Source: Whistler Question

Author: Jennifer Miller

Regional campaigns and price point make way for destination markets and overall experience

In the post-2010 Olympic world, the board of Tourism Whistler (TW) has taken stock, regrouped, consulted the organization’s members and reviewed the latest research.

The results are some significant shifts in the way TW markets Whistler.

Instead of regional campaigns that focus on a price point, which have been the norm in recent years, upcoming advertising will target destination travellers and focus more on what makes Whistler unique.

Barrett Fisher, TW president, said the organization’s marketing dollars are shifting more to broadcast and social media, instead of print, to tell more of a visual story and be able to share the ambiance of the Whistler experience.

“Content is important, but we have this bigger brand story to tell,” she said on Monday (July 19). “It’s really a collection of the entire resort experience that makes Whistler so unique.”

Plans for the winter 2010-’11 marketing campaign build on the “celebratory platform” of the Winter Games, showcasing Whistler as a joyous place full of wonder and magic, Fisher said. It’s about the personality of the resort, not the bricks and mortar or a single activity offering, she said.

TW’s website (whistler.com) is being redesigned to be more “experiential,” with a launch planned for fall, she said.

In direct response to feedback from TW members, which include business operators and property owners, the board has also decided it’s time to return to focusing more marketing efforts on Whistler’s destination markets. For the past two years or so, a conscious decision was made to spend more marketing dollars on regional markets such as the Lower Mainland.

Fisher said that decision was made because of the economic downturn, research that showed long-haul markets were sticking closer to home and the anticipated Olympic aversion leading to fewer visits from overseas guests and those from non-regional U.S. areas. The board knew TW needed to focus its marketing on the groups that would come, she added.

But members expressed concerns about that approach in the listening sessions held over the past couple of months. Typically, destination visitors stay longer and spend more money than do regional guests, Fisher said.

Despite research that indicates the economies in the U.S. and U.K. won’t turn around quickly, the board agreed it’s time to shift dollars back to destination marketing, she said. Regional markets are still “very important for Whistler,” but with high awareness levels in short-haul markets, members have asked TW to “shift its focus outward,” Fisher added.

Long-haul U.S., U.K. and Australia are top on the list, with Mexico and Japan is also on the radar. TW is also trying to see where future growth might be found, with Germany, Brazil, China and possibly India as opportunities.

TW is also calling on its members to help with marketing efforts. While TW focuses on destination markets, members can advertise regionally. Social media efforts can be passed on through members’ contacts, she said.

“Every member is an important piece of our marketing reach and frequency,” Fisher said.

In turn, TW officials are committing to seek more regular feedback from members, with the possibility of monthly listening sessions and a marketing committee with representatives from each resort sector.

A newsletter about TW’s new strategic directions will be sent by email to all members later this week, Fisher said.

Source: Pique Newsmagazine

Author: Stephen Smysnuik

Home-sellers: you may need to wait a year before you sell.

Despite a surge of houses listed, and despite more buyer interest than last year, Pat Kelly of the Whistler Real Estate Company said 2010 is shaping up to be an average year in terms of home sales. Typically, Whistler does between 400 and 600 transactions in a year. There are about 1,000 places on the market right now, so time on the market is about a year.

But Kelly said this is typical for a resort market.

“We are dealing with a discretionary item,” he said, “and certainly consumer confidence isn’t at the same level as it was early in the last decade,” he said.

Since house prices haven’t increased as they have in Vancouver, people are a little more cautious of investing. But if the houses are priced according to the market, sellers could get an offer right away. Kelly said he has multiple prospective buyers interested in certain properly priced homes.

“If you price in an effective manner, your house will be sold in under six months,” he said.

Many people are concerned they’re not getting the money they believe their house is worth, which Kelly attributes to them harking back to 2007 or 2008, when the market was much stronger.

While returns on chalets have reached between eight and nine per cent (average price for a house in 2002 was $1.225 million versus $1.574 million in 2010), homeowners of condos and townhouses haven’t experienced the same return. Condos in 2002 averaged $450,000 versus $452,000 today. Townhouses averaged $709,000 in 2002 and $815,000 in 2010.

“The market went up in 2006 and 2007 to higher numbers and has now come back (down),” he said. Kelly added that because Whistler is such a small market, a few $3 million-transactions can skew the statistic considerably.

If Kelly hears people complaining that they’re not selling their homes fast enough his response is typically: “I tell them their price is wrong.”

He said real estate markets operate in a balanced, buyer-orientated market seven out of every 10 years. That is the case right now.

