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Accommodation and competitive advantage Michael Porter, one of the foremost business gurus and frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review, quite often states that increasing barriers to entry for an industry will help sustain profitability of th

Accommodation and competitive advantage

Michael Porter, one of the foremost business gurus and frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review, quite often states that increasing barriers to entry for an industry will help sustain profitability of those companies already taking part in the industry. Many of his articles state that increased growth isn’t always a good thing, and that securing unique competences through design and unique employees will be crucial to secure sustainable competitive advantage for profitability.

The accommodation industry in Whistler is clearly facing pressures from new market entrants. For example, there are four certain entries into the market that have the potential to erode market current share and decrease occupancy; The Four Seasons, The Pan Pacific, Nita Lake Lodge and the future IROC development. Although the Four Seasons and perhaps Nita Lake will likely attract many different market segments to Whistler; the other two, The Pan Pacific and the future Intrawest Resort Club likely will not. All of these projects have all been accepted by municipal planners and are set to be fully completed in the coming years and nothing can be done to stop that. On the other hand the Hyatt and Boot Sites, two large areas of land directly beside the village, have not yet received development permits for accommodation.

The competitive pressures from new market entrants, combined with tourism, education and industrial economic growth in Squamish just waiting to be released, means that the demand and competition for frontline and management employees within the Sea to Sky corridor is bound to heat up. Providing resident employee housing in the great community that we are may be the only way to ensure that Whistler and its many hotels secure a future work force and a vibrant community.

Based on these assumptions; would it make sense for Whistler’s accommodation sector to purchase the current Hyatt lands to create a barrier to entry for new competitors? What about the Boot hotel site?

From a municipal standpoint, could it potentially make sense to restrict the development of the accommodation units and therefore reduce demand for new employee housing?

Perhaps the municipality and local accommodation industry could partner together, with hotels purchasing the Hyatt or Boot lands for their employees and the municipality shifting tourist accommodation zoning to resident housing. I don’t have specifics of the purchasing costs or the exact economic benefits, but hotels would gain by not losing market share and by ensuring a reliable workforce, and the entire community would gain by having less housing pressure, happy residents, happy local business owners and happy visitors.

Dan Wilson

Whistler

It was an idyllic day for the Remembrance Day ceremonies outside the firehall on Thursday. The sun was shining; the community turned out by the hundreds; the fire department did a great job in hosting the event. I remember in years gone by listening to the ceremony, looking at the lovely views and feeling blessed that our family has the very great fortune of living in a peaceful, safe and beautiful town. Same sentiments this year with one very notable exception.

The views were blocked by the hugely tall building still under construction across the street. When the sun went behind the building at about 11:15 the temperature plummeted. Standing at the foot of that building as we were on Thursday gave the impression of being in a city rather than a town in the mountains.

There's nothing that can be done about the building now. There certainly is something that can be done to ensure that the same mistake is not repeated in the rest of the village. The municipality has struck a "CC1" task force and I have been asked to sit on it. In the meantime, I encourage all those who do not want our village restructured into a mini-Manhattan to let the municipal council know their opinion.

Nancy Wilhelm-Morden

Whistler

It is with a heavy heart that I am leaving Whistler to accept a position at a private resort just outside of Toronto. I have worked with the mountain as a host and senior host in the Guest Relations department for the past year.

Now there have been many critical letters written about Intrawest and the mountains, and a lot of them I agree with, but my experience here in Whistler has been exceptional. I have never worked with such an exceptional and energetic group of people and I will miss them all very much. Special thanks to Arthur Santiago for taking me under his wing and giving me a good kick in the ass when I needed it.

To Intrawest and the Senior Leadership Team, don't take your staff for granted. You've got some amazing people working for you, don't let the accountants screw that up.

To my friends and co-workers, thank you. You've given me some great memories (even if I can't remember them) and I wish you all the best for the upcoming season.

Patrick Ney

Whistler

Re: Pop quiz clarifications (Pique letters Nov. 12)

Instead of concentrating on facts and figures to make a point or refute one, I'll try a common sense comment on a) old growth forests (OGFs) and b) the depth of knowledge we have on them.

We endlessly refer to our surrounds as a commodity and monetary source, to be taken advantage of. Don't misunderstand me, I believe in working forests, cut and replant, which I hope is sustainable.

However in regards to OGFs or any delicately balanced system, often requiring centuries to achieve, our knowledge scratches the surface and likely will for some time. To desecrate these habitats, without regard to the consequences, which are impossible to foresee, is to risk losing many species of organism (such as fungi, insects, algae, etc.) that require the unique habitats these regions provide. The symbioses and dependencies of these organisms are largely unknown.

One surety is that clear cutting OGFs destroys the balance inherent in them and with this the likelihood of losing forever things we know nothing about. We are responsible to protect the remaining wilderness "under our care," and allow every living thing in them, known or not, the right of survival.

