Expert Insights on the Future of Four-Season Resort Planning - Ecosign's SAM Summer Ops Recap
In early September, Ecosign Principal and Managing Partner Adam Schroyen joined an expert panel at the SAM Summer Ops Camp at Whistler Blackcomb to discuss how summer operations planning is evolving across mountain resorts. Alongside fellow panelists Rob McSkimming (Select Contracts) and Claire Humber (SE Group), Adam explored trends, opportunities, and challenges shaping the future of four-season resort development.
Drawing from Ecosign’s decades-long collaboration with Mont Saint-Sauveur in Québec, Adam shared details of a new mountaintop activation project launching in 2025. The plan introduces innovative experiences such as a treetop canopy walk and a night-lit chairlift ride, designed to draw guests uphill and extend visitation well into the evening hours. He noted that Mont Saint-Sauveur’s thoughtful approach to seasonality, such as adapting activities for day, night, and all four seasons, offers a model of creativity and commitment in resort evolution.
Adam also spoke to a common pitfall in resort development: focusing too heavily on a single “magic bullet” attraction. He emphasized the importance of aligning new activities with a resort’s long-term vision and operational flow across all seasons, ensuring that each investment fits within a broader master plan.
On the topic of ROI, Adam encouraged operators to look beyond short-term payback and consider how new experiences can enhance overall visitation and guest satisfaction. He pointed to examples like Whistler’s Valley Trail, an amenity with immense community and visitor value that may not show its return purely in financial terms.
Beyond the formal panel discussion, Adam participated in impromptu Q&A sessions with attendees while riding the gondola and walking Whistler Blackcomb’s alpine hiking trails. These informal exchanges highlighted the curiosity and collaboration that continue to drive innovation in summer mountain resort planning.
Meanwhile, Ecosign Principal Emily Amirault and Vice-President Eric Callender led separate Guided Village Walking Tours for SAM Summer Ops Campers. The one-hour tours offered a behind-the-scenes look at how Whistler Village was thoughtfully designed and built, touching on the rerouted creeks and underground servicing to stormwater, snow management, and back-of-house systems. Participants discovered the design principles that make Whistler a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly village that balances beauty with function.
Ecosign extends our sincerest thanks and appreciation to Rob McSkimming and Claire Humber for sharing their industry expertise alongside Adam during the panel discussion. It was an honour to contribute to a panel where each of our unique voices are all working in the same direction: toward sustainable, all-season mountain resort planning. Our team also appreciates Whistler Blackcomb for hosting the event, and to SAM for their event organization that brought together such a broad group of industry people to Whistler.