Tag Archive | 2012

It’s hard being number one. It’s even harder staying number one, as British Airways continue to prove.

Back in the day when they were the world’s favourite airline, the Saatchi & Saatchi boys and girls delivered campaign after campaign of pretty decent stuff. People loved the brand. People wanted to fly BA.

Then Virgin happened along. All the Asian airlines heavily invested in their product. BA stood still. They faltered. They fell behind. Worse still, BBH never seem to have taken them anywhere near the highs of years gone by. Dolphin clouds and racing luggage (which we all know so often gets lost in the depths of LHR), failed to capture the hearts the way a hint of the flower song from Lakme could do. So, a quick trip down memory lane. May look dated, but still…

Anyway, to the new BA campaign. As a domestic sponsor of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it’s time to activate the sponsorship. Many are claiming it’s a bold message. An airline trying to convince Brits to stay at home. It’s not.

Research from previous games has shown people who left the country during games time come home, and feel they’ve missed out. Moments that pull the nation together, both good and bad. Many shared moments of national pride. Hopefully a few medals. Real highs that forgive all the transport infrastructure issues and minor inconveniences. But BA telling us to stay home and support Team GB? I just don’t buy it.

This message feels as though it should be coming from the tourist board, not the former flag carrier. It’s sad that BBH haven’t been able to generate any great work for BA, and even sadder that the ‘fly a plane down my street’ is a much heralded, and massively overhyped part of the campaign.

I don’t like knocking BA. They’re a brand I’m genuinely fond of. But they, and indeed we, deserve far, far better than this…

Iain G. Morrison is a senior marketer that will probably be flying Virgin Atlantic next time he leaves Blighty…

Gold for British Airways?

I’ve been very critical of much of British Airways’ marketing over the past few years. Since they left the Saatchi crew, their work (a little like their service), has been somewhat lacklustre. However much I dislike the campaign personally, all the PR they’re pushing out says it’s working, so who am I to judge? Bravo…

However, this new spot to maximise their Olympic sponsorship isn’t half bad. It’s not brilliant, but it’s a massive improvement on the bilge BBH have been trotting out for them these past few years.

I remain to be convinced they are ready, mind.

I’m a massive supporter of the Games and the economic benefit they’ll bring to Britain in 2012 and beyond. But our creaky infrastructure can barely cope at the best of times, let alone with a glut of additional Games time visitors. I truly hope I’m wrong on that one mind. Time will tell…

Iain G. Morrison will be going for gold this summer. In the gin drinking finals, of course. Good odds on a medal…

June 17, 2010

in Leisure
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Begbie, Rents, Sickboy, Spud and a couple of mascots…

Some brilliant news that should excite the whole of Blighty this fine summers day!

Begbie got nuthin on this lot...

Danny Boyle, the rather talented director of Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting (and that crap one with Leo Dicaprio on a beach), has been named artistic director of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic games.

The challenge ahead of Danny and his team? CGI assistance or not, Beijing stunned the world with their lavish opening in 2008.

Boris and Leona on a bus simply won’t cut it here and with an estimated audience of over a billion people worldwide, this will have to be a stunner start to finish. I for one can’t wait. Just don’t let Begbie get hammered?

Iain G. Morrison is a senior marketer in the British tourism industry. And is rather looking forward to 2012. End of the world or not…

August 14, 2009

in Leisure
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The real deputy PM to get tourism brief too?

Looked better on Freddy Mercury (just)...

Well, not yet…

But the British Chamber of Commerce and Travelodge seem to think Mandy should take it on…

They have proposed that the responsibility for tourism be removed from the control of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and reallocated under the authority of Lord Mandelson’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

In response, Kurt Janson, policy director at the Tourism Alliance, said:

“We’re at the stage at the moment where there is less government funding for VisitBritain than there was when Labour came to power in 1997. “We have an opportunity for the sector to provide and maintain jobs… and to provide growth to help us out of the current recession.”

Good old BoJo (London mayor Boris Johnson) has also pledged his support and encouragement to the capital’s tourism sector in the run up to 2012. Which all makes for great talk.

But ultimately, it’s money that’s required. You’d be amazed how a little can go a long way…

Iain Morrison is a senior marketer in the British Tourism Industry. And loves that Mandy is back making his presence felt…