Interview with Tanya Bennett - Owner of Vancouver Mysteries

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Can you share a little of the journey that led you from childhood to the career you now enjoy? Any signs looking back you would embrace entrepreneurship, especially a business focused on tourism.

I have always been a storyteller and a lover of mysteries (film and literature) and studied English Literature, Creative Writing, Theatre and Film at the University of British Columbia. At the same time, I grew up working in a family business: my dad started me in the warehouse and my last position was manager of the warehouse and office in Mississauga during one of my summer breaks from university.\

My parents immigrated to Canada and started more than one business here and my older brother also went on to start his own very successful business when I was still in high school so I was raised in an environment of entrepreneurship.

Vancouver Mysteries experiences started as a tourist business and we are a popular tourist activity but our business and our marketing does not focus on tourism. In fact, the majority of our guests are locals who book us for team building, field trips, date nights, special occasions and family fun.

How did you and Will Woods (founder of Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours) - meet? And what inspired you to join forces to start Vancouver Mysteries?

I worked for Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours as a storyteller and then Will Woods and I co-founded Vancouver Mysteries, Inc. together. We purchased the two original games from Sevan Flament; he had designed them for downtown Vancouver but was moving back to Paris and looking for someone to take them over. In 2019 I purchased Will's shares in Vancouver Mysteries, allowing me to work on Vancouver Mysteries full-time. Forbidden Vancouver and Vancouver Mysteries continued to shared an office for many years and Will and I are still good friends.

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Vancouver Mysteries at the Fairmont Hotel

What schooling, training, mentorship, and/or life experiences helped you learn the skills you would need in your current career as owner of Vancouver Mysteries?

I would never have predicted that I would be the owner of Vancouver Mysteries - it's a pretty unique business. Yet, when I look back at my interests, education and work experience it all makes sense that I ended up here. I have always been a performer. I really enjoy personally running games and hosting our special events. This is also one of the best ways to get instant and real-life feedback from our customers and I am always learning and always looking for ways to improve our experiences.

As for mentors, Will Woods was definitely my mentor for the tourism part of our business. I had no prior experience in that area when he hired me to be a tour guide and his experience, knowledge and contacts really helped get Vancouver Mysteries going. My friend Pamela Thurston manages the observation deck The Vancouver Lookout and has also been very supportive. Recently I was elected to the board of the Vancouver Attractions Group and I have already learned so much from my colleagues there and hope to see Vancouver Mysteries' tourist demographic grow. 

Overall, I'd say the Vancouver business community is full of very generous and kind people - I have had such great experiences with the business improvement association DowntownVan, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and destination marketing organizations, plus all the companies supporting our local business by choosing us for their large team building events. When it comes to business, my mentors will always be my mom and dad. My dad taught me how to negotiate business deals and I inherited my relentless energy from my mom.

What do you love best about creating these experiences? What is the biggest challenge(s) you face?

I equally love writing, designing puzzles and working with the extremely talented people I get to work with every day. The biggest challenge is making any money. It's a puzzle I am still trying to solve: paying everyone fairly while also setting a ticket price that appeals to enough people. It's a delicate balance and even just one plot twist can result in a loss instead of a profit. When that happens everyone still gets paid except for me.


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Vancouver Mysteries at Harrison Hot Springs

I know you have several different programs? Can you share a little about the different types of experiences you offer?

Vancouver Mysteries has five outdoor escape games in downtown Vancouver including one for groups with younger kids (ages 6 and up). We also have two mystery dining experiences running daily from the Delta Hotel Vancouver Downtown Suites. These experiences are also available as portable games we can bring to other hotels, restaurants, conference rooms, offices and homes (up to 100 players). \

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Most recently, we have four different Murder is a Drag shows: musical murder mystery experiences with drag performers, puzzles and even prizes. Murder is a Drag shows happen approximately once a month year round and have also become increasingly popular for private bookings. We have also worked with other venues like the VPL, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and VIFF Centre to create mystery experiences.

I recently attended one of your Murder is a Drag events and had a great time. I think this is a newer creation? Can you talk about your inspiration to create this event and what guests can expect?

I have always been disappointed by those murder-mystery-in-a-box games or interactive murder mysteries. I know some people love them but I always felt awkward standing around making small talk with characters. We have received many requests to offer a murder mystery experience, but I could never endorse it. At our shows, the Experience Hosts are there to explain how it all works and participation is 100% optional. 

Everyone gets to work on the puzzles and vote for the murderer. I find the drag performances elevate Murder is a Drag from cheesy to campy. I like attending these shows as an audience member and I would definitely pay to see these shows if Vancouver Mysteries wasn't producing them. If you've never been to a drag show before, this is also a great place to start.

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Please share a bit about your upcoming events. Do you have a favourite? Where can readers learn more and/or buy tickets.

Our next Murder is a Drag show will be on March 13th. It's a special edition of Wake the Dead (the second Murder is a Drag Show in the series) and is set in a real mansion in Vancouver. A haunted one! We are very excited about this special experience and tickets will be available soon. Our outdoor escape games and mystery dining experiences run daily 362 days a year. All of our experiences and tickets can be purchased at vancouvermysteries.com.

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In addition to Vancouver Mysteries, you personally offer many services - from Marketing/Business Consulting to Team Building to Events to Project Management. Can you share a little about the work you do in this area from gaining you skills to the kinds of projects you take on.

My primary focus is Vancouver Mysteries but I am available for consulting. I have a background in helping business owners with digital marketing and business plan review. I gained this experience both as the owner of a digital marketing agency (Full Serve - sold in 2022) and as an instructor in the Continuing Studies Department at Langara College (2011-2019).

Anything you else you want to share in closing - if not leave blank.

I volunteer in the role of Community Business Representative on the Gastown Historic Area Planning Committee. This civic agency works to preserve and protect the heritage and character of the historic Gastown area. I also maintain a website that documents and maps the location of Fairy Doors in Vancouver (fairydoorsofvancouver.com).

I'm a curious and creative person and I love to find a little bit of fun and mystery in every day.

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Links -

Vancouver Mysteries - 

Personal/Professional

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Vancouver Mysteries Inc is a locally-owned, top-rated, award winning business that has been operating since 2014. Longtime member of Destination Vancouver and member of the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame (awarded the Certificate of Excellence for 5 years in a row). Vancouver Mysteries now offers 5 outdoor escape games, 2 mystery dining experience in downtown Vancouver, 3 hit Murder is a Drag shows plus special events throughout the year. Book your experience here: vancouvermysteries.com

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