Media Releases
Friday, May 23, 2025
Three Tourism Whistler Board Seats Filled by Acclamation
Whistler, B.C. – Tourism Whistler held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) virtually on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
Three seats on the Tourism Whistler Board of Directors were up for election this year, all of which were filled by acclamation.
In the category of Single-Managed Lodging - Small, the successful nominee was the incumbent, Saad Hasan, General Manager of Lodging Ovations.
In the category of Multi-Managed Lodging – Benchlands, the successful nominee was the incumbent, Steve Seatle, Regional Director of Vacasa Canada, and Chair of the Tourism Whistler Board.
In the category of Commercial Director, the successful nominee was the incumbent, Nadia Demers, Chief Financial Officer of Ziptrek Ecotours.
“Over the past three decades, Whistler has truly come into its own as an iconic, international resort destination, welcoming more than 3.2 million visitors annually. However, Whistler’s success also brings with it challenges,” said Steve Seatle, Chair of the Tourism Whistler Board of Directors. “Whistler must continue to adapt and evolve in order to remain a desirable destination to visit and community to live in.”
“Recognizing that a number of Whistler’s traditional overseas markets have been under-performing, Tourism Whistler has made a greater investment into maximizing key growth markets, while continuing to support important recovery markets, adapting to the numerous external economic challenges facing tourism,” added Seatle. “In addition, Tourism Whistler and Whistler’s resort partners have been working diligently on innovative ways to support business and community interests through product reinvestment and destination stewardship. I would like to thank my fellow Directors, the team at Tourism Whistler, our resort partners, and all of our Members, for all that you have done and continue to do to ensure Whistler’s future remains bright.”
Tourism Whistler is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors—seven elected and six appointed, with 12 voting members and one Ex-Officio non-voting member.
On behalf of Tourism Whistler’s Members, the Board of Directors establishes the vision and mission, and approves the objectives, strategic priorities and budgets, ensuring the fulfillment of the organization’s mission and the association’s continued financial viability.
Tourism Whistler Board nominees do not have to be members of Tourism Whistler; however, they must be nominated by at least two members in good standing. All elected Directors serve a two-year term. The term served by the appointed Directors is determined by the organizations they represent.
The current Tourism Whistler Board of Directors is as follows:
Elected
Single-Managed Lodging - Large:
Ken Hall
Multi-Managed Lodging - Other:
Chris Vick
Multi-Managed Lodging - Village:
Robert Simpson
Director-at-Large:
Heather MacDonald (appointed by the Board due to a mid-term vacancy)
Multi-Managed Lodging – Benchlands:
Steve Seatle (Chair of the Board)
Single-Managed Lodging - Small:
Saad Hasan
Commercial Director:
Nadia Demers
Appointed:
Resort Municipality of Whistler:
Jack Crompton
Virginia Cullen
Whistler Blackcomb:
Belinda Trembath
Elizabeth Fulmer
Tourism Whistler:
President & CEO Barrett Fisher
Ex-Officio:
John Grills
Following the Election of Directors at the AGM, Tourism Whistler’s President & CEO, Barrett Fisher, gave a presentation where she provided an overview of Tourism Whistler’s efforts in 2024.
“Tourism Whistler saw strong results from its 2024 marketing and sales efforts,” said Fisher. “Increased investments were made into snow awareness campaigns and despite a challenging start to the season, winter 2024/25 occupancy finished +1 percentage point ahead of the prior year with growth primarily coming from the regional BC market and US visitors who enjoyed a favourable exchange rate. Summer 2024 occupancy was the third highest on record thanks to strong performance once again from our BC and US leisure markets, as well as record group conference business. However, visitation from overseas markets continued to trail behind pre-pandemic levels,” she added. “To achieve these results, Tourism Whistler has focused on strategies and programs aligned with our organization’s strategic priorities which include increasing year-round viability of the resort, transforming the visitor experience, and advancing destination stewardship.”
Tourism Whistler members can access information about the organization and all of its efforts, including a comprehensive 2024 Annual Report, on the Tourism Whistler member website at whistler.com/members.
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Tourism Whistler is the official member-based destination tourism organization representing Whistler, and operator of 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 information and bookings. Tourism Whistler represents more than 8,000 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 and access to images and B-roll.
Media Contacts:
Lauren Everest
Senior Manager, Communications & Membership
T: 604.938.2727
E: leverest@tourismwhistler.com
W: www.whistler.com/media
F: www.facebook.com/GoWhistler