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A surprisingly helpful thing during my summer trips to resorts.

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GREGG
BLANCHARD
   

It’s been really fun to get out and about to resorts again these last couple summer. We’ve hiked and biked at Powder Mountain, wandered around Snowbasin, spent the day at Snowbird, played disc golf at Brighton, and stayed a couple nights at Solitude.

Over and over again, I’ve been surprised at the utility of one simple thing: QR codes.

QR Codes

I first studied QR codes more than a decade ago, and even then we marketers underestimated how many people use them by a huge number.

Even among the students I researched, 50% typed in the URL because they didn’t have a QR code reader app downloaded on their phone. Today, with QR code readers built into virtually every camera app they’re becoming more useful than ever. Especially in summer where it’s easier to use your phone and the temperature is kinder to batteries and such.

For example…

Snowbird lets you scan a QR code to sign waivers while you wait in line.
qr code to sign waivers

Same for downloading their app while you ride the tram.
qr code to download apps

Want some details on activities at Solitude? Scan a QR code.
activities QR codes

Waiting in line to buy tickets? Scan a QR code to book online.
QR code for tickets

Consideration

As more and more people get comfortable scanning QR codes – even my parents do it! – I think it’s absolutely worth considering when you need someone to go from zero to a website as easily as possible.

Can they be overused? Yes.
Have we seen stupid uses in the past? Absolutely.
Will some people roll their eyes at them? Likely.

But try out a few, track the scans, and I think you’ll be surprised at how many people choose to scan instead of type when they want certain info on their phones.


About Gregg & SlopeFillers
I've had more first-time visitors lately, so adding a quick "about" section. I started SlopeFillers in 2010 with the simple goal of sharing great resort marketing strategies. Today I run marketing for resort ecommerce and CRM provider Inntopia, my home mountain is the lovely Nordic Valley, and my favorite marketing campaign remains the Ski Utah TV show that sold me on skiing as a kid in the 90s.

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