The Black Bear Resort Hotel — Hotel in Port McNeill

I had been booked in for two nights and wrote to the manager to enquire whether I could bring my fully registered, highly trained, and very necessary Emotional Service animal. ||||The response was initially polite, drawing my attention to the Black Bear Lodge No Pet/ESA policy and suggesting that my booking be cancelled, free of charge. ||||When I called to speak further with Jonna, the manager, about the issue and to request that the booking be maintained (and that I would very reluctantly try to make alternative arrangements for my service dog) she adopted an unctuous and officious tone with me that I can only imagine was precipitated by something personal as one does not expect such a tone from a manager in hospitality.||||I have 30 years of experience as a hospitality service trainer, with some of my projects having world recognition and awards - and to say that I was quite taken aback by Jonna's attitude is an understatement.||||Several points of order: 1) My dog is fully ratified by the South African Health Department, is extensively trained, and is registered as an Emotional Service Animal. She underwent a four-hour exam before being granted her status. She is necessary to me as I suffer Complex-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She has flown in-cabin on many airlines, has stayed in many hotels and lodges with me around the world, enters malls, shops, and restaurants: and has been trained within an inch of her life to cope with all of these situations. A single (if indelicate) example of her training with regards to airlines and hotels is that in a 28-hour travel route from South Africa to the USA she did not once soil her environs, but withheld until given the command when in a suitable area. THAT'S how trained she is. Uncomfortable, but necessary when a working dog.||||I had sent all of my dog's papers through to Jonna with my initial query - also stating that I was ok with finding an alternative for my dog if this did not sit well with BBL's policies, however reluctantly. Had she taken the time to read through the information supplied, Jonna would have found that my dog is not a pet, and is not simply an ESA in the ordinary understanding of the term. Suffice it that her tone was less than friendly and definitely not supportive of the subject. Further, once I have settled in Canada I will follow through with the necessary steps to have my dog ratified by the relevant authorities in Canada - I have not yet had the time nor the inclination as I am newly arrived and my dog is in possession of a pile of official papers from the authorities in my home country of South Africa. This has sufficed all over the USA and in other places in Canada to this point, including airlines, immigration officials and so on.||||The second point of order relates to a credit card: Jonna asked me whether I had a credit card. The booking was made by a prospective employer as the accommodations are part of a second interview process - and credit card details had been supplied. ||||I answered Jonna that I do not personally have a credit card as I am a newcomer to Canada and have not been in a position from which to obtain such a thing - but that I do have a Canadian bank debit card which would be happily supplied. Her response to this fact - on top of her dismissive tone with regards my emotional service dog, beggared belief. ||||She announced that she would definitely be cancelling my booking on the back of my lack of credit card. Again, I fully appreciate hotel policies - I've worked with enough guest scenarios over 30 years to appreciate the difficulties hospitality staff encounter - and know that solutions are always just a thought and an action away. ||||Jonna dismissed me completely and made no attempt to come up with a solution - which was a simple one: she has already in her possession a credit card on file - provided by the person booking the room and with a few communications between her and this person, it could have been easily resolved. In addition, she would have had my debit card on file and could have insisted, politely, that I do not leave the premises until a thorough room and facility check had been done - I would have offered this prior to check out, anyway.||||I'm sure Black Bear Lodge is very pretty and the thought of being able to make one's own waffles must be an enormous drawcard: but the tone and general demeanour of the person in charge leaves a lot to be desired - especially when considered in this time of the Coronavirus when guests must be fewer - and most especially when considered in relation to a person with registered and documented "disadvantages" and a registered, fully trained and documented emotional service animal. ||||I appreciate the policies of Black Bear Lodge - and of BC in general and would have happily worked towards an alternative solution with Jonna however reluctant I may have been to leave my dog in the vehicle overnight (for example) - or to have simply, with grace, to have made a cancellation and booked into an establishment which worked with me, my dog, her papers and my lack of credit card (which has now been achieved at another lodge in the area.) - I am appalled, Jonna, by your lack of grace and couth - and desire to work towards a gentle solution. But I also thank you - I will be in a position to have a "case study" from here on out, from which to teach hotel staff in further lectures I...

Stayed for one night as a stop on a road trip of the island before doing some whale watching in Telegraph Cove.

The hotel / resort is excellently located, on the edge of the town of Port McNeill in an elevated position, offering stunning views of the bay. Less than a minutes walk to food outlets and a large supermarket, and a two minute walk to the harbour and some great waterfront restaurants.

The Room: I booked a standard queen room. The room was traditional and basic, but very spacious and well equipped. A large super comfortable bed, large flat screen tv, armchair and side table and a good clothes hanging area. It also benefits from a separate dining area with large table and chairs, fridge, microwave and coffee machine.

Bathroom: Again basic, but functional, large bath with overhead shower, and a really large vanity with sink and loads of space for toiletries etc.

Facilities: There was a laundry which was great and a lovely exercise room with treadmills. Also a sauna / spa but I did not use that.

Breakfast: A basic continental style breakfast is included in the price and served from 6am daily (7am on Sundays) . The breakfast is a selection of bread / toast with jams and butter, cereals, boiled eggs and yoghurt.

In summary a clean and functional stay with the added benefits of decent wifi, friendly staff snd a fitness area.

Would stay again...

It was hard to find a place to stay last minute on a summer weekend and this hotel wasn’t on any hotel booking sites. Found it on Google Map and booked directly. I was a little weary of the reviews and had low expectations.

The hotel is absolutely fine and we ended up staying on two separate weekends! The rooms are spacious enough. The bed was comfy and the sheets were clean. Didn’t like the high pillows, but that wasn’t a huge problem. There was a fridge, a microwave and a very large flatscreen TV. The decor is very dated, and if they just changed the curtains and the carpet, the place would look a lot more modern.

Continental breakfast was limited, but I didn’t expect to get any breakfast. They had hard boiled eggs, toast, bagels, yogurt and coffee.

One star off for the pool not being open due to them being short staff. And there was a note that it’s 19+ only when it’s open. Only the...