Whistler Blackcomb has done it again.
B.C.'s Olympic co-host venue has been rated No. 1 by Skiing Magazine for the 13th year in a row.
"We are thrilled to be on top again this year," said Dave Brownlie, president and chief operating officer at Whistler Blackcomb.
"We are extremely fortunate to be blessed with the incredible physical attributes that our mountains offer -- their size, scope and variety of terrain tops the rankings every year."
The magazine rates resorts based on several criteria and Whistler Blackcomb gets consistently high marks for terrain quality and variety, thanks to its 3,300 hectares.
"It's a poll of our readers, not the editors. And the readers overwhelmingly chose Whistler," said Jake Bogoch, editor of Skiing Magazine.
Apres-ski and nightlife also rated high. "Whistler exudes an energy that is difficult to replicate anywhere else, and guests love it, citing it as one of the key reasons they come back year after year," said Brownlie.
Ninety per cent of Whistler Blackcomb's terrain will remain open during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
The resort was also rated No. 1 by Freeskier magazine and No. 2 by Ski magazine.
Whistler Blackcomb's official opening day this year is Nov. 26.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
News
Published 2009-09-23 14:07:21
Whistler Blackcomb top rankings, again Skiing Magazine readers rank Whistler first for 13 years
By Andrew Mitchell
Whistler Blackcomb is heading into what's likely to be a difficult season with an early shot in the arm from some of the industry's biggest magazines.
Skiing Magazine's annual readers poll ranked Whistler Blackcomb as the number one resort in North America for the 13th year in a row, as well as the resort readers want to ski more than anywhere else.
Freeskier Magazine also ranked Whistler Blackcomb in the top spot.
And in Ski Magazine, Whistler Blackcomb moved up one spot from third to second this year, behind Deer Valley, Utah.
While visitor numbers are expected to be down this season as a result of reduced access during the 2010 Winter Games, as well as something called the "Olympic aversion effect," Whistler Blackcomb is counting on regional visitors and regular customers to help make up for the loss in destination business. As well, Whistler Blackcomb expects residents and pass holders to take advantage of mountains that will likely be less busy than usual even though 90 per cent of terrain will be open to the public all season.
Do rankings matter? Dave Brownlie, president and COO of Whistler Blackcomb thinks they do, even if not every reader will book a trip right away or even for this season.
"I think (the rankings) certainly get people's attention, and we definitely want to be up near the top in how the skiing and snowboarding public out there is rating us," Brownlie said.
"At the end of the day these are from people out there in North America who are telling the magazines what they think, so it's important to be up there and recognized for what we do."
Thirteen years is a long time at the top of the Skiing Magazine poll given the amount of competition from other resorts in Canada and the U.S. Meanwhile, the top ranking in Freeskier was welcome given the younger, more park-oriented readership of that magazine. Brownlie says those rankings, coming from readers instead of editors, will keep Whistler Blackcomb front and centre in the minds of people "who aspire to ski here."
The awards are sure to keep coming as other polls are released. Notably, Whistler Blackcomb was voted the top resort by Transworld Snowboarding readers for three years in a row, as well as number one for terrain parks.
In recent years Whistler Blackcomb and the resort in general have also won awards from travel publication Conde Naste Traveler, Forbes, Sunset Magazine and other publications that are not as industry specific as ski and snowboard magazines.
Brownlie says those awards are always the least expected but most gratifying in terms of what all of Whistler is trying to accomplish as a destination that can offer something for everybody.
"The question has always been 'how do you appeal to the broadest network of folks out there?'" he said. "We're a big resort and we need people from all walks of life and geography to come and want to be here to sell this place. I think it's great, we have our high-end clientele at places like Fairmont and Four Seasons, we have the more budget-conscious people who might stay at other hotels, and the young folks who come and stay at the hostel. Some of those people are coming to enjoy the skiing and snowboarding, but some are also coming to enjoy our other offerings like the nightlife, our restaurants and other activities off the mountain.
