burks

Go hike the Chief! It's a real good workout but the view from the top is definitely worth it!

beckiwoo

Thanks - I love a challenge!

scrubbedexpat091

Don't need a weekend, which is the issue here, no need for people to stay and spend money, they just stop off for a few hours at the Cheif, Alice Lake, and such, and really don't provide any benefit to the town's businesses.

The guests we get at the hotel are mostly people who can't afford the hotel rates in Whistler, or don't want to pay the ridiculous rates up there, but they are so few and far that it doesn't create that much business.

The town had this stupid idea the Olympic's would bring all this tourism and allowed 2 more hotels to be built, and all it did was make it difficult for any of them to make money since there are not enough people generally to fill the rooms.

We get random events for a week like the Squamish Music Festival and for 2 days business is really good, but then everyone leaves again...lol

There are tourists, they just have no reason to stay locally and spend money for a few days.

We are the only town of any significant size between Whistler and Horse Shoe Bay/West Vancouver region. About an hour from downtown Vancouver, and about 45 minutes to Whistler.

scrubbedexpat091

Starting next month, you can get the view without the hike with the gondola opening next to the Chief.

burks

Yeah.. but that takes away the achievement of doing the Chief! Although it may take some of the the traffic off the trail!

scrubbedexpat091

True true. But does open it up to people who can't otherwise get to the top by hiking...

It will be interesting to see how popular the gondola is long term, especially in winter, I am surprised they plan to open year round (minus 2 weeks for annual maintenance.) as I can't see much demand in the winter...but only time will tell.

At-least it's something to get people to potentially stop and spend money locally, and they are a large employer locally as well now, so its already a benefit to town.

Squamish has way more potential, but seems to lack the leadership and guidance to get there. I don't think they got over the change from industrial to tourism based economy after the pulp mill and lumber mill closed down, and BC rail went away and such. By Wal-Mart you can see where at some point an industrial area was planned, but from what I can tell they have yet to attract any companies to actually build it.

burks

It's tough with Whistler just up the road. Squamish would to offer something pretty special to get people to stop for more than a couple hours!

Although that could be a reasoning to keeping the gondola open year round, get the ski/snowboard traffic stopping off for a ride. It does offer people who wouldn't normally be able to access the peaks a chance to see the top of the Chief, but it will be interesting to see if it damages the lure of hikers to the Chief.. what with anyone being able to reach the top now. I hope not!

scrubbedexpat091

Time will tell for the gondola.

Its Whistler to the north and Vancouver to the south that kills tourism here. I think the gondola will get people to stop here for it, but I am not sure it will lead to increased business for the majority of town, probably just the usual, gas stations and such.

To be honest, I am not sure how the hotels in town even keep their doors open.

januarymix

Congrats, Jsmth321!