Tourism Whistler has a full complement of board members again following its Annual General Meeting on May 16.
Four vacancies on its board were filled by four nominees, so no election was required this year—including for a new board chair.
Joining the 13-member board was a raft of hotel general managers: Murray Lowe of the Westin; Chris Vick of the Hilton; Robert Simpson of the Pinnacle; and Ken Hall of the Fairmont.
The outgoing chair of the board is Norm Mastalir, formerly of the Fairmont Chateau. Mastalir departs Tourism Whistler after 12 years of service, handing the reins of board chair to Steve Seatle, who previously served as vice chair.
In a press release marking the changing of the guard, Mastalir said the tourism sector saw a continued rebound through 2023.
“Despite escalating labour costs, shortages of affordable housing for staff, high inflation, and the rising costs of doing business, top line revenues were strong and Whistler’s vibrancy returned as hotel occupancies climbed to more typical levels,” he said.
“Future-proofing Whistler, from the perspectives of community livability and the visitor economy, is a resort-wide priority.”
The 13-member board is comprised of seven elected members and six appointed members, with the appointed members representing the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb, and Tourism Whistler’s president and CEO.