Trion building biggest convention facility in province The long-neglected parking lot and former waterslide site next to the Delta Whistler Resort is to become one of Whistler’s most exclusive hotels and the largest convention facility in the province. Trion International Enterprises Corporation presented plans for its full service, five-star Whistler International Resort Hotel to council this week. Pan Pacific has been mentioned as the hotel operator. The project, which is scheduled to get underway next spring and open in January 1999, includes 50,000 square feet of convention space, 368 hotel rooms and suites, a restaurant, bistro, cocktail lounge, conference and meeting rooms, ballrooms, 4,000 square feet of retail space and a health spa. As well, Trion has promised to build 13,000 square feet of space, on two levels, for Whistler Mountain’s employee services division. Trion has also said it will build housing for the employees of the hotel. No details of the housing have been finalized but accommodation for approximately 100 employees has been discussed. Trion principal Vladimir Plavsic told council the project will consist of two buildings, up to nine storeys in height. Two floors will be underground and a further two levels of underground parking will be included. The project is on two parcels, one of which is owned by Trion and the other is owned by Whistler Mountain Ski Corp. Council gave first two readings to bylaws which will rezone the two parcels. A development covenant will be registered against the project which requires the hotel be built substantially as shown on drawings, otherwise the zoning will revert to its present status. The project will require 736 bed units. Trion’s lot carries with it 552 bed units. Whistler Mountain has agreed to sell Trion 190 bed units from its pool of more than 2,100 unallocated bed units. All bed units are accounted for in the municipality’s current bed unit inventory. Concerns were raised about the additional traffic the hotel will create on Whistler Way. The project is also required to produce some tangible community benefit. Although that community benefit has yet to be discussed, it was suggested Trion might make some contribution toward alleviating traffic problems in the village.
