re not as a result of it’s a 20- or 30-minute boat trip into city,” he mentioned.
Lastly, O’Brien famous that the resort is anticipating a busy season with advance bookings outpacing final yr right now. He additionally famous there was a concerted effort to drive price again as much as pre-COVID ranges. For instance, he famous a set throughout peak season will now garner roughly $750 an evening, which remains to be significantly lower than different close by areas, in keeping with O’Brien.
“Sooner or later we now have to interrupt away from [COVID rates] similar to some other resort. So, we’re making an attempt to work by means of that by saying, ‘What else can we offer for our company this yr?’ I believe the market has modified the place we don’t must low cost charges anymore,” he mentioned.
Lastly, O’Brien estimated that roughly 60 % of the resort’s company are return guests, together with many from the West Coast of the US.
“We’ve had plenty of return company final yr and this yr that have been company earlier than COVID. Persons are beginning to really feel extra comfy now, in order that they’re reaching out and sharing how a lot they love the island,” he mentioned.