Sarah Cruse returned to Clayoquot as General Manager for the 2020 season. With nearly 20 years of experience leading luxury experiential resorts, the established outpost is well poised to continue improving its iconic reputation.

Sarah, tell us a bit about yourself…

My roots in hospitality started with my summertime job working on golf courses in the cottage country of beautiful Muskoka, Ontario. I always wanted to be a resort General Manager, but I took a different approach and learned the art of growing grass and managing beautiful golf courses. My big break was working for Banff Springs Hotel, in the Rockies, where I was appointed as Superintendent for the golf course at a young age. That is when I fell in love with the world of hospitality.

After working for various golf courses across Canada, I was offered a position at Quail lodge Golf Country in California. Fast forward ten amazing years and change was calling, I felt a desire to try something different to golf resorts. As it happens, I saw an ad for a wilderness luxury lodge in British Columbia. I just knew I had to work there, so I jumped on a plane, and the rest is history. I landed in Clayoquot in a world of remote wilderness and my life was changed forever. I was completely re-inspired as I worked side by side with an incredible team. After one unforgettable year, I was called back to the States. A gift was awaiting me in the form of a green card but that required me to work in the States. I decided to continue my education in wilderness hospitality and was very privileged to work for Dunton Hot Springs, in a majestic location on top of a mountain in Colorado.

What drew you back to Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge for a second time?

Home is where your heart is and when I left Clayoquot, I just knew I had unfinished business and would be back. As I continued my journey with other resorts, I always kept Clayoquot close to my heart. My fascination with this property is unexplainable. It must be the unique location, the complete disconnect from the world, and the solitude that allows the people to truly connect to what is important. When the role became available once again at Clayoquot I felt like I was being offered a second chance to complete what I had started four years earlier and nothing was going to stop me this time!