You’ve Got Business in Whistler | The Best Corporate Activities
Bringing your corporate group to Whistler will be your best idea yet. Feel inspired as you wake up to the sun rising over the mountains or mist atop Whistler’s many lakes. Bond as a team during one of many Whistler team building activities, and unwind at the endless restaurants and patios in town.
Alleviate the stress of jumping from venue to venue as Whistler is so centralized you can easily walk from your hotel to your meeting or activity within a few minutes (and grab a coffee along the way). Come discover for yourself why Whistler is chosen by corporate group organizers year after year as the destination for corporate events.
What Makes Whistler the Perfect Destination for Your Next Corporate Event
Whistler is located a scenic two-hour drive away from Vancouver International Airport making it an ideal getaway from the hustle and bustle of a city and into the mountains. Getting to Whistler is easy – with options from shuttle buses, private transfers, float planes, and helicopters.
Once you’re here, there’s no need for a car as everything is within walking distance. Accommodation and activities are all within the village along with shops, restaurants, and bars. If it’s meeting space you’re after, hotels and the Whistler Conference Centre offer cozy spaces to grand ballrooms.
5 Corporate and Team Building Activities
Whistler was made for groups – with so many fun and accommodating activities to choose from, you’ll be spoilt with choice. There’s something for every budget, group size, and ability level. Whether you’re taking a tour of the Whistler Valley in a comfortable Sprinter van or flying through the air at 100km/hour, there’s an activity to keep your corporate group entertained.
Here are some team building activities in Whistler that corporate groups love and activity providers love to host.
- Axe Throwing
Nothing says “team building” like throwing axes together
Taking your group axe throwing is a great way to loosen up and enjoy some friendly competition with coworkers. Enthusiastic axe throwing hosts will teach your crew how to properly handle and throw the axes before settling into fun challenges and games.
Forged has ten lanes and the space is perfect no matter the weather – you’re protected from the elements indoors but on sunny days, they can roll up the garage door. From small groups to venue buyouts for up to one hundred and ten players, axe throwing is definitely one of the best Whistler team building activities.
2. White Water Rafting
Gear up for adventure this summer on a white water rafting trip! It’s a perfect group activity that can host a large number of people at one time, and so long as everyone in your group weighs more than ninety pounds there are no other prerequisites for the tour. Paddling through the waves as a team will be a bonding experience you won’t soon forget.
There are two options to choose from: the Green River or the Elaho-Squamish River.
The Green River is the perfect combination of beautiful scenery and bouncy rapids for first-timers or those with limited time (two and a half hours round trip). The Elaho-Squamish River trip is a full day and includes a delicious barbeque lunch at the end. Prepare to get wet and explore an area of British Columbia so wild and pristine – keep an eye out for bears, eagles, and mountain goats on the shore and the majestic, towering mountains that surround you.
3. RZR (Summer) & Snowmobiling (Winter)
Take to the backcountry trails of Cougar Mountain on powerful Polaris RZR offroad buggies in the summer and fall, and on snowmobiles once the snow falls in winter. Skilled guides will lead the tour throughout their vast tenue which includes old-growth forests, lakes, and epic viewpoints.
RZR tours have two-seater and four-seater options, with the option to swap out drivers once while on tour. Snowmobile tours have the option to drive solo or to have a driver and passenger on board. Tours run rain, snow, or shine and transportation is provided from Whistler Village and back again.
4. Ziplining
Soar through the air on four side-by-side ziplines located in the stunning mountain wilderness of Cougar Mountain. It’s always fun to encourage members of the group to take the plunge and take off into the abyss. Boardwalks and platforms make up the space between the ziplines where guides educate guests about the environment around them and camaraderie ensues in anticipation of the next line.
Tours run every thirty minutes and are limited to sixteen people per tour, and larger groups can go one after another. They run in the summer and in the winter and run rain, snow, or shine. Smiles, high fives, and team building are guaranteed!
