Agencies vie for Thomson new venture

Thomson Holidays has been talking to advertising agencies about a new venture, fuelling speculation that it may unveil a finance-based initiative such as a smartcard.

The holiday company, which will float on the stock exchange this year, poached its commercial and marketing director Shaun Powell from Barclaycard in May.

Since Powell arrived at Thomson, he has overseen the launch of an innovations unit, which has been briefed to look at the Internet, smartcards and digital broadcasting (MW January 8).

Thomson’s annual advertising budget stands at 6m, spent through BMP DDB, and it has a total marketing budget of 30m.

Thomson Travel Group is made up of Thomson Holidays, charter airline Britannia Airways and travel agency chain Lunn Poly.

Meanwhile, BMP.DDB has produced an estimated 4m campaign for Thomson Holidays, called “Déj Vu”, to press home the Thomson guarantee that consumers get exactly what Thomson’s brochure promises.