During our 2018 CBC Deer Valley Experience, we managed to ski, eat, and drink: a recipe for an amazing time, despite being shunned by the snow gods. This year, however, with over 26 FEET of white stuff blanketing Deer Valley Resort since the start of the season, our squad of 9 media and influencers were primed for an especially epic stay in one of the country’s most beloved ski towns. Read on for an inside look at the must-see (and ski) highlights from the trip.

 

Group standing on the ski mountain

 

Where to Stay

After a quick drive through the canyon from Salt Lake City, our group of travel, lifestyle, and food press arrived at their home for the next four days: the Lodges at Deer Valley. Upon entering the lobby, it’s hard not to swoon over the Lodges’ rustic charm – a crackling, cozy fireplace, classic mountain décor, and freshly baked cookies capture your attention (if you’re into that sort of thing), and you know you’re in the right place. With the Lodges being a quick 5-minute shuttle ride from both downtown Park City and Deer Valley’s Snow Park lodge, its location is beyond convenient.

 

social media posts from the trip

social media post from the trip

 

Pro-tip: Treat yo’self to a dip in the Lodges’ pool and hot tub after a long afternoon of shredding it up on the mountains.

When media weren’t lounging in their deluxe three-bedroom condos, stocked with goodies from Campbell’s Well Yes!, POM Wonderful, Sabra, and RX Bar, the Lodges also served as our base for relaxing Biossance mini-facials and a delicious Kodiak Cakes breakfast to fuel us up for a day on the slopes.

 

Kodak cakes breakfast

Spa Day

 

While the Lodges at Deer Valley were our home base, press were also treated to an upscale evening at the Montage Deer Valley – one of the resort’s most luxurious hotels. From living our best lives in the Veuve Clicquot Après Lounge to enjoying a 5-course dinner at the Montage’s Yama Sushi, this was definitely a highlight of the trip for many.

 

Drinks in the yurt

Eating sushi

Instagram post of woman with skis

 

Pro-tip: Pose outside of the Après Lounge with a pair of Veuve Clicquot skis – your followers will thank you later.

 

What to Do

 Sure, everyone loves lavish hotel accommodations and delish dinners, but the main event of our trip was undoubtedly the skiing. Deer Valley Resort is renowned for their incredible grooming, diverse terrain, and exceptionally friendly staff – all of which were on full display during our two days on the mountain. With everyone decked out in their fresh new gear (shout out to FlyLow, Bern, SPY, Hestra, and Swiftwick!), we hit the slopes.

 

Woman skiing

Man skiing

 

From mellow, sprawling groomers, to steep powder runs in the trees, Deer Valley’s amazing crew of instructors and mountain guides were able to find a little something for everyone and help us #SkiTheDifference.

Though we spent most of our time in the snow cruising down trails, one morning we swapped our skis for snowshoes for a beautiful, snowy hike up Daly Canyon Trail with our friends from Altra. With freshly fallen snow and bluebird skies, the conditions were perfect for the media to put their new trail boots to the test.

 

Group picture during snow shoe walk

Snow show walk

Ski jump

 

Pro tip: Snowshoes work in the air, too.

 

What to Eat  

It’s a well-established fact that the skiing at Deer Valley is some of the best in the country, but what some might not know is that the resort also boasts some seriously amazing dining experiences. When it was time to trade our ski poles for forks and knives, these were our favorite spots

  • The Brass Tag – Conveniently located in the Lodges at Deer Valley, the Brass Tag features hearty, comforting fare perfect for an après ski dinner. From strip steaks to tandoori shrimp, you can’t go wrong with any of the entrees, but if you don’t end your night with a cookie ice cream skillet, you’re doing it wrong. Food Network agrees…

 

Cookie skillet

 

  • Royal Street Café – A step above your standard ski lodge lunch (no offense, chicken fingers), Royal Street served up some gourmet offerings including a fresh Dungeness crab tower, fish tacos dressed with mango-avocado salsa, and award-winning turkey chili.

 

Chille for dinner

 

  • The Mariposa – When the restaurant’s name translates to “the butterfly,” you know you’re in for a magical experience. The Mariposa didn’t disappoint, with a whimsical multi-course dinner highlighted by pulverized popcorn-topped diver sea scallops and a panna cotta dessert that could have been mistaken for a terrarium.

