The Vancouver Business Thread

[whatnext]

Great too see Grouse return to local ownership, hopefully the flipper lost money:

Grouse Mountain changes hands once again after sale to Gaglardi family

...Now Grouse, which welcomes 1.3 million guests each year, joins the Northland Properties Corp., which also includes the Sandman Hotel Group, The Sutton Place Hotels, Moxie’s Grill & Bar, Denny’s Restaurants, Chop Steakhouses, Shark Club Sports Bar Grill, Revelstoke Mountain Resort and the Dallas Stars of the NHL.

“With our strong family and company roots in Vancouver, B.C., we are excited with the opportunity to make this acquisition,” said Tom Gaglardi, president & CEO of Northland Properties Corp. “We look forward to working closely with the existing team and leadership group, as well the community to ensure we maintain and evolve the iconic Grouse Mountain experience for all of our visitors.”

Gaglardi, a B.C.-based businessman, also narrowly missed out on buying the Vancouver Canucks after losing a high-profile Supreme Court battle to rival Francesco Aquilini in 2009. But now Gaglardi owns the mountain to which Milan Lucic brought the Stanley Cup after his Boston Bruins beat Aquilini’s Canucks in 2011, so there’s that.

It stands to reason that Grouse Mountain will also see some renovations under its new ownership. In the 10 years since Northland purchased Revelstoke Mountain Resort, the Gaglardis have poured hundreds-of-millions of dollars into the resort as part of a 15-year plan to turn the Mount Mackenzie resort into an international, year-round luxury getaway....

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news...once-again-after-sale-to-gaglardi-family

[rofina]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Great too see Grouse return to local ownership, hopefully the flipper lost money:

Grouse Mountain changes hands once again after sale to Gaglardi family

...Now Grouse, which welcomes 1.3 million guests each year, joins the Northland Properties Corp., which also includes the Sandman Hotel Group, The Sutton Place Hotels, Moxie’s Grill & Bar, Denny’s Restaurants, Chop Steakhouses, Shark Club Sports Bar Grill, Revelstoke Mountain Resort and the Dallas Stars of the NHL.

“With our strong family and company roots in Vancouver, B.C., we are excited with the opportunity to make this acquisition,” said Tom Gaglardi, president & CEO of Northland Properties Corp. “We look forward to working closely with the existing team and leadership group, as well the community to ensure we maintain and evolve the iconic Grouse Mountain experience for all of our visitors.”

Gaglardi, a B.C.-based businessman, also narrowly missed out on buying the Vancouver Canucks after losing a high-profile Supreme Court battle to rival Francesco Aquilini in 2009. But now Gaglardi owns the mountain to which Milan Lucic brought the Stanley Cup after his Boston Bruins beat Aquilini’s Canucks in 2011, so there’s that.

It stands to reason that Grouse Mountain will also see some renovations under its new ownership. In the 10 years since Northland purchased Revelstoke Mountain Resort, the Gaglardis have poured hundreds-of-millions of dollars into the resort as part of a 15-year plan to turn the Mount Mackenzie resort into an international, year-round luxury getaway....

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news...once-again-after-sale-to-gaglardi-family

Cute.

So you mean the 28 year old that bought it few years ago turned out not be funded by local money as was largely advertised to some praise? I thought most of us have a couple hundred million to buy a mountain or two before 30.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by rofina

Cute.

So you mean the 28 year old that bought it few years ago turned out not be funded by local money as was largely advertised to some praise? I thought most of us have a couple hundred million to buy a mountain or two before 30.

Surely you're not suggesting that China Minsheng Investment Group had no clue about running a Canadian ski mountain? I'm sure the little princeling had schussed a few runs.

[misher]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Great too see Grouse return to local ownership, hopefully the flipper lost money:

Grouse Mountain changes hands once again after sale to Gaglardi family

...Now Grouse, which welcomes 1.3 million guests each year, joins the Northland Properties Corp., which also includes the Sandman Hotel Group, The Sutton Place Hotels, Moxie’s Grill & Bar, Denny’s Restaurants, Chop Steakhouses, Shark Club Sports Bar Grill, Revelstoke Mountain Resort and the Dallas Stars of the NHL.

“With our strong family and company roots in Vancouver, B.C., we are excited with the opportunity to make this acquisition,” said Tom Gaglardi, president & CEO of Northland Properties Corp. “We look forward to working closely with the existing team and leadership group, as well the community to ensure we maintain and evolve the iconic Grouse Mountain experience for all of our visitors.”

Gaglardi, a B.C.-based businessman, also narrowly missed out on buying the Vancouver Canucks after losing a high-profile Supreme Court battle to rival Francesco Aquilini in 2009. But now Gaglardi owns the mountain to which Milan Lucic brought the Stanley Cup after his Boston Bruins beat Aquilini’s Canucks in 2011, so there’s that.

