TUI reviews £9m spend
Lunn Poly man takes over combined marketing role. HHCL and WCRS face loss of lucrative work
TUI UK, formerly Thomson Travel Group, is to review its advertising business following the appointment of Hugh Edwards as marketing director.
Edwards, who has been promoted from Lunn Poly, where he was marketing and new media director, says he will be looking at all agencies on the roster, with a view to cutting costs across the businesses.
The move follows the decision by TUI UK – the Preussag-owned holding company for Thomson Holidays and Lunn Poly – to merge the businesses, but retain both brands (MW November 1).
Thomson Holidays marketing director Thom Noble’s role has been axed. Noble was recruited in June from the Disney Channel, where he was also marketing director (MW June 14).
The review may mean more misery for HHCL & Partners, which lost both the AA (MW September 6) and Egg briefs earlier this year (MW November 8), and is facing a review of its Britvic Soft Drinks’ Tango account (MW November 29).
Lunn Poly uses WCRS for advertising, and Media Planning Group has the bulk of TUI’s media buying business.
Thomson Holidays’ advertising spend for September 2000 to October 2001 was &£3.66m. Lunn Poly spent &£5.32m for the same period. A new Lunn Poly campaign begins on Boxing Day, using television, national radio and print ads, while Thomson will launch print, direct mail and advertorials created by HHCL.
