Whistler, B.C. - Whistler has been selected for the third time by British travelers as the Best Ski Resort in the sixth annual Telegraph Travel Awards, presented by The Daily Telegraph newspaper. The announcement came with a fresh snowfall blanketing Whistler's mountains and big snow in the forecast for the 2003/04 season.
The awards are based on the largest annual poll of the British travelling public. Tourism Whistler accepted the award on behalf of Whistler at the London Ski Show on October 6, and The Daily Telegraph will publish the results October 11. Whistler has received this honour on two other occasions, in 2000 and 2001.
"We would like to thank our U.K. guests for choosing Whistler once again," said Jill Greenwood, Tourism Whistler Director of Brand Marketing. "We have been hosting visitors from the United Kingdom for many years-this is our largest international market after the United States accounting for about 10 per cent of our winter visits."
Also announced this week, Whistler maintained its top position in Skiing magazine's (U.S.) reader/pro skier ratings with Whistler Blackcomb being named the Number One Ski Resort in North America for the sixth consecutive year. SKI magazine (U.S.) readers ranked Whistler Blackcomb second after Vail in the October Top 60 Resort Guide. The Sunday Times (U.K.) included Whistler in its World's 10 Best Ski Resorts feature story last week.
This week's snowfall on Whistler Blackcomb Mountains marks the beginning of what promises to be a big snow year for Whistler resort. Opening day on Whistler Blackcomb is November 22, and weather experts have reported that Whistler can look forward to excellent winter conditions. Veteran meteorologist Jim Roemer at BestSkiWeather.com says that the resort will have some of the best early season conditions in North America and will receive above-average snowfall. The Canadian Farmer's Almanac also predicts above-normal snow this winter with the heaviest snowfall in mid-November, early December, and mid-January to mid-February.
To supplement Whistler's significant annual average snowfall of nine metres (30 feet), Whistler Blackcomb has invested in its already expansive snowmaking system with 10 new snow guns (adding to its 170-gun fleet) and a larger water reservoir on Blackcomb Mountain.
Travellers can take advantage of Whistler's great early season rates and packages with the Stay and Ski Package offering seven nights accommodation and a six-day lift ticket starting from $585 Cdn ($419 US) per person, valid November 22 to December 19, 2003 and from March 19, 2004 forward. More packages and bookings are available through Whistler's Official Central Reservations Service 1-800-WHISTLER (1-800-944-7853). Customized vacation bookings, event listings and general Whistler information are available at myWHISTLER.com.
Whistler is a year-round leisure and meeting destination located 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia. Whistler Blackcomb Mountains have the most terrain (7,071 acres) and greatest vertical (5,280 feet or one mile) in North America with an average annual snowfall of nine metres (30 feet). Whistler has a range of accommodations with more than 5,400 rooms, and a wide selection of restaurants, bars, spas, boutiques and galleries. Winter activities range from cross-country skiing and winter fishing, to snowshoeing and heli-skiing. Whistler is a site for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
