CIA retains £15m Kuoni media after review stalls

CIA Medianetwork is understood to have retained the media planning and buying account for long-haul tour operator Kuoni, which is expected to increase its spend to about £15m next year.

The Swiss company called the review in February but the process stalled when merger talks it began with First Choice Holidays collapsed earlier this month.

CIA Medianetwork has handled the Kuoni account for 12 years and was under pressure to retain it after the loss of two major accounts last year – BT and Lloyds TSB.

The agency is believed to have pitched against Zenith Media,

MediaCom and two other agencies in a process handled by Hugh Clayson, director of Kuoni’s independent business units.

The creative advertising account held by Mitchell Patterson Grime Mitchell was unaffected by the review.

The media review was sparked by Kuoni’s December acquisition of Voyages Jules Verne, a UK group of direct tour sellers which will give the company access to the European tour operating market.

Kuoni’s media spend is mostly concentrated on press with some radio and poster advertising, although TV may be a possibility.

CIA has also won the media account for Fossil Watches.