It stands to reason that Grouse Mountain will also see some renovations under its new ownership. In the 10 years since Northland purchased Revelstoke Mountain Resort, the Gaglardis have poured hundreds-of-millions of dollars into the resort as part of a 15-year plan to turn the Mount Mackenzie resort into an international, year-round luxury getaway....

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news...once-again-after-sale-to-gaglardi-family

The Owner was local he lives near Oak and 45th. Nice people, they give out free tickets for Halloween and are great neighbors from what I hear. Though I guess by "local" you mean "white".

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by misher

The Owner was local he lives near Oak and 45th. Nice people, they give out free tickets for Halloween and are great neighbors from what I hear. Though I guess by "local" you mean "white".

And by "local' his connection to the China Minsheng Investment Group is what, accoording to you....?

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by Sheba

One of Vancouver's biggest players in film animation shutters weeks before Christmas

Will prices go up further? Revelstoke which they own charges $139 for a day.
https://www.revelstokemountainresort.com/mountain/lift-ticket-rates

I just went here which is comparable to Whistler, in most areas better in others like off piste worse. 52 euros (75 dollars).
https://www.soelden.com/winter/ski-area/soelden-skipass-price-list/ski-ticket-rates-winter.html

I dont get why skiing is so good damn expensive here when the resorts invest less then the Alp resorts and have double prices. Will be interesting what they d with prices given what their other resort charges.

Still good to see one less Chinese government tied investment.

[rofina]

Originally Posted by misher

The Owner was local he lives near Oak and 45th. Nice people, they give out free tickets for Halloween and are great neighbors from what I hear. Though I guess by "local" you mean "white".

The implications are clear.

Local does not equal funded by the CCP. Really, that's all that matters.

Cut all ties with anything to do with CCP and Vancouver/Canada. Period.

Bentall and now Grouse are a good start.

[Alex Mackinnon]

Originally Posted by whatnext

And by "local' his connection to the China Minsheng Investment Group is what, accoording to you....?

Misher also considers AstroTurf to be real grass.

[SFUVancouver]

It is beyond dispute that there is CCP digital influence afoot in North American social media platforms.

[Tetsuo]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

It is beyond dispute that there is CCP digital influence afoot in North American social media platforms.

Hell one of the most popular and fastest growing social media platform, TikTok, itself is a CCP digital initiative

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by cornholio

Will prices go up further? Revelstoke which they own charges $139 for a day.
https://www.revelstokemountainresort.com/mountain/lift-ticket-rates

I just went here which is comparable to Whistler, in most areas better in others like off piste worse. 52 euros (75 dollars).
https://www.soelden.com/winter/ski-area/soelden-skipass-price-list/ski-ticket-rates-winter.html

I dont get why skiing is so good damn expensive here when the resorts invest less then the Alp resorts and have double prices. Will be interesting what they d with prices given what their other resort charges.

Still good to see one less Chinese government tied investment.

I’ve wondered what the reasons are for the price differentials as well. With Vail Resorts Epic Pass you can ski for free at a number of resorts around the world. When I’ve researched doing so, lodging is also cheaper in Europe or Japan compared to the US or Canada, other than flights.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

I’ve wondered what the reasons are for the price differentials as well. With Vail Resorts Epic Pass you can ski for free at a number of resorts around the world. When I’ve researched doing so, lodging is also cheaper in Europe or Japan compared to the US or Canada, other than flights.

Probably the size of their mountain, local competition and who comes to ski their hill.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Probably the size of their mountain, local competition and who comes to ski their hill.

You have Les Trois Vallées in France for example, which is the largest ski resort in the world. They draw people from all over Europe. Still cheaper.

Or take a smaller resort in Norway, for contrast. Also cheaper.

I wanted to drive to Vail but the lodging costs, as in Whistler, are too high for my liking. At any of the other places I’ve mentioned you can get a hotel room for $100 a night, in the ski village, within walking distance of the hills.

The issue seems to be that our resorts tend to be underdeveloped, perhaps to maintain a pricing premium. In Europe, enough lodging was built to draw a wider demographic. Here skiing is geared more towards those with higher income.

[misher]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

You have Les Trois Vallées in France for example, which is the largest ski resort in the world. They draw people from all over Europe. Still cheaper.

Or take a smaller resort in Norway, for contrast. Also cheaper.

I wanted to drive to Vail but the lodging costs, as in Whistler, are too high for my liking. At any of the other places I’ve mentioned you can get a hotel room for $100 a night, in the ski village, within walking distance of the hills.

The issue seems to be that our resorts tend to be underdeveloped, perhaps to maintain a pricing premium. In Europe, enough lodging was built to draw a wider demographic. Here skiing is geared more towards those with higher income.

