In what is a surprise appointment so close to the Australian winter season, Perisher Vice President & General Manager Belinda Trembath has been appointed to run Canadian behemoth resort Whistler Blackcomb.
Having only been in the Perisher role for a little over 12 months, Trembath will now become the Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Whistler Blackcomb effective May 15.
This is a big loss to the Australian snow industry, and for Perisher, as Trembath was well liked and a proven good operator.
Having been in the snow industry for over 30 years, Trembath worked her way through the ranks at Mount Hotham, starting as a ski instructor before progressing to a marketing role and then running the lift company in Hotham from 2006.
When American company Vail Resorts purchased the Victorian lift companies of Hotham and Falls Creek in 2019, Trembath was overseeing Falls Creek while running Hotham. In 2022 she was named as Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Perisher.
"I am honoured and thrilled to be the COO of Whistler Blackcomb,” said Trembath.
"It is not lost on me how profound this opportunity is, and I look forward to being an advocate for our resort and its passionate employees, our guests, and the iconic Whistler community. Canada has always held a special place in my heart – early on in my career, I spent a season in BC at Big White. A spark ignited within me, and I always hoped to find my way back. It is a bit surreal that this dream is now a reality. My husband and children also feel a connection to the beauty of BC, and they are looking forward to this new adventure.”
"Belinda is dedicated to ensuring the preservation of unique mountain cultures alongside a commitment to excellence across the employee, guest, and community experience,” said Doug Pierini, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Vail Resorts’ West Region and Interim COO at Whistler Blackcomb.
“This is what makes her an exceptional mountain operator. I can't imagine a better leader to step into the COO role at Whistler Blackcomb to help guide the next chapter of such an iconic, influential, world-class resort.”
In the statement from Vail Resorts they said Trembath’s strength of leadership has also been evident through the implementation of strategic growth programs that she has developed and executed. She also led the three Australian resorts through multiple technology advancements, allowing them to lead through innovation and outside-the-box thinking to enhance the employee and guest experience.
The Snowy Mountains Magazine interviewed Trembath in November 2022 after her first winter season overseeing Perisher. In what was a positive and very honest interview, she was very upfront with the positives and negatives the resort was experiencing.
At the time she said the major difference from Hotham in Victoria to Perisher was the expanse of terrain.
“I think there's nowhere else, certainly in Australia and I'd include New Zealand as well where you can really have a day out in the resort and explore four very unique areas. And I just think that's something that is incredibly unique. Obviously the size and the scale of the resort is well beyond what I've been used to in the past but there are well established teams that run each of those areas and provide the best experience that we're able to provide,” said Trembath in 2022.
That expanse will now be taken to another level with Whistler and Blackcomb, two, side-by-side connected mountains, offering over 200 marked runs, 3,307 hectares (8,171 acres) of legendary terrain, and 1,609 metres (5,280 feet) of vertical.
Since being employed by Vail Resorts she must surely have impressed the powers that be in their Colorado head office, as this announcement is a big surprise for an Australian to be plucked out of the southern hemisphere to run the mighty Whistler Blackcomb lift company.
Trembath will lead the resort, which includes Mountain and Base Area Operations, Food & Beverage, Snow and Bike School, and other important areas of the business.
We wish her and her family the very best on their new Canadian adventure.
Read Interview 1 with Belinda Trembath
Read Interview 2 Belinda Trembath Page 51 Autumn Snowy Mountains Magazine
