The floor of the main entrance area is designed to look like a dry river bed, complete with bear and cougar tracks. The BC Tel Guest Communication Centre will include access to e-mail, a fax machine, a Bloomsburg system for market analysis and is wired for video conferencing. It seats 1,700 and cost $9.2 million to build. It’s not a new convention centre, it’s the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain. Actually the Roundhouse Lodge will see extensive duty as a banquet facility, if not a convention centre, because the Whistler Village gondola comes right into the building. Banquet patrons never have to brave the elements at the top of the mountain. When the building opens to the public next week guests will have their choice of food and dining styles; from full service dining in Steep’s Grill to Asian-influenced items at the Hot Stove in the Glacier Room, to the assortment of deli and ethnic foods available from the Mountain Market in the spectacular Valley View Room. There’s also Lulu’s Cafe — a sidewalk-style bistro, Peak’s Corner Bar, the T-Bar, the Grill and Garage outside on the deck and, of course, Pika’s. Behind the scenes, the kitchen is several times the size of any previous kitchen on the mountain, enabling chefs to create dishes from scratch. Washing facilities are also vastly improved, which will enable the Roundhouse Lodge to use real dishes and cutlery. In fact, the only disposable items the lodge will use are cups for coffee and hot chocolate. Even the approach to the new Roundhouse Lodge is improved. The area leading up to the 50,000 square foot building has been levelled, so skiers and boarders no longer have to hike up to the buildings.
