Winter Olympics - Ski in Whistler BC

With all the hoopla surrounding the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, one would likely want to know what are the costs involved in skiing there. Surprisingly, the costs are not all that high.

As is always the case, the Olympic Torch Relay was confronted by demonstrators. Few people know that this custom was invented by Hitler’s propaganda machine. From wikipedia:

The modern convention of moving the Olympic Flame via a relay system from Olympia to the Olympic venue began with the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. The relay, captured in Leni Riefenstahl's film Olympia, was part of the Nazi propaganda machine’s attempt to add myth and mystique to Adolf Hitler’s regime. Hitler saw the link with the ancient Games as the perfect way to illustrate his belief that classical Greece was an Aryan forerunner of the modern German Reich.

We planned a trip there but the plans fell apart when we learned that because of the terrorist attacks there is increased scrutiny and we did not want our vacation ruined by free prostate exams and porn photo ops. Then, the record snowfall from November nearly melted away due to record heat, only to be replaced shortly thereafter by record snowfall again at the end of January. Today, they cancelled tickets for some events because the warm rain had melted away most of the snow. Here’s a quote from Intrawest reservation line:

Intrawest Central Reservations

Quote

This is a QUOTATION only. Prices and availability are subject to change, and are not guaranteed until a deposit has been received.

Date: Tuesday, 05 Jan 2010

Notes from Your Travel Consultant

Hi, Thanks for calling today. Here's your quote we were working on for your trip. If you had any other questions at all, please don't hesitate to give me a call back at any time, or shoot me off an email. Regards Clint ext#5136

Flights

WestJet WS0699

Departure:
Monday, 11 Jan 2010 11:25 AM
Toronto, Lester B Pearson Intl (YTO)

Arrival:
Monday, 11 Jan 2010 01:36 PM
Vancouver, Vancouver Intl Arpt (YVR)

WestJet WS0626

Departure:
Saturday, 16 Jan 2010 04:30 PM
Vancouver, Vancouver Intl Arpt (YVR)

Arrival:
Saturday, 16 Jan 2010 11:50 PM
Toronto, Lester B Pearson Intl (YTO)

Subtotal: $330.60
Taxes/Fees: $113.01
Total: $443.61

Additional fees apply for changes and cancellation after tickets have been issued. Please read the Air Travel Policies and other information.

Lodging - Mountainside Lodge

Studio Suite

Check In Date: Monday, 11 Jan 2010

Check In Location: Mountainside Lodge Front Desk 4417 Sundial Place Whistler BC CANADA V0N 1B4

# of Night(s): 5

Check Out Date: Saturday, 16 Jan 2010

Date 11 Jan 2010 - 14 Jan 2010
Nightly Rate $143.65

15 Jan 2010 $169.15 Every 5th Night Free!

Before Discount $743.75
You Save! $169.15
Subtotal $574.60
Taxes/Fees $86.20
Total $660.80

Lodging changes or cancellations are subject to certain conditions. Please read the Lodging Policies and other important information outlined below.

Lift Tickets--RRW - Whistler Blackcomb Lift Tickets

Adult Lift Ticket - 4 Days (Early Booking)

Start Date:
Tuesday, 12 Jan 2010

Subtotal $239.00
Taxes/Fees $11.95
Total $250.95

 

Please click on the link below to verify if your lift ticket will require pick up or delivery.

Activity changes or cancellations are subject to certain conditions. Please read the Activity Policies and other important information outlined below.

Additional Charges or Credits

Booking Fee-ICR-Winter Arrivals

Subtotal $20.00
Taxes/Fees $0.00
Total $20.00

 

Travel Plan Total

Subtotal
$1,164.20

Lodging Tax (10%)
$57.48

GST (5%)
$58.34

Air taxes
$95.34

Grand Total
CAD  $1,375.36

Policies

AIRLINE TICKET AND CANCELLATION POLICIES

Conditions 
* Airline tickets are non-transferable.
* Names: First and last names on the ticket have to be spelled exactly as they appear on the Passport or Valid Government issued photo ID. Name changes are Not permitted. Name corrections may result in penalties.
* Changes: Date/Times are permitted Before departure for a fee of $75.00 CAD per person plus any difference in fare. For changes After departure contact the airline directly.
No changes to routing are permitted.
* Cancellations: Before departure are permitted at $75.00 CAD per person. After departure the tickets are 100% non refundable.

