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 8th 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 35 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 5 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.
Growing up I always dreampt 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. 10 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 healthy baby boy Maxim James Ball last October).
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. It is also quite fun being the only girl in an all boy environment ;)
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!
I once had a summer visit with my old childhood friends, Ben and Matt in Whistler. I was there to do a Mountain bike race. They casually offered me a job to work for their new Ski Holiday company, but I thought they were just kidding around, and I was too busy training and racing bicycles-chasing a dream. A few years later, after I decided to hang-up the wheels, I called the VIP boys to see if their offer still stood.
"Yes Indeedy!" was their answer , so I was set to (ski), I mean work a season in Whistler. Well, here we are some four seasons later and the lure of this magical village has kept me coming back for more. 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!". 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!"
I first experienced Whistler in '89 and have been in love with it ever since. I also had the amazing opportunity of visiting every year for the next 10 years. After finishing a commerce degree and doing some traveling, I thought I could get it out of my system -but that proved not to be the case. So here I am and I can honestly say I enjoy waking up to go to work every day, especially if I'm getting a few runs in beforehand!
Don't forget to check out what Whistler has to offer in the summertime. It is just as beautiful and there are loads of activities to keep yourself busy. I really loved exploring the great patios while wearing a pair of shorts in lieu of a winter coat and ski boots!
