SALT LAKE CITY (August 28, 2013) – The US Travel Association recently presented Visit Salt Lake (VSL) with its annual Destiny Award for the Single, Target Marketing Promotion for VSL’s sixth annual Ski Salt Lake Shootout. The award was given at the annual Education Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) conference.

The Ski Salt Lake Shootout is a weeklong photography contest that gives eight professional photographers (four local, two national and two international) and 24 professional skiers the opportunity to battle it out over four days to capture the essence of Salt Lake’s four Cottonwood Canyon resorts.

As a marketing promotion, the Shootout aims to bring awareness to Salt Lake’s ski product, secure substantial editorial coverage, obtain professional photography, grow its social media presence and engage the local community. Year-to-date, the Shootout has garnered $283, 000 in editorial coverage and is on par to exceed the historically netted $500,000 in annual editorial coverage. 

“Without a doubt, the 2013 Ski Salt Lake Shootout has proven to be the most successful edition to date, exceeding expectations on all accounts,“ said Scott Beck president & CEO of Visit Salt Lake. “ Each year, the Shootout gives Ski Salt Lake and its partners a substantial return on investment, both in terms of financial exposure and community engagement. “

The Destination Council Destiny Awards are presented to destinations for excellence and creative accomplishments in destination marketing and promotion at the local and regional level. 

Visit Salt Lake is a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention and travel destination. In partnership with Salt Lake County, Visit Salt Lake’s mission is to improve the area economy by attracting and providing support to conventions, leisure travelers and visitors while being a leader in environmental responsibility. Salt Lake is a unique fusion of metropolitan city and quaint mountain town; the towering Wasatch Mountains that embrace Salt Lake offer a dramatic backdrop to the vibrancy and activities of downtown. For more information on all that Salt Lake has to offer, go to www.VisitSaltLake.com.

Karen Boe, Local Media Relations 

801-230-5404 / Karen@BoeMarketing.com

Shawn Stinson, Dir. of Communications