Archive for the ‘Dana News’ Category
IMEX Group appoints Dana Communications to support IMEX America
Posted by Lynn Kaniper | Filed under Dana News
IMEX Group has appointed New York based direct marketing agency Dana Communications to work on the launch of its inaugural IMEX America exhibition. The new trade show for the international meetings, incentive travel and events industry will take place October 11 – 13, 2011, at the Venetian Palazzo, Las Vegas. Dana’s appointment follows a three-way tender. The budget is undisclosed.
Dana Communications have been tasked with creating US-centred direct marketing campaigns incorporating email, direct mail and inserts for the trade show. The initial campaign aim is to drive attendee numbers and raise awareness about IMEX America’s many benefits to meetings and events industry buyers and exhibitors.
Oliver Hone, marketing director at the IMEX Group, said: “As our marketing department is UK-based we realised it was important to bring in an American agency for the launch of IMEX America; one that could communicate our messages in a way that resonates fully with our principal audiences in North America. Their job is to convey our unique trade show model in a way that educates and supports what we intend to be a revolutionary new approach to doing business in the meetings, events and incentive travel sector,” says Hone.
Bob Prewitt, President at Dana Communications commented: “As a new model of trade show for the US market, this project presents an exciting opportunity for us. IMEX’s reputation for delivering outstanding exhibitions really does precede it and we are confident that our proactive and innovative approach together with our market knowledge of the hospitality and business travel markets will see the two companies fit really well together.”
Hone continues: “Dana – who style themselves as ‘hospitality and travel lifestyle marketing’ - have an impeccable track record in working for an excellent roster of clients in our industry. What’s more we have many clients and relationships in common with each other – many of whom they used to leverage a true understanding of the IMEX brand to help them prepare their pitch.”
About IMEX America
The new trade show for the worldwide meetings, events and incentive travel industry – the inaugural IMEX America – will take place October 11-13, 2011 at the Sands Expo at the Venetian/Palazzo Hotel. It will assure exhibitors of meeting and making business appointments on their booths with in excess of 2,000 highly qualified hosted buyers.
Being an IMEX hosted buyer means that IMEX America pays for all travel and accommodation costs for buyers who meet strict qualification criteria. The majority (80 per cent) of these hosted buyers will come from North America, with the balance from the rest of the world. In addition thousands of additional U.S. buyer attendees are expected to attend from across North America.
IMEX America has major partnerships in place with all the leading meetings industry associations around the world. IMEX America’s strategic partner and major educational provider is MPI. It is endorsed by DMAI and Site and has an Industry Partnership with PCMA.
Exhibitors and buyers can register at http://www.imex-america.com/users_prereg_interest.php
www.imexamerica.com
About Dana Communications
Currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, Dana Communications is a leading hospitality and travel lifestyle marketing agency with offices in New York City, Princeton, NJ, the Carolinas and San Francisco, California. For additional information about Dana Communications visit http://www.danacommunications.com or contact Bob Prewitt at 609-466-9187 x 124.
Editors’ notes:
- IMEX America is America’s worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events and takes place October 11 – 13, 2011 at the Sands Expo, Las Vegas.
- All IMEX America press releases can be downloaded from http://www.imexamerica.com/press.php
- High-resolution photos are available at http://www.imexamerica.com/picturelibrary.html and http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/imexphotos.html
- IMEX America is run as a part of the IMEX Group of exhibitions, which also delivers the award winning IMEX exhibition in Frankfurt, www.imex-frankfurt.com
Media contacts:
Kit Watts +44 (0) 1273 224956 Cell +44 7968 417518 kit.watts@imexexhibitions.com
John Sullivan +44 20 77364022 john.Sullivan@imexexhibitions.com
Dana Communications Is A Player In New Generation Of Marketing Golf
Posted by Lynn Kaniper | Filed under Dana News
While the number of golfers remains flat and corporate golf outings have sharply declined in the U.S., Dana Communications is experiencing an upswing in golf business. The hospitality and travel lifestyle marketing agency’s roster of golf clients has grown to include Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club, Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Kiawah Island Real Estate, Makena Beach & Golf Resort, PGA Magazine, Preferred Golf, Royal Isabela, The Golf Connection International, The Villas at Grand Cypress and Turtle Bay Resort. All in all, Dana represents over 20 top-notch golf courses in locations ranging from Puerto Rico to Maui to New Jersey.