Travel documents
* Domestic travel: Valid Government issued photo ID. I.e. Valid driver’s license as well as one other piece i.e. S.I.N. card.
* Transborder and International travel:
***ALL TRAVELLERS REQUIRE A VALID PASSPORT***
For an adult traveling with child, a notarized letter of authorization is required if parent is not the legal guardian of the child. Please contact the Canadian or US Consulate for other entry details or concerns. Entry requirements vary and are subject to change without advance notice so please contact the nearest consulate of the country you are visiting or the Department of Foreign Affairs for verification and updates.

Seats
* For a Fee, seat selection is available by calling Westjet Toll free: 1-888-937-8538. Seats can be selected for free with web and mobile check-in within 24 hrs of departure.

Baggage
* Click hear to get more information on baggage policy for Westjet

Reconfirmation
* You will need to re-confirm your reservation 24 hours before your departure directly with the airline. Any last minute schedule changes may be reflected in your itinerary. Please feel free to call your Travel Consultant for further information.

Limit Of Liability
* ICR will not be held liable for denied boarding or entry to the country due to unacceptable travel documentation.
* ICR is not responsible for any changes in flight schedule, policy, cancellation of flights or other general changes implemented by the airline which are outside of our control. (We are committed to delivering high quality experiences and will assist every customer to the best of our ability; however, any special requests or compensations are at the sole discretion of the airline as we are not liable.)

Disclaimer
* A Minimum of 3 nights of lodging required, no Airfare only.
* Payments taken will be held in a trust account.

MOUNTAINSIDE LODGE

Personal Information, Deposit, Payment and Cancellation Policy
* Your personal information, along with all deposits & payments for accommodation are securely passed through to our partner, Mountainside Lodge, who will fulfill your reservation and take payment in accordance with the policies set out below.
* Your credit card statement will show the charge as coming from Mountainside Lodge.

Rental Age Restrictions
* The minimum age for someone to register at Mountainside Lodge is 21 years old. Guests must be 21 years of age or older in order to reserve and check-in to a unit at the Mountainside Lodge. There must be at least one adult (age 21 or older) registered and staying in the unit at all times during registered guest’s stay.

Last Minute Hotel Deals:
* Please note that all "Last Minute Hotel Deals" are 100% non-refundable at the time of booking, and cannot be cancelled, refunded, changed, exchanged or transferred to other individuals.
Value Season Payment, Cancellation, and Refund Policy:
May 1 - December 19, 2009
* A valid credit card is required at time of booking.
* A deposit of 1 night room and tax is taken at the time of booking.
* Full payment is taken 2 days prior to arrival date.
* Reservations cancelled more than 2 days prior to arrival date will receive a full refund.
* Reservations cancelled within 2 days of arrival date will forfeit 1 nights' room and tax.
* "No Shows", late arrivals and early departures are regarded as cancellations and fully non-refundable. 
* Rates for reservations with the length of stay reduced within the cancellation policy are non-refundable.

