Wickaninnish Inn Named One of BC’s Best Places to Work

October, 2009

(Tofino BC) Working at a remote Inn, with the closest Starbucks or Wal-Mart being an hour’s drive from work, may seem to be a tough row to hoe for many. However, for the 150 employees of the elegant Wickaninnish Inn who have chosen the quaint village of Tofino, BC as their home, and the Wick as their employer, nothing could be further from the truth. This team of happy hoteliers participated in the Top Employers annual competition and with their comments and votes, named The Wickaninnish Inn as one of the best places to work in British Columbia.

Now entering its sixth year, BC's Top Employers is an annual competition organized by the editors of Medicorp (McLean’s and BC Business Magazine). This special designation recognizes the British Columbia employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Employers are evaluated using eight criteria: (1) Physical Workplace; (2) Work Atmosphere & Social; (3) Health, Financial & Family Benefits; (4) Vacation & Time Off; (5) Employee Communications; (6) Performance Management; (7) Training & Skills Development; and (8) Community Involvement. Employers are compared to other organizations in their field to determine which offers the most progressive and forward-thinking programs.

Some of the highlights from the Wickaninnish Inn’s evaluation stated that the Inn:

• is located close to Pacific Rim National Park, offering employees stunning oceanside views of Vancouver Island's west coast and direct access to Chesterman Beach
• supports ongoing employee education with subsidies for professional association membership and in-house apprenticeship programs
• manages a fully-paid health benefits plan that also includes family and spousal health coverage to employees, at no additional cost

Melody McLorie has worked at the Inn since its inception 14 years ago. She is the poster girl for longevity in this demanding industry, having worked in many of the departments in the Inn, finally settling into her favorite role as Human Resources Manager. “Knowing our team is enjoying their time here on the rugged edge of Vancouver Island makes me feel like we have found right people to help us manage and run the Inn. The successes, large and small, made by this group of hard working professionals inspires me every day, and it makes it a delight for me to come to work.”

The professional team at the Wickaninnish Inn continues its mission to provide an unsurpassed guest experience. The Inn offers guests 75 rooms and suites, each with its own fireplace, soaker bathtub, private balcony and views of the Pacific Ocean. Membership in the worldwide Relais & Châteaux association of exclusive inns and restaurants (www.relaischateaux.com) has always been a source of pride for the team at the Wickaninnish Inn. To contact the Wickaninnish Reservations team, call 1 (800) 333-4604, or visit the Wickaninnish Inn web site at www.wickinn.com.