2023 Crankworx Whistler Festival Generated Over $50 Million In Economic Activity In Canada As It Gears Up For A Return In Summer 2024

Sport Tourism Canada study spotlights the impact of this year’s Crankworx Whistler

WHISTLER, CANADA (December 5, 2023) – The 2023 Crankworx Whistler Festival generated $50.7 million in economic activity in Canada, adding $40.8 million to British Columbia’s GDP, and $29.6 million for the municipality of Whistler, a new study by Sport Tourism Canada has found.

With Crankworx Whistler set to return July 19 – 28, 2024, here’s this past 2023 festival’s impact to the resort municipality of Whistler, the province of British Columbia and Canada as a whole. 

The event supported $26.3 million in wages and salaries in British Columbia through the support of 586 jobs, of which 523 jobs and $21.2 million in wages and salaries were in the municipality of Whistler.

The total attendance reported was 301,460 over ten days of festival activities. 37% of attendees were local residents of the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, 2% are second homeowners and 61% were visitors. 55% of these visitors were Canadian, with 12% of Canadian visitors coming from outside of British Columbia. 23.7% of visitors were from the United States, and 21.8% of visitors from long-haul international countries. 87% of out-of-town attendees stayed overnight during their visit to Whistler, staying on average for 5.2 nights during the Crankworx Whistler festival dates. 51% of attendees indicated that this event was the key deciding factor to their visit to Whistler, with 76% of those attendees attributing the importance of Crankworx Whistler influencing their motivation to visit Whistler. 

Crankworx Whistler 2023 was proudly supported through partner and government funding. The Resort Municipality of Whistler invested $152,000 through the FE&A Program. The Province of British Columbia invested $150,000 through the Tourism & Events Program, as well as $250,000 through the BC Festivals, Fairs & Events Fund. 

The study was commissioned by Crankworx Events Inc. and Tourism Whistler with Sport Tourism Canada’s economic impact team managing the surveying and data collection process. The team used the STEAMPRO economic impact assessment (EIA) model to produce a detailed report with the EIA in terms of total output, GDP, wages and salaries, employment, and taxes.

Key findings include:

• The event generated $50.7 million in visitor spending, with Whistler welcoming 92,139 out-of-town visitors to the resort.
• On average, $1,658.94 was spent per party attending the Crankworx Whistler Festival, which includes spending on accommodations, restaurants/bars, entertainment and retail and transportation.
• 87% of out-of-town attendees stayed overnight in Whistler during their visit, averaging a 5.2-night stay.

Additional facts and figures:

• More than 1.3 million broadcast views of Crankworx Whistler and counting, with United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia as the top five viewing countries. 
• Over 200 local and international accredited media members provided coverage during Crankworx Whistler. 
• Crankworx Whistler saw more 40 million views from Crankworx owned social channels and earned social media coverage during the festival. 
• Crankworx Whistler saw over 1,300 athletes participate in Amateur, Pro, Adaptive, CWNEXT and/or Kidsworx events during the festival. 
• 67 Crankworx Whistler partners & sponsors contributed to the festival with engaging sponsor exhibitor booths and/or demos. 
• The Canadian Open Downhill event waste diversion successfully operated as a ZERO WASTE event. To be considered ‘Zero Waste’, an event must divert 90% of its generated waste away from the landfill and commit to the goal of continuously reducing the amount of materials discarded.
• Over 50 staff and 546 event volunteers invested thousands of hours supporting the planning and delivery of the festival. Crankworx volunteers, the heart and soul of the festival, contributed 4522 hours over the 10 days, with many of the team being locals who hit pause on their careers to contribute their time year after year. 

QUOTES

“We are thrilled to see the positive ripple effect of Crankworx Whistler 2023 across the community and beyond. This festival is more than just an event; it’s a significant economic catalyst contributing $50.7 million to the Canadian economy, supporting hundreds of jobs, and showcasing our beautiful region to the world. The dedication of over 500 volunteers and the enthusiastic participation of athletes underscores the communal spirit that truly powers Crankworx. We’re proud to facilitate an event that not only champions the sport but also drives economic and social benefits, reinforcing Whistler’s status as a premier destination for sport and adventure.”
​– Darren Kinnaird, Managing Director, Crankworx Events Inc. 

“Crankworx is a homegrown initiative and an annual demonstration of the innovation, ingenuity, and creativity generated in our sporting community. As a signature summer event, Crankworx injects substantial dollars in our local and Provincial economy. We love seeing our businesses thrive, and our guests inspired.”  I can’t wait to welcome Crankworx attendees back to Whistler in July 2024!”

– Jack Crompton, Mayor of the Resort Municipality of Whistler

“Events of the calibre and popularity of Crankworx are critical to the economic health of our community. The incredible impact it generates supports the ongoing health of our community, including local businesses. Crankworx is particularly special to us as its roots are here – in Whistler – and it has been nurtured by a passionate group of riders into the premier mountain bike festival that it has become today. We’re immensely proud of this connection and look forward to welcoming Crankworx back again next year.” 

– Belinda Trembath, Whistler Blackcomb COO

Photos for media use: LINK