The votes are in and Canada鈥檚 Best snow season destinations are found in BC this year.
The eighth annual World Ski Awards, the global initiative to recognize and reward excellence in ski tourism, named its top winners both globally, and for each nation. British Columbia had winners among both.
Topping the list, World鈥檚 Best Heli-Ski Operator went to . It鈥檚 the fourth annual award for the company, operating in BC鈥檚 rugged Coast Mountains.
Located just a 70-minute flight north of Vancouver, the company offers multi-day heli-skiing and heli-boarding adventures. Visitors have exclusive access to more than 13,150 square kilometres of pristine wilderness, and can choose to stay at any of five wilderness lodges in the company鈥檚 portfolio.
Earlier this fall, the company also announced it had 鈥渇lown past carbon neutral (to) become climate positive.鈥�
After tracking and measuring its greenhouse gas emissions for 2019, Bella Coola Heli Sports initiated policies to reduce carbon emissions company-wide and purchased offsets from the to protect old-growth forests in BC.
With major aspects of the company鈥檚 operations requiring carbon-based fuels, owner Beat Steiner recognized the need to complete a comprehensive audit 鈥� from helicopter output to employees鈥� daily commute.
鈥淐arbon-based fuels are contributing to a global crisis of climate change, resulting in a loss of biodiversity and destruction of land,鈥� Steiner said. 鈥淲hile there is currently no alternative to carbon-based aircraft fuel available, we are determined to do our part and make a tangible difference, particularly in our home province.鈥�
Other accolades in the annual World Ski Awards went to , named Best Canadian Ski Resort for the second time since 2016.
鈥淥ur whole team at Revelstoke Mountain Resort is honoured to be recognized once again as the premiere ski destination in Canada. We are looking forward to another great season this year,鈥� said Peter Nielsen, Vice President of Operations for Revelstoke Mountain Resort.
The resort is scheduled to open Nov. 27, with the health and safety of employees and guests top of mind, and following guidelines from the province, Interior Health and the Canada West Ski Areas Association.
Other category nominees included Banff鈥檚 Sunshine Village and Lake Louise, Big White Ski Resort in the Okanagan, the Kootenays鈥� Fernie Alpine Resort, Panorama Resort, Whitewater Resort in Nelson and Red Mountain Resort in Rossland, Whistler Blackcomb, Sun Peaks, and Quebec鈥檚 Mont Tremblant.
Additional Accolades
- Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside, Canada鈥檚 Best Ski Hotel 2020: Also among this year鈥檚 winners is named Canada鈥檚 Best Ski Hotel 2020. Other nominees included BC鈥檚 Fairmont Chateau Whistler and Four Seasons Resort & Residences Whistler, and in the Canadian Rockies, Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Past Hotel & Spa and the Rimrock Resort Hotel.
- The Josie Hotel, Canada鈥檚 Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: The title of Canada鈥檚 best boutique ski hotel goes to , a ski-in, ski-out hotel that opened at the base of Rossland鈥檚 RED Mountain Resort in 2019. Other nominees included Whistler鈥檚 Adara Hotel, Summit Lodge Boutique Hotel, Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre and Nita Lake Lodge, as well as Sun Peaks Lodge, north of Kamloops, Skoki Lodge, a National Historic Site, and Sunshine Mountain Lodge, both in the mountains of Banff National Park.
- Whiteworth Chalet, Canada鈥檚 Best Ski Chalet 2020: This experience is nestled at the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort on five forested acres of mature cedars, pine and firs. Other nominees included Whistler Platinum, Amarandu Estate, Belmont Estate, Big Sky Chalet, the Crescendo at the Okanagan鈥檚 Big White, and Revelstoke鈥檚 Bison Lodge.
Votes for the World Ski Awards are cast by leading ski tourism professionals and ski consumers world-wide. Learn more at
***
Please note that current Provincial Health Protocols currently advise against travelling outside your region to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Plan your future adventures throughout the West Coast at and follow us on and @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly !
