Happy Would-Be Opening Weekend: A COVID-19 Message from RQV
Hello River Family,
We miss you, and wanted to reach out on what would have been our opening weekend. đź’”
First off, we hope y'all are keeping your minds, bodies, and spirits safe and healthy. It really is the most important thing...and it has felt harder to do now more than ever.
We've been through a lot in Nashville in the past month alone. (Yep, it's only been a month!) The kindness and generosity of this city, and those who love it from afar, will never cease to inspire us. It was an honor and a privilege to help in recovery efforts, and discontinuing our tornado relief transportation program earlier this month was the first of many heartbreaking decisions we'd have to make. But the health and safety of our crew and our community was, and will always be, our first priority.
Through all of that, our team- and a lot of you- kept spirits up by looking forward to our opening weekend; to getting back to the river and our favorite form of self-care. Yet here we are on what would have been our 6th opening weekend, wishing we were sweating and smiling on the river with all of you instead of hunkering down at home, weathering a global pandemic.
Meanwhile, we are also yet another small business trying to navigate this madness and uncertainty. To be blunt, we are struggling. Most of our RQV crew members have been severely affected over the last month, with off-season jobs in several restaurant and hospitality locations throughout the city- some of which were already impacted by the tornado. We are nothing without our team, and we will always value people over profits. So, regardless of this shut down, we are committed to delivering regular paychecks to each of these incredible crew members for as long as we can.
We know we are far from alone in this. RQV has applied for SBA loans and all other relevant assistance, and will continue to pursue any and every opportunity we can. However, the indefinite status of our return to the river means we are asking you, our loyal and loving river family, to help if you can.
How can you help our crew stay afloat?
Season Passes - We WILL be back on the river this season! Taking advantage of our season pass option will not only bank your river hours now for something to look forward to this summer, but your purchase will help our crew pay their essential bills now, which is when we need it most. Our goal is 15 season passes sold in April — will you join our river gang? You’ll get unlimited rentals for all three of our routes through the 2020 season.
Mermaid Merch — We have you covered for your quarantine fashion! All our tanks and tees are super comfy and stylish... move seamlessly from your couch to your Zoom meeting all while supporting a local small business. They are stored, packed, and shipped safely from our healthy and self-quarantined owner’s garage.
Spread the word — Our business has become the #1 rated kayak rental company in Nashville because of our service and commitment to quality AND because of referrals from our amazing customers. If you can’t swing a season pass or mermaid merch, spreading the word, posting on your socials, or telling a few outdoorsy friends means the world to us, truly.
River Queen Voyages was started five years ago by our owner, Annie Klaver, who quit her corporate job to create the first downtown river recreation company. We believe nature heals and we need the outdoors more than ever. This next couple months we also need you more than ever to keep our people and our boats afloat. It’s not always easy to ask for help but the outpouring of support we’ve seen in the last month reminds us of the strength and resilience of our community.
In whatever way you’re able to support RQV in this challenging time, know that your generosity and help spreading the word means the world to us.
Keep an eye on our socials! We’ll also be doing fun games and giveaways to help pass the time before we’re able to share the sunshine with you.
Be safe out there — we remain hopeful and grateful.
Much love,
Team RQV