For Small Business Week, we’re celebrating tourism entrepreneurs across Nova Scotia and the passion they bring to creating memorable visitor experiences. We asked Good Robot Brewing Company what makes working in Nova Scotia’s tourism industry rewarding and about a guest experience that has stayed with them.

What do you find most rewarding about being an entrepreneur in Nova Scotia’s tourism industry?

"Making powerful memories. People do not experience time linearly; they perceive it in powerful moments, the kinds of moments that they talk about long after they've gone home.

Years ago, a border guard stopped me at the airport and wouldn't let me cross the border... unless I gave him some of our Good Robot stout. While I didn't recognize him, he recognized me from a beer festival in which we danced and shared jokes. For me, that was just another day in the life of a tourism operator. For him, it was a powerful memory that lasted for years.

That's what we're trying to do at Good Robot."

Can you tell us about a recent memorable experience with a guest?

"Last year, we hosted a dog wedding at Good Robot. Days after it sold out, a woman reached out asking if there was any way we could get her and her mom into the wedding. Her mom had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and they were trying to experience as many special moments together as possible with their limited time left.

Our team not only secured extra tickets for them but also created a special VIP section for them at the front of the event.

This year, the daughter messaged us saying that she and her mom were now hiking the Rockies. Her mom had told some strangers on the trail about how fun that Dog Wedding was and how special everyone at Good Robot made her feel.

For us, it was a small gesture: a couple of extra chairs and tickets. For this family, it was a memory that they will share for the remainder of their days." - Joshua Counsil, co-founder of Good Robot Brewing Company. 

Memorable tourism experiences often come down to the care behind them. When operators truly love what they do, even a small gesture can become a story visitors carry with them.

Related resources: 
Good Robot Brewing Company - https://goodrobotbrewing.ca/
Joshua Counsil's Keynote Speaker website - https://www.joshuacounsil.com/
Good Robot Brewing Company listing on NovaScotia.com -https://novascotia.com/listing/good-robot-brewing-company-robie-street/
TNS Tourism Digital Assistance Program participant - https://tourismns.ca/tourism-digital-assistance-program