2m Stakis to Morgan Partnership

The Morgan Partnership has won the through-the-line creative account for the Stakis hotel and leisure group.

Morgan CIA, the former media arm of the Glasgow-based agency, has also been handed the media planning and buying account.

The two accounts, worth up to 2m combined, were previously consolidated into London agency Conrad Advertising, which had handled the business for three years.

The account includes radio, press and poster advertising, as well as direct marketing. The brief is to “review the Stakis brand”, according to marketing director for the hotel division Mike Ashton.

Glasgow-based Stakis owns 53 hotels, the 56-strong chain of Livingwell health and leisure clubs and a range of casinos.

A roster of agencies work on the casino business, which is not part of The Morgan Partnership’s new account. Ashton says the agency may, however, join the roster in the future.

He adds that no formal pitch was held for the accounts as both agencies, which parted company earlier this year, were chosen on the basis of their strategic approach, rather than the quality of presentation.

Several months ago, Stakis appointed The Marketing Store to work on the development of a themed restaurant and bar initiative. The first outlet of this chain, the Barbacoa restaurant in Sheffield, opened last month.