Private Tour Services Will Change
San Francisco Before the Pandemic
Before 2020, White Wolf Private Tours was the smallest family-owned private tour company for San Francisco, Yosemite National Park and more. We introduced guests to our city, made them feel comfortable in a luxury setting and showed them our favorite spots. We chose private touring because it was how we feel a tour should be. We showed you our home and treated you exactly how we’d treat a family member, and did not settle for anything less.
During the Covid-19 Shutdown
When the Coronavirus hit, the tour industry was turned upside down. The world economy was put through a strainer, and unfortunately, the American hospitality industry along with sports, entertainment and performance, suffered greatly. When the crisis got us in a stranglehold, the tour industry (most companies, that is) began to shift toward private tours to get away from major cities such as San Francisco and into nature, where guests could easily socially distance. That was our niche. A silver lining, we thought.
One side of us desperately wanted to compete. However, when the phone rang in spring and summer 2020, we had to trust our intuition. Although guests desired our services for private Yosemite tours and more, with an unpredictable virus out there, we had to err on the side of caution. We reasoned, if we are not flying our grandparents into Northern California for tours, why should we invite our guests to do the same?
So we paused our private guiding services and will continue to do so until we can 100% guarantee the safety for our guests, guides and the Yosemite community. Our business may be hemorrhaging money, but safety is, and always will be, most important to us.
When the Storm Clouds Clear
After Covid-19, not much of our business model will change. Why? Because we already had the safety standards in place, especially cleanliness, before they were standards. Touchpoints on our tour vehicles, for example, were repeatedly cleaned, and there was plenty of hand sanitizer available for guests. Not for a new virus, but because that is how we wanted our luxury private tours to operate. Attention to detail was (and still is) key for us, and, in our opinion, cutting corners results in a subpar tour.
As for the tour industry? For now, we wait. And the more America remains unpredictable, the more public perception will change about travel. Sadly, we can see many California tour operators going out of business as a result, maybe even us. If that happens, we have no problem starting from scratch again, because to us, hosting others is more important than a paycheck. Like a phoenix, we can rise from our ashes because we see opportunity abound. No matter what direction the tour industry goes, we know we can be a part of it as a leader.
As details come out about travel in the coming months, we can almost guarantee there will be more standards in place for touring in America. Until then, as we wait, we wish your family and friends good health and promise to help you experience San Francisco and Yosemite, even if your private tour is not with us — because that is what supporting family is all about.
Stay safe.
Please contact us at hello@whitewolftours.com with any questions.
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