iCrossing, a global digital marketing agency (http://news.icrossing.com) announced today the launch of destination Web sites for Vail Resorts' properties including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado, and Heavenly in California and Nevada.

Last year, iCrossing launched www.snow.com, an entry point for all five of the Vail Resorts mountain resorts. The site won the OMMA Award for "Best Travel Web Site."

Like snow.com, each individual Vail Resorts site was built from the ground up for search visibility and usability based on extensive research into the online behavior and needs of Vail Resorts' customers.

The creative design and copy, developed by iCrossing, reflects the uniqueness of each resort brand through tone and style, and helps the user book a ski vacation that is just right for them, whether they are looking for a resort with the most family-friendly activities or the best apres ski spots.

A large part of the project was the development by iCrossing of a planning and buying process that now enables users to research and customize individual vacation purchases, like lift tickets, or put together customized vacation packages according to their specific criteria, such as price range, number of children, etc. As vacation planning is rarely an impulse purchase, users can save their settings and revisit at a later time.

Although each site's look and feel is unique, they all include common tools to make exploring each site more efficient for users. All of the sites feature simple navigation to videos, current ski conditions and live Web cams. The site architectures were designed to be built on a common platform to greatly increase efficiency in maintaining and updating the sites and eliminate redundancies in vendor contracts for data feeds.

"All of the Vail Resorts sites demonstrate how research and search insights inform creative and technology to drive experiences that are useful, usable and desirable and help build truly connected brands," said Stephen Thompson, executive vice president/executive creative director, iCrossing. "By listening to your audience and understanding how they think, speak, seek, and behave, you can create online experiences that connect on a more personal level."

"Different skiers want different adventures," said Matthew Windt, senior manager, online marketing & E-Commerce, Vail Resorts. "Our goal with each site is to match travelers to their ideal getaway with a fun, interactive online experience."

About iCrossing

iCrossing is a global digital marketing agency that combines talent and technology to help world-class brands find and connect with their customers. The company blends best-in-class digital marketing services — including paid search, search engine optimization, Web development, social media, mobile, research and analytics — to create integrated digital marketing programs that engage consumers and drive ROI. iCrossing's client base includes such recognized brands as Epson America, Toyota, Travelocity and 40 Fortune 500 companies, including The Coca-Cola Company and Office Depot. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, the company has 550 employees in 12 offices in the U.S. and Europe.

About Vail Resorts

Vail Resorts, Inc. is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties at the Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone mountain resorts in Colorado, the Heavenly Ski Resort in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. The Company's subsidiary RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages properties across the United States and the Caribbean. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange ( MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.

SOURCE iCrossing

RELATED LINKS
http://www.icrossing.com

Results of a national study conducted among Super Bowl viewers last night revealed that the Budweiser Bull ad was selected as the number one ad of Super Bowl XLIV. To view the winning Super Bowl ads go to: www.mediacurves.com

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071204/NYTU133LOGO )

The study was conducted by HCD Research using its mediacurves.com web site, during February 7-8, among thousands of Americans over the age of 18. To view the rankings and results for all of this year's Super Bowl ads, go to www.mediacurves.com.

In addition to the winning ad of Super Bowl XLIV, HCD Research announced the winning ads in the following categories:

Ad Testing Methodology

During the game, the Super Bowl ads will be inserted into an on-line survey and sent to thousands of study participants.  Participants will answer questions regarding their perceptions of the ads using various parameters, including breakthrough, emotion, memorability and involvement. They will also utilize an on-line dial testing system to indicate their levels of interest as they watch the ads. 

The interest levels will be analyzed in the form of curves to determine which commercials had the highest sustained levels of interest. The curves will be used as part of a metric to calculate and rank the advertisements. The metric will also include a measurement for emotions and an index for "word of mouth" impact of the ads.

HCD Research is a communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ.  The company's services include traditional and web-based marketing and communications research.  For additional information on HCD Research, access the company's web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393.  

SOURCE HCD Research, Inc.

RELATED LINKS
http://www.mediacurves.com
http://www.hcdi.net

Doritos tortilla chips – the bold, intense snack brand within PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division – today announced that its consumer-created Doritos commercial, "Underdog," which aired for the first time nationally during yesterday's Super Bowl XLIV broadcast, placed second in USA TODAY's annual consumer-ranked Super Bowl Ad Meter.  This is the fourth year in a row a consumer-created Doritos ad has ranked in the top five and the first time Doritos aired four ads during the Super Bowl.  Now, Doritos is paying the talented creator a $600,000 prize for proving that when given the opportunity, amateurs truly can compete with the pros.  

Nationwide consumer votes put "Casket," "House Rules," "Snack Attack Samurai" and "Underdog" in the Super Bowl spotlight, from six finalist ads in the fourth annual Doritos "Crash the Super Bowl" program.

