Vick brings deep commitment to serving Whistler as past Chamber board chairperson, Tourism Whistler board vice-chairperson, and longtime tourism leader 

The General Manager of Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa, Chris Vick, will become the seventh Chief Administrative Officer for the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW). 

Vick has served as board chairperson for the Whistler Chamber of Commerce and was a big part of leading the Chamber through COVID-19. He is vice chairperson for Tourism Whistler, an active member of the Hotel Association of Whistler and an avid mountain enthusiast who considers his time here akin to living out a childhood dream. 

“I am grateful and humbled by the opportunity to work alongside the community of RMOW employees as we serve the broader community. I feel very connected to Whistler, to the environment and the culture, and I am thrilled I will be able to invest my effort, experience, time and energy into delivering on what our community, and the world, expects of Whistler,” said Vick. 

Under the Community Charter, the Chief Administrative Officer is hired by the municipal Council. Whistler Council spent nearly five months vetting and selecting this candidate through a rigorous interview process. 

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Chris joining the RMOW,” said Mayor Jack Crompton. “Who better to help us build a more caring community, and successful tourism economy, than someone who is already such a big part of Whistler? 

“Chris is a tourism leader and an innovator. We had many exemplary candidates, from a broad range of leadership perspectives, but Chris’s strategic approach and his commitment to our town really stood out.” 

Vick officially assumes the role on August 10 and will report directly to Council. His experience leading multi-year strategic planning initiatives in the tourism sector, alongside his understanding of successful labour relations and community focus, make him uniquely positioned to understand local workers, their needs, and the needs of the resort. He is raising his young family here and has many extended family members in the Sea to Sky region. 

Ted Battiston will remain on to assist in the transition until the end of summer. Battiston served as the Chief Administrative Officer after CAO Virginia Cullen departed in January. Her tenure focused on Council’s four strategic priorities — housing, community engagement, climate action and smart tourism — and developing resilience with creativity, equity and a long-term approach.