Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. Announces Strong Year to Date Metrics and Timing of Fiscal 2016 First Quarter Conference Call

WHISTLER, BC, Jan. 6, 2016 /CNW/ - Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. (the "Company") (TSX: WB) today announced record year to date visits and strong metrics for the 2015-16 ski season.

• Total visits for the fiscal year to January 3, 2016 were 604,000 visits compared to 514,000 visits for the prior fiscal year to January 4, 2015, representing the highest visits to date in the Company's history. Total visits to date comprised 560,000 skier visits and 44,000 other visits compared to 478,000 and 36,000, respectively, in the prior year to date period.
  
  
• As of January 3, 2016, the Company generated $40.1 million in 2015-16 season pass and frequency card sales, a 1% increase in sales compared to the same period last year and a 4% increase in sales compared to the same period in fiscal 2014, reflecting solid pre-commitment from the Company's regional market.
  
  
• Forward bookings in Whistler's accommodation sector as of January 3, 2016 were pacing approximately 4% ahead of bookings at the same time last year and 10% ahead of bookings at the same time in fiscal 2014, reflecting strength from key destination markets.

Dave Brownlie, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company commented: "Fiscal 2016 is off to an excellent start.  Considerable momentum from both destination and regional markets combined with excellent winter conditions resulted in a busy Christmas holiday period and the highest year to date visitation in our history."  Mr. Brownlie continued: "Looking ahead, we are optimistic about the remainder of the ski season as both season pass and frequency card sales and hotel room bookings are pacing ahead of the same time last year."

Fiscal 2016 First Quarter Conference Call Information

Today the Company also announced the timing of the conference call and press release for its fiscal 2016 first quarter financial results.

Management will conduct a conference call on February 10, 2016 at 7:30 a.m. Pacific time / 10:30 a.m. Eastern time to review the Company's fiscal 2016 first quarter results, which will be press released before the market opens on February 10, 2016. The call can be accessed by dialing 1.800.319.4610 (Canada and US) or 1.604.638.5340 (International) prior to the start of the call.

A live webcast and 30 day replay of the call will be available in the Presentations & Webcasts section of the Company's website: www.whistlerblackcomb.com/holdings.

ABOUT WHISTLER BLACKCOMB HOLDINGS INC.

Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. owns a 75% interest in each of Whistler Mountain Resort Limited Partnership and Blackcomb Skiing Enterprises Limited Partnership (the "Partnerships"), which, together, carry on the four season mountain resort business located in the Resort Municipality of Whistler, British Columbia (the "Resort Business").  The Company is the operating general partner of the Partnerships and as such manages the Resort Business.  Whistler Blackcomb, the official alpine skiing venue for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, is situated in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, 125 kilometres (78 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia. North America's largest four-season mountain resort, Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain are two side-by-side mountains, connected by the world record-breaking PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, which combined offer over 200 marked runs, over 8,000 acres of terrain, 14 alpine bowls, three glaciers, receive on average 1,163 centimetres (458 inches) of snow annually, and offer one of the longest ski seasons in North America. In the summer, Whistler Blackcomb offers a variety of activities, including hiking and biking trails, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, and sightseeing on the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "WB".  Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.whistlerblackcomb.com/holdings or under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements or information, within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which reflect the current view of the Company with respect to future events and financial performance. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "would", "could", "should", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "plan", "foresee", "believe" or "continue" or the negatives of such terms or variations of them or similar terminology. All forward-looking statements made by the Company are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and represent management's best judgment based on facts and assumptions that management considers reasonable. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release include, but are not limited to: business conditions, forward bookings in Whistler's accommodation sector, the Company's views on positive momentum in destination and regional markets and encouraging 2015-16 season pass and frequency card sales and accommodation bookings, among others. These forward-looking statements and information are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated including, but not limited to, unfavourable weather conditions, unfavorable economic conditions, decreases in leisure and business travel, seasonality of operations, capital expenditures, currency fluctuations, the impact of natural disasters and safety and accident risks. A detailed description of these risks is available in the Company's most recently filed annual information form and management's discussion and analysis, which is available on the Company's website and at www.sedar.com under the Company's SEDAR profile. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements or information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward looking statements and information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking statements or information because the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements and information are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company has no intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by applicable Canadian securities laws.

SOURCE Whistler Blackcomb

David Wilcox, Manager, Finance & Investor Relations, Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc., [email protected], Ph: 604.938.7376