Regular Season Payment, Cancellation, and Refund Policy:
January 5 - 31, 2010 & March 1 - April 30, 2010
* A valid credit card is required at time of booking.
* A deposit of 1 night room and tax is taken at the time of booking.
* Full payment is taken 30 days prior to arrival date.
* Reservations cancelled more than 30 days prior to arrival date will receive a full refund.
* Reservations cancelled within 30 days of arrival will forfeit 100% of the full stay.
* Reservations made within 30 days of arrival date are 100% non-refundable.
* "No Shows", late arrivals and early departures are regarded as cancellations and fully non-refundable.
* Rates for reservations with the length of stay reduced within the cancellation policy are non-refundable.
High Season Payment, Cancellation, and Refund Policy:
December 20, 2009 - January 5, 2010
* A valid credit card is required at time of booking.
* Reservations made prior to November 1, 2009 are subject to a 1 night + tax as a deposit with the remaining balance due on November 1, 2009.
* All reservations made after November 1, 2009 are subject to full payment at the time of booking.
* Cancellations prior to November 1, 2009 will receive a full refund.
* Cancellations made after November 1, 2009 are 100% non-refundable.
* "No Shows", late arrivals and early departures are regarded as cancellations and fully non-refundable.
* Rates for reservations with the length of stay reduced within the cancellation policy are non-refundable.

Olympic Season Payment, Cancellation, and Refund Policy:
Feb 1 - Feb 28, 2010
* A valid credit card is required at time of booking.
* 100% of the reservation total is taken as a deposit at the time of booking.
* Full payment is taken at the time of booking and is 100% non-refundable.
* "No Shows", late arrivals and early departures are regarded as cancellations and fully non-refundable. 
* A reduction in the length of stay within 160 days of arrival will not yield a refund for the unused room nights.

Failed Credit Card Payments:
*When a credit card fails for the deposit or final payment there is a 48 hour window for the deposit or final payment to be made. If payment is not made within 48 hours of notice, the reservation will be void or cancelled.

Credit Cards accepted by Mountainside Lodge
* Visa, American Express, MasterCard, Discover Card.
* Maximum one credit card per reservation.

Parking
* $17 per night for self parking.
Note: For reservations arriving between Feb 12 - 28, 2010 there will be NO parking available.

Smoking Policy
* All units are non-smoking.

Pets
* No pets allowed.

Check In & Out
* Check In 4:00pm
* Check Out 11:00am

Last updated Apr 09/09

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB LIFT TICKETS

Personal Information, Deposit, Payment and Cancellation Policy
* Your personal information, along with all deposits & payments for lift tickets are securely processed by Intrawest Central Reservations, who will fulfill your reservation and take payment in accordance with the policies set out below. Payments taken will be held in a trust account.
* Your credit card statement will show the charge as coming from CNTRL RES 866-787-1937.

Payment Policy
* A valid credit card is required at the time of booking to secure the reservation.
* Full payment is taken at time of reservation.
Credit Cards Accepted by Intrawest Central Reservations
* Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

Cancellation And Refund Policy:
* Cancellation outside of 3 days of start date will forfeit $25 CAD administration fee per ticket.
* Cancellation inside of 3 days will forfeit full payment.
* Cannot be booked within 3 days of start date. Any changes to lift tickets inside 3 days of the start day, please go to Whistler/Blackcomb Guest Relations location once in Resort.

Flex Days
Your lift ticket includes up to 3 flex days, depending on the length of your ticket.
Amount of Flex days:

• 2 – 9 day lift ticket: 1 flex day
• 10 – 14 day lift ticket: 2 flex days
• 15 – 21 day lift ticket: 3 flex days

For example, a 2 day lift ticket starting on Nov 27th, is valid until Nov 29th.

Ticket Delivery

A. Tickets purchased *with* accommodations through Intrawest Central Reservations
* Lift tickets will be delivered to your hotel check in location 1 to 2 days prior to start date with the following exceptions:
A. Non-whistler area hotels: CANNOT BOOK LIFT TICKETS. THERE CAN BE NO DELIVERY TO THESE OUT OF TOWN AREAS.
B. Pemberton & Squamish Hotels: Tickets must be collected at the pick-up window at one of our 3 ticket window locations: 1. Ski & Snowboard School Sales - Whistler Creekside Base (outside Guest Relations) 2. Ski & Snowboard School Sales - Whistler Village Gondola (next to Guest Relations) 3. Ski & Snowboard School Sales - Blackcomb Daylodge (Wizard Chair base). You MUST present your confirmation itinerary with the booking number when picking up your lift tickets.