For taking the No. 2 spot, Joshua Svoboda, creator of "Underdog" will receive $600,000.

"What a testament of power to the people," said Rudy Wilson, vice president, marketing, Frito-Lay.  "Doritos fans have shown us that they have the passion and creativity to compete with seasoned professionals in any industry, and they literally just gave Madison Avenue a run for its money, so we're giving them the payout they deserve. We knew Joshua had it in him and we are so proud and thrilled to hand over $600,000 to help him set off to pursue his dreams."

Last year, two unemployed brothers from Batesville, Indiana received $1 million from the Doritos brand for trumping the Madison Avenue-made commercials and ranking number one in the USA TODAY Ad Meter with their homemade Doritos commercial that they created for less than $2,000.  It was a bold move that changed the brothers' lives forever and kick-started their now-thriving careers in film and television.

Always passionate about filmmaking, 24-year-old Svoboda knew it was his time to shine when he heard about Doritos "Crash the Super Bowl." A native of Raleigh, NC, Svoboda entered the contest for a chance to take one of the top three Ad Meter spots and turn his childhood dreams into reality.  Over the course of three days and working with a shoestring budget of $200, Joshua cast a friend's untrained dog as the star of his commercial. The spot takes place in a park in which "man's best friend" turns the tables on an obnoxious snacker who refuses to share his Doritos chips.  

This year, all six Crash the Super Bowl finalists received $25,000 and a trip to the Super Bowl.  Grand prizes were based on how each of the winning Doritos ads ranked on the USA TODAY Ad Meter:

• $1 million awarded for an ad that scores number one on the Ad Meter
• $600,000 awarded for an ad that scores number two on the Ad Meter
• $400,000 awarded for an ad that scores number three on the Ad Meter

If consumer-created Doritos ads swept all top-three rankings of the USA TODAY Ad Meter, an additional $1 million bonus was promised to each top-three placer for a total prize giveaway of $5 million.

The USA TODAY Super Bowl Ad Meter tracks the second-by-second responses of a panel of viewers to ads during the national broadcast of the Super Bowl and ranks them favorite to least favorite.  Created in 1989, USA TODAY's Ad Meter has been regarded as the most influential Super Bowl ad rating in the advertising industry.

Crash the Super Bowl is one of many ways the Doritos brand continues to turn control over to consumers.  The brand's commitment to fan-empowerment began with the Doritos "Crash the Super Bowl" program, which started in 2007 and has turned the brand's Super Bowl advertising over to its fans every year.  In addition, the brand has put consumers in control through a variety of other exciting opportunities, including the Doritos "X-13D Flavor Experiment," where consumers had a chance to name a new mysterious flavor of chips; "THE QUEST," which engaged fans in a multi-faceted online and real-world adventure of challenges; and "Doritos Late Night," which provided Doritos fans ground-breaking virtual musical performances by blink-182 and Big Boi through the power of augmented reality technology where fans could enjoy and control the performances in the palm of their hand.  

Frito-Lay North America is the $12 billion convenient foods business unit of PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), which is headquartered in Purchase, NY.  In addition to Frito-Lay, PepsiCo business units include Pepsi-Cola, Quaker Foods, Gatorade and Tropicana. Learn more about Frito-Lay at the corporate Web site, www.fritolay.com, the Snack Chat blog, http://www.snacks.com/ and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fritolay.

PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 18 different product lines that each generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales.  Our main businesses – Frito-Lay, Quaker, Pepsi-Cola, Tropicana and Gatorade – also make hundreds of other nourishing, tasty foods and drinks that bring joy to our consumers in over 200 countries.  With more than $43 billion in 2008 revenues, PepsiCo employs 198,000 people who are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth, called Performance with Purpose.  By dedicating ourselves to offering a broad array of choices for healthy, convenient and fun nourishment, reducing our environmental impact, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture, PepsiCo balances strong financial returns with giving back to our communities worldwide.  For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

SOURCE Frito-Lay North America

RELATED LINKS
http://www.fritolay.com

Kris Freeman is back in the hunt for an Olympic medal in Vancouver after being named today to the U.S. ski team following a disappointing finish at the 2006 Games in Torino, Italy.  Freeman, who is expected to compete in up to five events at the 2010 Games in February, suffers from type 1 diabetes, a form of the disease where the body does not produce insulin needed to regulate blood sugar.  Freeman is sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly), which makes the insulin that he depends on as a life-saving treatment.

Freeman is expected to compete for a medal in as many as five Olympic events spanning the breadth of the Vancouver Games, including the 15 km freestyle, the individual sprint, the 30 km pursuit, the team sprint, and the 50 km mass start classic.  Bill Koch won a silver medal in cross-country skiing in the 1976 Innsbruck Games in Austria, the only American to have medaled in the sport.

