On Location: The Bear-Friendly Fairmont Chateau Whistler

The annual Trailblazers Conference is a mini-buyer/supplier tradeshow organized by Canada, Switzerland, Monaco, Ireland and Britain. They meet at revolving destinations within the participating countries, and last year, everyone gathered in Whistler for the conference and post program in Vancouver. The host hotel was The Fairmont Chateau Whistler, located within walking distance from the base of Blackcomb Mountain.

During a conference break, a few of us were sitting outside enjoying our coffee when a small black bear walked toward us about 50 feet away in the parking lot. Everyone stood up in shock but then the bear turned away from us to walk up a little trail. However, a couple of hikers were walking along another trail above that intersects the top of the trail the bear was navigating. Judging the speed of the bear and hikers, they would reach the exact same point at the exact same time.

Sensing the humans, the bear stood up on its hind legs to sniff the air. Suddenly, it turned around and started jogging toward us. Now, this was just a small black bear, maybe six feet standing. Still, you never saw a marketing director from Switzerland and a hotelier from Dublin run so fast. All of us bolted for the doorway into the conference center but we stopped short when the bear decided it was a little too populated in the area before heading behind the hotel.

Having grown up in the area, I’ve visited Whistler/Blackcomb dozens of times, and it’s rare not to see a family of bears in the spring alongside the road during the 90-minute drive up from Vancouver. The coastal section with views of Bowen Island is considered one of the most magnificent stretches of highway in North America, and you’ll no doubt stop the van or bus a few times to snap pictures of the bears, waterfalls and mountain landscapes.

UP AT THE CHATEAU
The 550-room Fairmont Chateau Whistler is exceptionally well situated for conferences and business meetings, located at the edge of the ski village on a mountainside surrounded by native forest. It’s secluded enough to keep control of the group, with unlimited amount of team building activities minutes away in the geographical splendor. During events on the roof of the 32,000-sf conference center, it feels remote, wild and untouched with unspoiled views of the tree canopy, and the thick scent of pine ripe is in the crisp air.

The rooms all share this view from their balconies so the entire time you’re here you feel completely attached to nature. Well, except during the late afternoon when everyone comes down the hill for happy hour in the big indoor/outdoor lobby bar facing the ski slopes.

The interior design is rich with darkwoods, leather couches and plentiful natural stone in the public areas, while a large wall of windows provides expansive sightlines showcasing the stunning scenery.