Falling loonie is a big plus for Whistler tourism
Posted January 25, 2015 10:35 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
WHISTLER (NEWS1130) – Already enjoying a much better season than the North Shore ski hills, Whistler Blackcomb is poised to enjoy the benefits of the declining value of the loonie.
Stuart Rempel with the mountain says not only will US visitors have more incentive to come here with their dollar worth a $1.20, Canadians may decide to keep their holidays local.
“It does make you think twice. Take for example Vale, if you walked up to the ticket window their lift ticket window price is $145 US dollars which converts to $180 Canadian , you know, we have edge cards right now that you can get for $80 Canadian.”
Rempel says Whistler Blackcomb recently started developing marketing initiatives in San Francisco and Los Angeles to take advantage of the stronger American dollar, adding skiers and boarders from Washington State have always been the biggest US target for the resort.
He notes tourism numbers were at an all-time high in the early 2000’s when a US dollar was worth $1.50 Canadian, and says this is the biggest gap in dollar value he’s seen since those days.
