Emirates airline kicks off the 2010 FIFA World Cup in style

Emirates airline kicked off the 2010 FIFA World Cup at Toronto’s “unofficial” headquarters located at Café Diplomatico in the heart of Little Italy.

The streets were filled with excited soccer fans decked out in their best team jersey. The energy off the crown was magnetic and full of excitement as a traditional South Africa band hit the street, and joined Mexican fans still revelling from their 1-1 game with Russia, ending just moments prior.

South African Consul General Tselane Msokuena joined the energetic crowd sporting her team colours and her very own colourfully decorated vuvuzela stadium horn.

With files from Lisa Raffaele TravelHotNews.com

Bonding with Canadian Contractors: PUNCH undertakes 32-store event to launch PL Premium Advance

Forgive me. I'm a bit sleepy.

You see, like the rest of the PUNCH team, I've been awake since 5:00 a.m. getting ready for big morning. Today, our client LePage launched PL Premium Advanced in stores in Canada.

For those not in the know -- and prior to working with LePage, I'd consider myself in this group -- LePage's PL Premium is considered the best construction adhesive on the market. It's been around for about 10 years and is one of those glues that can stick a rock to a piece of wood, securely, forever (or close to it). Contractors love it.

This is like a Coach bag for the fashionista, a Ducati for a motorcycle enthusiast or Koigu sock yarn for knitters. And the PL Premium Advance is even better (four times the grab, no bracing).

PUNCH had the opportunity to develop a direct-to-consumer stakeholder engagement plan for the launch of PL Premium Advance and suggested that we host contractor appreciation breakfasts across the GTA.

Each store was outfitted with a countdown clock to communicate that there was a cool event coming. (These babies are hard to get made: let me know if you need a contact with the best company out there!)



This morning, we had LePage brand ambassadors in each hardware store (a mix of Lowes, Rona, Home Depot and Home Hardware) demonstrating how to use the product, its benefits and offer the contractors some breakfast.

I think they looked great!



And here is one woman demonstrating the product.



The results? Product was flying off the shelves and the client was happy! Now, we get to rest, review the details again to prepare for the debrief, and show our new caulking skills off at home.

Silver is the new gold!

PUNCH snagged a 2010 CPRS Silver ACE award for Best Use of a Special Event. Jeff Lake, Olga Petrycki and Andrea Lukac were the recipients of the coveted award at last week's annual Canadian Public Relations Society gala dinner held at the Berkeley Church.

The team worked diligently to launch the Emirates A380 inaugural flight to Canada in June 2009 and their hard work and spectacular results were recognized by the PR industry.

The question on our minds all night though...didn't anyone else get the memo that it was a 60's themed event with requested attire a la Mad Men???

BIMINI BAY RESORT OFFERS FREE WEDDINGS FOR CANADIAN BRIDES

Sapona Wedding package is the effortless way to say “I do”

April 6, 2010 – TORONTO – Just in time for the spring and summer wedding seasons, Bimini Bay Resort, one of The Bahamas’ newest upscale getaways, is offering Canadian brides the opportunity to experience the wedding of their dreams – for free.

Bimini Bay’s vow to Canadian brides: for every couple in attendance that books four nights in a $400 per night room category or higher, she will receive two complimentary guests at her wedding reception, as part of the Sapona Wedding Package. Available throughout December 31, 2010 for Canadian brides only, the Sapona Wedding package offers simple, understated luxury and is regularly priced at $200 per person.

No matter the venue – whether beachside with white sand between your toes; on the edge of paradise by the infinity pool or under the pristine sunshine in the elegant wedding gazebo, the Sapona Wedding Package also includes a wedding ceremony set-up and officiant, four hours of premium open bar, unlimited passed hors d’oeuvres for the cocktail hour, Veuve Cliquot champagne toast, a three course sit down dinner or buffet and wedding cake from one of the most well-known cake artists of South Florida, Ana Paz.

“We are thrilled to extend this extravagant offer to Canadian brides,” said Danielle Dunfee Event Manager, Bimini Bay Resort and Marina, The Bahamas. “Recent research has shown that destination weddings have increased by 400 per cent in the last ten years in Canada and now make up as much as 20 per cent of the market.”

Straying from the typical destination wedding but keeping up with current trends, Bimini Bay Resort and Marina offers an off-the-beaten-path experience where guests will enjoy the tropical yet laid-back ambiance of the intimate island, easily reachable by air or sea. Bimini Bay Resort’s experienced wedding coordinator will help from start to finish – from floral arrangements and cakes to color schemes and industry trends.

The Sapona Wedding Package allows for complimentary guests to the wedding reception for those booking a four-night stay at Bimini Bay Resort in a one-bedroom treehouse villa, two-bedroom luxury suite (both $400 per night) or higher room category. Bimini Bay’s signature treehouse villa experience offers beautiful water views and is furnished with a king size bed and two bathrooms.

Bimini Bay Resort offers an array of first-class amenities for its guests including two pools, three restaurants, massage services and the largest marina in The Islands of The Bahamas.

Canadians get free match tickets in 2010 FIFA World Cup packages

Emirates and MyEscapades offer fans seven match package options

TORONTO – March 31, 2010 – With less than 75 days to go until the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, Emirates and MyEscapades have upped the ante by offering free match tickets as part of their fan-tastic package deals. The offer applies to new air-inclusive bookings made between now and April 15, 2010 at emirates.com/ca or myescapades.com/special_offers.

