Ada Chang has always had an affinity for hotels. Starting as a front-desk agent as part of an internship program at the Sunrise Golf & Country Resort in in her native Taiwan, Chang quickly learned the importance of attention to details. She arrived in Canada on a working holiday visa and in 2011 joined the 155-room Days Inn & Suites by the Falls in Niagara Falls, Ont. while enrolling in the Hospitality & Tourism Management program at Niagara College.

The affable hotelier has an uncanny ability to remember guests’ names and she’s welcoming at every turn. It’s all part of her mission to ensure all guests “are treated with the utmost respect, feel welcome by everyone and are extremely happy they chose to stay at the Days Inn & Suites.”

Pre-COVID-19, Chang had oversight of 50 to 75 staff, but that number dwindled sharply once the pandemic set in “We had to lay off the majority of the staff and only kept the bare minimum to keep the property running. I had tears when telling each staff [member] that I had to lay them off.”

The pandemic has fuelled a roller coaster of activity and emotions. “It goes in stages,” says Chang. “Our employees do their part by following Ontario Public Health COVID-19 protocols and Days Inn Canada protocols. From an operational standpoint, it’s a constant battle with the public — getting them to follow all the COVID-19,” adds Chang.

As if the situation wasn’t already emotional, in May Chang suffered the loss of her father. Sadly, due to travel restrictions, she was unable to return to China to be with family. The turbulence of the past year has taught her to embrace “every moment with family and friends because life is so unpredictable and everything can turn on a dime.”

With the economy now re-opened, Chang and her team are working to improve the hotel’s online presence. The hotel’s location smack in the middle of Canada’s tourism playground means it’s a big draw for leisure travellers from around the world. “During shoulder seasons, we’re busy with group travellers and during the off-season, we do well with sports bookings.

“We’re lucky enough to be in the centre of everything and are in high demand because of our location. We also keep a close eye on our rates to make sure we’re in line with the comp sets in the area as we’re very competitive in the Niagara market.”

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