Ski area marketing drama

[Greg]

http://www.killingtonzone.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14891

http://okemonotorious.com/

Thoughts?

 

[hammer]

To paraphrase Mark Twain:

lies, damn lies, and trail counts...

 

[andyzee]

Already put my thoughts on KZone, big big mistake. If they don't disband that site immediately, it will come back and bite them in the ass. Now, going along with Okemo's latest marketing scheme, it should have been called Okemotorius.com

 

[2knees]

funny. in a pathetic, pissing match kind of way.

 

[JimG.]

And you guys thought people like HPD, dmc, and me are protective about our home hills.

 

[tcharron]

http://www.killingtonzone.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14891

http://okemonotorious.com/

Thoughts?

GDI!

Well, at least I know Budwiser is the #1 beer in the USA. And Southwest Airlines will get me there fastest. And Burger King's burgers are yummier then McDonalds. And.... Ok, point made..

If they lie, then ask for your money back. Make a big stink, right there at the ticket counter.

The web site I guess also works, but don't make it Killington vs Okemo. Becouse I'd bet cash on nearly every single Ski area out there fudging and rounding up, and someone will come out from Okemo and make 'killingtonliesgookemo.com', and the BS begins.

Call out the marketing BS if you wish, but trying to say they're trash while promoting someplace else..

:dunce:

 

[Vortex]

I'm waiting for Okemo's response. This...... well I like the battle in the trenches. Fun to be a spectator.

 

[jack97]

Actually I saw this last night while figuring out where to go next. Check out the upper right hand box.

http://www.killington.com/

 

[JimG.]

Actually I saw this last night while figuring out where to go next. Check out the upper right hand box.

http://www.killington.com/

I've noticed that for a while now but didn't give it much thought.

 

[Greg]

Actually I saw this last night while figuring out where to go next. Check out the upper right hand box.

http://www.killington.com/

Now that's fair. Just providing the facts and not alluding to any misrepresentations.

 

[thebigo]

I like the passion being shown by k management in all areas. This aggressive ad is just an extension of the agressive snowmaking, communication and pricing that we have seen this year. This is in great contrast to years past.

Whats the big deal, advertisers directly call out their competition in many industries. Seen a subway commercial lately, how about a beer or car commercial? What about television during ratings season?

This is extremely cheap advertising that is designed to create a buzz immediately before a critical MLK day weekend. Good for them.

I thought getting away from their 'beast of the east' image/approach/slogan was a huge mistake. This is a step back towards 'beast of the east' and is indicative of changes occuring this year.

Remember the old sign at the loaf that read: 'If you were at Sunday River now you would already be at the top', whats the difference?

 

[MRGisevil]

There's a big billboard on 91S near my house that reads "OKEMorning", but I'm pretty sure it's a typo and should have said, "OKEMourning". Would have made for more honest marketing.

 

[andyzee]

Nah, on second thought, I take it back, marketing genius. Okemo can't win this one, and actually the worst they can do is answer it. K has enough terrain open so that any publicity is good publicity. So far the message has gotten out to at least 4 forums, great free publicity.

 

[Greg]

This is extremely cheap advertising that is designed to create a buzz immediately before a critical MLK day weekend. Good for them.

I will agree here. I've seen no less than 4 threads on four different skiing forums about this situation. I'd be interested to see if other ski area marketing folks chime in on this here.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Kinda silly. Consumers will eventually make them fess up by either skiing there or not.

 

[2knees]

I like the passion being shown by k management in all areas. This aggressive ad is just an extension of the agressive snowmaking, communication and pricing that we have seen this year. This is in great contrast to years past.

Whats the big deal, advertisers directly call out their competition in many industries. Seen a subway commercial lately, how about a beer or car commercial? What about television during ratings season?

This is extremely cheap advertising that is designed to create a buzz immediately before a critical MLK day weekend. Good for them.

I thought getting away from their 'beast of the east' image/approach/slogan was a huge mistake. This is a step back towards 'beast of the east' and is indicative of changes occuring this year.

Remember the old sign at the loaf that read: 'If you were at Sunday River now you would already be at the top', whats the difference?

i hear ya but here is another school of thought. They arent even close to honest in their trail counting anyway. having an upper, middle and lower on almost all major trails is total bs. if they didnt do that, then they probably could claim the highest % of terrain open anyway. cant have your cake and eat it too. I mean seriously, how on earth is superstar 3 trails?????

 

[cbcbd]

What's the point? Don't these people realize that this type of marketing is meant for the average non-skiing joe who only cares about their mountain having a big-name attached with a big claim (most trails open, best snowmaking, most trails, biggest dick). So they lied... just lie bigger.

As long as you make someone feel good about their decision to buy something everything is all right and they can go back and brag to their co-workers as they compare what they did on the weekend.

 

[andyzee]

i hear ya but here is another school of thought. They arent even close to honest in their trail counting anyway. having an upper, middle and lower on almost all major trails is total bs. if they didnt do that, then they probably could claim the highest % of terrain open anyway. cant have your cake and eat it too. I mean seriously, how on earth is superstar 3 trails?????

I don't look at trail counts or % of trails, I look at miles and acres. Here there is no competition and Killington is drawing attention to that. Good job Dave!

 

[Greg]

Kind of ironic that this came up after this discussion earlier today. I guess it goes to show that we do indeed need to post trip reports each time we head out. MRG has always been praised for accurate and honest snow reporting so I still think the high road is the best approach in the long run. There's no doubt that this thing has created quite the buzz though, at least among the online skiing community, which is quite possibly the most critical guest segment.

 

[SkiDog]

I mean seriously, how on earth is superstar 3 trails?????

No offense and I totally agree with you on the fact that K's trail count is WAY over the top with connectors being counted as full trails...but have you skied Superstar in like late may?? It can easily be three trails...ski headwall...take skis off and walk a a little...ski the mid section...take skis off...walk a little...ski the bottom portion...take off skis and walk to lift...that makes 3 trails....

Still lame though... ;-)

M