Real estate in Whistler is a direct function of tourism, typically dealing with the top five per cent income earners of Metro Vancouver. There are few international buyers, and very few Americans purchasing homes, according to Kelly.

“People are cautious right now with the way they spend money and they have to see value in what they purchase,” he said.

Despite that, he said there is no concern that developers are building more houses than there are buyers. There is more buyer interest than last year, and while Whistler is dealing with a “difficult” market at the moment, he is optimistic that it will pick up.

“Prices have not changed dramatically in the last three to four years and it’s looking like very good value for people who follow and understand Whistler,” he said. “If I was a buyer, I’d certainly want to be in this market right now.”

The market has improved from 2009, he said, which was a “low-point” in terms of sales volume. In the first six months of 2009, 176 homes were sold. That number has increased 18 per cent between January and June this year, up to 209 houses sold.

He said June has been particularly strong, though he couldn’t provide exact numbers.

The Olympics and the period following it were very slow for the real estate market, which Kelly attributes to “seasonality” and “exhaustion.” Not only was it the end of the snow season, but the town was experiencing what Park City referred to as the “Olympic hangover.”

“It’s normal to have a period when things are very slow,” Kelly said, adding that the Olympics coincided with the end of the ski season, which has always been a slow time for the real estate market.

In his research of host cities, he found that it takes about nine months to a year for the impact of the Games to be felt, though there is “no one item that drives a real estate market.”

“We are not independent of what’s going on in the world,” he said.

The American stimulus, troubles in the stock market, the troubles in Europe – these are all affecting consumer confidence in Whistler.

“As the rest of the world goes, so go we. If people’s motivation is tempered by fear, they may not be in as much of a hurry to buy something.”

Regardless, he said that house prices are “fair” at the moment and that “we’re starting to see some indications that the Olympic exposure is starting to impact people’s interest in the area.

He said there have been more foreclosures this past year than there have been in previous years but that it doesn’t have anything to do with the Whistler real estate market.

“The foreclosures that we have experienced have been a result of some bad decisions by the owners,” he said, adding that the rate of default on average is quite low in Whistler.

There was only minor activity in the week leading up to the HST. Because it only affects new properties, and because there aren’t any new properties, Whistler hasn’t been as affected as people in the city have been, where there is more new product.

Blackcomb Glacier re-opened for glacier skiing on Saturday (June 19). This year the mountain boasts impressive skiing, with plenty of snow down to Seventh Heaven and Solar Coaster.

“It’s still looking like mid-winter,” said Adam Francis, summer glacier operations supervisor for Whistler Blackcomb (WG). “There’s an abundance of snow. We expect to be skiing out for quite a duration.”

Thanks to the extra snow, the number of summer ski and snowboard camps has expanded this year. Camp of Champions, the largest private camp in the world, will have seve, lines and Momentum Ski Camp will build five. Both camps are building bag jumps for the first time, allowing skiers and riders to practice aerial maneuvers more safely. COC will also host a Billabong Air Style from June 26 to 30, a qualifier for the 2011 Billabong Air and Style event in Innsbruck, Austria.

In total, there will be 11 camps on the glacier this summer, and some impressive talent. The first Canadian athlete to win gold on Canadian soil, Alex Bilodeau, will be coaching at the Momentum Ski Camp. The Camp of Champions coaches include Chris Dufficy, Andrew Burns, Mark Sollors, T.J. Schneider and Vera Janssen.

 Source: The Question

The public area is currently offering several small jib features. A mini halfpipe with 13-foot walls and a small jump are also being constructed.

The glacier will stay open until July 25 this year. For more information please see www.whistlerblackcomb.com

Source: The Question

Some folks might call it “the little tournament that could,” but the Whistler All Star Hockey Tournament is anything but little. The 16^th annual edition opened Saturday (June 19) at the Meadow Park Sports Centre arena showcasing a five-team Midget Boys division.

By the time the Zamboni makes its final rounds on July 12, the tournament will have covered 24 days with a total of 170 games and more than 1,100 skaters competing in eight separate divisions.

“This year we have 70 teams with about 16 players per team — plus coaches, moms, dads, siblings and friends,” tournament co-director Kevin Sopp said.

“Only a couple of those teams are local, so that’s 68 teams living in hotels, eating at restaurants and taking home souvenirs.”

Whistler Minor Hockey Association players Wyatt Fellows, Ryan Grills and Grant Iles will suit up for the Pacific Titans in a 10-team Minor Bantam division — for players born in 1996 — which opens play Friday (June 25) and continues through Sunday (June 27).

