Whale tour foes team up to save 2020 season
With tourism industry facing unprecedented challenges, rival boat tour operators unite
If it were any other year, Joe O’brien and Mike Gatherall would probably be doing their darnedest to make sure summer tourists looking to spot whales and seabirds steered clear of the competition.
They are each part of rival family-owned boat tour companies — O’brien’s Whale and Bird Tours and Gatherall’s Puffin and Whale Watch — based in Bay Bulls, south of St. John’s.
“Historically, they’ve been two very competitive businesses,” admits Mike Gatherall. “Which is great, because the level of competitiveness that was there in essence made each of us stronger. Everyone strived to produce a better product, a better service. If you go to Trip Adviser, you’ll see that both companies are top-rated companies.” Both have been taking tourists on scenic boat rides since the mid-1980s and stayed in business through many difficult times. But the obstacles thrown at them by the COVID-19 pandemic are unique and far more challenging than either of them has encountered before. And it’s because of this that something unexpected is happening — they’re temporarily teaming up.
Starting July 1, O’brien’s and Gatherall’s are partnering for the remainder of 2020, using one O’brien’s boat and switching crews on a weekly basis while jointly handling bookings. Between them, the two companies typically employ more than 60 people during the summer season, which starts in May and continues to the end of September. To respect physical distancing, the boat will operate at half its normal occupancy.
NEEDLESS COMPETITION
“Rather than competing headto-head and using up their marketing money and tying up your vessels with a limited amount of people coming — because we’re not sure how many Newfoundlanders are going to want to do this sort of an event — we decided to collaborate and give them a special offering,” explained Joe O’brien. “Gatherall’s has some facilities that we don’t, and we have some facilities they don’t . ... It makes a special offering that they’re going to get everything they want in their request, whether it would be a beach barbecue or a dockside cook-up meal. Anything a customer wants, we’re going to try to do our best to make that work.”
Gatherall acknowledges it is going to be a hard year for everyone in the tourism and hospitality sector across the country. Boat tour operators in particular rely quite heavily on non-resident tourists looking for the experience of seeing whales and puffins up close.
“For the last 30 years that’s where our focus has been, in developing markets in the non-resident travel sector. These are people that come in and spend new money. It’s great in the province, because it’s not money that recirculated. It’s fresh money coming in,” he said.
“Unfortunately, with the border closures and provincial travel restrictions and the general hesitancy about travel with regards to COVID, this particular season is literally a wash.”
LOOKING AHEAD
Gatherall looks at the arrangement for 2020 as a way to make the best of a bad situation, giving staff at each business the opportunity to work some hours this season before the companies look ahead to 2021. He noted tour operators Gatherall’s typically deal with are already booking trips for 2021 and 2022.
“We do still have a local market,” Gatherall said. “It’s a smaller percentage of our business, such that it made a lot more sense for the two operators to combine on one vessel . ... Both of our crews will get a chance to do some work this summer, and they’re all looking forward and chomping at the bit to get back at it.”
O’brien said there will be ample rail space to safely see the sights, and staff will use personal protective equipment. Like Gatherall, he’s hopeful the 2021 season will mark a return to normal business operations. Until then, he’s happy to work together with Gatherall’s this season.
“It’s great that two companies that were running headto-head and competing in the global marketplace have now partnered to offer to the local marketplace and be stronger for the guests to have a good experience,” said O’brien.
“It’s a real nice way to move ahead and try to get beyond this,” added Gatherall.