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Hostel signs agreement with mayor

The operator of what will become a 180-bed hostel in Cheakamaus Crossing after the Olympics signed a partnership agreement with Mayor Ken Melamed last Monday to work towards Whistler 2020 goals.

The operator of what will become a 180-bed hostel in Cheakamaus Crossing after the Olympics signed a partnership agreement with Mayor Ken Melamed last Monday to work towards Whistler 2020 goals.

Alistair McLean from Hostelling International Canada said he is looking forward to moving the hostel from its current location near Alta Lake to the Olympic athletes’ village, adding that construction is on budget and three months ahead of schedule.

“Our current space falls short of the demand we have from people visiting us from all over the world,” said McLean of the 25-bed space, which opened in 1975 and attracts guests from Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and the United States.

“Now that we have more capacity, we will be promoting (the hostel) more.”

McLean predicted the hostel will bring an additional $1.4 million into the community during its first few years of operations.

When Hostelling International takes over the building in 2010, the municipality plans to turn the Alta Lake spot into parkland.