A seven-team Major Novice (2001) division is scheduled to play Monday (June 28) through Wednesday (June 30). The calibre of play in all divisions is generally rated at Double A to Triple A.

“There’s definitely a skill element involved and some teams definitely come to win,” Sopp said.

“But you will also see a few development teams that are here to learn and others teams that are just here for the fun and the experience of being at Whistler.”

The coaching staffs on several clubs boast some impressive credentials. Former NHL defenceman Dave Babych will join Rod Graham behind the bench for the B.C. Flyers in the 10-team Major Pee Wee (1997) division, which will close out the tournament July 10 to 12.

Colorado Avalanche superstar grad Joe Sakic returns for his second year alongside Tyson Davis and Jim Allen for two Colorado teams — a Minor Bantam (1996) team, which plays June 25 to 27 and a Minor Atom (2000) team on-ice from July 1 to 3.

“I think it says something about our program when someone like Joe Sakic brings his kids all the way from Denver for some fun. We must be doing something right,” Sopp said.

Whistler’s Bob Baker helped coach a combined Colorado and Whistler team in the Midget Boys (1993-’94) division. Joey Ewing, Jessie Clemiss and Garrett Milan mentor the Whistler Winterhawks in the Major Bantam (1995) division, which ends with playoffs today (Thursday, June 24). Greg Welsh will be in charge of a combined Whistler and Hollyburn C2 Sky Ice Dogs team in the Major Pee Wee (1997) division

Number of applications on par with last year

By Andrew Mitchell

 The Question

The construction industry was unusually busy in the run-up to the 2010 Games, but even as the resort approaches build-out in terms of bed units, Whistler remains a busy place for builders.

Through the first half of 2009 the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) collected $340,000 more in building permits than the planning department budgeted for, or close to double what was expected.

That doubling trend has continued into 2010.

In rounded numbers, the department has already collected $134,000 in permit fees through the end of May, well ahead of the roughly $76,000 budgeted for that period based on estimates.

“It was really slow in January, February and most of March, but the last few months there has been a steady stream of people coming through the door,” said Joe Mooney, manager of the RMOW building department. “It’s not like the old days where we were putting up hundreds of millions of dollars of new construction, but there is a lot of renovation work going on, and there’s the Rainbow project obviously. Projects in general are a lot smaller than what we’ve seen in the past, but it’s still fairly busy.”

The costs of permits vary, depending on the project.

From January 1 to May 31 in 2009 the RMOW sold 167 permits for residential properties and 43 for commercial. Through the first five months of 2010 the RMOW sold 132 residential permits and 46 commercial.

The 2009 year was also unusual given the work on the athletes’ village/Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood and Fitzsimmons Walk, the renovation of the Aava Hotel, and numerous other projects pushed through before the 2010 Games. Without those projects the construction industry was expected to slow down.

The number of permits issued was slow during the Olympics and Paralympics, but the department picked up as soon as the Games left town.

“We had 178 total permits for this period in 2010 versus 210 the previous year, so it’s not that far off considering that for the first few months of the year nobody was doing anything. We’ve seen a flood come through the door in the last month and a half,” said Mooney.

“It’s anybody’s guess as to what will happen going forward, we can only really give numbers up to the day. We thought it would slow down, but really we’re just seeing a different type of application.”

The Canadian Home Builders Association, Sea to Sky, talked to members and found that contractors are starting to get busier heading into summer with current developments such as Rainbow, Baxter Creek, Cheakamus Crossing and Wedge Woods.

Looking ahead, the CHBA-S2S expects things to continue to be busy, even after the resort reaches its development cap of 62,150 bed units including resident restricted housing.

“Though Whistler may be reduced to limited area for building homes there has always been, and will remain, a strong industry for renovating existing properties,” said Bronwen Thorburn, executive officer for CHBA-S2S. “The cost and time of renovating some of these homes sometimes surpasses that of a new home build, so it becomes a considerable project to take on by the home builder. The difference between then and now is that consumers are now looking for more green ways to do this.”

As well, Thorburn notes that there are 80 lots listed by local realtors. With a conservative estimate of $800,000 that represents over $60 million of future construction.

While there was a small downturn before and after the Games, Thorburn says that builders adjusted by encouraging their employees to take advantage of training opportunities that are available.

“The professional businesses are the ones that see slower times as an opportunity to raise those standards with their businesses… by educating themselves and their employees so that they stay on top of their field.”

