With the one-year countdown to 2010, it is definitely a party atmosphere in Whistler. But as those who live there know, it's been a difficult season, with the world economy downturn hitting the ski resort hard.

And as for what the next 12 months will look like, local organizers and businesses have been warned by past Olympic host cities to expect a slowdown leading up to the 2010 Games

There are signs of bankruptcy along the Village Stroll, the main shopping route through Whistler.

One tapas bar closed due to debts in a month that's traditionally one of the busiest.

These days, there is discounted merchandise advertised in nearly every shop window, and where they once had their pick of any number of jobs, service workers are finding their hours scaled back.

Or worse, there is no work at all.

Ken Melamed, Whistler's mayor, said the resort is not alone in feeling the pinch.

"I guess there's some consolation that it's a shared experience worldwide. It's not exclusive to Whistler," he said.

"Pretty much every place that we've been to, to talk about what are the realities on the ground during an Olympic year [are, say] there is a reduction in visits, particularly skier visits. I think they were down up to 10 per cent in Salt Lake City."

The feeling in Whistler is that change for the better will come if tourists are assured things in there remain the same, that even during the period of the Games 95 per cent of the runs on Blackcomb and Whistler mountains will remain open for business.

In addition, the Sea-to-Sky Highway construction is nearly complete, the venues themselves are already being tested, and organizers believe traffic tie-ups won't be a problem because VANOC's CEO John Furlong promises that visitors will be taking busses.

The hope of people in Whistler is that those busses will stop near the Village, and spectators will spend some time looking around despite the fact medals ceremonies are no longer planned for Celebration Plaza.

Ben Thomas of VIP Mountain Holidays is one of many working to ensure there will be a party, working with Olympic committees, countries and sponsors to find affordable rental space, and create what he calls a medium-size party.

"We, as Whistlerites, have finally realized that were not all going to get rich off these Games, which is great, because we're all starting to really embrace the Games' Olympism and we're now understanding that it's all about sport and celebrating whistler," he said

No question, there have been certain realities realized by the people who live here. They have little doubt there will be long-term benefits that will come from hosting the Games.

The focus now is to let tourists know Whistler is still open for business in the 12 months leading up to the Games.

The resort hopes to get the message out through the media, advertising, and by putting their best face forward.

With a report by CTV British Columbia's Sarah Galashan.