Nestled in British Columbia’s magnificent Coast Mountains and distinguished by its impressive twin peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb, Whistler is rated as one of the world’s top destination resorts year after year. Surrounded by forested valleys, rivers and lakes, this mountain paradise offers meeting and event planners a spectacular variety of venues to choose from.
“In Whistler, you can meet and celebrate in places as varied as a mountaintop ski lodge or a wilderness chalet in the heart of the Callaghan Valley,” says Kerry Duff, manager of Destination Media Relations for Tourism Whistler. “You can add speed to an event at an Olympic bobsledding track, enjoy pastoral elegance by a glacier lake, or journey back in time to a First Nations ancestral feasting hall.”
While millions visit the area each year to partake of its numerous outdoor sports and activities, as well as enjoy its global reputation as a premier alpine vacation resort, Whistler is also a meeting planner’s dream. Offering 5,400 rooms of accommodation options, including brand name hotels such as Fairmont, Four Seasons, Hilton, Pan Pacific and Westin, Whistler also boasts a total of over 150,000 square feet of meeting space scattered among dozens of gorgeous venues to exceed your delegates’ expectations, including the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, and 2010 Olympic Winter Games venues such as the bobsleigh track and the beautiful day lodge at Whistler Olympic Park.
“In Whistler, you can design and deliver amazing events all year,” says Duff. “Whether in the heart of our mountain village or just beyond the fringe, our unique venues, resorts and natural landscape all make for a memorable stage on which to construct your dream event.”
Whistler Conference Centre
The Whistler Conference Centre is the signature group venue of Whistler. With a total capacity of 65,000 square feet, the building regularly hosts special events, conferences, and group meetings throughout the year.
A mere two-minute walk from the shops and restaurants in Village Square, the Whistler Conference Centre is easily accessible from any accommodation within Whistler Village. Its Grand Foyer showcases a 40-foot Rumford design river rock fireplace while the 5,400 square feet of pre-function space is perfect for receptions and dinners. In addition, the 16,500 square feet Sea to Sky Ballroom can be easily divided into three separate salons. As part of its commitment to sustainable meetings, the Whistler Conference Centre features a roof made from 80 per cent recycled material, while in 2006, the Sempa Hybrid Energy System was installed, thus removing 311 tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the facility.
Outside the confines of meeting rooms and conference facilities, it’s natural to feel inspired by Whistler’s mountain magic. It flows from majestic peaks into the vibrant village, along quaint pathways and towards spectacular views. Plentiful dining, shopping and spas are within easy walking distance of most hotels and myriad options are waiting to add inspiration and must-attend status to your event. From an exhilarating zipline adventure to golf on one of Whistler’s four championship courses, there’s a lot to enjoy in this haven just two-hours’ drive north of Vancouver along the Sea to Sky Highway.
“What sets Whistler apart from just about everywhere else is how much there is to do and how accessible the great outdoors is, “ says Duff. “But even with outdoor activities hogging most of the attention, arts and culture still remain an important part of mountain life. Festivals, concerts, and arts events happen all year long and can be a bonus to your meeting. Whistler’s cultural community can offer expertise on what’s hot when it comes to music and entertainment and our local artists can be part of your activity programming or event animation.”