Please don't inflate the value of replanted clear cut regions in regards to their CO2 processing ability. Cutting down old trees to fix a problem we caused is insulting. On energy use, how about Whistler getting on with part of the solution, such as replacing the incandescent Christmas lights with much more efficient LED lights and CFLs wherever possible. A great Christmas present for all.

Mark Neumeyer

Whistler

Every week I read with interest online editions of both your Whistler papers, (also the news of Squamish and Pemberton). The reason for my interest: I first spent two months skiing Whistler/Blackcomb in the spring of 1994 and have returned almost yearly since. I have come to know residents there that I consider friends and enjoy their company when I visit. I have experienced the finest in your health care when I crashed and burned coming out of the trees on 7th Heaven, and listened with concern when my Whistler friend mentioned he would probably be two years in waiting for surgery to repair a shoulder that dislocates so very easily (eight times so far).

I have endured intentional slow and rude service at a Squamish restuarant/pub, which I later found, was in sympathy with the out of work local loggers. However, I didn't need to mention that my family’s four-generation tree farm had to be sold because of the high death (estate) taxes here, hmmm. That certainly put me out of the timber business.

So, you ask, why am I writing today? Just to let you know that I have decided not to visit Whistler again.

When I read in your papers that 40 per cent of your youth are now Anti-American. When I read your political views on our election process and your obvious biases, I wondered why? But then again your government does censor the only balanced conservative and liberal news network (here) from being heard in your country, but, I guess Al Jazeera is, OK.

Sorry, I no longer feel welcome in Whistler.

I laughed when you ran your yearly favourites list. For example, Favorite place to have your visiting rich friends take you to dinner – winner: The Rimrock. Yes, in fact, I do like to take my Whistler friends to the Rimrock. I know the favourites lists were all in good fun and entertainment, even though, at my expense. However, I returned to Whistler and took them to dinner at the Rimrock, again.

Through your local news media I have certainly been made more than aware just how you really feel about me. I don't feel welcome and I certainly don't want to go where I'm not wanted.

Sorry guys, how about meeting me at Silver Star this year? Hey, they might not want me there either, but at least I didn't read all about it in their newpapers. The Okanagan wines are calling my name.

Yes, you are a small town newspaper(s), with a very large voice. I was sorry to read that your nightly visits were down 17 per cent, I wonder why? I guess alienating more that half of the U.S. with your opinions is of no concern to your enlightened community. Hey, I guess I'm just one of those ignorant, unenlightened, "red state" residents, who has spent more than $20,000 (US), over the years, in your fair community. It is not fun feeling that you are only tolerated for your money. I can tell you that this is not Intrawest's problem, because I also ski/board at Snowshoe WV (another red state). Their village also likes my money. See ya.

Dave Myrick

Candler, North Carolina

I was wearing a Canada T-shirt in my local supermarket a couple of days ago when a sincere Aussie lad piped up from behind me, "You’re Canadian eh?" Having arrived back in Australia a few weeks earlier, I smiled to myself, quietly missing all things Canadian.

Whistler was my first real adventure beyond Australian shores and I can say with absolute certainty that it was the best time of my life. I have never been so blessed with the people I met, nor with the memories I made. I never stopped being amazed at the enthusiasm and cheerfulness of the Whistler locals. I was a regular at Meadow Park, Nesters, the GLC, the Beagle, I used Whistler transit regularly and spent at least half my time working and hanging out in the village.

To all the locals who make the Whistler experience what it is, thank you.

Whistler is more than a resort town, more than the mountains and the luxury of five star resorts. It is the atmosphere and energy that Whistler exudes which lures people back, again and again.

When you travel far from home you glimpse the serenity of foreign environments. When you return home, it is the spirit of the people, the enthusiasm in their hearts and the lessons that they teach you, that stay with you forever.

I fell in love with all things Canadian and I’m sure I’ll be back to do it all again – in a Whistler minute.

Stacey Foster

Australia

Mr. Wensley, you seem to be remarkably out of connection with what service industry employees experience in Whistler. To call it "unfair" to be affected by industrial activities in Function seems to reflect the lack of recognition of the extremes that one may have to reach to find Whistler housing. That it provides you with sufficient argumentation against affordable housing in Function raises only more question marks.

The affordable employee housing in Whistler debate seems to always be couched in either a patriarchal "this is good for you and that is not" argument or "this planning is contrary to sustainable development or good urban planning" rationale to suppress or quash affordable housing initiatives.

Rudimentary economic theory, coarsely interpreted, strongly suggests that when a high demand for a product of limited supply exists, upward pressure on the product’s price exists. Alternatively, are these arguments by developers and residents at par or is there an ulterior motive?

Stephen Chan

Richmond Hill, Ontario