We recently connected with Oscar Word and have shared our conversation below.

Oscar, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I can honestly say I’ve never been happier than I am now. It definitely hasn’t been easy to get to this point, but I wouldn’t trade this experience or life for anything. I will never go back to working for somebody else now that I know what it’s like to own my own business.
I do not miss being employed by somebody else. I am a person with big ideas and goals, and I often felt limited in other roles. I get full freedom to do whatever I want with my business, and that often looks like days spent thinking about what the next best move would be to both expand and continue making customers happy. Sometimes you don’t know what the right thing to do is, and the responsibility that comes with making decisions can be a heavy load. It takes almost inhuman amounts of perseverance and resilience to be successful. I have dedicated my life to growing this business, and that has been the reason it has become so successful. That, and a lot of luck. I have been incredibly fortunate, and I’m very grateful for everything that has brought me to this point in my life.
I also haven’t been alone in this journey. My family has been with me through all of this, and I would be in a much worse position without their support, love, and guidance. I co-own the business with my brothers, and they share the same sentiment as me- they love owning this business and could never work under someone else again. Overall, starting this business has been one of the most fulfilling and exciting parts of my life.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I got into this business because I saw an opportunity that no one else was really stepping into at the time. Bryce Canyon is one of the most incredible places in the world, and I couldn’t believe more people weren’t offering guided experiences to help visitors truly connect with it. With the help of others and a lot of hard work, I was able to grow that idea into what the business is today.
We now offer a range of services, including public and private tours in Bryce Canyon, as well as e-bike tours and rentals, and shuttle and taxi services. Everything we do is centered around helping people experience Bryce in a way that’s meaningful and memorable. A lot of visitors only get a short window of time here, and we try to make sure that time is as special as possible.
One of the things that really sets us apart is our team. Every one of our guides is not only knowledgeable, but genuinely loves what they do. You can feel when someone cares, and we care deeply about every guest’s experience. Guest experience really is our number one priority. We also have people behind the scenes, our office workers, that really make it all come together. We would definitely be lost without them. They have put so much time into making sure everything is organized and running smoothly. All of us together make a wonderful team.
What I’m most proud of is the reputation we’ve built. It definitely didn’t happen overnight; it came from a lot of long days, a lot of learning, and a real commitment to the people. All of us have put everything we have into this business, and we’ve been incredibly fortunate along the way.
At the end of the day, what I want people to know is simple—we love people, and we love what we do. We feel incredibly lucky to be out here every day, sharing a place like Bryce Canyon with others. Most days this doesn’t even feel like a job for our team, just a fun hang out. All in all, when you come out with us, our goal is to make your experience unforgettable.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think the biggest thing that helped us build our reputation has been our commitment to quality from day one. We made a decision early on that every single tour mattered, no matter how big or small, and we’ve carried that mindset with us ever since. We give our full effort on every tour, and I think people can feel that.
A huge part of that comes down to our guides. Every one of them genuinely loves what they do, and that energy is contagious. They’re out there to have a good time, connect with people, and make sure every guest has a great experience. We’ve also been very intentional about doing things the right way. We didn’t cut corners, and we didn’t rush the process. We focused on building something we could be proud of, and that naturally led to positive word of mouth.
On top of that, we made an effort to build relationships with other local businesses in the area. Those partnerships and endorsements meant a lot, especially early on. It helped us get in front of more people, and it reinforced that we were a company others trusted and believed in. At the end of the day, it all comes back to caring—about the experience, about the people we work with, and about the people we serve. We’ve been very fortunate, and we’re incredibly grateful that it’s translated into the reputation we have today.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I think the most effective strategy for growing our clientele has been a combination of advertising, word of mouth, and getting our name out on various booking platforms. All three have played an important role. Advertising helped us get in front of people early on, and it still gets our name out there most effectively, but word of mouth has probably been the most meaningful. When people have a great experience, they tell others, and people trust other people.
Being on booking platforms has also made it easier for people to find us and feel confident choosing us. At the end of the day, it all works together—but it really comes back to giving people such a good experience that they want to share it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://brycecanyonscenictours.com