Whistler Blackcomb Honoured in the Annual Resort Rankings

Accolades are a credit to Whistler Blackcomb's dedication to excellence

WHISTLER, BC October 30, 2012 – The annual resort rankings are in and again Whistler Blackcomb is on top with six "best overall" wins and over fifteen No.1 "category" wins. These accolades have positioned Whistler Blackcomb as one of the best ranked ski and snowboard destinations in the world.

"We are thrilled to be recognized among the best mountain resorts in the world," says Stuart Rempel, senior vice president of marketing and sales at Whistler Blackcomb. "These awards are a credit to Whistler Blackcomb's focus on improving every aspect of our business. We start with amazing physical assets - our mountains and reliable snow. Then we layer in our huge lift infrastructure and our commitment to the environment. On top of it all are our people. The guest relations team, groomers, snow makers, terrain park rangers, instructors, patrollers, front line staff and everyone in between all work together to exceed our customers' expectations. We believe this approach is why Whistler Blackcomb is consistently ranked the No. 1 resort in North America and positions us among the best in the world."

This year Whistler Blackcomb was recognized by SPIKE Marketing as the highest rated resort in the world for customer satisfaction and performance. The company's Ski Base Results 2012 Survey involving 18,000 UK respondents ranked Whistler Blackcomb as the No. 1 resort they would recommend to a friend or colleague based on quality of skiing, accommodation, value for money, restaurants and bars, lifts and activities outside skiing. This ranking is a credit to Whistler Blackcomb's attention to exceeding customer expectations in every aspect of its operations.

Whistler Blackcomb Awards and Rankings 2012.2013

No. 1 Overall

• SKI Magazine, USA
• Freeskier Magazine, USA
• SBC Resort Guide, CAN
• Best overall in B.C., onthesnow.com, USA
• Powderhounds.com, USA
• Findthebest.com, USA

Whistler Blackcomb Category Wins:

• Top 50 Best Ski Resorts, The Independent, GBR
• Best Net Promoter Score, Spike Marketing, GBR
• Best in Snow Business, Canadian Ski Council, CAN
• 2012 BC Hydro Power Smart Excellence Awards Winner in the Power Smart Leader category, CAN
• One of Canada's Greenest Employers, Canada's Top 100 Employers, CAN
• One of Canada's Best Employers for Young People, Canada's Top 100 Employers, CAN
• Best Ski Run & Lodge for Whistler Blackcomb & Fairmont Chateau Whistler, National Geographic, USA
• Best Terrain: SKI Magazine, Powderhounds.com
• Best Apres/Nightlife, FREESKIER, Powderhounds.com
• Top Family Resort, CNN.com, Familyvacationcritic.com, USA
• Best Park in the West, SBC Resort Guide
• Best Terrain in the West, SBC Resort Guide
• Best Lifts, Powderhounds.com
• Best Winter Destination & Best Summer Destination, Georgia Straight Newspaper, CAN
• Best Off-Piste, Powderhounds.com

No. 2 - Other "Not too Shabby" Placings

• Steep Skiing, FREESKIER
• Service, SKI Magazine
• Lodging, SKI Magazine
• Off-Hill Activities, SKI Magazine
• Digital Presence, SKI Magazine
• Romantic Getaway, Georgia Straight Newspaper

No.3

• Dining, SKI Magazine

No. 4

• Powder Stashes, FREESKIER
• Terrain Parks, SKI Magazine
• Overall Satisfaction, SKI Magazine
• Scenery, SKI Magazine

No. 5

• Challenging Terrain, SKI Magazine
• On-Mountain Food, SKI Magazine
• Lifts, SKI Magazine
• Best Resort in North America, TransWorld SNOWboarding, USA
• Halfpipes, TransWorld SNOWboarding