There is a multi-billion-dollar market that is clearly on the chopping block given implications of global warming \u2013 alpine skiing.\u00a0 Few industries\u2019 performances are so overtly tied to weather as ski resorts.\u00a0 For many resorts in north America, the entire ski town makes a living not just on the lift tickets, but also the restaurants and gas stations in the community rely on tourists to keep their businesses in the black.\u00a0 Whistler Blackcomb, the largest ski resort in North America, is leading the charge for this industry in preparing for the impacts of climate change and taking an active role in shaping the future to improve its outlook for all ski resorts in North America.<\/p>\n
Weather volatility has been a problem for seasonal business since the dawn of seasonal businesses.\u00a0 So what makes climate change an issue that needs to be addressed now?\u00a0 Scientists have identified high altitude areas to be the most susceptible to climate change compared to low lying areas.\u00a0 For example, For Collins, CO, which is at 5,003 feet above sea level, experienced an average temperature increase of 4.1 degrees whereas a comparably located city at sea level had a 0.5-degree average temperature rise year over year [http:\/\/cier.umd.edu\/climateadaptation<\/a>].\u00a0 Given Whistler Blackcomb\u2019s peak elevation of 7,992 feet above sea level, it is most likely going to be impacted before the rest of society feels the pain of global warming.\u00a0 Thus, Blackcomb Whistler needs to take control of their own destiny in regards to preparing for global warming impacts and leading the way in a broader industry effort to combat global warming politically.<\/p>\n Being one of the larger resorts with capital to deploy, Whistler Blackcomb has been adapting their business for global warming implications since the mid-2000\u2019s.\u00a0 In 2008, the resort connected its two major peaks to provide increased access to the upper parts of the mountain, which have colder climates and thus better snow conditions longer then the lower elevation portion of each mountain.\u00a0 This project cost 51 million dollars and showed Whistler Blackcomb\u2019s dedication to maintaining a large amount of skiable terrain.\u00a0 Although this move is reactionary in nature, it was a quick win for the resort and showed the shareholders and skiers alike that this resort was dedicated to its operations.<\/p>\n In addition to focusing on what the resort is predominately known for, Whistler Blackcomb released a 345-million-dollar master plan earlier this year that outlining other ways the Canadian resort will grow and insulate the business from weather caused volatility in the future.\u00a0 Mainly, this master plan painted a picture of Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort becoming a four-season destination.\u00a0 With amenities such as a mountain coaster and an indoor water park that will have \u201cwaterslides, a deep-water surf simulator, cliff jumping, rock climbing, a wave pool and bowling\u201d [ http:\/\/www.macleans.ca<\/a> ] By building up the non-winter infrastructure now, the resort is positioning itself well to financially whether the bad weather that may be unavoidable in the future.<\/p>\n While these measures are steps in the right direction, I would develop a task force to evaluate how the potential change in weather patterns could affect potential acquisition targets for new ski areas.\u00a0 Moving the lift equipment would be no small task, but there is an opportunity to identify what used to otherwise be unattractive land becoming more attractive now that the weather patterns are changing.\u00a0 As a 20-30 year plan, I would have an ongoing team evaluating the cost benefit of expanding the resort one or two peaks north from its most northern point to potentially take advantage of improved weather conditions at adjacent peaks that have higher elevations.\u00a0 In addition, I would defer the expansion costs by shutting down the lowest elevated terrain of the current mountain, and relocate the lift equipment to the newly expanded, higher elevation area that will have better snow and temperature conditions.<\/p>\n Overall, Whistler Blackcomb is in a relatively good position to succeed amidst the unknown gravity of impact climate change is causing.\u00a0 By investing in their winter sports offering through new ski lifts and developing a master plan to become a successful four-season destination, the resort is leading by example for the ski industry how a company can prepare to dampen the ambiguity of climate change.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sources<\/p>\n <\/u><\/p>\n Word Count 755<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The largest ski resort in North America demonstrates how a others can adapt to the volatile impacts of climate change.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2419,"featured_media":11591,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[],"class_list":["post-11590","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/climate-change-challenge-2016\/","yoast_head":"\n\n