B. Tickets purchased *without* accommodations and with Ski School or Rentals
* If you have purchased lift tickets with Rentals or Ski/Board school your tickets can be collected at one of our Ski & Snowboard School Sales desks located in
1. Creekside Guest Relations
2. Carleton Lodge in Whistler Village
3. The Blackcomb Daylodge.
* You MUST present your confirmation itinerary with the booking number when picking up your rentals, ski & board lesson vouchers and lift tickets.

C. Only Tickets Purchased
* If you have purchased lift tickets without any other Mountain Products (e.g. rentals, ski school), please collect your tickets from the On-line Ticket Purchase pick-up window at one of our 3 ticket window locations:
1. Creekside Ticket Windows - Whistler Creekside Base (outside Guest Relations)
2. Village Ticket windows - Whistler Village Gondola (next to Guest Relations) & Base of Excalibur gondola
3. Daylodge Ticket windows - Blackcomb Daylodge (Wizard Chair base)
* You MUST present your confirmation itinerary with the booking number when picking up your lift tickets.
Winter Operational Dates:
November 27, 2008 - April 26, 2009: Whistler & Blackcomb Mountain Open

Exclusion of Liability - Assumption of Risk - Jurisdiction: Please Read Carefully
The Whistler/Blackcomb lift ticket contains important information dealing with assumption of risk and exclusion of liability that will affect your legal rights. The ticket wording is set out below.
The Ticket Holder agrees that any litigation involving Whistler/Blackcomb shall be brought solely within the Province of British Columbia and shall be within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of the Province of British Columbia. The Ticket Holder further agrees that these conditions and any rights, duties and obligations as between Whistler/Blackcomb and the Ticket Holder shall be governed by and interpreted solely in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia and no other jurisdiction.

NOTICE TO USERS OF THESE FACILITIES
EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY - ASSUMPTION OF RISK - JURISDICTION
THESE CONDITIONS WILL AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS INCLUDING THE
RIGHT TO SUE OR CLAIM COMPENSATION FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!

As a condition of use of the ski area and other facilities, the ticket holder assumes all risk of personal injury, death or property loss resulting from any cause whatsoever including but not limited to: the risks, dangers and hazards of skiing, snowboarding, tubing, tobogganing, cycling, mountain biking, hiking and other recreational activities; the use of ski lifts, carpet lifts and tube tows; collision or impact with natural or man-made objects or with other persons; travel within or beyond the area boundaries; or negligence, breach of contract, or breach of statutory duty of care on the part of Blackcomb Skiing Enterprises Limited Partnership,Whistler Mountain Resort Limited Partnership, Intrawest ULC, Mountain Employment Company Ltd. and their employees, instructors, guides, agents, independent contractors, subcontractors, representatives, sponsors, successors and assigns (hereinafter collectively referred to as "WhistlerBlackcomb"). The ticket holder agrees that Whistler Blackcomb shall not be liable for any such personal injury, death or property loss and releases Whistler Blackcomb and waives all claims with respect thereto. The ticket holder agrees that any litigation involving Whistler Blackcomb shall be brought solely within the Province of British Columbia and shall be within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of the Province of British Columbia. The ticket holder further agrees that these conditions and any rights, duties and obligations as between Whistler Blackcomb and the ticket holder shall be governed by and interpreted solely in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia and no other jurisdiction.

WHISTLER/BLACKCOMB'S LIABILITY IS
EXCLUDED BY THESE CONDITIONS
PLEASE ADHERE TO THE ALPINE RESPONSIBILITY CODE AND
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY IN ALL ACTIVITIES

Notice for all visitors to Canada
Please ensure you have all of the required travel documentation prior to travel in order to avoid any issues entering Canada. By June 1, 2009, a new American law, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), will require anyone, including U.S. citizens, entering or re-entering the United States by land and sea to have a passport or other appropriate secure document. Some international visitors may now also require a Visa to enter Canada, due to some recent changes with Immigration Canada. Please refer to http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp to review the updated policies, or contact the Canadian Embassy or consulate nearest you for assistance.

