Nova Scotia resorts report healthy season despite pandemic

Despite the pandemic, or maybe because of it, Nova Scotia resorts are reporting a successful season in 2021.

Travel restrictions earlier in the year and other pandemic measures appear to have led many people in the province to take their vacations closer to home. 

Some resorts are even extending their season to take advantage of demand.

Trout Pond Lodge in East Kemptville would normally close to guests in late October but is now planning to stay open until mid-February.

Patrick Wallace, who purchased the 13-room property in 2018, said Nova Scotians have flocked to the resort despite the lockdowns and uncertainties of the past two seasons,

"We've actually never been busier and we've just been so thankful for all of the Nova Scotian guests who have visited us, many, many of them repeat guests," he said.

According to Wallace, about half of the resort's guests were from overseas prior to the pandemic. He said the other half were from across Canada. 

Guests have come almost exclusively from Nova Scotia or the Atlantic bubble for the past two seasons, he said.

Wallace said the resort did not have to offer discounts and was able to maintain its pricing due to the high demand.

He said the pandemic showed that people in the province and region were willing to pay top dollar for a high-end "indulgent splurge." 

He said the decision to keep the hotel open until mid-February was based on demand because offering year-round employment made staffing easier in the medium and long term. 

"We always felt very, very, regretful and very sad at the end of a season where you have to say goodbye to people that you really care about," he said.

"Being able to keep our team together ... they're already really good and they'll just get better and better."

Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa also reports a successful season despite having to delay opening until June 4. Its planned date to open was April 30.