Hiring for two. One advantage he has is hiring for two companies: Challenge Quest, which does group facilitation, in - spections, course building, gear sales, and training for course staff through - out the Midwest; and Postoak Canopy Tours, a six-line zip tour in Tulsa. “They are two separate companies,” he said. “All of our staff are welcome to pick what side of the company they want to work from. Most start with the canopy tours and can transition and become facilitators and grow into what Challenge Quest does as well. A few work for both companies. It gives staff more opportunities.” Bogue said the company hit all of its staffing needs for the summer, but “I’d like to see more and recruit more,” he added. “It’s a struggle to find people who want to work.” At Mountain Ridge Adventures, Cellini said she was “very fortunate to have a great staff. We have a large pool of high school and college students,” she said. “We start our staff young and train
them young. We have a very low turn- over rate. They stay four to five years.”
In Alabama, Pierce said Butter and Egg Adventures is adding a new rappelling tower and team challenge course. “You’ve got to have the next best thing,” he said. “Keeping it fresh, mix - ing it up is important.” Marketing and events are another key to bolstering business. In Oklahoma, Bogue said he wants to “hit marketing harder” to become a more integral part of the Tulsa community, as well as add more special events to attract a wider audi- ence with a “Come to Tulsa” message. “Our special events draw people from as far away as Dallas, Kansas City, and St. Louis,” he said. “Our normal daily operation is mainly the greater Tulsa area (15 minutes away).”
Wages. But paying them is another matter. When the park opened in 2016, Cellini said New York’s minimum wage was $9.40—staff make minimum wage plus tips. Now, the state’s minimum wage is $14.20. “It’s hard to keep up,” Cellini said. “Everybody around us is raising prices. It’s affecting all of us.” KEEPING IT FRESH Several operators said continually ex- panding attractions and making capital improvements has become essential to sustaining demand. Offerings. “Our goal is to add a new attraction every two years,” said Damron. Last year, for Highlands Aerial Park’s 10th anniversary, Damron spent $150,000 to completely retrofit its courses. Since Mountain Ridge Adventures opened, Cellini said, it has nearly doubled in size. “We went from five courses in 2016 to seven, and have increased the size of some of the courses.”
“We also want to reach out and become more ingrained with Tulsa,” Bogue added.
Whatever routes operators choose to follow, the decisions are all about ramping up visitation and momentum to maintain the Covid bump.
GEAR UP!
Full Line of fall protection equipment Including: Full Body Harnesses • Lanyards & Runners Course Builder & Rescue Equipment Adrenalingear
FrenchCreek Fall Safety 100 N. 13th St. • Franklin PA, 16323 877.228.9327 • adrenalingearusa.com
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator