Vail sponsors greening efforts with Aspen program
DENVER — If you’re looking to get some exposure, the Democratic National Convention is a prime place to be, what with 15,000 media representatives humming around town and all. If you have something to promote or protest against, this is a good spot to get noticed.
There are pro-lifers, pro-choicers, anti-war folks and anarchists. Tuesday outside of the state Capitol building there was a “meditate-in” protesting Chinese persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. On the 16th Street Mall a pair of absurdists with a bullhorn and a stack of pamphlets decried bird-watching (“Stop the Bird Porn,” read their placard).
Colorado’s ski resorts have taken advantage of the spotlight, as well.
The Aspen Skiing Co., Vail Resorts and Colorado Ski Country are all corporate sponsors of the convention.
The Vail camp gave $500,000 to the Democratic Convention Host Committee, and its logo is featured prominently on the clear plastic lanyards that carry credentials for 35,000 convention attendees, many of them in the media.
Zach Ornitz/Aspen Daily NewsPlastic pass covers at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver are sponsored by Vail Resorts.
SkiCo contributed what company spokesman Jeff Hanle called “a substantial amount,” which got its banner onto the convention’s Web site. SkiCo’s aspen leaf may not be getting the kind of exposure that Vail’s logo is, but Aspen did score a minor name-placement coup that the city didn’t have to pay for. Throughout the concourse of the arena, the host committee has placed 10-foot-tall cylindrical directories of amenities at the convention. On the Dem blue-painted signs, listed with concession locations and such, is the word “ASPEN,” prominently and incongruently.
If you follow the red arrow pointing toward “ASPEN” on the club level sign, you will find a well-stocked luxury suite named after our city.
Vail’s ski money was pledged for “greening” efforts at the convention, which include buying carbon offset tags through Aspen’s emission-fighting Canary Initiative. Their lanyards are made from recycled plastic bottles and, along with the company logo is the phrase, “I used to be a pop bottle.” The Vail company also sponsored Saturday night’s party for media representatives at the Elitch Gardens amusement park, and contributed a walk-in 12-foot snow globe. They’ve been providing scenic Colorado footage to television crews as well.
“We’re promoting what Colorado is all about,” said Kelly Ladyga of Vail Resorts. “I don’t worry about turning off Republicans. If the Republican National Convention was here, we would have done the same thing.”
SkiCo’s top executives — CEO Mike Kaplan and managing partner Jim Crown — are in town for the convention as well. Kaplan participated in a roundtable discussion on climate change Tuesday morning. And Crown is here on official duty — he is the finance co-chair for presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama’s campaign in Illinois.
andrew@aspendailynews.com