"To be recognized for those things as well as skiing and snowboarding is really the icing on the cake for us."
Whistler Blackcomb was the only Canadian resort to crack the top 30 in Ski Magazine's poll this year and the top 10 in Freeskier. Ski Magazine also voted Whistler as the top resort to party, with nods also going to Canada Olympic Park in Calgary and Mont Tremblant in Quebec.
Published 2009-09-23 14:07:21
Whistler Blackcomb top rankings, again Skiing Magazine readers rank Whistler first for 13 years
By Andrew Mitchell
Whistler Blackcomb is heading into what's likely to be a difficult season with an early shot in the arm from some of the industry's biggest magazines.
Skiing Magazine's annual readers poll ranked Whistler Blackcomb as the number one resort in North America for the 13th year in a row, as well as the resort readers want to ski more than anywhere else.
Freeskier Magazine also ranked Whistler Blackcomb in the top spot.
And in Ski Magazine, Whistler Blackcomb moved up one spot from third to second this year, behind Deer Valley, Utah.
While visitor numbers are expected to be down this season as a result of reduced access during the 2010 Winter Games, as well as something called the "Olympic aversion effect," Whistler Blackcomb is counting on regional visitors and regular customers to help make up for the loss in destination business. As well, Whistler Blackcomb expects residents and pass holders to take advantage of mountains that will likely be less busy than usual even though 90 per cent of terrain will be open to the public all season.
Do rankings matter? Dave Brownlie, president and COO of Whistler Blackcomb thinks they do, even if not every reader will book a trip right away or even for this season.
"I think (the rankings) certainly get people's attention, and we definitely want to be up near the top in how the skiing and snowboarding public out there is rating us," Brownlie said.
"At the end of the day these are from people out there in North America who are telling the magazines what they think, so it's important to be up there and recognized for what we do."
Thirteen years is a long time at the top of the Skiing Magazine poll given the amount of competition from other resorts in Canada and the U.S. Meanwhile, the top ranking in Freeskier was welcome given the younger, more park-oriented readership of that magazine. Brownlie says those rankings, coming from readers instead of editors, will keep Whistler Blackcomb front and centre in the minds of people "who aspire to ski here."
The awards are sure to keep coming as other polls are released. Notably, Whistler Blackcomb was voted the top resort by Transworld Snowboarding readers for three years in a row, as well as number one for terrain parks.
In recent years Whistler Blackcomb and the resort in general have also won awards from travel publication Conde Naste Traveler, Forbes, Sunset Magazine and other publications that are not as industry specific as ski and snowboard magazines.
Brownlie says those awards are always the least expected but most gratifying in terms of what all of Whistler is trying to accomplish as a destination that can offer something for everybody.
"The question has always been 'how do you appeal to the broadest network of folks out there?'" he said. "We're a big resort and we need people from all walks of life and geography to come and want to be here to sell this place. I think it's great, we have our high-end clientele at places like Fairmont and Four Seasons, we have the more budget-conscious people who might stay at other hotels, and the young folks who come and stay at the hostel. Some of those people are coming to enjoy the skiing and snowboarding, but some are also coming to enjoy our other offerings like the nightlife, our restaurants and other activities off the mountain.
"To be recognized for those things as well as skiing and snowboarding is really the icing on the cake for us."
Whistler Blackcomb was the only Canadian resort to crack the top 30 in Ski Magazine's poll this year and the top 10 in Freeskier. Ski Magazine also voted Whistler as the top resort to party, with nods also going to Canada Olympic Park in Calgary and Mont Tremblant in Quebec.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Should I Purchase Now or Wait??
Should I Purchase My Home Now or Wait for the Market to Stabilize?
Many people are debating whether they want to buy a property now or whether they should wait. They are getting mixed messages from the media about the market conditions and the state of the economy. Reports are indicating that the real estate market is rebounding. However, we are still hearing negative news about businesses folding and job losses. So is now a good time to buy?