Please print your travel itinerary and be prepared to present it when checking into your hotel or starting any activities, transfers, or car rentals.

Intrawest Central Reservations

GST# 10251 9584 RT0014

#100-788 Harbourside Drive , North Vancouver , BC CANADA V7P 3R7

Phone 1-800-822-7033

I also asked a friend who used to live in Vancouver for advice. Here’s what she had to say:

..I'd book a plane tx to Vancouver, stay there for a few days, it might rain but so what, a really cool place, then go to whistler, better to share a cottage-cabin with pple, as accommodation can be $$. You are gonna enjoy the skiing, and the village is beautiful, lots of places to party, and only like 1.5-2 hr drive from Van..

It’s tough to decide in these times of climate change, when the security theatre trickles up in Canada. It’s hard to leave from one day to the next and even if you do, there’s no guarantee that there’ll be snow until the end of your stay..

Whatever you do, don’t proceed as the snowboarder linked below who had to burn his money so that he can be seen and rescued, when the lift operator in the Austrian Alps shut off the lift with him still in

LE: As you might know by now, Whistler – Blackcomb, like most premiere skiing destination in Canada, are owned by Intrawest. Just in time for the Olympics, the owners defaulted on a bank payment:

In 2006, Wall Street hedge fund Fortress Investments LLC bought Intrawest in a $2.8-billion US deal. Fortress recently missed a $524 million debt payment connected to that purchase.

The lenders moved to foreclose. Other than that, it was business as usual. Finally, “A New York firm has agreed to buy Vancouver-based Intrawest Corp. in a $2.8-billion US deal that will see the real estate empire's crown jewel, Whistler-Blackcomb resort, come under new ownership”.

Final Olympic skiers to race down Whistler on new Intrawest auction date

By Sunny Freeman (CP)

TORONTO — Ski resort operator Intrawest's debt-laden owner appears to have been granted another week of Olympic advertising before the company is auctioned off as the Games' final skiers race down its flagship Whistler Blackcomb slopes.

Intrawest ULC, owned by New York-based Fortress Investment, was slated for auction Friday after creditors posted a notice in newspapers last month saying that a foreclosure process was to begin.

But a report by Bloomberg News cited sources familiar with the process as suggesting that the auction has been postponed to Feb. 26.

The extension would have the Whistler resort owner on the auction block as women's alpine skiers slalom down the hill and two days before the Olympic closing ceremonies.

James Brander, a professor at the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business, said the delay will give Whistler time to recoup its image after a week of gloomy weather overshadowed its breathtaking beauty. He added the extra publicity could attract additional bidders, or raise the value of offers.

"If I were advising the creditors I would say... there's no way this week is going to hurt you, and if anything it's going to make Whistler look a lot better."

Fortress and its creditors declined comment Thursday, as did Intrawest's spokesman, who referred instead to a Jan. 20 press release that, in essence, said Fortress was still in control and holding discussions with its creditors.

Fortress missed payments in December that were due on a US$1.4-billion loan after the creditors, a group led by Lehman Brothers and Davidson Kempner Capital, twice extended debt repayments.

Fortress chief executive Dan Mudd told the CNBC cable channel in an interview Wednesday that the private equity firm continued intense discussions with its creditors, adding he was cautious but hopeful they would agree to a solution before Friday.

"Fortress, as a long term holder, we want to manage our way through the cycle. We want to realize the full value of this investment," Mudd said.

"They're tough discussions, money's at stake, big mountains (are) at stake, but I think they're working pretty constructively," he added.

"Nobody wants to see any damage done to the Olympics in the process," he added.

