Off the Map Podcast - Axed & The Bunker - Melissa Herod

In this episode, Conor speaks with Melissa Herod, owner of Axed & The Bunker in Blue Mountain Village, Ontario, about growing from a mobile axe-throwing trailer into a permanent tourism experience, expanding into a retro arcade gaming lounge, and navigating the realities of operating in a high-traffic resort destination.

Their conversation also explores the challenges facing Canada’s small tourism operators, from rising overhead and shifting visitor spending to staffing, guest experience, visibility, resilience, and the constant need to pivot when the market changes around you.