Thorburn says that some of the builders that flooded the resort in the lead-up to the Games have moved on, while the career contractors have remained.

There is no shortage of places for those transient construction workers to go.

According to the government of B.C.’s Major Projects Inventory, the number of projects around the province is also picking up.

A June 3 release, based on numbers from January 1 to March 31, 2010, suggests there are 896 major construction projects planned or underway across B.C., or roughly triple the number of projects reported in 2001. The estimated value of the construction is $191.1 billion.

As well, there are 547 projects that have been proposed but have yet to receive the approvals that would allow them to advance to the planning and permitting phase.

The list of ongoing projects includes $752 million in investment in clean energy projects such as run-of-river independent power projects.

The Rainbow residential development is also recognized as the largest of the 15 major projects where construction is underway with a total estimated value of $400 million at buildout.

Building permits are typically required for any renovation that requires an alteration to the building, such as reconstruction, demolition, removal, relocation or a change of occupancy (such as installing a new room or a suite) to be consistent with the provincial building code. For example, every bedroom requires a window or egress.

As well, permits are required for excavations around a property or any changes to the building structure or plumbing.

Baxter Creek development sells 70% on opening weekend

May 17, 2010 (Vancouver, BC) – After months of preparation, Baxter Creek began sales of the first phase of their development this past weekend. With 23 stunning homesites available, buyers were quick to act, snapping up 16 properties over the two days. This opening weekend marks the start of a new community in Whistler and is fueling further discussion about the positive effect that the Olympics are having on real estate sales in Whistler.

“Since 2003, the Whistler real estate market has been flat while the Vancouver market has been relatively strong,” notes John Ryan of the Whistler Real Estate Company.   “With only 10 lot sales in 2009, there have already been 24 lot sales in 2010 including Baxter Creek this past weekend, a clear sign that Whistler’s international exposure during the Olympics has sparked a turnaround in the market.”

The first phase of 23 homesites at Baxter Creek follows the natural contours of a gently sloping bench of land with some of the finest views in all of Whistler. Generous lot sizes, some almost half an acre in size, can accommodate up to a 3500 square feet home, making it an ideal location for those moving up from a condominium or looking to build their dream mountain home.

“With 70% of the homesites sold in our opening weekend, the market has not only recognized the stunning views and sun exposure Baxter Creek offers, but also the tremendous value in our marketplace.” states Michael Hutchison of Bethel Lands Corporation.

Baxter Creek encompasses the last bed units at Whistler allowed by the Resort Municipality of Whistler and the Provincial Government. The homes will be built in a mountain contemporary architectural style and while there are a few other new homesite developments in Whistler, none offer the combination of value, view and a private pool amenity that Baxter Creek does.

Baxter Creek offers a south facing exposure from a bench of land above the valley floor, resulting in sunshine from dawn to dusk. Looking out over the ski runs of both Whistler and Blackcomb, the peaks of Wedge, Sprout, Rainbow, and down over Green Lake, the view is one typically seen only from some of the valley’s most exclusive homes. Above the development, a network of trails connecting Alpine Meadows to the west and Emerald Estates to the east encourages exploration and adventure. Baxter Creek is a community designed to take full advantage of the spectacular panoramic view and natural surroundings.

About Baxter Creek

Baxter Creek is a new Whistler neighborhood comprised of 48 stunning homesites and 41 luxury townhomes located above Green Lake. Looking out over the ski runs of Whistler and Blackcomb and bathed in all day sun, the development is centered on a community amenity and connected to Whistler’s extensive backcountry trail network, allowing easy access to hiking, running, biking and snowshoeing through beautiful natural terrain. Priced from the low $700’s, select homesites in the first phase are available.  Visit www.baxtercreekwhistler.com for more information on the development. 

When it comes to gravity-fueled mountain biking, no 10 days stand so authoritative as Whistler BC’s Kokanee Crankworx. On par with the clout of X-Games, Pipeline Masters, and the Hannenkahm, Crankworx is the definitive event when it comes to off-road bicycles going big, fast and down.

From air-infused downhills to dirt dominatrix dual slaloms, massive slopestyle stunts to epic enduros, for seven years running the venues at the Whistler Mountain Bike Park have served as a supercharged magnet for the world’s best gravity fueled mountain bike athletes. This year, Kokanee Crankworx promises to do what it’s become so famous for: blowing the past away with the future.

Aug 7-15, 2010

Events Entertainment Expo

* All dates & times subject to change.

