Whistler Short-Term Rental Trends: Winter Is Pacing Strong and 2026 Is Shaping Up to Outperform

If you’ve been watching snowfall totals in January and February, you might assume this winter would soften. Lower snow numbers usually create hesitation and nervous headlines. But the actual booking data tells a different story.

Winter is pacing well compared to last year. In several segments, we’re seeing stronger booking curves, earlier compression on peak weekends, and stable to improving ADR in premium zones. Despite lighter snowfall in January and February, occupancy has held and high-demand periods filled efficiently. March and spring break demand remains firm, and forward-looking pace suggests sustained strength through the back half of the ski season.

Whistler is not purely a snow-total market. It’s a destination market. When lift infrastructure, international travel demand, events, and overall brand strength remain intact, bookings follow. Snowfall absolutely matters, but guest behaviour increasingly reflects long-term confidence in Whistler as a year-round resort rather than reacting to short-term weather volatility.

We’re seeing stronger early booking windows than last year, healthy compression on peak weekends, solid international demand, and stable ADR in slope-side and Village core properties. Well-positioned units have maintained rate instead of panic-discounting. That discipline protects long-term revenue performance.

Summer continues to evolve into a primary revenue driver. Crankworx, weddings, corporate retreats, mountain biking, golf, lake activity, and expanded shoulder-season tourism have strengthened summer demand considerably over the past few years. Summer 2025 performed well across most competitive sets, and early signals for 2026 suggest that strength will continue. Larger properties are tightening first. Prime locations are pacing ahead. Advance bookings for key summer weekends are arriving earlier than they did last year.

All indicators point toward 2026 outperforming 2025 across much of the Whistler short-term rental market. International travel normalization continues. Booking lead times are lengthening. Event calendars remain strong. Inventory growth is constrained due to zoning and regulation. Demand remains durable, particularly in well-managed properties operating near the top of their competitive sets.

It’s also important to recognize that not every neighbourhood performs equally. Benchlands ski-in and ski-out properties continue to command the highest winter ADR. Village core remains steady year-round due to walkability and lift access. Creekside holds strong with family-oriented demand in both winter and summer. Village North maintains strong occupancy with value positioning, though competition is heavier. Location sets the ceiling. Execution determines how close a property gets to it.

At True North Property Management, we actively track pacing against prior-year curves, monitor compression signals, adjust pricing dynamically, and protect peak-season ADR. We push occupancy intelligently during shoulder seasons and advise owners on strategic upgrades that directly impact revenue performance. Our goal is to operate each property near the 90th percentile of its competitive set, not simply match the average.

The takeaway is clear. Winter is pacing well compared to last year. Summer is lining up strong again. And 2026 is positioned to outperform 2025, even with lighter snow totals early in the season.

If you own a property in a designated nightly rental zone and want clarity on where your unit sits in today’s market, we’re happy to walk you through the numbers and strategy. Clear data. Direct insights. Professional execution.