 

Dinner and desert

 

  • Tupelo – This year we were so well taken care of at the resort that we didn’t need to venture very far for our eats. On the last day of the trip, however, we brunched at Tupelo, a local hot spot in downtown Park City. Any calories we burned from our snowshoe hike that morning were quickly replenished by an artisan Bloody Mary bar and some over-the-top delish chicken and biscuits.

 

Chicken dinner

Breakfast

 

Another week spent in Park City, another incredible ski trip in the books. Hungry for more? Check out our Instagram and #CBCDeerValley. See you next year, Deer Valley!

 

Goodbye Deer Valley social post

In a time where social movements are making daily headlines, brands are starting to emerge from their silence to take a stance on social issues. And their loyal consumers are loving them for it.

Many well-known brands have chosen to use the momentum of current social and political issues to empower their consumers. It is clear that the era of sitting quietly is now over with about two-thirds of consumers saying that they want companies to take a stance on social issues.

By vocalizing their opinion on hot-button topics, brands are not only engaging in buzz-worthy conversations, but are gaining respect from customers—all while risking losing everything in the process. This risky business is becoming a major trend for 2019. Let’s take a look at the brands that are taking a social stance and changing the way consumers think before they buy.

 

Taking A Stance On Racial Injustice? Just Do It.

 

Colin Kaepernick in Nike’s controversial new ad campaign

 

Nike garnered a lot of media attention after they released an ad featuring the controversial football player, Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick became a topic in recent news after he took a public stance against racial injustice and police brutality in the U.S. The NFL subsequently dropped Kaepernick, sparking public outrage.

Instead of following in the NFL’s footsteps, Nike decided to take a chance on Kaepernick by launching a new campaign with him as the focus. In doing so, Nike took a political stance that aligned with many of their consumers, earning the brand respect and making them the first sportswear company to speak up on the issue of race in America. The campaign was an immediate success; Nike’s stock prices skyrocketed, and their direct digital sales channel rose 36% that quarter.

 

Save the Environment and Don’t Buy This Jacket

 

Patagonia ad that promotes environmental responsibility

 

Patagonia has a long history of speaking out about environmental issues. On Black Friday in 2011, Patagonia placed an ad in The New York Times telling people not to buy their products. The ad was a public critique on American consumerism, encouraging people to buy less to reduce environmental damage. Here was a brand asking consumers not to shop, on the biggest shopping day of the year no less! And as most of us know from our younger years, telling someone not to do something just makes them want to do it more. In the long run, the campaign ended up strengthening the community of customers who support the brand’s values and even increased sales.

Since then, Patagonia has vocalized their stances on a variety of environmental topics ranging from genetically modified food to political candidates running for office. The clothing company has made it apparent that they are using their resources and power to make real change, and consumers are eager to be a part of the movement.

 

In a World Filled With Negativity, Just Remember: Life Is Good

 

#SomethingGood marketing campaign from brand Life is Good

 

CBC’s own client, Life Is Good, built their brand around the power of positivity and optimism. In their newest marketing campaign, labeled #SomethingGood, they plan to tackle today’s epidemic of mental health issues, specifically anxiety and depression.

The campaign directly addresses the negative conversations that are increasingly common in our society as a result of the news cycle, social media, and unrealistic expectations. Life Is Good challenges its consumers to share something positive and focus on the happy things in life. By taking a stance on an issue that affects millions of people, the clothing company is showing their audience that they care about them.

Nike, Patagonia, and Life is Good have not only rocked the marketing world, but also inspired us at CBC to encourage our clients to be vocal about their values. This is a sure way you’ll build stronger brand loyalty with consumers that have those same values. At CBC, we aim to create campaigns that spark a quality conversations and engage communities, while also boosting awareness and sales.

The takeaway? Your brand needs to have a voice to stand out and maintain relevance in today’s social climate, and we’d love to help you make noise in your industry.

 

Are you interested in building a social good campaign for your brand? Need help getting started or tackling big ideas? Contact us to learn more about how we can help.