What rates do property management companies charge in Whistler?

On average, property management companies in Whistler may charge anywhere from 20% to 35% of the rental income. This fee usually covers services such as advertising and marketing the property, screening and selecting guests, collecting revenue, managing repairs and maintenance, and handling guest inquiries and complaints.

Can you help with local regulations and compliance specific to Whistler?

Absolutely. We have a Tourism Accommodation Business License from the municipality. We can offer guidance on short-term vacation rental zoning laws. We can help you apply for a BC Short Term Rental License, and in some cases we can apply on your behalf and obtain one through our business. For VRBO and direct bookings we withhold and remit the local MRDT short term accommodation taxes.

How do you book properties directly in Whistler?

A guest would go to our direct booking page and request their desired dates to stay at one of our properties. They can find our direct booking page through Google and on our www.truenorthproperties.ca. This saves our guests money, adds to our bottom line and payments are securely processed through Stripe.

Can owners use their own units freely?

Absolutely. Our goal is to be flexible and build a working relationship with our clients. For some clients their property is solely an investment and they may stay in it once a year. For others their property is also a weekend home in the winters. We will work with you to accommodate your needs.

How do you screen guests?

Screening guests involves gathering information about their stay, communicating to understand their needs, and verifying their identity and reputation through identification, background checks, and reviews. Requirements such as government-issued ID, credit card verification, and references from previous hosts ensure transparency and security.

How often are payouts handled?

Payouts are completed in the first few days of the new month. You are emailed an owner's statement that breaks down revenue, cleaning costs, management fees and any associated expenses, along with helpful metrics like occupancy rates and ADR (average daily rate).

Whistler Short-Term Rental Market Report: Fall 2026

Market Trends

Oct 13

Written By Mark Charette

2026 has been a strong year for well-run Whistler short-term rentals, even if it was not an easy one. Across True North properties we managed in both years, revenue from January to September is up 18% over 2025, and average occupancy is up from 74% to 81%. The wider market grew more slowly: the latest data shows the average Whistler one-bedroom up 5.8% in 2025 and the average two-bedroom up 3.6%. Heading into winter 2026/27, a strong El Niño is the main variable.

Three things defined the year:

Winter proved Whistler is a destination market, not just a snow market. Lift visits fell across the industry, but quality rentals in core locations kept their rates.
Summer kept closing the gap. Longer stays, earlier bookings, and more midweek demand made summer a season to plan for, not coast through.
Execution mattered more than ever. The gap between the best and average properties widened. Pricing, presentation, and turnover speed decided who captured demand.

How 2026 played out

Winter 2025/26: thin snow, steady bookings

Last winter was tough on snow across western North America. Vail Resorts, which owns Whistler Blackcomb, reported North American skier visits down 14.9% for the season through April 19, 2026, citing record low snowfall and warm temperatures. Lift revenue fell 5.6% and on-mountain dining fell 11.7%. Vail does not break out Whistler on its own.

The rental side held up better than those headlines suggest. As we reported in February, booking windows ran longer than the year before, peak weekends filled early, and nightly rates held in slope-side and Village core properties. Well-positioned units did not need to discount. Units that panic-discounted gave away revenue they did not need to.

Our own numbers back that up. Across True North properties we managed in both winters, January to March revenue rose 11.5% over 2025 and average occupancy climbed from 83% to 87%. For comparison, the average Whistler one-bedroom ran at 83% occupancy over the same three months in 2025, and the average two-bedroom at 76%.

Summer 2026: the gap with winter keeps shrinking

Summer has been building for years. Tourism Whistler reported that summer 2025 visitation was up 4% on 2024, the biggest year-over-year increase since 2015, with domestic room nights at an all-time high and more than half of summer stays coming from Canadians, mostly British Columbians.

2026 continued that trend. Booking windows filled earlier, stays ran longer, and weddings, events, and group travel added demand through the corridor. Midweek and shoulder months did more of the work than in past years.

Summer is where our portfolio grew fastest. On the same properties, July to September revenue rose 27% over 2025, and occupancy rose from 80% to 84%. The quieter months did the most catching up: April to June occupancy jumped from 60% to 73%. By comparison, the average Whistler one-bedroom ran at 75% occupancy from July to September 2025, and the average two-bedroom at 64%.

Rates, occupancy, and supply

Nightly rates held where it counts

Premium locations kept their pricing power. Benchlands ski-in ski-out properties still command the highest winter rates. Village core stays steady year-round because of walkability and lift access. Creekside holds up with family demand in both seasons. Village North fills well on value but faces the most competition.

Location sets the ceiling on what a property can earn. Execution decides how close it gets.

Booking windows are getting longer

Guests booked further ahead in 2026 than in 2025, especially for peak winter weeks and key summer weekends. Larger homes tend to fill first. Longer windows reward owners whose pricing is set early and adjusted as the calendar fills, rather than left static until the last minute.