A key marker on Freeman's comeback trail is how he is now treated for type 1 diabetes.  To compete in the 2010 Games, Freeman will wear a small device, called an insulin pump, which provides an adjustable supply of insulin to help manage his diabetes even while racing.  

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2000 at age 19, Freeman was told he would never be able to compete as an Olympian because of his diabetes.

"I'm motivated to win for my country and myself, but to also prove to detractors that it's possible to compete against the world's best cross-country skiers, even with type 1 diabetes," said Freeman.

Freeman's return to elite competition is even more anticipated after he contracted the flu during the 2006 Games and underwent surgery in both legs last spring to alleviate debilitating pain caused by a rare muscle disorder called compartment syndrome.

Off the snow, Freeman focuses on diabetes education. He travels for sponsor Eli Lilly and Company to children's diabetes camps across the U.S. to speak to campers about their disease. To date, he has met with more than 3,000 youngsters nationwide.

"I have a blast meeting the campers, but more importantly, I want them to see that a person with diabetes can do almost anything he or she puts his mind to, including competing in the Olympics," said Freeman.

In competition, Freeman is a 13-time U.S. National cross-country champion and recently had his best finish at the 2009 World Championships and the best U.S. finish in any cross-country event in more than two decades. He came in fourth in November's World Cup 15 km classic in Kuusamo, Finland.

At the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Freeman placed 22nd in the 15 km classic and 14th in the 30 km pursuit. He also logged the sixth fastest time overall in the 4 x 10 km team relay, helping the U.S. team secure fifth place — the best Olympic finish for the U.S. cross-country team in history. In 2003, Freeman finished sixth and fifth in two consecutive World Cups, and finished 22nd in the 15 km classic at the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy.

For more information about Freeman's work with Lilly, please visit www.lillydiabetes.com. For the full 2010 U.S. Olympic cross-country event schedule visit www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-cross-country-skiing.

About Lilly Diabetes

For more than 85 years, Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) has been a worldwide leader in pioneering industry-leading solutions to support people living with and treating diabetes. Lilly introduced the world's first commercial insulin in 1923, and remains at the forefront of medical and delivery device innovation to manage diabetes. Lilly is also committed to providing solutions beyond therapy -- practical tools, education and support programs to help overcome barriers to success along the diabetes journey. At Lilly, the journey of each person living with or treating diabetes inspires ours. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com.

About Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company, a leading innovation-driven company, is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com.

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company

RELATED LINKS
http://www.lillydiabetes.com
http://www.lilly.com

Not everyone participating in this year's Super Bowl is a football player. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have fielded their best players to help prepare for a safe and secure Super Bowl XLIV.  These pros include ATF K-9 explosives detection teams that have been deployed to Miami from around the country.  The K-9 teams are working side-by-side with other federal, state and local law-enforcement officers to keep the football teams and fans safe throughout this event.

"The K-9 teams that are here in Miami for the Super Bowl are the best of the best," said Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Miami Field Division.  "Like the football teams that will be playing in the Super Bowl, these handlers and their K-9 partners have been training and preparing all year for this event," Barrera further stated.  "We are proud to say that the only thing the fans have to worry about is whether their team wins or loses."  

One of the K-9 teams working in Miami is ATF Canine Handler Sergeant Kirk Markham and his black Labrador retriever, "Mokey."  Sergeant Markham and ATF K-9 Mokey have been partners for six years and are detailed to Miami from the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.  This is their fourth trip to the Super Bowl.  Sergeant Markham and Mokey routinely work together in criminal investigations and at high profile security events where their expertise is needed detecting the presence of explosives, firearms and ammunition.  Word has circulated in the law enforcement community about how adept Mokey is at detecting shell casings, weapons, and other evidence.  Many investigators from other agencies in Fulton County regularly request the assistance of Mokey and Sgt. Markham at major crime scenes.  They were called to assist at this year's Super Bowl to help locate any type of explosive, which may be in close proximity to the Sun Life Stadium or any other venues relating to the big game.  

ATF has used its explosives detecting canines at other special events including the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, the Presidential Inauguration, the G-8, the World Series, NASCAR, the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and of course, the Super Bowls.  

ATF's program, which began in 1986, uses only Labrador retrievers.  The dogs are supplied by the Guiding Eyes for the Blind, the Guide Dog Foundation, and Canine Companions for Independence.  These specialty canines attend a 10-week training program with their handlers that are conducted at the ATF Canine Training Center in Front Royal, Va.  Upon completion of this course, the canines are trained to detect a variety of explosive compounds and materials that could be used in an explosive device.  The canines can also detect firearms and ammunition and are used in the more traditional protective search and sweep operations.  Once the canine and the handler complete the ATF basic training course, they begin their field work and continue to train on a daily basis.  

SOURCE Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

RELATED LINKS
http://www.atf.gov