BMB secures TUI Travel LateRooms website brand and communications strategy account

Beattie McGuinness Bungay (BMB) has scooped a brief from TUI Travel to develop the brand and communications strategy for its online hotel booking website LateRooms. The win, without a pitch, will strengthen the agency’s hold on the TUI Travel roster.

BMB already handles advertising for First Choice.

TUI group, owner of Thomson, merged its tourism operations with UK rival First Choice Holidays earlier this year to form TUI Travel.

BMB won the £4m advertising business for First Choice in September last year, while Krow holds the £10m Thomson business. Speculation has surrounded the accounts, with industry executives expecting a consolidation pitch. However, TUI is working with both agencies on projects for the first quarter of 2008.

A spokesman confirms: “The first quarter of the year is traditionally a big advertising period and we wouldn’t want to do anything that would impact on that.”

BMB has been tasked with developing a strategic and creative positioning for LateRooms and is expected to develop advertising next year.

BMB is also understood to be considering opening a Birmingham office after co-founder Trevor Beattie addressed a West Midlands conference last week saying he wanted to open an office in the city.