The Smart Tourism Committee is a Select Committee of Council. The Committee provides strategic advice to RMOW staff and Council in developing an aligned vision for the future of tourism in Whistler for economic resiliency, develop and evolve Whistler’s tourism product in line with the Smart Tourism vision and leading regenerative practices, and a collaborative approach to destination management that builds sustainability and resiliency into our economy and community.
Smart Tourism is defined as a unified and collaborative approach to destination management. Destination management through the lens of Smart Tourism will ensure that Whistler’s community, environment, and culture continue to be enhanced and supported by tourism. In our exploration of Smart Tourism, we will be questioning what it is for Whistler to be a global leader. We will also be finding productive ways to challenge our community to consider how they can contribute to a sustainable and equitable future and shape a destination of which they are proud.
The Committee supports and advises on the following:
- Key current and anticipated tourism practices and economic trends to ensure a resilient tourism strategy.
- New strategies and policies about Smart Tourism.
- Resort-wide policy, initiatives and expenditures.
- Collaboration with resort partners towards a shared vision of Smart Tourism.
- Resort-wide research, including indicator and target tracking related to Smart Tourism.
- Define roles and responsibilities of various agencies for destination management and stewardship.
- Developing the three-year Resort Development Strategy.
- Festivals, Events and Animation strategic plan and vision.
- Strategic use and prioritization of hotel tax revenues.
- Use of parks and recreation infrastructure.
The STC will be guided by the 10 principles of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Sustainable Tourism.
Committee members
The Committee includes 16 voting members as follows:
- Ralph Forsyth, councillor and chair
- Jack Crompton, mayor
- Cathy Jewett, councillor
- Ginny Cullen, RMOW chief administrative officer
- Ted Battiston, RMOW general manager of Corporate Services and Public Safety
- Barrett Fisher, Tourism Whistler, president
- Belinda Trembath, Whistler Blackcomb, chief operating officer
- Louise Walker, Whistler Chamber of Commerce, executive director
- Liza Walli, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Líḻwat7ul Cultural Centre (SLCC), executive director
- Saad Hasan, Hotel Association of Whistler representative
- Eric Griffith, Restaurant Association of Whistler representative
- Mo Douglas, Arts Whistler representative
- Danielle Kristmanson, member at large
- Huw Jones, member at large
- Jayson Faulkner, member at large
- Sven Sandahl, member at large
The Committee also includes three non-voting members as follows:
- Julie Farr, RMOW corporate coordinator, recording secretary
- Martin Pardoe, RMOW manager of Resort Parks Planning
- Richard Kemble, RMOW economic development officer, staff ;iaison
Meeting schedule
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 15, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. To join the meeting using Microsoft Teams, please click on the link below:
Meeting ID: 278 955 504 944 5
Passcode: Ln7gc6zW
Meeting agendas and minutes
| Agendas | Meeting Minutes |
|---|---|
| October 15, 2025 – Agenda (PDF) | |
| July 16, 2025 – Agenda (PDF) | |