Whistler is the runaway leader in growth in tourism room revenue, according to numbers from BC Stats. In 1995, room revenue in Whistler topped $76 million, up 22.7 per cent from the previous year and more than twice the $34.6 million total of second place Kelowna. BC Stats defines tourism room revenue in terms of urban centres and regional districts. Greater Vancouver ($425 million) and the Victoria Capital Regional District ($120 million) had the highest room revenue totals; Whistler led all urban centres. Growth in room revenues since 1989, however, was higher among the urban centres than in Vancouver or Victoria. Whistler’s annual average growth in room revenue was 15.7 per cent between 1989 and 1995. The provincial average was 7.3 per cent. Vancouver and Victoria averaged 6.6 and 6.8 per cent, respectively. Whistler, Kelowna, Kamloops ($25.8 million) and Prince George ($23.2 million) were the only urban centres to earn in excess of $20 million from room revenues in 1995. Whistler’s room revenue for the year was 7.7 per cent of the provincial total. However, BC Stats reports May 1996 was the first month since July 1993 that Whistler experienced a drop in year-over-year revenue.
