Media Releases

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Whistler is the best – SKI Magazine readers rank resort number one in North America

Tourism Whistler media release
For immediate release - September 18, 2014

Whistler is the best – SKI Magazine readers rank resort number one in North America

Suggested tweet: #Whistler celebrates as SKI Magazine readers name resort number one in North America http://bit.ly/1wk9wja

Whistler, B.C. – Whistler resort is on top of the world, with Whistler Blackcomb reclaiming the number one spot in the annual SKI Magazine readers’ survey.

The annual survey of more than 20,000 magazine readers reviews the top resorts in North America, examining on-mountain and resort-wide amenities and services and those readers of SKI Magazine have ranked Whistler as the number one overall ski destination in North America for the second time in three years. The complete list of rankings is listed in SKI Magazine’s October issue.

The award is a great kick-start to the upcoming winter season, with Whistler and Blackcomb mountains scheduled to open in just over two months’ time, on November 27.

“This is very exciting news,” said Barrett Fisher, Tourism Whistler’s President & CEO. “We know that our guests are loyal to the resort and value all that Whistler has to offer – it’s fantastic to have this reaffirmed by one of the ski magazine industry’s most prestigious surveys. This type of recognition is a significant endorsement for Whistler and helps to draw positive attention to the resort as a world-class destination. Tourism Whistler congratulates Whistler Blackcomb and the activity, dining and accommodation businesses who contributed to putting Whistler on top. This impressive ranking by SKI Magazine readers reflects not only the exemplary product that we offer but also the resort’s commitment to excellence.”

The poll is in its 27th year and is the most extensive in the industry.

While mountain-specific results included the top spot in terrain/variety and additional kudos in the categories of lifts, on-mountain food, terrain parks and terrain/challenge, resort-wide categories also saw impressive results with the number one spot in the areas of après ski and off-hill activities and recognition for lodging, dining, scenery, service, kid-friendly, sustainability, character, and overall satisfaction.

The latest SKI Magazine award follows a series of impressive accolades bestowed upon the resort in recent weeks including:

TopEventsCanada.com: Top BC Events and Festivals (top 20):

Whistler Pride + Ski Festival
World Ski and Snowboard Festival
Cornucopia
Whistler Film Festival

Travel + Leisure, World’s Best Awards: Top hotels overall (top 100):

Four Seasons Resort Whistler (81)

Travel + Leisure, World’s Best Awards: Top resorts in Canada(top 10):

Four Seasons Resort Whistler (2)
Fairmont Chateau Whistler 6)
Pan Pacific Mountainside (8)

Celebrated Living Magazine Platinum List: Top 10 Canadian Hotels:

Fairmont Chateau Whistler (6)
Westin Resort & Spa Whistler (8)
Four Seasons Resort Whistler (10)

Additional notable awards in 2014 include:

The 2014 UltraTravel 100 Awards:

Best Ski Resort in the World

Condé Nast Traveller – Best hotels and Resorts of the Americas (Platinum Circle)

Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Four Seasons Resort Whistler

Condé Nast Traveller – Top Hotels and Resorts of the Americas (Gold List)

Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Four Seasons Resort Whistler

Luxury Travel (Australia) – Best Overseas Ski Resort (Gold)

TripAdvisor – Best Hotels in Canada

Nita Lake Lodge (13)
First Tracks Lodge (24)

Trip Advisor – Best Canadian Destination (top 10)

Where Magazine’s “Where to Dine” Awards

Araxi Restaurant + Bar – Best Formal Whistler

Vancouver Magazine Awards

Araxi Restaurant + Bar – Best Whistler – Gold Award
Bearfoot Bistro – Best Whistler – Silver Award
Sidecut – Best Whistler – Bronze Award
Alta Bistro – Honourable Mention
Mexican Corner – Honourable Mention

Vancouver International Wine Festival Awards

Araxi Restaurant + Bar – Gold Wine List Award
Alta Bistro – Gold Wine List Award
Rim Rock Café – Silver Wine List Award

The Georgia Straight’s 17th annual Golden Plates Awards

Araxi Restaurant + Bar – Best Whistler Restaurants (first place)
Bearfoot Bistro – Best Whistler Restaurants (second place)
Rim Rock Café – Best Whistler Restaurants (third place)
Whistler Brewing Company’s Bear Paw Honey Lager – Best BC Beer Brewed Outside Vancouver (third place)

US News, Travel: 2014 Best Hotels in Canada

Fairmont Chateau Whistler Resort
Four Seasons Resort Whistler

An extensive list of Whistler’s awards is available at: http://media.whistler.com/all-about-whistler/awards-and-accolades/

To experience all that Whistler has to offer, take advantage of the Book Early and Save promotion, offering up to 42% savings on ski and stay packages booked by November 15. Visit www.whistler.com online or by phone where Whistler-based travel consultants can customize a vacation package, taking care of flights, ground transportation, accommodation and activities. Whistler.com has the largest and best accommodation selection and a best price guarantee. Call 1.800.WHISTLER (1.800.944.7853) to request a no-obligation quote or visit whistler.com for more details and offers.

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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.

Broadcasters: Whistler now has the capability to take you live with our enhanced fibre network. The significantly expanded network of more than 200 kilometres of fibre optic cabling throughout the resort allows instant transmission of HD signals to any location at any time. Details on how to access, and book the fibre are available on our media site.

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

Media Contacts

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

Mary Zinck
Specialist, Media Relations
T: 604.938.2702
E: mzinck@tourismwhistler.com

W: www.whistler.com/media
T: www.twitter.com/mediaTWhistler
F: www.facebook.com/GoWhistler