The World Cup competitions in the Callaghan Valley are proving to be more than a warm-up for organizers of the Olympics Games.
Local businesses are also receiving a taste of the fruits to come now that the Nordic combined and cross-country events have passed and ski jumping is already taking their place this weekend (Jan. 24-25).
A struggling tourism season got some relief last week as international athletes filled Squamish hotels to the brim. Executive Suites Garibaldi Springs Golf Resort sold out all 111 rooms and the athletes and coaches accounted for about 90 per cent of the occupancy over the four-day period, according to general manager Kris Zylowski.
"They pretty much filled up the town. It's not just us it's all the hotels," he said, adding that the hotel is filled up again this weekend.
"This was our first chance to sell out basically. At this time of the month at this time of year the hotels in Squamish would run about 40 to 50 per cent occupancy and to have a chance to sell out like this wouldn't happen very often."
Meanwhile, the hotel's Rockwell's Bar and Grill provided breakfasts and dinners to 190 athletes.
Smaller hotels thrived, too. Business is down from last year at Inn on the Water but it filled up all 23 rooms with athletes during last week's World Cups, said owner Sameer Kajani.
"It was exciting to have world class athletes and we had some forerunners as well staying with us," he said. "It's just fantastic to have that energy and excitement and I think it's just the tip of the iceberg compared to when the Olympics are here.
"We're grateful that the events are up at the Callaghan Valley. I think it's a world -lass facility and it's great to be so close in proximity."
VANOC director of Whistler Olympic Park John Aalberg said the positive impacts from having so many international visitors extend to other local business and overall publicity for the region. Besides this winter's events providing about 6,000 bed nights for hotels, the venue itself employs about 40 people, most of who live and pay taxes in Squamish.
"Squamish has been, so far, the headquarters for all this," said Aalberg. "There's a lot of benefits to Squamish and the area other than the Games themselves [] things that people don't realise."
The events are also being shown live on television in Europe with about 20 million people watching this area and seeing the nature and names of the region, said Aalberg.
"It's a huge boost as a marketing tool for all of us."
International eyes are focused on the Callaghan Valley yet again this weekend as the world's best ski jumpers are set to entertain crowds for the biggest ski jumping event Whistler Olympic Park has yet hosted. The public trails will still be open so spectators are welcome to explore trails before checking out some world class aerial action.
Trial rounds start at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. on Sunday. The first round begins at 10:30 a.m. both days with the finals at 11:30 a.m. Admission is free for spectators. For more information visit www.nordicfestival2009.com.
