May on off the Mountain
Off-Season? More like all systems go!
While the lifts might be taking a break and the snowcats are snoozing for the season, Team Shawnee is not kicking back. May has been a month full of movement, learning, and leveling up—and all of it is aimed at one thing: making your experience at Shawnee Mountain better than ever.
From the Poconos to Marco Island: NSAA National Conference Recap
We broke away from our desks with a sunny detour to Marco Island, Florida for the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) National Conference & Tradeshow—a gathering of ski area reps from across North America and Canada. (Yes, we traded snow boots for flip-flops… just for a few days!)
This year’s theme focused on innovation, guest engagement, and industry evolution—perfectly aligned with what we’re all about at Shawnee. Our team (Michaela + Rachel) soaked up insights on AI integration, influencer marketing strategies, and budgeting tools while connecting with suppliers, industry leaders, and fellow mountain marketers from all over.
Think: big ideas, even bigger inspiration.
And here’s something we’re super proud of: Shawnee Mountain was a finalist in not one but two major award categories!
🏆 Best Use of Video (Marketing Awards)
🧠 Best Guest Campaign (Safety Awards)
We didn’t take home the top prize (those honors went to a couple of mega-mountains), but being a runner-up among such fierce competition? That’s a big win in our books.
And a personal milestone to share—our very own Michaela was chosen as an NSAA Mountain Scholar! This prestigious grant supports emerging leaders in the ski industry, and we’re thrilled she got to represent Shawnee and bring home fresh knowledge and ideas to elevate your mountain experience.
Next Stop: The PMVB Tourism Summit
Later in the month, we kept the momentum going with a full-day deep dive into the world of tourism at the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB) Tourism Summit, hosted at Kalahari Resorts.
We joined fellow tourism professionals for a packed schedule of keynotes and breakout sessions, all centered on the future of our region’s travel and hospitality scene. Highlights included:
- The “Future of Travel” panel
- AI & Social Media Marketing
- Advertising in a Digital World
Every conversation sparked new ideas on how we can better engage with guests before, during, and after their visit. From emerging tech to storytelling strategies, the summit left us inspired and energized to put fresh plans into action.
Why It Matters
All of this travel, training, and teamwork? It’s part of our bigger mission: to make every visit to Shawnee feel like the best day ever. Whether it’s crafting better safety messages, producing content that gives you a taste of the mountain before you even arrive, or learning how to better serve you through cutting-edge tools, we’re investing in our people and our processes—because you deserve the best.
So while spring may be a quiet season on the slopes, behind the scenes, we’re turning up the energy. Here’s to growing our mountain as we approach our 50th anniversary and to gearing up for even more unforgettable moments with you!
Written on: May 30, 2025 | Written by: Michaela K., Marketing Asst.
