Hidden Headline from Mountain Collective Breathes Optimism for Smaller Resorts

I typically focus on a generic, one-size-fits-all approach to many of my posts. This week, I’ll be focusing more on the smaller mountains and sharing some insights and ideas specific to them. It doesn’t mean you big guys can’t benefit, but I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for the little guys. A few [...]

Ski Resorts Get Major Branding Boost From 2011 Movie Trailers

I’m honestly not sure what it takes to get a crew like Level 1 out to your mountain to do a shoot in your park, but if you don’t know either, I’d suggest finding out. Resorts that have succeeded in this regard are now reaping the rewards, long before the actual films are released. Here’s [...]

Jackson Hole’s Innovation Earns a Powerful Partnership

Sometimes is seems partnerships just happen, as if it were a match made in heaven. Others have to be earned through a long relationship and negotiations. Last week, news came out of a partnership between Jackson Hole and Subaru for a group of three events: a Freeskiing World Tour qualifier and two Master the Mountain [...]

Is SnowTrax the ‘Next Big Thing’ for Resort Marketing?

We’ve all heard of Travelocity and we’ve all heard of Liftopia. A new company, however, hopes to combine the best of both of these concepts. SnowTrax, a subsidiary of Airfare.com, has been in the works for two years but just launched live services only a few months ago. While the site design looks pretty old-school [...]

Soft Drinks & Slick Designs: Two Creative Partnerships to Notice

I like creative partnerships. When two businesses join forces there are usually three winners: two bottom lines plus one “you”. Not only that but almost any size of resort can benefit. Small resorts may not be able to partner with a corporate giant, but the right mix of smaller, local brands can be just as [...]

Interview with a Ski Resort Marketing Genius Factory

When it comes to print ads, I am sometimes harsh with my critiques. But when it comes to Origin Design’s resort print ads, I’m speechless. I’ve already featured their stellar Whistler/Blackcomb ads, but they’ve recently showcased Jay Peak’s new line-up that is as beautiful in a marketing sense as they are to look at. Interested [...]

Success with Local, Lift Ticket Partnerships

This post isn’t just a story about me, but it’s close. You see, on a powder day, Brighton, Utah is my #1.   There is so much snow and terrain, that even when night skiing starts around 4pm, there are still fresh tracks to be claimed.  However, for all the times I have gone night skiing [...]

To Liftopia or Not to Liftopia, That is the Interview Question

I have always wondered why more resorts don’t use Liftopia. And by “always” I mean the last two months. Their business model seems sound, traffic is high, why wouldn’t a resort use that exposure and system to drive sales? I wondered, so I asked. First I contacted Liftopia directly and swapped emails with co-founder Evan [...]