VIP Mountain Holidays is all about service, we take pride in bringing the top level of customer service to all of our guests seriously. This year we are actually selling the service packages separately, so if you have already booked your accommodation but still want to be pampered while on holiday just drop us an email or call us (1-888-246-7003 or direct +1-604-935-1847) to get us working for you.
VIP Mountain Holidays provides full service, private concierge style holidays to Whistler. We are located in Whistler and only do Whistler, so we really do know everything there is to know about Whistler! We do a lot more than just book your accommodation and aim to provide our guests with the best service they’ve ever experienced.
VIP's mission:
To ensure that each of our guests enjoy a hassle free experience by providing them with unrivaled service before, during and after their visit to Whistler.
VIP's top 3 goals:
- For our guests to say 'That was the best holiday I've ever had'
- To be the best of the best in Whistler
- To have fun while hosting our guests
Company History:
VIP Mountain Holidays (VIP) has been providing top quality holidays to Whistler since 1999. The company is owned and operated by two motivated, enthusiastic and friendly Canadians; Ben Thomas and Matt Ball. The concept for the company was created on the slopes of Courchevel, France where the two founding partners were spending a ski season. The idea was to open a ski company which would provide high service levels to compliment the existing wonder and beauty of Whistler. Ben & Matt wanted to bring a European style experience to a North American resort. This is our 12th year of providing holidays of a lifetime and many of our guests have become our good friends. We continue to come up with new and exciting ideas for things to do in Whistler and feel that booking with VIP adds a personalized dimension that no other company in Whistler provides. The company philosophy of "no is not an option" has allowed VIP to provide the best service possible to all their guests. VIP has come to understand top quality service with over 39 years of combined ski industry experience and we are keen to introduce you to this type of service. Since day one the focus of VIP Mountain Holidays has been service. The company now has 7 staff members with each of them bringing a different aspect of customer service to the team. (You can click on our names to hear each of our stories).
Click here to see a fun video of Matt skiing, filmed by Ben.
Click here for a video of Ben guiding some past guests.
Growing up I always dreamt of being a banker. I saw myself wearing Hugo Boss suits and polishing my shoes each morning before going into work. I even had one of those watch calculators so that I could work figures out wherever I was. Then I visited Whistler in 1998 and wow, did things change... I've now traded in my calculator watch for an altimeter watch and spend a lot more time tracking the vertical that I've skied in a day rather than working out ratios. There's something about living in the mountains that just puts a smile on everyone's face and there's no place like Whistler anywhere else in the world. There's nothing more satisfying than hearing one of our guests say 'that was the best holiday I've ever had' and I can't think of a better job to have than helping people say just that. I'm still attached to a cell phone for a good part of my day, but luckily it's now talking to guests about which run they should go down, or which restaurant to choose rather than about whether to buy or sell a certain commodity.
One of my goals is to make sure each of our guests experiences a proper European Lunch, so come on out and I'll show you how to do the '10 til 2 with 2 hrs for lunch' ski day in Whistler...
I came to Whistler planning on spending a season here to enjoy the snow. 12 years later I am still enjoying the snow, but have added to the list and now enjoy the hiking, mountain biking, windsurfing, fishing, camping and all of the other things that are just part of the lifestyle here. Whenever I show people around the resort, I find that it is our guests that are showing me (through the smiles on their faces) just how special a place Whistler is. Since being here I have grown not only a fun business, but a great group of friends and a family as well (Kate and I had a 4 yearold boy Max and a 2 year old Lucas).
I am proud to say that I would consider many of our past guests good friends and am looking forward to many more years of making friends on the snow.
"Powder snow skiing is not fun; It's life, fully lived, life lived in a blaze of reality."
~Dolores LaChapelle (Early ski pioneer)
Whistler is an amazing location in the summer and the winter and I simply can't get enough of what it has to offer. On my very first visit to Whistler, I met Matt and Ben and we've been great friends ever since. A few years later I began working with team VIP and have enjoyed meeting people from all over the world and showing them my backyard ever since.
My suggestion to you when you are in Whistler: Take a breather at the top of Harmony chair on Whistler mountain. The view takes my breath away, each and every time and I feel lucky that I live in such an amazing spot.
I moved to Whistler ten seasons ago for what I thought would be an unforgettable winter. And, as anyone who has spent time in our valley knows, it was. The only problem was the fact the summers here are just as magical! Ten years later and my wife and I are hoping to buy a place and settle down for the long term.
It was during my third season that I met Ben and Matt and I instantly knew that I had found my calling - ski all day with guests and make sure that they have the best possible time and show them why you love Whistler. Now coming into my seventh season with VIP and I have found that there is nothing more fulfilling then sharing the many secrets that Whistler has to offer. Whether it is skiing green runs all day, or pointing down the steeps I absolutely love to be up in the mountains and I can't wait to show you around!
Welcome to the 2010-11 season - my eigth season with team VIP, how time flies when you are having fun! I always look forward to this time of year after spending my summer adventuring by bicycle, now it's time for adventures on snow. I love meeting our guests and showing them the magic that I have found in this wonderful part of our planet. The more time I spend in these Pacific Coastal Mountains - the more their splendor appears. I have discovered a lot of secret slopes on both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains and love to share epic days skiing with people and showing them "The Goods!". Whether that's a quiet empty cruising green slope, or a nice steep and deep bowl, there are many secrets to discover.I also enjoy so many of the other off-slope activities that the village has to offer, as well as keeping up on the great musical treats that thrive in Whistler. I am looking forward to another great season, Let it Snow!
"These are the good times, and we're havin'em!"
Whistler has become my adopted town for the past 7 years and I believe that Whistler is one of the most unique and beautiful towns in the world. We have the longest Ski season in the world from mid November through till end of June, the best skiable terrain imaginable, and a climate to suit everyone. Endless powder days in the winter, warm long sunny days in the summer; where else in the world could you possibly Ski in the morning, Wake-Surf in the afternoon, go for a bike ride to the beach and play some beach volleyball, swim in the lake and then finish the day lighting up that BBQ, with of course a few cold ones. Wow what a town this really is and I have to pinch myself sometimes that I actually live here.
I cannot wait for my 2nd winter with VIP to start. Im originally from the UK and hold one of those lovely accents I cannot shake off. I arrived in Canada via stints in the Oman in the Middle East, South Africa, France, Greece and Andorra to name a few places and have also lived and worked in the US also. This year will be my 10th season in the mountains having spent 3 years in the Alps and the Pyrenees before being posted over to Whistler back in 2004, and Im excited as ever to be here!
Having worked in travel and hospitality for my entire working career, I hope I can use my knowledge, personality and professionalism to make your visit with us at VIP in Whistler the best Ski Vacation you ever had. Ski ya on the slope!
We are excited to announce that Valeriya has joined Team VIP as the head of our Eastern Europe program focussing on trying to get more guests to come visit us from Russia. Valeriya was very involved in various Russian programs for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler. She decided to move to Whistler after the Games as she loves it so much!