The decision whether to buy a home now or wait is very tricky at the moment. On the one hand you have very low mortgage rates as the Bank of Canada had cut the interest rate several times in the last few months to try and get the banks lending again. Deals as low as 2.75% are being advertised to entice new customers into the market and get the chain moving again. Also, property prices have dropped in the last year and there are many good deals to be made.
On the other hand, there is still the question whether housing market prices will hold or drop further. Potential buyers are wary about taking on such a huge borrowing to find that the dream house they have just bought may be worth appreciatively less in six months’ time.
House prices are cyclical. A low market is always a good time to buy even though it may be several years before the market rebounds. The property market will rebound. If you are in a position to buy a house and can afford the repayments, buy now. Waiting to buy could result in paying much higher prices in a rising market.
Are you really ready?It is also important to consider how long you will be in the home that you are about to purchase. Once you buy the home, it may be very difficult to resell right now. If the market continues to drop and you end up moving and selling in a year, you may have been wiser to wait a bit longer. So that is something that you want to make sure that you consider when making the decision to purchase a home.
Of course, if you have a long-term plan to be in the home, the fluctuations and potential decrease in value in the near term doesn’t need to get you down, as the only price that matters is the price you are able to sell for when you need or want to move.
Another thing that you need to think about is if you can afford the home that you are considering buying. While prices have dropped recently, you want to make sure that you find a home that is going to fit your budget. As a precautionary measure you should also budget for the fact that the cost of living might rise even further, and that being able to afford these increases will be important.
If you have the funds available for a down payment and you are eligible for a mortgage, and feel comfortable about your job security, and currently meeting the rising costs of living fairly easily; then the time is probably right for purchasing property. It is still a buyer’s market, so find your dream home, negotiate your best deal and jump in. Buying property now is one of the best times in the last hundred years to get a bargain.
Many people are debating whether they want to buy a property now or whether they should wait. They are getting mixed messages from the media about the market conditions and the state of the economy. Reports are indicating that the real estate market is rebounding. However, we are still hearing negative news about businesses folding and job losses. So is now a good time to buy?
The decision whether to buy a home now or wait is very tricky at the moment. On the one hand you have very low mortgage rates as the Bank of Canada had cut the interest rate several times in the last few months to try and get the banks lending again. Deals as low as 2.75% are being advertised to entice new customers into the market and get the chain moving again. Also, property prices have dropped in the last year and there are many good deals to be made.
On the other hand, there is still the question whether housing market prices will hold or drop further. Potential buyers are wary about taking on such a huge borrowing to find that the dream house they have just bought may be worth appreciatively less in six months’ time.
House prices are cyclical. A low market is always a good time to buy even though it may be several years before the market rebounds. The property market will rebound. If you are in a position to buy a house and can afford the repayments, buy now. Waiting to buy could result in paying much higher prices in a rising market.
Are you really ready?It is also important to consider how long you will be in the home that you are about to purchase. Once you buy the home, it may be very difficult to resell right now. If the market continues to drop and you end up moving and selling in a year, you may have been wiser to wait a bit longer. So that is something that you want to make sure that you consider when making the decision to purchase a home.
Of course, if you have a long-term plan to be in the home, the fluctuations and potential decrease in value in the near term doesn’t need to get you down, as the only price that matters is the price you are able to sell for when you need or want to move.
Another thing that you need to think about is if you can afford the home that you are considering buying. While prices have dropped recently, you want to make sure that you find a home that is going to fit your budget. As a precautionary measure you should also budget for the fact that the cost of living might rise even further, and that being able to afford these increases will be important.
If you have the funds available for a down payment and you are eligible for a mortgage, and feel comfortable about your job security, and currently meeting the rising costs of living fairly easily; then the time is probably right for purchasing property. It is still a buyer’s market, so find your dream home, negotiate your best deal and jump in. Buying property now is one of the best times in the last hundred years to get a bargain.
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