A new record has been set in Whistler this winter, but this one wasn’t by a world-class skier on the slopes of the Canadian resort town.

A unit at the Four Seasons Private Residences in the city’s tony Benchlands neighborhood sold this week for about C$9.3 million (US$6.88 million), surpassing all previous condo sales in the region, according to the listing agent, John Ryan of Whistler Real Estate Co. It’s the highest-price condo sale in the history of Whistler Blackcomb mountain resort, which is located in British Columbia. He declined to identify the buyer. 

The previous highest condo sale was also in Whistler’s Four Seasons Private Residences and was likewise sold by Ryan, in February 2023 for C$8.8 million.

The new benchmark underscores the buyer confidence in Whistler’s market, the agent said. “It really sets a new benchmark. Tight supply in Whistler, along with unwavering domestic and international demand has allowed the Whistler market to remain strong,” he said.

At about C$3,677 per square foot, the sale also marked the third-highest price per square foot in Whistler’s overall residential real estate history.

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Part of Whistler’s draw has been the favorable exchange rate for Americans and other U.S. dollar-based buyers. A Canadian dollar was worth roughly US$0.74 as of Wednesday.  

The Canadian resort is also generally less expensive than top resorts in Colorado. For instance, a comparable Four Seasons residence in Vail, Colorado, sold for about US$10.5 million in August 2023, according to information provided by Whistler Real Estate Co. The Canadian location is also exempt from both the federal foreign buyer ban and the provincial speculation and vacancy tax, making it increasingly popular within the international real estate market.

“When you have something special, there are still people who are willing to pay top dollar,” said Ryan, who has been involved in 96 of 105 total deals at the luxury Four Seasons property since it launched in Whistler in 2003. 

The record-setting condo is a 3.5-bedroom, four-bathroom corner unit with walls of windows. Its design feels more like a home than a condo, Ryan said. As part of the five-star Four Seasons Resort, the condo has access to top amenities, including a ski concierge, 24-hour room service, health club, outdoor pool and hot tubs. The boutiques, galleries and restaurants of Whistler Village are nearby, as are the resort’s ski trails.