Supply is constrained

Whistler's nightly rental supply is limited by zoning. Only properties zoned for tourist accommodation can rent nightly, and the province now requires every short-term rental to be registered. Whistler is exempt from BC's principal residence rule, so the supply that exists stays in the market, but new supply is hard to add. That keeps a floor under demand for existing rentals.

How True North compares to the market

The latest full-year market data, for 2025, shows modest growth across Whistler:

Average one-bedroom: revenue of $55,672, up 5.8% on 2024, at 66% occupancy and a $252 average nightly rate, flat year over year
Average two-bedroom: revenue of $76,325, up 3.6% on 2024, at 58% occupancy and a $418 average nightly rate, down 2.7%

Across True North properties we managed in both years, revenue from January to September 2026 is up 18% over the same months of 2025, and average occupancy is up 7 points, from 74% to 81%. Over the same nine months of 2025, the average Whistler one-bedroom ran at 71% occupancy and the average two-bedroom at 62%.

You can explore the full 2023 to 2025 market data for every property size on our Whistler rental statistics page.

Real estate and regulation

A slower market for buyers and sellers

Whistler's resale market is moving slowly. In September 2026, 44 properties sold across Whistler and area, against 420 active listings and 94 new listings that month. The median home sold for 93.8% of its list price after a median of 72 days on market, and only about 11% of sales went over asking.

At that pace, buyers have time and negotiating room. For anyone buying a nightly rental property, the numbers that matter are the zoning, the strata bylaws, and a realistic revenue estimate based on comparable rentals, not just the purchase price.

Rules are settled, and enforcement is real

The regulatory picture has stabilized. Whistler owners still need tourist accommodation zoning, a municipal business licence, and an annual provincial registration, with both numbers shown on every listing. Platforms now validate registration numbers and remove listings that fail. The CRA can also deny rental expense deductions for any period a rental is not compliant. Our BC short-term rental rules guide covers the details.

Winter 2026/27 outlook

El Niño is the main variable

As of October 8, 2026, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center has an El Niño Advisory in effect and expects a strong to very strong El Niño through January to March 2027. El Niño winters on the coast tend to run warmer, with higher freezing levels and more rain at lower elevations. That does not guarantee a bad season. Whistler's alpine often does fine, but the valley and early season can be less reliable.

The lesson from last winter applies again: guests still come to Whistler when snow is thin, but they book later and shop harder on price. Owners should expect more last-minute demand and less tolerance for overpriced listings.

What is new on the mountain

Whistler Blackcomb is replacing the Showcase T-Bar on the Blackcomb Glacier with a new fixed-grip quad, the Showcase Chair, for 2026/27. The event calendar includes the Whistler Pride Festival from January 24 to 31, 2027, Fire & Ice Sunday nights at Skier's Plaza, and the World Ski & Snowboard Festival in April 2027.

What owners should do now

Price the holidays and peak weeks now. Christmas, New Year, and February long weekends book early. Get them priced before demand compresses.
Plan for later bookings in January and March. In a warm winter, guests wait to see conditions. Keep minimum stays and rates flexible for those weeks.
Do not panic-discount. Last winter showed that disciplined pricing protects annual revenue better than chasing occupancy.
Lean into what does not need snow. Hot tubs, fireplaces, spas, dining, and the village atmosphere sell in any winter. Put them front and centre in your listing.
Check compliance before December. Confirm your provincial registration and business licence are current and showing on every listing.
Book your own ski weeks early. Owner stays in peak weeks are the most expensive nights to take off the calendar.

Frequently asked questions

How did Whistler short-term rentals perform in 2026?

Solidly, and well-managed properties did better than the average. Across True North properties managed in both years, revenue from January to September 2026 is up 18% over 2025, with occupancy up from 74% to 81%. The latest market data shows the average Whistler one-bedroom grew revenue 5.8% in 2025 and the average two-bedroom 3.6%.

Will El Niño affect Whistler rentals this winter?

It may change when guests book more than whether they come. Expect more last-minute bookings in a warm winter, and price peak weeks early while demand is strongest.

Is summer worth it for Whistler rental owners?

Yes. Summer was our fastest-growing season in 2026, with July to September revenue up 27% on the same properties. Across the market, July and August now bring close to a fifth of a typical one-bedroom's annual revenue. Owners who price and market summer as carefully as winter capture more of it.

Is now a good time to buy a Whistler rental property?

The resale market is slow, which gives buyers room to negotiate. Confirm tourist accommodation zoning and strata bylaws, and base your numbers on realistic rental revenue for comparable units.

Want to know how your property compares?

Every Whistler property sits somewhere in its competitive set. We track pacing against last year, adjust pricing daily, and aim to run each unit near the top of its set, not at the average. If you own a nightly rental in Whistler and want to see where yours stands heading into winter, get in touch for a free revenue review.

Mark Charette