Years ago, an aerialist came into a town to advertise the circus that would arrive a few days later.  He stretched a wire securely across a canyon near the town. On the other side he placed a large bag of money he had borrowed from the local bank.  Everyone in town was invited to come out and see the performance. When they arrived, he asked everyone to be quiet, then tossed a rock over the side and listened until the rock clattered a thousand feet below.  With every eye on him, he stepped on the wire and cautiously walked out half way and returned to the ‘oos’ and ‘ahs’ of the crowd.  Next, he picked up 3 rocks like the one that had crashed below and began juggling them as he walked confidently two thirds of the way over and back...blindfolded. Now, the crowd was cheering wildly. Then, a hush, as he rolled a wheelbarrow to the end of the wire and turned to the crowd.  “Now, it’s time to cross over, get your money on the other side, and return it to the bank. Do you believe I can do it?”  “Yes,” the crowd chanted. “Do you trust me?” “Yes! Yes! Yes!” “Who, then, will get in the wheelbarrow and go with me?”

Everyone in resort management has had a wheelbarrow moment. A resort can’t operate without trusted staff and providers. A relationship of trust begins with integrity, but when everything is on the wire, honesty alone won’t carry you to the other side. Most likely, a reputation built on talent, capability, and experience will be the only thing that will get you in the wheelbarrow.

More and more, resort managers are looking to providers who have earned the trust of the industry, providers with the experience and sustainable practices to do what they say. “The growth MasterCorp has enjoyed, even during the most challenging times, is built on relationships,” observes COO David Goff, “and every relationship is founded on trust.”