Whistler Forecasting Strong Ski Season
by Richard D’Ambrosio /Photo: snowaddiction
Whistler Resorts is predicting a busy 2016-17 ski season as the company’s investment in marketing and facilities continues to generate solid advance ski pass sales and inbound travel from international markets.
Dave Brownlie, president and CEO, said he was “very pleased” that 2016-17 “season pass and frequency card sales” were up 32% as of Aug. 7, versus the same period last year. The end of summer is the beginning of Whistler’s selling season, and Brownlie is “cautiously optimistic.”
Advance sales for the upcoming season are “lining up positively,” aided by “some strong tailwinds on the currency side,” Brownlie said, alluding in part to the strong U.S. dollar and some other exchange rates. The elimination of travel visas to and from Mexico will help as well, he said.
Over the next few months, “all those folks [purchasing passes] are going to be talking about going skiing at Whistler, and that will provide more energy going forward,” Brownlie said.
Approximately 46% of the resort’s visits this quarter were from outside the region, down from 49% in Q3 2015.
Brownlie said that investments in warm weather attractions are generating more tourism to the resort during the off season, including sightseeing, hiking and Whistler’s bike park. So far, he said, summer operations have experienced a 7.8% increase. “We are optimistic for the remainder of the 2016 summer.”
Whistler announced on Aug. 9 that it had agreed to be purchased by Vail Resorts. The two entities are seeking all regulatory approvals, and hope to close the purchase agreement this fall.