Three years ago mountaineering expeditions were obscure. A questionable investment for advertising dollars. Today, because of the way TV network media is responding to the Internet coupled with the way expeditions are using this technology to report to the outside world, mountaineering expeditions are hot.

The notoriety of Mt. Everest, the increased public interest in mountaineering, the authenticity and excitement of extreme adventures, create a compelling showcase for products and corporate name recognition. Expeditions that:1) focus on Mt. Everest and 2) have something unique to offer have become an extremely potent advertising medium that cuts through media clutter.

The Advertising Power of Everest Challenge '98

• Product tie-ins: Mt. Everest is a household word that knows no peers. When your product speaks to the world from the roof of the world, it makes a statement that is unsurpassed by any contrived advertising campaign.
  
  
• History in the making: Adding to the marketability of Mt. Everest is the power of a global first.
  
  
• Altruistic Mission: Everest Challenge '98 is truly authentic. The altruistic mission is as powerful and far reaching as the event itself. It is estimated that Everest Challenge '98 will reach 16 million children in the US alone.
  
  
• Tax-deductible: as a result of our organizational structure, corporations can write off some or all of their advertising investment in Everest Challenge '98.
  
  
• World Media: in addition to your corporate marketing strategies:
  
  
  • The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) are planning a fifty four minute documentary about Everest Challenge '98.
    
    
  • There will be continual video feed from both the disabled trek and the summit climb to feature on network news magazine programs.
    
    
  • The Everest Challenge '98 web site hosted by Mountain Visions, (now receiving up to 64,000 hits per month) will be expanded in it's technological capability to include QuickTime video, QuickTime VR panoramic images from Kathmandu to the summit, interactive communication with team members, etc.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Everest Challenge is only seeking corporate partners who, through the integrity and quality of their products and marketing strategies, are leaders in their field.

• Non exclusive sponsorships start at $5,000.
• Exclusive marketing opportunities with Everest Challenge start at $25,000.
• Title sponsorship opportunities are set at:

Everest Challenge Summit Climb............$ 500,000

Everest Challenge Virtual Base Camp......$ 300,000 (Broadcast custom video, & hi-tech news feeds)

• Advertising Tie-ins: As a corporate partner in Everest Challenge '98, you are entitled to all the commercial benefits an international media event of this magnitude can generate. We will individually craft a plan to suit your marketing needs. Depending on the level of involvement corporate partners can expect:
  
  • Hot links on the web. Hyperlinks will be created between the web site and corporate partners home pages and/or product catalogue. The Everest Challenge '98 web site will feature a section on equipment: why it was chosen, and how it performs in the most rugged theater on earth.
    
  • Broadcast quality video of your product, name and logo in use on the #1 mountain in the world. A custom video, shot by professional cinematographers, of world class mountaineers, from the flanks of Mount Everest, unrestricted by copyright, for your marketing needs.
    
  • Silk screen logos on tents. Your corporate name and logo silkscreened on tents. Thus providing high prominence on video, for the documentary, on video feeds to network TV and on all Internet and news media coverage.
    
  • Patches sewn onto members outer-wear. Embroidered patches keep your corporate name and logo in the public eye in all published photographs, on the Internet in print media, reminding film viewers of your commitment.
    
  • Banners with corporate name and logo placed at camps. Your banner will be placed prominently on the outside of group tents at Base and Advanced Base Camp.
    
  • Product shots from the summit of Mt. Everest. Professional photo-journalists will portray your product, corporate name and logo, in the dramatic, authentic context of a history making event that features world-famous mountaineers.
    
  • Flags with logo for summit photographs. 10 x 24 inch light weight nylon flags specially designed to fit onto ice-axe shafts will be carried at all times by expedition members, thus photo opportunities can be utilized as they present themselves.
    
  • Product testing in the most exacting theater on earth. When world-class mountaineers, Peter Hillary, Conrad Anker,Tom Whittaker, choose your product over your competitors they are making a statement about quality, reliability, value and trust.
    
  • Testimonials by world famous mountaineers. Enhance product recognition and consumer confidence.
    
  • Motivational presentations to share holders, managers and corporate work force. Trade-shows, share-holder meetings, managerial events and motivational presentations to your work force can take place prior to the event or after the expedition. Select members can represent your products.
    

The benefits listed above can be used in many different marketing contexts from the product catalogues to share-holder and employee newsletters. They can be used to stimulate interest in your web-site, on your home pages and as part of your electronic product catalogue. It can be used to create product excitement in your booth at trade shows, in print media ads or as part of a television media campaign.

The cost would be prohibitive for a company to generate product shots and images from Mt. Everest. The permit alone costs $70,000, fixing the ice fall a further $30,000 and you have yet to find the models, production team, the support personnel, Sherpas and equipment. The minimum this could cost would be $500,000. And still, you do not have world-class mountaineers to lend their reputation and credibility to your product. You do not have an authentic altruistic world first. You do not have a media event with access to schools world wide.