Every Canadian soccer fan who books an Emirates and MyEscapades FIFA World Cup™ package will receive a minimum of one free Group Match ticket. Full details of all the packages available can be found at MyEscapades.ca.

As an Official Tour Operator for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Emirates offers a number of tailor-made travel packages that include flights, accommodation, ground transportation and match tickets, in addition to the minimum one free match ticket.

The award-winning airline also provides a unique ‘follow-your-team’ component to tour package offerings, a testament to the airline’s commitment to the beautiful game and its followers. Emirates packages guarantee fans gold-dust tickets for each of their team’s matches, right up to the final on July 11.

“We are thrilled to offer our first-class expertise in travel services to soccer fans in Canada and around the world. We believe the free match ticket incentive compliments the air-inclusive offerings,” said Mary Heron, Manager Canada, Emirates airline.

Firdosh Bulsara, General Manager, MyEscapades says he has a severe-case of soccer fever as “the (soccer) frenzy is reaching its peak and this promotion delivers a dream-come-true for soccer fans travelling across the world. Now, they’re going to see at least one more game for free.”

Canadian fans will travel from Toronto aboard the Emirates A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft to Dubai, then connect on one of five daily flights into South Africa, with the options of travelling to Johannesburg, which hosts 15 matches including the opening match and final; or Cape Town, host city of eight matches, or Durban, which is home to seven FIFA World Cup matches.

About Emirates and FIFA World Cup

Emirates’ partnership with FIFA began at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany when it became the first airline to sponsor the prestigious sporting event. Following the success of this tournament, Emirates cemented its status as an Official FIFA Partner up to and including the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

For more information on booking your dream ticket to the ultimate sporting extravaganza, visit emirates.com/fifa or emirates.com/ca.

Conditions: Free ticket/s is only applicable in the case of flight inclusive bookings. The free group game match ticket would be for another team within duration of his/her stay. Free ticket/s will only be confirmed after the payment for the package has been received in full. Free ticket/s is subject to availability and will be confirmed within 3 days of receipt of the booking form. Free ticket/s is non-transferable and must be used by the customer who books the package. Free ticket/s will be issued in the same name as shown in the package booked. Free ticket/s would be Category 1 match tickets. The free ticket does not include transportation to and from the base camp to the match venue. Transfer arrangements from the base camp to and from the match venue are the sole responsibility of the customer. If free match tickets redeemed are at a different base camp than match included in original package, a mandatory 24 hour breaks between the matches is necessary.

The 2010 Toronto Sportsmen's Show a Resounding Success!

The 2010 Toronto Sportsmen's Show a Resounding Success!

Having made a big move in 2010, The Toronto Sportsmen's Show fit perfectly into its new diggs at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre after spending 62 years at The CNE.

More than 100,000 spectators flooded the North and South buildings over the course of five days enjoying this rite of passage into the spring season. More than 400 exhibitors offered an exciting lineup of the latest gear for camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, canoeing, travel and boating.

My personal fave? The Great Dane Rescue: the organization takes in abandoned Great Danes and finds them good homes. At any given day of the show I could be found with my 120 pound friend Emmett and he lay sprawled on the floor as I babied him.

Our friend Bob Izumi was a media darling drawing crowds and media to the show alike. Speaking of media, it was our most successful year on record. Jessica Patriquin wowed everyone at the office securing Canada AM, Breakfast Television and CP 24 in support of the show, just to name a few.

Now that we're all recuperated, can't wait to do it again next year!

Thomas Cook ready to PUNCH out in 2010

Great news! PUNCH Canada has been named Agency of Record for Thomas Cook Canada solidifying its position as THE travel and leisure Marketing Communications firm.

Thomas Cook ready to PUNCH out in 2010

Thomas Cook has named Punch Canada its agency of record, ending its seven-year relationship with Brainstorm Group.

The company began an agency review last autumn when it altered its vendor policy, making it necessary to regularly review third-party relationships. Brainstorm was invited to defend the account along with Punch and three other unnamed agencies.

Paul Larcher, senior director of marketing for the travel brand, said he was "perfectly happy" with Brainstorm, but ultimately opted for Punch.

"We were immediately drawn to the energy and creative thinking that Punch demonstrated in the selection process," Larcher said. "The agency has strong travel credentials and they made the connection between creative ideas and strategic thinking that we were looking for."

Punch has done work for Emirates airlines and managed the "It’s Better In the Bahamas" campaign.

During the review process, Punch was assigned a separate project organizing a media event for Thomas Cook’s newly launched travel insurance services.

"We kept it separate from the RFP," Larcher said. "Perhaps in going through that process, it did give us a little insight into their agency and more confidence in selecting them."

Larcher initially invited Punch to the review because of an existing business relationship with Erin McNeill, the agency’s vice-president, group accounts.

"I left [Thomas Cook] in 2000 for six years, and while I was away I worked [at Echo Advertising] with Erin," Larcher said. "I had heard she was at Punch, and knew they did work in our category, so I contacted them."

Thomas Cook has a 14-member internal marketing team that handles most of the creative, media buying and public relations work across its multiple brands. (The company’s consumer-facing brands include Sunquest and ALBATours, while its business-to-business ventures include Fun Sun Vacations, Encore CruiseEscapes and The Wholesale Travel Group, among others.)

Punch will "augment" the internal team’s work, handling overflow as well as consulting on long-term strategy and advertising plans and serving as an events and public relations team.

Punch is currently working on two assignments for 2010.