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Whistler
posts
record
summer
season!
by Andrew Mitchell, courtesy of The Pique
Visitor numbers 9% ahead of 2002
Although the Whistler summer season isn't over until the end of
October, Tourism Whistler is reporting the highest visitor numbers
in resort history, with the potential to break the previous record
set in 2002 by nine per cent.
Overall, TW is predicting room nights from May to the end of
October 2006, with monthly rates on par or ahead of the peak numbers
of 2002. Further it appears that gains in room nights are spread out
over a variety of sectors, with increased bookings from independent
travelers, tour and travel operators and group business.
Group business number were the most significant contributor, with
events like the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)
Summit and World Mountain Bike Conference in June and conventions
such as the one hosted by Oracle Corporation in July and by BC Wood
Products in August boosting the bottom line. In total, the Telus
Whistler Conference Centre has hosted more than 45 groups and events
this summer, generating an estimated 25,000 room nights. Between
June and September, group numbers were double the previous summer.
Whistler's growing reputation as a mountain bike destination also
brought visitors to the resort, with the Whistler Mountain Bike Park
again breaking records with rider numbers of 98,000 — an increase
of 10% over the previous year. Each year since 1999, the bike park
has broken the previous year's records with double-digit growth.
Tourism Whistler is expecting strong bookings for the coming
winter with a forecasted increase of 3% over last year # while
trailing the resort's record season of 2000 / 2001 by 11%. Last
year's season was the best in several years, based on the strong
interest in value package deals, the exceptional snow and increased
visibility because of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. |
Intrawest shareholders say yes to $2.8 Billion Fortress
deal
By Clare Ogilvie, courtesy of The Pique
Nearly 100% of Intrawest shareholders have approved the sale of
Whistler-Blackcomb's parent to New York's Fortress Investment Group
LLC.
A 22-minute meeting 99.9 percent of shareholders said yes to a
deal that will pay them US $35 a share when it closes next month.
That's a 32 per cent premium over the stock price before the
proposed sale was announced last month.
Fortress was considered a good fit for Intrawest with a proven
record in building profitable companies. The move will effectively
remove Intrawest from the stock market.
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