Resolution Retreats’ Joelene Ranby talks about Covid-19 lockdown and the future
What have your main challenges been?
The biggest challenge for us to date has been similar to what many businesses in the ‘tourism and experience’ space has been. Cancelling fully booked retreats and completely closing the retreat for the lockdown in level 4 and level 3, and particularly cancellations from overseas guests due to border restrictions. Those who are/were nervous of the outcome of the situation were initially reluctant to re-book later in the year. But thankfully, we now have a light at the end of the tunnel and people are starting to re-book as they now need a retreat more than ever!
What have your successes been?
We have been really overwhelmed by the number of women needing a post-bubble reset, and booking a retreat to help them do that. I think so many people set out to achieve great things in their health and wellness during the lockdown, to find it was harder on them than they expected. We’ve found that everyone really wants and needs something positive to look forward to for their mental health.
What difference has moving to Level 2 made for you?
We are excited to be able to operate safely under level 2 and guidelines from the Ministry of Health, so we kick off retreats again 29 May. We have had many bookings from past guests in particular wanting to come back and re-set after their lockdown health and wellness successes (and failures!), to support us, but also have something positive to look forward to for themselves.
What long-term changes do you see yourself making to the way your business operates?
The restrictions at the border look set to last for some time. Our international guests will be affected by those restrictions. If there is potential for a Trans-Tasman travel bubble, we would be welcoming that with open arms!
Final word?
We are really proud of what our country has achieved so far with the challenge presented by this virus. We think health and happiness is something which has become more front-of-mind for people that perhaps took it for granted before, so that in itself is certainly a silver lining indeed.