Mudd said it was in "everybody's interest" for the Games to go on as planned, adding he does not believe the creditors chose a date in the middle of the Olympics as a negotiating tactic.

Fortress is in dire financial straits after taking on massive debt to buy Intrawest in 2006 in a $2.8-billion leveraged buyout during the height of the real estate bubble.

The rationale for taking on the debt to buy the resorts was that condo sales would help pay back the debt, Mudd said.

Mudd added the ski resort business is dependent on two components: real estate sales at condos on the resorts, which are faltering, and the on-slope ski operations, which are faring well despite the economic downturn.

Intrawest considers Whistler Blackcomb one of its core assets, which would be least likely to be sold. Analysts have estimated Whistler could be worth as much as $500 million alone.

But the scenic mountain has already attracted offers from ski resort rival Vail Resorts Inc., and a number of other bidders, which have been turned down, according to a report in the Globe and Mail.

Colorado's Vail Resorts, the second largest North American ski resort operator after Intrawest, is interested in specific properties, and does not want Intrawest's whole portfolio, an unidentified source told the Globe.

A Vail Resorts spokesperson declined to comment.

Kai Li, a professor at the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of business, said Intrawest is likely not getting worthy prices for its properties because its "fire sale" is occurring during one of the worst times for the resort industry.

"This is an industry that's like a luxury good, it's highly correlated to the economy and that's the first thing to go when people are cutting their expenditures."

She said the delay would likely not make much of a difference in terms of Intrawest's financial situation. Meanwhile, main lender Lehman brothers is liquidating and needs the money as soon as possible, she said.

Li said the resort slump is industry wide and another resort company like Vail would likely not have the resources to pay a reasonable price for Intrawest's assets.

Japanese resort investor Nippon Cable, which owns 23 per cent of Whistler, could also be a potential player in the Intrawest auction.

Li said the auction notice was a pressure tactic by the lenders and, if the auction goes ahead, there is a good chance the creditors themselves will end up with the equity purchase and an ownership stake in the company.

Intrawest has been selling off non-core assets in recent months, including Florida's Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Squaw Valley ski resort in California and the Panorama Mountain resort in Invermere, B.C., last month. It also sold its Colorado Copper Mountain resort in November.

Intrawest has said its core Canadian resorts also include Ontario's Blue Mountain and Quebec's Mont-Tremblant.

The organizers of the Games and Intrawest have said Whistler Blackcomb's operations won't be affected by the auction process.

-----

Vancouver Sun, a CanWest MediaWorks Publication, reports:

A New York firm has agreed to buy Vancouver-based Intrawest Corp. in a $2.8-billion US deal that will see the real estate empire's crown jewel, Whistler-Blackcomb resort, come under new ownership.

Fortress Investment Group LLC is to pay $35 US in cash for each Intrawest share, as well as take on $950 million US in debt, in a deal that, if approved by shareholders, will see the resort developer become a private company.

In February, Intrawest announced it had hired Goldman, Sachs & Co. of New York to help it evaluate its future financing options. At the time, Intrawest CEO Joe Houssian said the company was not announcing it was for sale.

But on Friday, Houssian said that selling the company was in the best interests of the shareholders.

"We canvassed the world and we got lots and lots of very interested inquiries and we just narrowed it down and narrowed it and decided a whole company transaction at this price was clearly in the best interest of the shareholders," Houssian said in an interview.

But what that means for Whistler-Blackcomb and other properties owned by Intrawest is unclear.

"Specific decisions on our business have not been made but the discussions we've had with Fortress is they want to see the company continue to build on the platform it's built in the ski industry, in the travel industry and in the real estate industry," Houssian said.

"I don't think we are going to see any significant changes. . . . I think it's very much business as usual."

But Houssian said they've been so busy getting the deal done that they haven't discussed specifics with respect to management of the company and no precise business decisions have been made.

Fortress' Managing Director Lilly Donohue refused to comment on what plans Fortress had for Intrawest.

