Tourism Australia to review 30m advertising and media accounts

Tourism Australia is reviewing its 30m advertising and media accounts, currently held by M&C Saatchi and Carat. The tourist body has published a tender for the accounts today (February 8).

Tourism Australia is reviewing its £30m advertising and media accounts, currently held by M&C Saatchi and Carat. The tourist body has published a tender for the accounts today (February 8).

The body has a statutory requirement to go to tender to either reappoint the incumbents or find new agencies because the existing three-year contracts expire on 30 June this year.

In 2005, the first review of Tourism Australia’s global advertising business caused a storm of controversy over the way the review was handled. Allegations were made that the pitch was being run unfairly, leading to the then-opposition Labour party asking questions about the speed and the transparency of the review (MW May 19, 2005).

The chairman of Tourism Australia, Rick Allert says the current review is subject to a “rigorous procurement process”, in accordance with Commonwealth Procurement guidelines and the Australian Government Solicitor has been formally appointed to oversee the tender process. In addition, an independent pitch consultancy, The Agency Register has been appointed to provide strategic advice.

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