Media Releases

Monday, February 4, 2013

Whistler to host influential TEDActive conference

Tourism Whistler media release
For immediate release - February 4, 2013 

Whistler to host influential TEDActive conference 

Whistler, B.C. - As Vancouver readies to host the acclaimed TED conference in 2014, Tourism Whistler is pleased to announce that Whistler will host the TEDActive event on the same dates.

"We are thrilled to welcome the influential TEDActive group to Whistler," said Barrett Fisher, Tourism Whistler's President & CEO.

TEDActive is an event held at the same time as the flagship TED conference, which will take place in Vancouver. Both events will take place March 17 to 21, 2014. The TED conference is expected to bring more than 1,300 of the world's leading thinkers while TEDActive generally draws about 700 participants.

"While the economic impact of hosting this conference is very positive to the region, even more important is the global profile," said Fisher.  "The TEDActive conference will bring highly-influential, engaged leaders to the resort for a week-long series of discussions. You simply cannot assign a value to that type of exposure."

Whistler Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden said, "This event is aligned with the Resort Municipality of Whistler's goals to support business initiatives to help the resort succeed, and is an excellent opportunity to showcase our community to the world's most influential thinkers. I applaud the team that has worked to bring this important event to Whistler."

Karen Goodwin, Tourism Whistler's Vice President of Market Development, said the TEDActive conference is an excellent fit with Whistler's meetings brand.

"The TED conference and TEDActive are all about inspirational and innovative thinking, which aligns completely with our meetings brand," said Goodwin. "Whistler is a place that inspires people - people come here with passion and excitement; they come to dream and to connect; the very vibe of Whistler cultivates an environment of innovation and invigoration. Whistler inspires great thinking."

A tourism consortium of partners including the Canadian Tourism Commission, Tourism Vancouver and the Vancouver Convention Centre worked to bring the TED flagship conference to Vancouver and the Fairmont Chateau Whistler and Tourism Whistler worked together to bring the TEDActive conference to Whistler.

In Whistler, the TEDActive program will be hosted at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

"We are thrilled to welcome the TEDActive conference to The Fairmont Chateau Whistler for 2014," said Norman Mastalir, Managing Director of the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. "The beauty of the mountains and the range of   outdoor activities will be sure to inspire and stimulate conversation among the speakers and conference attendees. We are delighted that TED has chosen the slopes of Whistler to celebrate their 30th anniversary and start their
next chapter with us."

Tourism Whistler Members can expect to learn more in the coming weeks about upcoming opportunities associated with the conference. "Tourism Whistler will work with conference organizers to ensure that we maximize   opportunities to showcase the resort to this influential group," said Fisher.

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Whistler is Canada's premier year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Consistently rated the top ski resort in
North America, Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The resort offers an extensive range of accommodations totaling 10,000 bedrooms among 24 hotels as well as townhomes, condos, B&Bs and chalets. Whistler also boasts more than 100 restaurants and bars, 200 retail shops, 25 spas and countless activity options from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 10,000 permanent residents.

Tourism Whistler is the member-based marketing and sales organization representing Whistler, operating the Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler Visitor Centre, as well as 1.800.WHISTLER and whistler.com - Whistler's official source for visitor bookings and information. As the convention and visitors bureau for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler represents more than 7,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on resort lands including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retail shops.

Media can visit whistler.com/media for Whistler facts, media releases, story starters, local personality profiles and access to images and B-roll.

Media Contact

Patricia Westerholm
Manager, Corporate Communications
T: 604.938.2748
E: pwesterholm@tourismwhistler.com

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