It’s hard to say if I can remember a more welcome summer! Reflecting on this July full of visits from new and old friends alike, this month has held everything I love so much about our hospitality industry. Our warmest days this year have been matched only by our warmest welcomes, and it almost feels like the strong summer light and warm summer days have renewed so much of what we hold dear.

It has felt not just like turning a page but beginning a new chapter full of the joys we cherish most during the days that bring us out and together. We have done well in British Columbia and continue to make progress every day. I am deeply grateful for how we have kept on subduing this pandemic and moving forward as a community and province. Earlier this month, we were delighted with the news that on August 9th, 2021, Canada will be welcoming our fully-vaccinated American neighbours back, another promising sign of things to come for travellers.

As so many wonderful things are happening around the globe, our little coastal community of Tofino continues to impress. This region is itself a breathtaking wonder and attraction. From our expansive sandy beaches to the old-growth rainforests of Pacific Rim National Park, there is so much to experience and enjoy year-round. Through our longtime partnership with the Surfrider Foundation, we are proud to be a part of keeping our breathtaking beaches beautiful and pristine. This year, we are working together on the Washed Up Wednesday beach clean-up Initiative. Every Wednesday throughout the summer, participants who help clean the beach can enter a draw to win daily prizes - the grand prize being a complimentary three-night stay with us at the Inn on splendid and protected North Chesterman Beach.

We are also excited to be celebrating Food Day Canada with all Canadians this Saturday, July 31st. Here we have another great reason to come together and share the cuisines from around our diverse country, shine a light on and thank the fantastic people who work to provide us with great Canadian food every day. On this year’s Food Day Canada, I am especially thankful to all the farmers, fishers, food processors and distributors, grocery workers, food servers, cooks, Chefs, and restaurateurs in our communities whose passion and hard work brings this beautiful harvest to our tables.

Last month I enjoyed sharing the stunning Western Canada’s Route du Bonheur, and this month, as we re-open to our neighbours from the United States, I wanted to travel with you south of the border and to the Atlantic coast to find that spirit of impeccable hospitality and accommodation. Few resort towns have a more storied reputation than Newport, Rhode Island, an intimate seaside town overflowing with hidden and visible charms in all directions. Here you will find not only the extravagant mansions of the Vanderbilts and Kennedy’s but also the Castle Hill Inn, where world-class cuisine and extraordinary attention to detail dovetail to make this spectacular Relais & Chateaux family member a must-see on your own Route du Bonheur.

As we move through midsummer, there’s something about how the seasons and tides move through Tofino while carrying us with them, which reminds me of how grateful I am for this place, our incredible teams, and all of you. I couldn’t ask for more.

Charles