As the curtain closes on 2012, many operators may not be sorry to see it go. Sure, it wasn’t a bad year, but it wasn’t stellar either. It began well enough, as some experts predicted a turnaround year marked by an end to the economic malaise. But the recovery never materialized the way we expected, and the rebound was incremental at best.
Problems continued to plague the Eurozone. South of the 49th parallel, our neighbours were so focused on the two E’s — the economy and the election — that little else seemed to matter, including travelling to Canada on business or vacation; such decisions produced lacklustre tourism results this side of the border. And, if that wasn’t bad enough, just as our American neighbours were set to cast their votes on who would lead their country, they had to contend with superstorm Sandy, which hit much of the East Coast, wreaking havoc on New York and New Jersey. Fortunately, Canada was only moderately impacted.
When you look at Canada as a whole, not only did we weather the recent storm well, but we’ve been spared the vagaries of the past four years, enduring the economic maelstrom better than most. More specifically, the foodservice and hospitality industry has also fared well, with several companies — especially this year’s cast of Pinnacle Award winners — shining during the darkest of stormy days. For many, innovation was the order of the day despite the recession.
One only has to look at this year’s Pinnacle Award winners to see they didn’t let hardship and challenges stand in their way. Of course, it’s easy for companies to do well when the economy is booming, but it’s quite a different story when times are tough.
Interestingly, there’s a common characteristic that shines through in this year’s winners and in the circle of past Pinnacle recipients — it’s the ability to transcend challenges and forge ahead, driven by a deep-seated desire to succeed. Read through the Pinnacle stories, and you’ll discover how our winners become more determined to succeed in spite of obstacles. You’ll also note that many are visionaries, able to map out the market’s progression even before the rest of us know its path. Hockey great Wayne Gretzky explained it best years ago. He said: “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.” That’s a mantra we’d all be wise to heed.
Finally, on behalf of our talented team at Kostuch Media, and our president Mitch Kostuch, we’d like to wish readers and advertisers a joyous and wonderful holiday season, punctuated by great health, happiness and, as always, a touch of magic. Here’s to a great 2013.
