Big White continues to adapt to ever changing COVID-19 challenges

Photo: Contributed

Bethan Rowlands, Rosie Webb and Isabelle Bennett all masked up and ready to welcome Dine In guests at Globe, after contact tracing info is taken and hand sanitization.

Big White Ski Resort continues to adapt to ongoing challenges presented by COVID-19.

Travel restrictions and health orders have forced the resort to modify their on-hill and foodservice protocols but the Globe Café remains open.

“We have all worked really hard to invest in safe physical barriers that don’t detract from a pleasant dining ambience, to adapt serving processes to ensure full compliance with all PHO recommendations, and to offer guests our same warm welcome to the mountain, but with guest and staff’s health and safety coming first and foremost in everything,” says Jude Brunt, Co-Owner of Globe Café, which has been on the hill for 13 seasons.

Brunt, along with Big White's other restaurants, is encouraging local customers to "visit the mountain and safely enjoy not only the world-famous Okanagan Champagne Powder, but also a delicious number of food and beverage offerings at the local, independent and award-winning restaurants."

Most of Big White's on-hill dining establishments are operating at 50 per cent or less of last season’s volumes.

"The 200-plus chefs and servers on the mountain remain committed to offering delicious menu items, curating interesting wine and cocktail lists, supporting our local suppliers, and offering hospitality second to none – all while implementing and promoting the highest level of COVID-19 safety protocols," states a release from Big White Ski Resort.

While most of the establishments have pivoted to offer a take-out service in addition to dine-in, the effect on the team members is huge.

“We love living and working on the mountain and I’m grateful for my job back for a second season, but it is really hard this year to cover rent and afford food with the huge reduction in gratuities from all our usual winter tourist guests who dine-in,” said Jesse McGugan, a senior server at Globe in his second season.

“Our absolute priority besides serving up great food and hospitality, is keeping our guests safe and sometimes that means we have to be firm with them to not stop and chat to a friend at a table on the way back from the washroom. But our clients have been great about that and respect the rules.”

Big White Ski Resort like many other local businesses is feeling the pinch caused by the global pandemic and they are working hard to offer great deals like happy hours and kids-eat-free promotions, as well as tasty lunch and dinner packages.

Kelowna's Lynne Teraposky visited Big White over New Year’s Eve with her bubble.

"Everything was great," she said. "With all the COVID changes, including last-minute limits on alcohol and closing time, they still made it feel festive. We loved the live background music, decorations, and the food was fabulous. All the COVID precautions in all the restaurants are well done -– we felt very safe dining out.”

Big White has five full-service restaurants open on the mountain this season, as well as numerous accommodation specials.