But, once the company is private, it can do whatever it wants, including selling some of its assets, Pacific International Securities analyst Sheila Broughton said in an interview.

Fortress, being an investment company, would only have a small number of people managing its $23 billion US portfolio, so it is unlikely to be stepping in and taking over day-to-day management of Intrawest, she said.

"However, I think it will be expected that changes will be made," Broughton said.

"We don't know if Fortress is looking to grow the business or whether Fortress is really focused on the real estate or the resort or another component of the business," she said. "So whether in fact Fortress makes some changes to the structure or whether they decide to keep all of it or figure they can make money by selling parts of it, that will be their choice to do."

Intrawest will be preparing an information circular to be provided to shareholders so they can vote on whether to accept Fortress's offer. Two-thirds of votes cast will have to be in favour for the deal to go through.

Intrawest's largest shareholder, Connecticut-based Pirate Capital LLC -- which owns 18.2 per cent of the outstanding shares -- has given its endorsement to the offer.

"We're in full support of the deal that was announced by the management team. We think $35 [US per share] is a great price," Pirate Capital spokesperson Stephanie Tran said in an interview.

When Intrawest first hired Goldman, Sachs in February, Pirate urged the company to sell outright, claiming the shares were worth at least $45 US. But that number was based on a price target 18 to 24 months in the future and discounting it to the present yields a number around $35 US, Tran said.

Broughton thinks the other shareholders will also approve the deal, which is paying a 32 per cent premium over Intrawest's closing price on Thursday of $26.51 US on the New York Stock Exchange.

If the deal falls through, the stock price will fall so shareholder will have lost out, Broughton said.

"[Intrawest] had five and a half months to find a buyer and this is what they've come up with. So I don't think it's a case where we'll be expecting to see another offer come in," Broughton said.

On the Toronto Stock Exchange, Intrawest shares were up $8.65, or 29 per cent, on Friday, closing at $38.44. On the New York Stock Exchange, shares closed at $34.18 US.

fionaanderson@png.canwest.com

THE INTRAWEST EMPIRE

- Owns, or is involved in, 14 mountain resorts in North America and Europe, including Whistler-Blackcomb, a host venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Other ski resorts include:

-- Panorama Mountain Village, B.C.

-- Blue Mountain, Ont.

-- Tremblant, Que.

-- Mammoth Mountain, Calif.

-- Copper, Colo.

-- Winter Park, Colo.

-- Mountain Creek, N.J.

-- Snowshoe Mountain, W.Va.

-- Stratton, Vt.

- Owns Canadian Mountain Holidays, the largest heli-skiing operation in the world.

- Has 67-per-cent interest in Abercrombie & Kent, a luxury adventure-travel company operating in more than 100 countries.

- Owns Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Fla.

- Owns Club Intrawest -- a private resort club with nine locations throughout North America.

- Sells fractional ownership at:

-- At Nature's Door, Whistler

-- Tonopalo, North Lake Tahoe, Calif.

-- Sanctuary, Aspen-Snowmass, Colo.

-- Storied Places, Tremblant, Que.

-- Inspirations, Sandestin, Fla.

- Has village developments at:

-- Lake Las Vegas, Nev.

-- Keystone, Colo.

-- Snowmass at Aspen, Colo.

-- Squaw Valley USA, Calif.

-- Les Arcs, France

- Plans future developments at:

-- Honua Kai Condominium Resort, Hawaii

-- Village of Imagine, Orlando, Fla.

-- Verrado, Buckeye, Ariz.

-- Napa Riverbend, Napa Valley Calif.

-- Flaine Montsoleil, France

-- Verbier, Switzerland

Sources / More info: wiki-2010-whistler, vancouver-olympic-city, discover-vancouver, vancouver-warm-rain, hello-bc-vancouver, whistler-snow-report, helloBC-13-reasons, love-sky-single, holiday-extras, money-burn-snowboarder, yt-whistler

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