5. Treetop Adventure
Active and adventurous travellers will love the challenge of the Treetop Adventure Course at Cougar Mountain. Groups are harnessed up, taught how to use the safety carabiner, and unleashed into this unique aerial tree course. There are seventy different obstacles on the course from rope swings to balance beams that reach heights of up to sixty feet above the forest floor.
The Treetop Adventure Course is a natural team building activity that is the ideal adventure to share with your coworkers or corporate group. The tour takes around three to four hours round trip and can accommodate large groups at the same time. Once participants complete the course, the base at Cougar Mountain is a great place to hang out, grab a snack or drink, and wait for the rest of the team.
3 Perfect Spaces for Hosting Your Corporate Event
There are many spaces in Whistler to host your corporate event, for traditional meeting rooms and ballrooms at the Whistler Conference Centre to more unique options like the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.
- Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Fairmount Whistler, located out of the village but right at the base of the mountain.
The Fairmont Chateau Whistler offers the largest hotel and conference facility in Whistler and can host groups of over one thousand people. They also offer flexible function spaces in their twelve function rooms ranging from large ballrooms to richly appointed meeting rooms. Food and beverage can be arranged, along with basically anything your heart desires, the Fairmont can help in making your vision become a reality.
- Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre
Immerse yourself in the history, art, and culture of the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations people. Animate your occasion with cultural enhancement through performance or workshop, or enjoy a Indigineous inspired feast through their in house catering team. Whether the event is large or small, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre offers convenience and customization for your unique event.
- Audain Art Museum
Elevated within a forested enclave steps from Whistler Village, the Audain Art Museum is an architectural wonder that would make a spectacular backdrop for any event. The spacious Cressey Hall and the Upper Gallery are unique spaces for receptions and can fit around two hundred people, or the Karasawa Meeting Room can host a board meeting for twenty-two in arguably the most beautiful meeting room in Whistler.
Where to Stay During Your Corporate Event
Whistler group accommodation can be done a variety of ways – from doing a room block at a hotel to allowing event-goers choose their own accommodation within Whistler Village. From three-star properties to vacation rentals and five-star properties, there’s something for every budget in Whistler.
- Tantalus Lodge
Inspired by traditional ski lodges, the Tantalus Lodge is steps from Whistler Village and is surrounded by the forest. It is popular with groups as the rooms are large by Whistler standards with one and two-bedroom suites. This three-star property makes for a cozy retreat, meeting, or group gathering in Whistler.
- Vacation Rental
The sky is the limit with vacation rentals in Whistler. If your group is looking to stay in a detached house and all under the same roof, choosing a vacation rental could be right for your group. Impressive chalets, unique homes, and wood cabins could be the perfect place for a corporate retreat or team bonding session.
- Westin Resort & Spa
With four hundred suites in the heart of Whistler Village, the Westin Resort & Spa is a sought after property to host groups. Give conference attendees the independence of their own space in the centre of it all at the Westin’s four-and-a-half star property. Meeting rooms and conference facilities are also offered at the hotel, along with restaurants, shops, and a spa.
How to Get Your Group to Whistler
Whether you’re flying into Vancouver International Airport or driving up from the city, getting to Whistler is incredibly easy and stress-free, with options to suit any budget.
- Shuttle
Choose one of the many private shuttle services between YVR and Whistler
Catch a shuttle bus from Vancouver International Airport or Vancouver Downtown and relax as you are driven along the scenic Sea to Sky highway to Whistler. Whistler Shuttle and YVR Skylynx offer airport or Vancouver downtown pickups and are very cost-effective if event attendees are arriving on different flights.
- Private Transfer
Groups looking to stay together can opt for a private transfer to take them up to Whistler. Coach buses, Sprinter vans, or mini-buses can take guests to Whistler in comfort and style. Leave the driving to a professional and get the team bonding started early during a private transfer to Whistler.
Whistler’s centralized accommodation, activities, and meeting spaces make it an easy option for corporate events. Attendees will love all the incredible activities, restaurants, and sights in between meetings and teams will be excited and motivated to visit Whistler on a corporate getaway. Bringing people together has never been easier – consider your next corporate event destination to be Whistler British Columbia.