Tourism Whistler (TW) has confirmed its new board of directors.
The new board was elected at TW's Annual General Meeting on Thursday, May 4.
Three positions were up for election, one of which was filled by election and two by acclamation.
Nadia Demers, chief financial officer at Ziptrek Ecotours, was elected Commercial director, replacing longtime board member Roger Soane, CEO of Whistler Sports Legacies.
The other two nominees were Saad Hasan, general manager of Lodging Ovations (in the category of Single-Managed Lodging – Small) and Steve Seatle, general manager of Vacasa property management (Multi-Managed Lodging – Benchlands).
“Despite labour shortages, inflation, and distribution channel challenges, Whistler experienced a strong rebound in 2022 and businesses stepped up to meet the challenge,” said Norm Mastalir, chair of the TW board, in a release.
Looking longer term, Whistler is focused on balancing demand with supply, lessening environmental impact, and future-proofing Whistler’s economy, Mastalir said.
"To that end, I’m proud of the work that Tourism Whistler has been working on to support Whistler’s long-term success. In addition, our partners have been making investments in Whistler’s natural and built environment, from trails and parks to village infrastructure and lift expansions—all essential to keeping Whistler a leader among resort destinations,” he said.
A final director vacancy on the TW board was filled by board appointment due to the mid-term resignation of Doug Andrews, the former general manager of the Listel Hotel, in the category of Multi-Managed Lodging – Village. Kevin Small, director of sales, marketing and operations with Gibbons Whistler, will serve the remaining year of the two-year term.
“2022 began with the cloud of COVID-19 still hanging over us, but Tourism Whistler continued its focus on domestic markets, and as travel restrictions receded through the spring, ramped up our efforts into international markets,” TW's president and CEO Barrett Fisher said in the release.
“One of Tourism Whistler’s top priorities has been to shift overnight visitation—moving peak weekend visits to midweek and shoulder season periods, where possible—and in 2022 we saw some positive results from our efforts,” Fisher said. “While we have a lot more work to do to attain a more sustainable and resilient tourism future, I thank our Members, our Board, and our Team for the efforts made in creating positive change and a more balanced resort-community.”
Tourism Whistler members can access information about the organization and all of its efforts, including a comprehensive 2022 Annual Report, on the Tourism Whistler member website at whistler.com/members.
The current Tourism Whistler board is as follows:
Elected:
Single-Managed Lodging - Large: Norman Mastalir (Chair)
Single-Managed Lodging - Small: Saad Hasan
Multi-Managed Lodging - Village: Kevin Small (appointed by the Board to fill a one-year vacancy left by Doug Andrews who recently left Whistler)
Multi-Managed Lodging - Other: Estreya Gosalbez
Multi-Managed Lodging – Benchlands: Steve Seatle
Director-at-Large: Murray Lowe
Commercial Director: Nadia Demers (Elected)
Appointed:
Resort Municipality of Whistler: Jack Crompton; Virginia Cullen
Whistler Blackcomb: Rosalie Rougeot; (second appointee replacing Geoff Buchheister TBC)
Tourism Whistler: President & CEO Barrett Fisher
Ex-Officio (non-voting):
John Grills
