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p class=MsoNormal>Value must endure Tourism Whistler would like to acknowledge and thank Pique Newsmagazine for your insightful editorial and your call for continued commitment to our resort-wide value strategy (“Waiting out the recession,” Feb.
p class=MsoNormal>Value must endure

Tourism Whistler would like to acknowledge and thank Pique Newsmagazine for your insightful editorial and your call for continued commitment to our resort-wide value strategy (“Waiting out the recession,” Feb. 7, 2008). 

You correctly pointed out the significant impact that the U.S. economic climate can have on Whistler. The United States is a key market for Whistler, representing almost one-third of all overnight visitors to the resort.

Over the past several years, Whistler has adopted a renewed focus upon ensuring a strong value equation for visitors. Together, we must remain vigilant in our dedication to this key strategy as we attempt to mitigate any potential negative impact from challenges to economic growth south of the border.

The resort has recorded significant gains in recent seasons – in fact, the combined results of winter 2006-07 and summer 2007 represents the best year ever for the resort. However, we cannot lose sight of the importance in sustaining the resort’s value message.

Equally important, we cannot forget the not-so-distant past. It was only a few years ago that Whistler experienced annual declines in our room nights, brought on by a number of factors including 9/11, concerns about SARS and Mad Cow disease, unseasonable snow conditions, a downturn in the U.S. economy, a strong Canadian dollar, high fuel prices, travellers choosing to stay closer to home, and increased competitive threats from both ski and sun destinations.

As a resort, we chose to direct our efforts on the things we could influence – with a primary focus on making certain that we not only meet but exceed our guests’ expectation of value. As part of this strategy, Tourism Whistler set out in 2003 to define our value equation as Value = Product + Service + Price and the entire resort stepped up its efforts to ensure that price is appropriately matched with products and services provided. Our collective efforts are working, with year-over-year growth since 2004-05.

There is an anticipation of continued economic weakness out of the U.S. market and we must always recognize that there will be other external factors that are out of our control (e.g. Mother Nature, exchange rates, etc.). However, as we move forward, there are a number of positives to build upon, including our exceptional snow conditions this season, renewed confidence from our long-haul travellers, new product offerings including the Whistler Olympic Park, excitement surrounding 2010, the opening of the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in spring 2008 and the launch of the Peak to Peak Gondola in December 2008.

Tourism Whistler has worked diligently with its membership and partners to counter the misperception that Whistler is “too expensive” – and the value equation is critical to our success in addressing this challenge.

As stated in Pique, “… our recent experiences and value strategy have put us in a better position to weather any storm. All the more reason for us to be cautious heading into the 2010 Games — the temptation to cash in for a few short weeks could undo years of hard work.

As we embrace the two-year countdown to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, we urge local business and property owners to support the approach of promoting Whistler’s incredible value.

Barrett Fisher

President, Tourism Whistler

 

Thank you Whistler

As part-time residents of Whistler for over 40 years we have enjoyed seeing it grow into a great mountain resort. However, it is in the past two weeks that we truly have come to realize what wonderful people make up this community. The outpouring of sympathy and compassion since the untimely death of our dear daughter-in-law, Kathy, has been amazing. The inumerable expressions of support for Bob and ourselves have been humbling. Thank you Whistler.

Special thanks to Bob and Sue Adams, Ted, Mario, Pascal, Dave and Lauren, Chris, Max and Marlene, the Pique staff, Tourism Whistler and the many, many friends that attended Kathy's "Celebration of Life" at the Conference Centre.

Sincerely,

Doug and Iris Barnett and family.

 

Counting the potholes on 99

I’d like to share my little Highway 99 adventure with you. Last week I went down to the city to visit my parents. I had attempted to go before Christmas and I hit two large rocks on the highway that took out my oil pan. It was impossible for me to avoid them as there was a car behind me and oncoming traffic. It was also impossible for me to prove that they were moving rocks, or that they came from a truck ahead of me. ICBC does not cover damage if you hit something that could have been avoided.

I understand both their side of this issue and my side. What I do not understand is the condition of this highway right now. I know that with the upcoming Olympics we need highway renovations but the conditions on this already treacherous road are beyond unacceptable. First, I thought I was just being a spoiled westerner; then I remembered the roads in Costa Rica were better than this at times. So I decided to do my own case study!

On the way down I would count how many potholes would actually damage my car. I would write down the mile markers of these holes. (I was completely safe here, don’t worry.) I was also fair, not counting the endless frost heaves or even the holes in the middle of the lanes that can be avoided. I counted only the large potholes that cannot be avoided if you drive in your lane. I am also not going to go into detail about the section between Alpine and Emerald or about Caterpillar driving 30 km/h in an 80 km/hr zone. I will avoid mentioning my frustration with the reflector poles and road lines because I know this is necessary if we are going to change the highway. I am also not going to go on and on about the section of highway they have finished near Vancouver which is nearly off camber and does not have proper drainage, creating large creeks and puddles when it rains. No one considered our weather when they designed this?

My beef is that there is no one efficiently patrolling and maintaining our highway daily. If they are going to construct a large section of highway they need to be able to maintain the portion they are working on. If the project is too large then maybe they should just do a section at a time. People, this is one reason our insurance is so high. ICBC, this is why you have so many road claims! Are they really spending $600 million on this highway development project? Will it really be done by fall of 2009?

So here are my findings. Here are the potholes, in order, from Function Junction to the Vancouver turnoff off. The (*) indicates when a pothole is massive (12.6 km,13.9, 49.2*, 49.4 *, 53.3, 54.2, 56, 59.7, 70.8*, 77-78, 79.4*, 81.8-82, 83.6, 93.6).

