Resort Municipality Initiative

The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) receives funding from the Province of British Columbia through its Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) program.

A revenue source for eligible resort municipalities since 2006, RMI funding has been invested in a range of programs and services that support and help grow tourism in Whistler.

Each municipality is required to create a Resort Development Strategy that outlines a vision and goals for the RMI Program. Not only are the funds designed to diversify the municipal tax base and revenue, investments are reviewed annually to ensure that projects are designed to increase:

• Resort activities and amenities
• Visitor activity
• Private investment
• Employment in the community
• Tourism as an economic drive
• Municipal tax revenue

The RMI fund amount is confirmed on an annual basis by the Province. 

RMI funded programs and projects

The RMOW received a contribution of $6.68M in RMI funds in 2017.

In 2018 the RMOW anticipates an investment of approximatley 6.5 million in RMI funds in the following areas:

• Product Reinvestment and Development
• Resort Product Diversification
• Market and Segment Growth
• Guest Experience Improvement

Recent examples of programs and projects that received RMI funds include:

• Whistler Presents Summer Concert Series
• Village enhancements, such as the Gateway Loop and wayfinding upgrades
• Alpine Trails Network
• Cultual Connector 
• Village Shuttle

Several stakeholders provide oversight into the annual administration of RMI funds, including the Economic Partnership Initiative Committee, the Finance and Audit Committee and the Festivals and Events Animation Oversight Committee, as well as other committees of council on selected projects.

RMI funds help resort partners like Tourism Whistler, the Whistler Chamber of Commerce, and the Whistler Arts Council achieve goals that are aligned with RMI criteria.