The A-Team Blog

I have been on the road for quite a long time and thought I would share a post.

I arrived at the BC Ferry terminal at Tsawwassen, and as I was pulling up to the gate to pay, a woman with bright blue eyes greeted me and quickly looked down at the Parkside logo on the door of the truck.

She smiled and said "I have stayed there and it was lovely!"

I want to thank Sara Kinzie for all her dedication and hard work over the last two years - her help with the set-up and operations during the opening of Parkside and her year at Waters Edge.

Both properties benefited from her hard work and leadership.

Sara will be leaving us at the end of August. We are sad to see her go and we want to wish her well.

We are now looking for a new leader to fill her role. If you have what it takes to lead and operate Water's Edge, please submit a resume to jay.smith@aviawest.com, with the subject line “Operations Leader for Ucluelet”

- Jay M. Smith, Director of Club Operations & Property Standards

Cynthia Petrie is leaving her position with us at Parkside Victoria on July 23rd .

Cynthia was the very first external hire we did for Parkside and she has been witness to a great deal of growth – both at Parkside and within the Guest Services Team – in the two years she has been with us.

In those two years, Cynthia has gone from helping stock cutlery before we opened to leading Guest Services with class and dedication.

The Parkside Victoria Guest Services Team creates a unique experience for guests and staff alike, providing a high level of service with refreshing enthusiasm!

The Team from left to right, starting with the back row: Jeff Vos, Jessica Marshall, Natasha Pearson, Ben Soldinger, Cory Draper and Nathan Bird (Resort Ambassador).

We're happy to welcome Chris Clarke in the role of Hotel Operations Leader for Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa.

Chris steps in as Trina White departs for her maternity leave and brings experience from hospitality industry roles with companies including Fairmont and Starwood.

We would like to welcome Richard Crosley as the new innkeeper at the Pinnacle Lodge.

Richard brings with him 30+ years in food and beverage. Richard decided the time was right to take on the hotels and studied hotel restaurant management at Camosun college.

If you need to reach him or would like to welcome him his e-mail is richard.crosley@aviawest.com

- Simon Rose, Director of Talent

We're pleased to welcome Julie Banister to our team in the role of Hotel Sales Manager, beginning June 6th.

Originally from the Bruce Peninsula area of Ontario and now living in Deep Cove near Sidney, Julie has over 13 years of sales and business experience, most recently including roles at Brentwood Bay Resort and Spa and the role of Director of Sales & Marketing at the Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa.

She will be based in our Victoria office and will focus on driving business for all of our hotel properties.

Julie has a six-year-old daughter and mentioned on our survey that some of the most important things to her are 'family, friends, health, balance and having fun!'. 

Welcome to the team Julie!

- Eric Ommundsen, Vice President of Marketing

We're pleased to introduce our new Resort Ambassador position at Parkside and to welcome Nathan Bird, currently with Parkside Guest Services, to this position.

The focus of this role is on providing exceptional service to our guests with concierge-style attention and learning through such guest engagement what products and services that Parkside and Aviawest offer that may suit our guests. Nathan will also ensure that the guests have the opportunity to learn more about those products.

Nathan starts in this role on May 9th, will be based in the Parkside lobby ('round desk'). Congrats to Nathan!

- Eric Ommundsen, Vice President of Marketing

Check out our new greeter welcoming guests to Parkside!

We also have a new bellhop team hanging out at the door near our Fairfield lobby. 

Even though they would like to be tipped in bread crumbs, please don't feed them!

- Brianne Wilson, Marketing & Communications Associate

Lynda Meyer has been working with Aviawest at Pacific Rim and Water's Edge for over two years now!

Throughout her time she has contributed to countless memories and smiles from our guests, many of whom ask for her upon their return!

Thank you Lynda for being the rockstar that you are and for your dedication to Aviawest and Water's Edge at Pacific Rim!

- Sara Kinzie, InnKeeper at Water's Edge Resort at Pacific Rim