Whistler, BC — Aug. 22, 2022— Whistler Blackcomb has announced its planned opening day for the upcoming 2022-2023 winter season. The lifts will begin spinning for guests on Thursday, November 24, and with one of the longest ski and ride seasons anywhere, the resort anticipates remaining open through May 22, conditions permitting.
As travel restrictions ease and international guests return, Whistler Blackcomb looks forward to welcoming back visitors from around the world. There is a lot to look forward to this winter, with the return of more robust on-mountain dining options in our quick-serve lodges, including the return of Steeps, joining Christine’s as the resort’s two premium Alpine full-serve restaurants. Both are set to open in early December with unique Canadian contemporary cuisine inspired by Vancouver celebrity Chef David Hawksworth. The Whistler Blackcomb Ski & Ride school will also offer more options for group programs at all three of the resort’s base locations, along with an enhanced five-day kids’ adventure camp on Blackcomb.
This season, guests are encouraged to purchase their lift tickets or Epic Pass product in advance, especially as the number of lift tickets will be limited each day in order to prioritize the guest experience. Guests can expect more normal indoor operations this season as dining facilities will no longer require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations or dining reservations.
Importantly, construction continues on upgrades to the Creekside Gondola and Big Red Express, both of which are on-track to open in time for this year’s ski and ride season. Creekside Gondola, which was previously a 6-person gondola, will be replaced with a new high-speed 10-person gondola, and will significantly improve wait times and increase out-of-base uphill capacity by 35% in the Creekside area, especially on high-volume days. Big Red Express will go from a high-speed 4-person lift to a high-speed 6-person chair, increasing uphill capacity by nearly 30% and improving the ability for guests to move around mid-mountain out of the Creekside area.
“We are all incredibly excited to welcome guests from around the world back to Whistler Blackcomb this winter,” said Geoff Buchheister, VP and COO – Whistler Blackcomb. “There are so many exciting things happening at Whistler Blackcomb, and anticipation is building as we prepare to welcome skiers and riders back to our beautiful, iconic mountains. We can’t wait to once again share the magic of our mountains with our guests, especially as our world-class team infuses their expertise, passion, and dedication into every detail required to prepare for winter. I have no doubt that the upcoming ski and ride season will be one for the books!”
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Media Contacts:
Nick Voutour | Nicholas.Voutour@VailResorts.com
Sara Roston | Sara.D.Roston@VailResorts.com
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. Vail Resorts' subsidiaries currently operate 40 destination mountain resorts and regional ski areas, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada; Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham in Australia; Stowe, Mount Snow, Okemo in Vermont; Hunter Mountain in New York; Mount Sunapee, Attitash, Wildcat and Crotched in New Hampshire; Stevens Pass in Washington; Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, Laurel Mountain, Liberty, Roundtop, Whitetail, Jack Frost and Big Boulder in Pennsylvania; Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, Brandywine and Mad River in Ohio; Hidden Valley and Snow Creek in Missouri; Wilmot in Wisconsin; Afton Alps in Minnesota; Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and Paoli Peaks in Indiana. Vail Resorts owns and/or manages a collection of casually elegant hotels under the Rock Resorts brand, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning and development subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.