Courtesy of:  The Whistler Question

Written by: David Burke

The confidence of those looking to purchase recreational homes in Whistler is picking up along with the economy, a fact that Whistler realtors say bodes well for the market’s future.

That confidence has yet to translate into lots of ultra-high-end sales — in part because the post-Olympic, jet-set crowd is still weighing its options and in part because potential buyers in all segments of the market are looking for good value in the aftermath of the just-completed economic recession.

“After the two months off during the Olympics, people are back to looking again and purchasing real estate, so that’s a good thing,” Ann Chiasson, president of RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate, said on Monday (April 26). “I think the reality is that we’re going to have to be patient for a full turnaround to take hold.”

Pat Kelly, president of the Whistler Real Estate Co., said that while he likes the dynamics of the market that are unfolding, “It’s still a buyers’ market.

“The desire for luxury is returning slowly, but the caveat there is that it has to be good value,” he said. “People are more confident and willing to consider those sorts of purchases, but they’re not looking for the bling. The buyer today, whether they’re spending a quarter million dollars or $2.5 million, has to be convinced that it’s good value.

“We’ve seen a rebound in interest in the past month or so. We’re seeing a lot of high-end buyers return to the market, and I’m fairly bullish on that market.”

On Monday, national RE/MAX officials said recent statistics show that the sales of luxury homes soared in the first quarter of 2010 eclipsed sales records in nine of the 13 Canadian urban markets examined in the report.

The one caveat mentioned in the company’s Upper End 2010 Report was that the percentage increases shown in the first quarter of 2010 are deceiving because the basis of comparison is the first quarter of 2009 — which the report described as “one of the worst first quarters ever.”

Still, high-end sales in a number of markets —  including Victoria and Greater Vancouver — were at or near record levels, reflecting an overall increase in purchasers’ confidence, officials said.

“This segment of the market was hardest hit when the recession took hold — yet its comeback has been fast and furious,” Elton Ash, RE/MAX regional executive VP for western Canada, said in a statement.

High-end sales in Whistler, though, are mostly driven by a different clientele than those looking to buy in the cities, Kelly said.

“Unless you’re a primary homebuyer in this market, everything’s a luxury,” he said. “As far as price point goes, we’re consistent with price points in other resort areas, so there’s a little bit of a problem trying to compare urban markets with second-home resort markets.

“This (high-end market) is a different market than the local homebuyer’s market. They would be considering Sun Valley, Tahoe, possibly Canmore — so other second home markets, not West Vancouver.”

Both Kelly and Chiasson said the inventory of homes for sale in Whistler is solid, with lots of single-family homes in the $1 million to $5 million range and condominiums in the $500,000 to $2 million range.

Chiasson said that while she doesn’t expect a lot of the 5,000-square-foot luxury homes priced from $6 to $20 million to sell right away, the profile brought by the Olympics has certainly piqued the interest of international clients in purchasing a home in Whistler. Lots of those sorts of would-be buyers certainly have their feelers out, she said.

“If you’re talking about the buyer with the private plane, they loved the Olympics, they loved Whistler,” she said. “Definitely, a whole new level of buyer saw Whistler through the Olympics, and we’re pretty excited about it.”

“There’s a very good selection of properties for sale right now, so that’ll keep a lid on prices, I think,” Kelly said. “But what I’m pleased about is people perceive what a great place this is and that’s why they’re buying here.

“As far as luxury real estate the first quarter, we didn’t have the same experience as the rest of Canada, but that was in large measure a result of the lull during the Olympics. I think we’ll see a return to a more normal trend going forward.”

Despite the lull brought about by the Olympics, the dollar value of Whistler single-family home sales was significantly higher in January and February 2010 than it was during the same months in 2009, when sales were less than half of their 2008 totals, according to numbers compiled by RE/MAX See to Sky. It totalled around $16 million in January 2010 and around $14 million in February. The total was slightly higher in March 2010 than in March 2009 — both of which were slow months with sales around $2 million.

Both Chiasson and Kelly said they didn’t expect to see a gradual rise in interest rates to dampen high-end buyers’ enthusiasm significantly. Kelly, though, said he expects the introduction of HST on all new homes to lead to fewer speculative purchases on that side of the equation.

“Seven per cent more on a $1 million house is a lot of money and that’s going to have an effect in the short term and cause people to proceed cautiously,” he said.

“What that does is cause you to make a real estate purchase based on long-term objectives rather than, ‘I’m going to flip this in a year,’ because you’re not likely to see the kind of appreciation in a short period of time to make up for that kind of increase.”