A $10 million investment in more housing for staff at Big White is a quarter of the way complete.
The first of four buildings is complete and seasonal staff have started to move in with opening day just two weeks away.
The building, which cost $3.5 million, adds an extra 48 beds for on-mountain employees this season.
It offsets the growing popularity of Big White property owners switching to nightly vacation rental suites.
Once all four buildings are complete, the $10 million project will have added 192 beds for Big White staff.
“Our staff are our most valuable asset. Skiers and snowboarders come from all over the world to interact with our on-mountain team members,” says Michael J. Ballingall, senior vice president at Big White Ski Resort. “With the economy booming and the introduction of Airbnb, normal seasonal rentals have turned into nightly rentals for the owners of individual accommodations.”
Buildings two through four are in various stages of construction, but once they’re finished each building will contain five four-bedroom units that each have a common room and kitchen.
There will also be four studios with washrooms and cooking facilities in each building.
The new accommodation is the start of a new subdivision in the Black Forest area and residents will have great access to the Black Forest Express Quad and Lara’s Gondola in Happy Valley.
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