Seven Springs Mountain Resort Selects Flaherty Sabol Carroll Marketing Communications as New Agency of Record After National Search

- Resort Hires New Marketing Firm As It Embarks Upon Its $230 Million Expansion Plan -

Press Release: Flaherty Sabol Carroll Marketing Communications
September 10, 2001
PITTSBURGH, PA -- Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Pennsylvania's largest year-round resort, selected Pittsburgh-based Flaherty Sabol Carroll (FSC) Marketing Communications as its new marketing and public relations agency of record upon concluding a national agency review. The announcement comes just two months after Seven Springs reported plans to invest in excess of $230 million in resort improvements and residential development. The resort unveiled the five-year master plan shortly after coming off its best winter season ever. Finalists for the business included marketing communications firms from at least two other states and Canada.

``Flaherty Sabol Carroll, like many agencies, has the capabilities and experience to take our marketing efforts to the next level. What put FSC at the top of the list is their first-hand knowledge of the Seven Springs mountain experience and a sincere understanding of the lifestyle that the resort represents,'' states Mike Regli, director of lodging, marketing and sales at Seven Springs.

FSC's first two assignments include creating advertising and collateral materials for the upcoming winter season and developing a branding campaign for the resort's new $1.8 million six-person, high-speed chairlift. In addition to helping Seven Springs attract more visitors to the resort each year, FSC has been retained to assist the client with developing programs to market the various improvements and expansion initiatives that were outlined in the five-year master plan. Agency responsibilities will include brand positioning, logo development, collateral materials, advertising, public relations, media planning and buying, and promotional activities.

``This is an exciting time for Seven Springs, and we're thrilled to have a chance to be a part of it,'' said Ed Flaherty, FSC principal and director of marketing. ``We are even happier to have kept the business here in Western Pennsylvania. With more locally based businesses looking outside of the market for advertising and public relations firms, we commend Seven Springs for considering several Pittsburgh agencies during its search.''

``FSC has extensive new product development and branding experience that will serve Seven Springs well through the many phases of improvement and expansion that will be taking place over the next five years,'' said Rege Sabol, FSC principal and creative director. ``More importantly, many of the FSC staff members grew up in Western Pennsylvania and have a lot of experience with the Seven Springs brand. They jumped at the chance to work on the pitch. I think our enthusiasm was very apparent during the presentation and contributed greatly to our winning the business.''

Seven Springs Mountain Resort is Pennsylvania's largest year-round resort and convention center, located approximately one hour southeast of Pittsburgh in Champion, Pa. The five-year master plan includes the addition of a new hotel, an indoor/outdoor waterpark, new ski terrain and lifts (including a six-person, high-speed lift) and the development of a mixed-use Bavarian Resort Village and three residential communities. For more information, call 1-800-452-2223 or visit the resort's Web site at www.7springs.com.

With offices at One Gateway Center, FSC is a full-service marketing communications firm that specializes in new product development and brand positioning. The agency's services include media planning and research, advertising, sales promotion, public relations and interactive/multimedia development. In addition to Seven Springs, FSC's clients include Calgon Carbon Corporation, Cricket Comfortable Wireless, Equitable Energy, Kennywood Amusement Park, Michael Baker Corporation, Pabst Brewing Company, PPG Industries and Sharon Regional Health System. FSC is a member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies. For more information about FSC, visit the agency's Web site at www.fscmc.com.

SOURCE: Flaherty Sabol Carroll Marketing Communications