On the way home I put the odometer at 0 at the Squamish/Whistler ramp that exits near the ferry. (2.8 km,4.6, 6.6 river, 11.3, 14.5, 14.9, 16.7, 18, 18.8, 19.9, 36.6, 38.3, 40*, 43.9, 46.9, 55.5, 77, 79, 80*, 81, 87*, 90, 93, 98) .

So that’s 14 potholes on the way to Vancouver and 23 on the way home. I don’t play videogames — for those of you that do perhaps it is fun avoiding all these holes. If there are this many road hazards shouldn’t someone be responsible for fixing them? Gosh, I could fill them if you give me some asphalt!  I know where they are now!

Joanne Van Engelsdorp

Pemberton

 

Second daycare is welcome

Congratulations to Pemberton on the second licensed daycare centre. After the closure in 2000 of the original Pemberton Children’s Centre it is amazing to see how far we have come.

Not only did the new Pemberton Meadows childcare centre open and thrive but we now have a new centre. The new centre will offer care for babies that we have not had until now. With close to 100 babies being born in Pemberton every year, as well as the countless new families moving to our community, we were bursting at the seams.

Parents now have a choice of centres and those with babies will be able to leave them at the new daycare while working in Whistler. A great thank-you to all of the childcare staff in Pemberton for taking such great care of our children and welcome to the new ones.   Lainy Meeker

Pemberton

 

On pay parking

Perhaps one of the most surprising revelations concerning the Mayor's plans for implementing pay parking is the fact that the proposal, together with its estimated costs and purported benefits, seems not to have been subjected to any sort of democratic vetting and review by council. Nor has there been any thought of putting the matter before the taxpayers.

Council has a responsibility to function openly in the interests of the public they serve. They are morally obligated to be spend the public purse wisely and to maximize public benefit for each and every tax dollar levied. It is time for the RMOW to openly delineate its current, pending, and proposed capital project requirements, as well as their proposals regarding how such projects are to be financed, and to solicit public input regarding same. Any proposal with permanent fiscal implications for the community’s taxpayers should routinely be put to a vote.

Christopher Shackleton

Whistler

 

Thanks for the Jam

The first annual Club Intrawest Winter Jam Basketball Invitational took place this past weekend at Whistler Secondary. The entire day consisted of exciting games and an outstanding team effort put forth by those who organized the event.

We would like to thank the following businesses and individuals whose support made this experience possible — Club Intrawest, Nesters Market, Sachi Sushi, Svepol Crystal, Peter Train, Jean Larochelle, Steve McDonald, all our supportive parents, the student volunteers and all the fans that came out. We thank you for your time, effort and participation. We look forward to next year's event being even bigger!

Coaches Cory Heitz and Chad Rail

Whistler Secondary Senior Boys Basketball Team

 

Thanks for the shuffle

On Sunday Feb 10, the seventh annual Lost Lake Shuffle was held. 75 skiers, including 44 kids and their families, braved the variable weather conditions making the event another great success. We would like to thank all the sponsors who helped make the Shuffle possible…

Ciao-Thyme Bistro, Whistler Heli-Skiing, Whistler-Blackcomb, Nesters Market, Escape Route, Beet Root Café, Earls, Milestones, Marketplace IGA, Crepe Montagne, DUPS, Pasta Lupino, Quiznos, Brewhouse, Caramba, Araxi, Glacier Shop, Rogers Chocolates, Love Nest, Cows, The Toy Store, Lush, Elements Tapa Parlour, Nonna Pia’s, Wildwood Pacific Bistro, 49th Parallel, Splitz Grill, Village 8 Cinemas, Going Nuts, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Affinity Sports, Spicy Sports, Avalanche Pizza, Citta’s, Katmandu, Body Shop, Nesters Market, The Keg, 21 Steps, Comor Sports, Helly Hansen, CANSKI, Hatley’s, Ingrids, Spaghetti Factory, Sports Stop, BBK’s, Sachi Sushi, Rim Rock Café.

Thanks also to The RMOW, The Grocery Store, Slopeside Supply, Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Cliff Bar and Behind the Grind for their continued support and generosity.  

To our volunteers, coaches and parents at Whistler Nordics, thank you for sharing even more of your time. One final special Thank You to Lorraine and Wendy who handled registration, results and draw prizes; you make this event happen.

See you all next year for Early Registration!

Chris Waller

Cross Country Connection

 

Keep the Games affordable

It seems we are on the path of the Montreal Olympics. Governments on all levels are spending more than generations can recover in decades. What we can do is try to limit use of spending so that cost of living for younger generations isn’t boosted because of shortages, cost-overruns, and overspending.

Olympic dreams and moments aren’t based on statues, celebration plazas or elaborate landscaping but on athletes and celebration of competition. Setting green standards on a celebration plaza by cutting 100-plus trees and producing carbon to build the plaza would be very ironic. The only legacy is cost overruns, more waste, more maintenance, and deforestation. In the history of the Games many of the medals are awarded at the venue.  Considering building standards in Whistler, it would be far greener and cheaper to have a temporary, reusable stage to celebrate medal awards at the base of the mountains.

If you look into the history of government nationwide, rarely would you see an on-time and on-budget project. The Olympics are going to place Whistler in the spotlight and we are going to shine like we always do. I truly don’t expect a costly celebration plaza is going to define the experience for visitors and future generations.

Steve Jiu

Whistler