Hebridean cruise line hands Souk 1.3m integrated brief

Souk has been appointed to handle the £1.3m integrated account for Hebridean International Cruises. The agency won the business following a pitch against three undisclosed agencies.

Souk will develop campaigns for the company’s two executive cruise ships, the Hebridean Princess and the Hebridean Spirit.

The first wave of activity breaks in January and comprises a direct marketing campaign supported by advertising, online, events and partnerships activity. The agency’s work will target both new and existing customers and aims to enhance Hebridean’s position as a prestige brand.

The Hebridean Princess carries just 49 passengers and cruises around Scotland, Ireland and Norway. The Hebridean Spirit carries 98 passengers and sails around the Mediterranean in the summer and the Caribbean, Central and South America, the Indian Ocean and South Africa in the winter.

Hebridean sales and marketing director Peter Williams says: “We were looking for an integrated agency that could partner us across all channels to deliver consistent marketing and Souk fitted the bill.”

Souk was formed in 2005 when advertising agency HDM merged with direct marketing shop WDPA and digital specialist Mitchell Conner Searson (MW September 22, 2005). The agency launched a media division last year in a joint venture with John Ayling & Associates (MW May 25, 2006) and opened a sponsorship unit earlier this year.