BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ChamberMaster//Event Calendar 2.0//EN METHOD:PUBLISH X-PUBLISHED-TTL:P3D REFRESH-INTERVAL:P3D CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260619T183000Z DTEND:20260619T210000Z X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:FALSE SUMMARY:Business Lunch: Focused Growth\, Lasting Impact: Tourism\, Community and the Outlook Ahead\, presented by Gibbons Whistler DESCRIPTION:In Whistler\, tourism is the heart of our economy\, creating jobs\, supporting local businesses\, and delivering services and amenities that make Whistler an amazing place to both visit and live. \n\nIn 2026\, Destination BC launched their 2026-2028 Corporate Strategy: Focused Growth\, Lasting Impact a visionary roadmap designed to double provincial tourism revenue by 2036\, and to help create a better future\, economically\, socially\, culturally and environmentally. \n\n \n\nJoin us in the Grand Foyer at the Whistler Conference Centre for a special business luncheon event (VIEW THE MENU HERE) with Richard Porges\, President & CEO of Destination BC (DBC).\n\n\n\nFresh from launching Destination BC's new 2026 2028 strategy\, Richard will share how the strategy plans to grow tourism in a way that delivers stronger returns\, not just for visitors\, but for businesses and communities like Whistler.\n\n\n\nThis is a rare opportunity to hear directly from provincial tourism leadership\, gain clarity on where tourism is heading\, and understand what it means for your business.\n\n\n\nRichard will then join Barrett Fisher\, President and CEO of Tourism Whistler for a fireside chat and Q&A.\n\n\n\nKey Takeaways:\n\n\n How Destination BC's strategy is:\n\n \n Growing tourism to drive visitation across both peak and off-peak seasons\n Increasing stronger economic benefits for people living in BC\n \n \n How the Super\, Natural British Columbia brand family\, including iconic places and routes\, are being leveraged to compete globally\n What Destination BC's strategy means in practical terms for Whistler businesses today\n\n\n Seats are limited secure your spot early!\n\n\n\nPlus\, all attendees have the chance to win this fantastic draw prize: \n\n\n A 2-hour licensed drone photo and video shoot with Reactive Media\, including edited aerial photos and professionally finished video clips\, valued at $1\,250\, thanks to Reactive Media\n\n\n\nEvent Agenda*:\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Time\n Description\n \n \n 11:30\n Registration & Networking \n \n \n 12:00\n Opening address & welcome\n \n \n 12:15\n Three-course Lunch\n \n \n 12:45\n Update from Richard Porges\, President & CEO\, DBC\n \n \n 13:00\n Deep dive discussion with Richard Proges\, President & CEO\, DBC\n \n \n 13:15\n Audience Q&A\n \n \n 13:45\n Event wrap up\n \n \n\n\n\n*event agenda subject to change\n\n\n\n\n\nMeet our Guest Speakers\n\n\n \n \n \n RICHARD PORGES President & CEO\, \n\n Destination BC\n\n \n\n Richard Porges has served as Destination BC's President and CEO since August 2020 and previously served as the corporation's Vice President of Corporate Development. Richard joined the corporation's research department in 1999 and moved to progressively more senior roles within Destination BC and the provincial government.\n\n \n\n Before joining Destination BC\, Richard taught in the Economics and MBA programs at the University of Victoria and served as a consultant for several government and non-profit organizations.\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n Barrett Fisher\, President & CEO\, \n\n Tourism Whistler\n\n \n\n Barrett brings to her position 30 years of tourism experience\, and is responsible for marketing and selling Whistler to the world\, elevating Whistler from a winter regional destination to a year-round international destination.\n\n \n\n In addition to heading up the tourism organization of Research\, Destination Development\, Market Development\, Marketing\, Communications\, and Conference Sales\, she also oversees the operations of the Whistler Conference Centre\, the Whistler Golf Club\, the Whistler Visitor Centre\, and Whistler.com Reservations.\n\n \n\n Barrett is passionate about strategic planning\, change management\, and people leadership\, and her organization's most recent focus has been on responsible and regenerative tourism.\n \n \n\n\n\n----------------------------------------------\n\n\n\nEvent Partnership Opportunities\n\nInterested in partnering on this Business Lunch event? We have a number of opportunities available including:\n\n\n Presenting Partner - One available\n Platinum Partner - One available\n Gold Partner - Limited available \n Community Partners \n Door Prize Partners\n\n To partner with us or to learn more connect with Jacquie McLean\, Marketing & Events Manager at jacquie@whistlerchamber.com\n\n\n\n----------------------------------------------\n\n\n\nCancellation Policy: Payment is non-refundable for cancellations made within five (5) business days of the event\, or non-attendance on the day. If you have registered and paid for an event\, you will be automatically added to the attendance list. Photographs taken at the event may be used in marketing and promotional campaigns and messaging by the Chamber. \n\n\n\nThank you to all our Partners! X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:
In Whistler\, tourism is the heart of our economy\, creating jobs\, supporting local businesses\, and delivering services and amenities that make Whistler an amazing place to both visit and live.
