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.

Recommended

Telecoms ad claims trigger clampdown

Marketing Week

The makers of the self-regulatory rules that govern the advertising industry meet today (Wednesday). A late addition to its agenda could be an initiative to stem the vitriolic advertising battles between the telecoms companies, which erupted again last week. The Committee on Advertising Practice (CAP) is keen to discuss new guidelines that it hopes will […]

Farr lures JWT executive for top BBC role

Marketing Week

BBC marketing chief Sue Farr has lured senior J Walter Thompson executive Maureen Duffy to one of the most important marketing jobs in British TV. Duffy takes up the new post of controller of TV marketing for BBC Broadcast, with responsibility for BBC1, BBC2 and any non-commercially funded digital services. She reports to Farr, who […]

Simons chases Pow! factor

Marketing Week

TBWA Simons Palmer chief executive officer Paul Simons has been having a bit of car trouble. He was delighted when, after an extensive search, he found his dream motor – a classic 1986 Porsche 911 Turbo. But the problems started when he found his dream reg plate to match – 911 POW. (“I thought it […]