Incredible Wellness Destinations: Ryan Pomeroy Of Pomeroy Lodging On Why & How Traveling Can Help Us Heal
An Interview With Wanda Malhotra
Seek destinations that provide an introduction to health and wellness to spark curiosity.
The pandemic has shaped the way we travel and live, with a growing trend leaning towards health, wellness, and a holistic lifestyle. More than ever, individuals are seeking not just getaways, but immersive wellness retreats that help rejuvenate the body, mind, and soul. Destinations that provide a serene environment, unique wellness offerings, and an unparalleled experience are in great demand. In this interview series, we are talking to property owners and hospitality companies who are at the helm of these wellness havens. As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ryan Pomeroy.
Originally from Fort St. John, B.C., Ryan always knew what he wanted to be when he grew up, and began his journey at Pomeroy Lodging at a very young age. On his fifth birthday, Ryan spent the day working in the hotel restaurant with his brother and father. From then on, he was dedicated to the family business, pushing for better service, faster growth, and stronger community relations. In 2006, he was appointed president, and CEO in 2018. During his tenure, Ryan has been instrumental in strategically positioning Pomeroy Lodging for continued success and growth.
Ryan maintains the company vision and strategy and steers the overall direction of the Pomeroy Lodging with the oversight that is balance sheet centric. He is focused on building relationships with corporate and community stakeholders; leading capital restructuring; and directs large portfolio sales and acquisitions.
Ryan’s vision is to be the first choice for travelers by providing superior quality hotels, products, and guest services. He is dedicated to seeing Pomeroy’s employees and families develop and investing in the sustainable growth of the communities where Pomeroy hotels are built.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. What or who inspired you to pursue your career? We’d love to hear the story.
My father. I started going to work with Dad when I was very young and I love the energy and atmosphere of being in a hotel and all the people. As my career progressed, I gained inspiration from lots of well-known business leaders, notably, Isadore Sharp, the founder of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Jack Welsh, former CEO of General Electric.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Was there a particular person who you feel gave you the most help or encouragement to be who you are today? Can you share a story about that?
My parents in different ways. My Dad was always pushing me to accomplish a lot, and encouraged me to have higher standards, and my Mom always supported whatever I wanted to do; nothing was too big or too small. She had a very nurturing influence.
As my wife and my kids entered into my life, I felt a greater sense of purpose to do and to be more, to set an example, and the pride of association of being part of our family. I want my kids to know and to feel that we come from a family of achieving big things! The evidence is A, B or C that we do in our company — it inherently supports that they too [my kids] can do big things.
Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much?
You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great — Zig Ziggler
I love the quote because all great things are accomplished over long periods of time, but we are a society that reads headlines and news feeds and believes that the world is full of overnight billionaires. But when you peel the layers of the onion, you find that is just not true. You’re on this journey to becoming great at whatever you’re pursuing, that journey is the blessing, you find more purpose and more gratitude along the journey than you do reaching the destination. The journey becomes more important than the destination.
Never quit.
Having too big of goals is not why we don’t accomplish our goals. Quitting is why we don’t accomplish our goals. It has a 100% success rate of not accomplishing our goals.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
The Alyeska Village Development we are working on is helping to transform the entire community. We are working to develop the area for the building of hockey arenas, a recreation center, a daycare center, a grocery store, and a hardware store. All these are things that the town does not currently have, but needs, and it would be difficult or even impossible without our commitment to that development project. Building of community and building of legacy, it is very fulfilling.
Our Nordic Spa Development — We are building a business that can be people’s introduction to wellness both physically and spiritually. There is lots of gratification in providing a business or service offering that can help people heal.
OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the core focus of our interview about wellness destinations. Let’s dive deeper into this together. Based on your research or personal experience, why do you think travel can lead to better wellness? Can you share a story?
My belief is that humans have an innate desire to explore and connect with nature. Thousands of years ago we were born into nature and lived amongst it. For all of existence mankind has wanted to explore and find new frontiers.
What are a few things that distinguish your property from thousands of wellness properties around the world?
Alyeska Resort is the only property of its scale and caliber in the State of Alaska. The State has more space per person than any state or province in North America. This differentiates us due to the scale of nature around us. We are also located in the world’s most northern rainforest.
What type of experience do you want your visitors to have when they visit?
I want our guests to have an experience that connects them with nature and connects them with themselves and those they are visiting with.
What makes your property a beautiful escape for a body and mind recharge?
The remoteness and the ability to connect to nature.
Can you share any transformative stories or testimonials from guests who visited your property?
I love hearing about the experiences of our guests at Alyeska Nordic Spa, and the impact it had on their personal wellness. These are some recent stories we’ve heard:
- Discovering Alyeska Nordic Spa was the beginning of my wellness journey, and what a start it was! The tranquil setting amidst nature instantly calmed my mind. The therapeutic pools and invigorating saunas were not only incredibly relaxing but also inspired me to prioritize self-care. The staff’s genuine warmth and expert guidance made me feel supported every step of the way. Leaving the spa, I felt rejuvenated and motivated to continue exploring wellness practices. I’m grateful for such a transformative experience and looking forward to many more visits!
- I had the best day at the Nordic spa. Started off with a massage that I would come back to Alaska for. Then spent the next four hours enjoying each different hydrotherapy experience. Needless to say, I was completely relaxed and rejuvenated when I left.
- Hands down the best spa I’ve ever visited. From the incredible massage to the blissful pools, saunas, and steam rooms. I cannot speak more highly of the experience. 10/10 would recommend.
Why do you think the experience you offer is so needed nowadays?
We are so connected to devices, social media, headlines and noise. It’s easy to lose track of what matters most when you’re overwhelmed with all these notifications and distractions. Being at a property like Alyeska makes it easy to remember what really matters.
Do you think travel enhances our mindfulness, optimism, or sense of gratitude? How? Can you please explain with an example or story?
When we remove all those distractions and immerse ourselves in a place that is vast in nature -where it’s easy to remember and realize that the world is a big place, and whatever seems big in our little world is small in the grand scale of things. It is obvious when you’re standing in the mountain range to understand that.
Thank you for that. Now for our main question; What are your “3 Habits You Should Develop In Order Make Travel Into An Opportunity For Wellness & Personal Growth?”
1 . Seek destinations that will challenge you to try new things and push yourself and help yourself grow.
2 . Seek destinations that provide an introduction to health and wellness to spark curiosity.
3 . Sleep well, eat well, nourish, exercise and be in nature. Take time to pause and recover.
Based on your experience, where do you see the future of wellness travel heading in the next 5–10 years?
Wellness will become more of a staple in the travel experience. It will become a necessity. For example, 30 years ago, hotels did not have gyms, but now it’s a staple. There will be continuous demand to level up wellness offerings.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Find us on Instagram or on our websites:
Alyeska Nordic Spa
https://www.instagram.com/anordicspa/
Alyeska Resort
https://www.alyeskaresort.com/
https://www.instagram.com/resortalyeska/
Thank you for these really excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent on this. We wish you continued success.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com .