\nIn 2026\, Destination BC launched their 2026-2028 Corporate Strategy: \;Focused Growth\, Lasting Impact &ndash\; a visionary roadmap designed to double provincial tourism revenue by 2036\, and to help create a better future\, economically\, socially\, culturally and environmentally. \;
\n\n
 \;
\n\n
Join us in the Grand Foyer at the Whistler Conference Centre for a special business luncheon event (VIEW THE MENU HERE) with Richard Porges\, President &\; CEO of Destination BC (DBC).
\n
\nFresh from launching Destination BC&rsquo\;s new 2026&ndash\;2028 strategy\, Richard will share how the strategy plans to grow tourism in a way that delivers stronger returns\, not just for visitors\, but for businesses and communities like Whistler.
\n
\nThis is a rare opportunity to hear directly from provincial tourism leadership\, gain clarity on where tourism is heading\, and understand what it means for your business.
\n
\nRichard will then join Barrett Fisher\, President and CEO of Tourism Whistler for a fireside chat and Q&\;A.
\n
\nKey Takeaways:
\n\n\n\n
🎟\;️\; Seats are limited&mdash\;secure your spot early!
\n
\nPlus\, all attendees have the chance to win this fantastic draw prize:  \;
\n\n\n
\nEvent Agenda*:\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
TimeDescription
11:30Registration &\; Networking \;
12:00Opening address &\; welcome
12:15Three-course Lunch
12:45Update from Richard Porges\, President &\; CEO\, \;DBC
13:00Deep dive discussion with \;Richard Proges\, \;President &\; CEO\, \;DBC
13:15Audience Q&\;A
13:45Event wrap up
\n
\n*event agenda subject to change
\n
\n
\nMeet our Guest Speakers\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
RICHARD PORGES President &\; CEO\,
\n Destination BC
\n
\n Richard Porges has served as Destination BC&rsquo\;s President and CEO since August 2020 and previously served as the corporation&rsquo\;s Vice President of Corporate Development. Richard joined the corporation&rsquo\;s research department in 1999 and moved to progressively more senior roles within Destination BC and the provincial government.
\n
\n Before joining Destination BC\, Richard taught in the Economics and MBA programs at the University of Victoria and served as a consultant for several government and non-profit organizations.
\n
\n  \;
Barrett Fisher\, President &\; CEO\,
\n Tourism Whistler
\n
\n Barrett brings to her position 30 years of tourism experience\, and is responsible for marketing and selling Whistler to the world\, elevating Whistler from a winter regional destination to a year-round international destination.
\n
\n In addition to heading up the tourism organization of Research\, Destination Development\, Market Development\, Marketing\, Communications\, and Conference Sales\, she also oversees the operations of the Whistler Conference Centre\, the Whistler Golf Club\, the Whistler Visitor Centre\, and Whistler.com Reservations.
\n
\n Barrett is passionate about strategic planning\, change management\, and people leadership\, and her organization&rsquo\;s most recent focus has been on responsible and regenerative tourism.
\n
\n----------------------------------------------
\n
\nEvent Partnership Opportunities\n\n
Interested in partnering on this Business Lunch event? We have a number of opportunities available including:
\n\n\n To partner with us or to learn more connect with Jacquie McLean\, Marketing &\; Events Manager at jacquie@whistlerchamber.com
\n
\n----------------------------------------------
\n
\nCancellation Policy: Payment is non-refundable for cancellations made within five (5) business days of the event\, or non-attendance on the day. If you have registered and paid for an event\, you will be automatically added to the attendance list. Photographs taken at the event may be used in marketing and promotional campaigns and messaging by the Chamber. \; \;
\n
\nThank you to all our Partners!
\n \;\n
 \;
\n LOCATION:Whistler Conference Centre 4010 Whistler Way\, Whistler\, BC V8E 1J2 UID:e.2416.2926 SEQUENCE:3 DTSTAMP:20260722T115221Z URL:https://business.whistlerchamber.com/events/details/business-lunch-focused-growth-lasting-impact-tourism-community-and-the-outlook-ahead-presented-by-gibbons-whistler-2926 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR