Our Journey
Sometimes the best stories aren't planned - they just happen when passion meets place
Back in 2009, Helena Quinthal was just another burnt-out architect from Toronto who'd had enough of concrete jungles. She came to Whistler for what was supposed to be a two-week ski trip and... well, she never really left.
Helena fell hard for these mountains. She'd wake up at dawn just to watch the light hit the peaks, and she realized something important - luxury shouldn't mean cutting yourself off from nature. It should mean experiencing it better, deeper, without compromise.
So she bought this old timber property on Mountain View Drive (which was basically falling apart, honestly) and spent three years rebuilding it. Not just renovating - reimagining what a mountain hotel could be.
From abandoned lodge to award-winning destination
Helena stumbles upon the abandoned Whistler property during a backcountry hike. Spends the night sketching renovation ideas in her hotel room instead of sleeping.
Three years of demolition, construction, and plenty of setbacks. Helena works alongside local contractors, learning that mountain building codes are no joke. Partners with BC environmental groups to ensure minimal ecological impact.
Nexarion Quinthal opens with just 12 rooms. First guest? A food critic from Vancouver who gave us a rave review. Helena still keeps that newspaper clipping in her office.
Added the full-service spa and 8 more suites. Partnered with local Indigenous communities to incorporate traditional wellness practices. This wasn't just business growth - it was about deepening our connection to the land.
Achieved full carbon-neutral status. Installed geothermal heating, solar panels, and a greywater recycling system. Helena's original vision finally complete - luxury that actually gives back.
We're not done yet. Currently working on rewilding 5 acres of the property and launching our zero-waste dining initiative. Helena still walks the grounds every morning - some habits don't change.
We didn't build here to conquer the wilderness - we built to be part of it. Every decision we make starts with asking how it affects the land. Sometimes that means saying no to things that'd make us more money, and we're totally fine with that.
Our staff aren't just employees - they're mountain guides, ski instructors, local artists, and people who chose this life because they love it here. When you talk to them, you're getting authentic knowledge, not scripted responses from a training manual.
Being sustainable doesn't mean roughing it. You'll sleep on organic cotton sheets with a thread count that'll make you weep, but they're also biodegradable. Your spa products smell amazing AND they're made from local botanicals. We refuse to choose between luxury and responsibility.
We source from local farms, work with regional artisans, and hire from nearby communities. When you eat dinner here, your salmon probably came from a fisherman we know by name. That's not marketing - that's just how we think it should be done.
We're proud of what we've built, but here's what really matters:
Carbon Neutral Operations
Local Sourcing
Protected Wilderness
Single-Use Plastics
"I didn't want to build just another hotel. I wanted to create a place where people could reconnect - with nature, with themselves, with what actually matters. If we've done that, then we've succeeded."