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How Tourism Fernie Modernized Their Shuttle System with Wayleadr

Tourism Fernie logo in maroon text with a maple leaf graphic above the letter "I" in "Fernie.

Client Overview

Tourism Fernie, a cornerstone of British Columbia’s alpine travel scene, operates winter shuttles to connect visitors with local businesses and the Ski Hill. As a forward-thinking organization, Tourism Fernie’s leadership team recognized an opportunity to enhance their visitor experience through digital transformation. They proactively sought out a technology partner to modernize their paper-based ticketing system, choosing Wayleadr to help bring their vision of a more streamlined, app-based shuttle service to life.

A blue and white shuttle bus labeled "#FernieStoke SHUTTLE" is parked on a snowy street with trees and houses in the background.

The Opportunity

Tourism Fernie conducted a strategic assessment of their shuttle operations ahead of ski season and identified key areas for enhancement:

Enhanced customer convenience

Give tourists the ability to purchase tickets online before they arrive, rather than having to visit physical ticket locations in town

Improved operational visibility

Get clear insights into which routes and stops were busiest to make data-driven decisions

Streamlined staff operations

Replace time-consuming manual tracking with automated systems to free up staff for other important tasks

Better promotional insights

Improve monitoring of promotional pass usage to understand program effectiveness

Revenue generation opportunities

Generated additional income by selling and placing in-app advertisements from local businesses. Several companies participated as advertisers last year. The app also featured all seasonal events, providing excellent promotion for members.

Their goal was to set new standards for mountain resort transportation by implementing a modern, digital-first approach.

The Wayleadr Solution

Tourism Fernie partnered with Wayleadr to modernize their shuttle management approach:

Digital ticket sales

Tourism Fernie could offer users single-ride passes online ahead of their visit, with plans to expand options in future seasons

Real-time operational dashboard

Live tracking of passenger scans by location, time, and route to understand service usage patterns

Data-driven insights

Clear reporting on ticket redemptions, promotional pass usage, and pickup location popularity

Route optimization tools

Visual analytics showing that over 50% of riders were boarding at just a few key locations

Local business integration

Built-in links to area businesses and events, creating value for both riders and the local tourism ecosystem

GPS shuttle tracking

Riders could see exactly where their shuttle was in real-time through the app – especially valuable during busy powder days when traffic delays were common

Smartphone screen displaying the Fernie Stoke Shuttle app with a map, stop information, shuttle availability, and morning route schedules.

Key Results

Operational Insights

Route analytics revealed high-traffic pickup locations, providing valuable information for future service planning

Manual tracking processes were replaced with real-time, automated reporting

Digital communication tools helped manage rider expectations during weather delays or capacity issues

Revenue and Strategy Insights

Usage data provided insights into promotional program effectiveness, enabling mid-season strategy refinements

Sales analytics revealed clear patterns in customer preferences and booking behaviours

Partnership integrations with local hotels created additional value for accommodation providers

Foundation for Future Growth

Regular reporting on revenue and ridership patterns helped inform operational and staffing decisions

Comprehensive usage data now supports service optimization for future seasons

Established a scalable digital platform ready for expansion and enhancement

Enhanced Visitor Experience

Tourism Fernie understood that successful shuttle service goes beyond efficient transportation – it should enhance the entire visitor experience. The digital transformation delivered several visitor-focused improvements:

Convenient pre-planning

Visitors could purchase shuttle tickets online before arriving, streamlining their travel day

Real-time information

Live shuttle tracking eliminated guesswork about arrival times

Family-friendly policies

Free rides for children under five made the service more accessible for families

Seamless integration

Easy access to information about local businesses and events through the app.

The Outcome

Tourism Fernie successfully transitioned from a paper-based system to a sophisticated, data-driven shuttle service that better serves visitors while providing valuable operational insights.

The partnership with Wayleadr Bus enabled Fernie to:

Modernize operations with digital tools and automated reporting

Make informed decisions based on real usage data

Enhance visitor convenience through online ticketing and real-time tracking

Build valuable partnerships with local businesses and hotels

Establish a strong foundation for continued service improvement and expansion

A FernieStoke Shuttle bus is parked on a snowy street in front of a wooden building with snow-covered mountains in the background.
White "Fernie Tourism" logo with a stylized maple leaf accent over the letter "i," displayed on a light gray background.

Want to Learn More About Fernie?

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