Like any business in Canada I assume there are great tax, wage, regulatory, and environmental burdens on our resorts than elsewhere.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by misher

Like any business in Canada I assume there are great tax, wage, regulatory, and environmental burdens on our resorts than elsewhere.

Compared to France?

Helpful hint: google “French bureaucracy”.

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

You have Les Trois Vallées in France for example, which is the largest ski resort in the world. They draw people from all over Europe. Still cheaper.

Or take a smaller resort in Norway, for contrast. Also cheaper.

I wanted to drive to Vail but the lodging costs, as in Whistler, are too high for my liking. At any of the other places I’ve mentioned you can get a hotel room for $100 a night, in the ski village, within walking distance of the hills.

The issue seems to be that our resorts tend to be underdeveloped, perhaps to maintain a pricing premium. In Europe, enough lodging was built to draw a wider demographic. Here skiing is geared more towards those with higher income.

Yeah I had colleagues fly over for a week and the lodging + flight tickets + ski tickets + all other costs made it cheaper then driving up to Whistler for a week. And like I said, in some areas better then Whistler, in some worse like off piste (thats actually the only thing that is worse as European resorts dont avalanche control off piste within their boundaries like North American resorts do).

Someone posting about environmental regulations, taxes and wages being tougher/higher here then Europe lol. I needed a good laugh. Talk about out of touch.
And the technology and investment into Alp resorts is beyond amazing, it dwarfs what is invested in to north american resorts.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by cornholio

And like I said, in some areas better then Whistler, in some worse like off piste (thats actually the only thing that is worse as European resorts dont avalanche control off piste within their boundaries like North American resorts do).

I've heard that Whistler gets more snow while Europe has more steeps.

[Alex Mackinnon]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

You have Les Trois Vallées in France for example, which is the largest ski resort in the world. They draw people from all over Europe. Still cheaper.

Or take a smaller resort in Norway, for contrast. Also cheaper.

I wanted to drive to Vail but the lodging costs, as in Whistler, are too high for my liking. At any of the other places I’ve mentioned you can get a hotel room for $100 a night, in the ski village, within walking distance of the hills.

The issue seems to be that our resorts tend to be underdeveloped, perhaps to maintain a pricing premium. In Europe, enough lodging was built to draw a wider demographic. Here skiing is geared more towards those with higher income.

The obvious answer is that they can charge what they do. It's still busy, and often at capacity. If they charged less, they would be leaving money on the table.

The thing most of you aren't realizing is that Vail's takeover made the season's passes much cheaper. They used to be $1,600-ish, now they're about $1,100.

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

I've heard that Whistler gets more snow while Europe has more steeps.

It gets double looking at this but its base at the top is in the same ball park since Solden which I am using as a reference goes to 3400 meters while Whistler goes to 2200 or so. But yet in Whistler you have a better chance of getting fresh snow, while in Solden you have a better chance of a clear day and having to put up with man made snow or skiied out snow off piste. Plus like I said in Europe they dont avalanche control off piste in bounds like they do in Whistler so there are more risks and more people do die who go off piste at the resorts. This is a cultural thing as Europe in general (outside of say UK which has common law instead of civil law) is big on personal responsibility, it's the same reason in Solden you can stay at one of the pubs up top and when they close at night you have only one way down...in the dark, intoxicated, from well over 2000 meters, while the cats are already out prepping the runs...something that would be unthinkable in NA.

https://www.onthesnow.com/british-columbia/whistler-blackcomb/historical-snowfall.html?&y=2018

https://www.onthesnow.co.uk/tyrol/soelden/historical-snowfall.html?&y=2018

[s211]

Originally Posted by cornholio

It gets double looking at this but its base at the top is in the same ball park since Solden which I am using as a reference goes to 3400 meters while Whistler goes to 2200 or so. But yet in Whistler you have a better chance of getting fresh snow, while in Solden you have a better chance of a clear day and having to put up with man made snow or skiied out snow off piste. Plus like I said in Europe they dont avalanche control off piste in bounds like they do in Whistler so there are more risks and more people do die who go off piste at the resorts. This is a cultural thing as Europe in general (outside of say UK which has common law instead of civil law) is big on personal responsibility, it's the same reason in Solden you can stay at one of the pubs up top and when they close at night you have only one way down...in the dark, intoxicated, from well over 2000 meters, while the cats are already out prepping the runs...something that would be unthinkable in NA.

https://www.onthesnow.com/british-columbia/whistler-blackcomb/historical-snowfall.html?&y=2018

https://www.onthesnow.co.uk/tyrol/soelden/historical-snowfall.html?&y=2018

Is there a good website resource to research European skiing options? That's been a dream of mine for a very long time, but have no idea where to even start.