ZOLEO Optimizes Safety at Remote Wilderness Lodge
Overview
From wowing guests to reporting weather conditions and relaying ETAs, the team at Scott Lake Lodge knows communication is what keeps its remote business running safely and efficiently. Located on an island bordering Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, the luxury lodge offers guests the ultimate fly-in fishing experience. Its team of 30 — including three bush pilots and 14 guides — hosts 500 clients from June through September each year.
ZOLEO was half the cost in comparison to other devices on the same network. We’d have been crazy to not pursue the less-expensive option.
Jason Hamilton
Partner and General Manager
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Connect with an ExpertChallenge
Scott Lake Lodge operates a remote, high-end fishing resort located on an isolated island with no cellular service. Guides and pilots frequently faced significant communication challenges due to unreliable satellite phones. They often had to send cryptic messages or rely on third-party relays, which caused delays and miscommunications.
Key Challenges:
- Teams communicated through limited and costly satellite phone coverage, resulting in unclear messaging
- Crews experienced frequent delays in sharing ETAs, client updates and operational adjustments
- Poor communication increased the risk of fuel-intensive search flights
- Teams struggled to make real-time adjustments to guest hospitality and safety plans
Previously, lodge staff resorted to physically flying or boating out to confirm guest and crew locations, wasting valuable time, fuel, and resources. Scott Lake Lodge required a practical, reliable, and affordable communication solution to ensure guest comfort, safety, and smooth operational coordination.
Solution
Scott Lake Lodge selected ZOLEO for its smartphone compatibility, affordability, and easy-to-use interface. Pilots, guides, and staff use ZOLEO to send quick, GPS-tagged check-ins and real-time updates, significantly improving safety and punctuality. Access to hyperlocal weather forecasts enables proactive adjustments for client comfort, and the seasonal service suspension feature provides additional cost savings.
Key Benefits:
- Easy, smartphone-based check-ins with GPS coordinates
- Immediate access to hyperlocal weather forecasts
- Cost-effective with seasonal service suspension
- Real-time operational updates enhancing guest experiences
Outcome
ZOLEO has enabled Scott Lake Lodge to act quickly not only with matters of safety, but to also capitalize on hospitality opportunities. Being able to send texts of up to 950 characters has been transformational for the business. With the Unlimited monthly service plan, the team no longer thinks twice about sending a message. “We can communicate details that we wouldn’t have before,” Jason shares.
“With ZOLEO, we’re able to look sharp and be responsive,” says Jason. Greeting guests with celebratory drinks as they arrive at the dock after a big catch or sending a surprise bottle of champagne for clients’ anniversaries are just two examples of how ZOLEO has enabled staff to enhance the guest experience by communicating on the fly. “We’re a higher-end resort, and with that comes the expectation that we’re going to offer a fantastic experience. Our team needs to quickly hone in on key hospitality moments while managing guest safety in the wilderness,” remarks Jason. “ZOLEO enables us to do it all.”
With ZOLEO, we’re able to look sharp and be responsive.
Jason Hamilton
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