During the next year, Whistler Blackcomb will be working with other businesses to contact former resort employees encouraging them to join a resort-wide celebration for all past and present employees. Reunion 2000 claims to be a first for the tour and travel industry, an event of "epic proportions." April 23-30, 2000, all former employees are invited back to Whistler for a week-long celebration. Since 1966, the resort has employed more than 40,000 employees from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Asia and elsewhere. "Reunion 2000 gives former employees a chance to come back and celebrate, share memories, find old friends and make new ones," said Gord Ahrens, director of the Whistler-Blackcomb employee experience department. "It also gives our resort community the opportunity to acknowledge all the employees who have contributed to Whistler’s success as it has grown from a small fishing resort in the 1960s to the number one ski resort in North America." Whistler Blackcomb will be working with other businesses to contact former employees. "We only have employee records back to the early 1980s, before that we will need help reaching all past employees," said Ahrens. Reunion 2000 celebrations will include a blast-off welcome event at the Roundhouse Lodge, decade theme nights, nostalgia-trivia contests, an ultimate Reunion Celebration on Saturday, April 29, and of course ski and snowboard activities, and daily apres parties. Children’s events are also planned. All Reunion 2000 participants will be offered discounts on lift tickets and mountain services, including the ski and snowboard school. Whistler festival and events professional Maureen Douglas, has been contracted to produce the event on behalf of Whistler-Blackcomb. "I’m incredibly excited about the potential for this celebration and the positive impact on the community," says Douglas. "It’s a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all of us."
