Media Releases
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Tourism Whistler launches new live chat service
Click to Tweet: Tourism Whistler launches new online live chat service to assist in-resort guests uncover everything #Whistler has to offer right at their fingertips.
Whistler, B.C. – Tourism Whistler has recently launched Ask Whistler, a new live chat service providing users with quick access to local resources and resort information to fulfill their in-resort needs.
“Ask Whistler evolved after several months of research and planning as we recognized more and more of our guests are looking for information quickly and easily via their mobile devices,” says Kirsten Homeniuk, vice-president of marketing at Tourism Whistler. “With Ask Whistler we are able to elevate the in-resort experience for guests by providing access to a live, local agent to answer their questions immediately through the tools they are already using.”
Currently, the new online chat service can be accessed through three online platforms including Facebook Messenger (@GoWhistler) and through SMS text or WhatsApp (1-604-265-9600). Alternatively, signage throughout Whistler Village includes QR codes allowing guests to start chatting with a visitor service agent by simply scanning a code with the camera on their mobile device. With the intention of directly reducing guest pain-points while in-resort, Ask Whistler provides guest assistance between the hours of 8am – 9pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
“From getting insider tips on things to do, to deciding where to dine or helping them find their way, Ask Whistler was created to help guests uncover everything Whistler has to offer,” says Tory Kargl, director, visitor services & whistler.com at Tourism Whistler. “With Ask Whistler, we are able to connect with guests beyond the booking experience by providing them with a platform they can use during their stay to gain assistance and information on all things Whistler.”
Guests interested in using the Ask Whistler service while in resort can take advantage of the free WiFi locations throughout Whistler Village to avoid data usage fees. Introduced last year, the Resort Municipality of Whistler and Tourism Whistler partnered to install free WiFi in key locations throughout the resort. Current free WiFi locations in Whistler Village include: Mountain and Village Squares, Gateway Bus Loop, Village Common, Town Plaza, Whistler Olympic Plaza and the Whistler Conference Centre.
More information about Ask Whistler, Tourism Whistler’s new live chat service, is available at whistler.com/chat.
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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 1.800.944.7853 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.
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 Contact
Michelle Fernandes
Coordinator, Communications
T: 604.938.2726
E: mfernandes@tourismwhistler.com
Joanne Clark
Coordinator, Travel Media
T: 604.938.2751
E: jclark@tourismwhistler.com
W: www.whistler.com/media
T: www.twitter.com/mediaTWhistler
F: www.facebook.com/GoWhistler