Skier visits to Whistler and Blackcomb mountains during this year’s two-week spring break “met expectations,” Whistler Blackcomb Holdings (TSX:WB) president Dave Brownlie told Business in Vancouver March 23.
Merchants in Whistler village have been complaining to the press about lower-than-expected visitor counts during the school vacation period.
But Brownlie said, “We’ve got great snow conditions, there are lots of people up here and, with the holidays spread out over two weeks, it’s been excellent.”
He did not want to compare this year’s spring break traffic with last year’s numbers but said December, January and February traffic was up compared with last year.
Most of Whistler Blackcomb’s earnings come from skier visits and food and beverage sales, although it also gets revenue from condominium hotel properties.
Whistler Blackcomb held an IPO in November 2010.
Brownlie, who was with the company when it was private, said being public has changed operations.
“It brings a transparency to your business, which can be a good thing. On the other side, some of that transparency doesn’t come until you report your quarterly earnings.”
