Media Rich Map Is One Stop
Shopping For
Current
Mountain Updates
TRUCKEE
and
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE,
Calif. – January 24, 2008 –
Responding to
consumers who are increasingly booking their travel online, Northstar™ and
Sierra™ Resorts have each launched online interactive trail maps to help skiers
and snowboarders plan their entire day on the mountain before they head up to
the resorts. Rich media content helps orient guests to the mountain geography so
that they may become familiar with the available amenities, as well as chairlift
locations, current mountain conditions including open and groomed trails, live
weather updates, and weekly video. Additionally, guests can upload videos of
themselves skiing/riding directly to the map for sharing with friends and
family.
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NORTHSTAR-AT-TAHOE |
Studies
have shown that the majority of web users prefer to absorb information in a
graphical, pictorial or video format versus text, hence the growing prevalence
of these communication styles on many of the most sophisticated web sites. The
essence of the online interactive trail map is to transfer all of the textual
information contained in the resort web site onto a visual, geographical
representation. Guests can click straight through the content on the interactive
trail map to get more information, make reservations or even make
purchases.
It is, in
essence, an entire web site on a map.
“Our own
surveys indicate that the Interactive Trail map is one of the five most popular
web pages,” explains Colleen Dalton, E-Business Marketing Director for Booth
Creek Ski Resorts. “This demonstrates that time-deprived customers who are
planning a vacation, or simply looking for lift status, go directly to the map
versus making multiple clicks through the web site to get to their
destination.”
According
to the 2007 PhoCusWright Consumer Travel Trends Survey, 51 percent of
U.S. travel was booked online. The
survey projected that online booking would continue to increase, reaching 56
percent in 2008 and 60 percent in 2009. “The more we, as a resort
industry, can provide a cutting edge web site experience, the better we are able
to cater to
U.S. travelers
who are looking for information and booking their vacations online,” responds
Dalton.
The online
interactive trail map is the latest manifestation of Web 2.0 in the ski
industry. Think of it as an amalgamation of YouTube and GoogleEarth.
Cutting-edge technology enables users to upload their own video to pinpoint
locations on the map (ala GoogleEarth) and then share them with family and
friends (ala YouTube). For example, if a family uses their own video camera to
take footage of brother and sister getting fresh tracks down Castle trail at
Sierra Resort on a powder day, they can then upload that video to the
interactive trail map where it will appear specifically on Castle run. The video
is pinpointed on the map where it was taken on the mountain.
The user video uploads are
just one of the rich media features of the interactive trail map. Other valuable
tools include 360° panoramas that can be controlled by the web user, videos
uploaded by the resort, daily snow and grooming information regarding current
mountain conditions, weather forecast icons and links to multiple live web
cameras.
The URL for the online
interactive map can be bookmarked on the guest’s personal computer or mobile
device.
Sierra-at-Tahoe and Northstar-at-Tahoe
Resorts worked with Resorts Interactive, a New Zealand based company, to develop
the technology and implement the first online interactive trail maps using this
collection of technologies in the United States.
"Resorts Interactive is
excited about the launch of our interactive products with two of California's
most progressive ski resorts," said Harry Harallambi, Director, Resorts
Interactive. "Looking at the future of interactive maps with the potential of
GPS, WIFI cameras and variations of our existing technologies, there will plenty
of impressive new content to come. Realistic online experiences are going to be
key instruments in attracting visitors to ski resorts."
About
Northstar-at-Tahoe™ Resort
Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort is becoming one of the
finest year-round destination mountain resorts in North America offering
activities for all ages. With 83 trails spread across 2,480 acres, world-class
terrain parks and snow sports including alpine and telemark skiing,
snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing, Northstar ™
Resort is fun for all. The resort also offers summer activities including
mountain biking, golfing, scenic lift rides for sightseeing and hiking,
horseback riding, fly-fishing and much more. And, with the new Village at
Northstar™ featuring shopping, dining, special events and a 9,000 square
foot skating rink, Northstar Resort offers something for everyone.
Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort is located on Highway 267,
just six miles north of Lake Tahoe and six miles south of downtown Truckee. For
more information on Northstar Resort, call 1.800.GO.NORTH™
(1.800.466.6784) or visit NorthstarAtTahoe.com.
Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort: Part of the
Solution
Known
for its wind-protected slopes, incredible tree skiing, family programs and parks
and pipes that are among the best in the nation, Sierra Resort is committed to
being part of the solution to environmental conservation. Environmentally
responsible operations that include parking spots reserved for guests driving
hybrid vehicles and the use of eco-friendly cleaning products resort-wide let
our guests know that we care about the land around us as much as they do. We
have also partnered with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation and the
National Forest Foundation to offer our guests a convenient way to offset their
greenhouse gas emissions.
The closest major resort to
Sacramento, Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort is located just 12 miles west of Lake Tahoe
and receives an annual average of 480 inches of snowfall. For more information,
visit www.SierraAtTahoe.com
or call 530.659.7453.