“Like everyone else, golf has been hit by the current economy, but it hasn’t helped that it had become aligned with the luxury segment of our industry—which really felt the economic backlash,” says Dana President Robert Prewitt. “In addition to building back its business, golf has to fight the ‘luxury’ perception of exclusivity and pampering that is really not part of the true golf tradition. Remember, golf was invented by shepherds, not Donald Trump.”
Interestingly, Prewitt, an avid golfer himself, predicts that it will take the latest marketing technologies to help golf reestablish its grand old tradition. “The fact is, the golf world has been late to the game in taking advantage of the resources and services we already provide to our other hospitality and travel clients—specifically website development, e-marketing, social networking presence, PPC advertising, use of distribution channels and ROI analysis,” says Prewitt. “I’m excited about Dana’s role in helping craft the message about golf in this new marketing environment. To me, golf is the greatest of all games, and it needs to get back to its roots: being outdoors, experiencing nature, enjoying the health benefits and learning more about yourself.” Prewitt will be talking more about the future of golf at the PGA 2010 Fall Expo in Las Vegas on August 17-18, 2010, where he will lead a seminar on golf resort branding in the digital age.
Currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, Dana Communications is a leading hospitality and travel lifestyle marketing agency with offices in New York City, Princeton, NJ, the Carolinas and San Francisco, California.
Dana Communications Grows Latin American Business With Addition Of Royal Isabela And The Golf Connection International
Posted by Lynn Kaniper | Filed under Dana News, Uncategorized
Dana Communications has been selected to brand and market two Latin American endeavors: Royal Isabela, a private residential golf community in Puerto Rico, and The Golf Connection International, an Argentina-based guide for exclusive travel and golf instructional experiences. The addition of these clients to the Dana portfolio extends the hospitality and travel lifestyle marketing agency’s reach into the growing Latin American travel industry.
For both new clients, Dana’s experience in branding and marketing resorts, golf courses, real estate and travel companies in the U.S. was a key calling card—as American travelers will be a prime target audience. “Our challenge is applying our stateside marketing strategies without over-‘Americanizing’ the communications message,” says Robert Prewitt, President. “We want to accurately represent the wonderful culture, sense of place and passion for hospitality that both Royal Isabela and The Golf Connection International have to offer in a way that will relate to the needs and desires of the American buyer.”
With Royal Isabela, Dana engages in “Spanglish” to create a brand that blends the best of Puerto Rican and U.S. lifestyles in a high-end golf real estate development. Royal Isabela offers the climate, natural beauty and culture of the Caribbean with U.S.-based economy and real estate laws. In addition to its spectacular golf course, the project includes a Lodge, home sites, villas and resort amenities, all located on 1,600 acres of prime oceanfront property in northwestern Puerto Rico.
Promoting its trusted relationships with PGA Professionals and PGA Magazine is part of Dana’s strategy for The Golf Connection International. The group serves as an exclusive “gateway” between the hemispheres, organizing authentic high-end golf and adventure travel experiences for U.S. travelers in Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay as well as coordinating intensive golf instructional programs for South American golfers at the PGA Center in Port Saint Lucie, Florida.
Currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, Dana Communications is a leading hospitality and travel lifestyle marketing agency with offices in New York City, Princeton, NJ, the Carolinas and San Francisco, California.
Dana Communications Welcomes New Senior Account Executive
Posted by Eric Welsh | Filed under Dana News, Hospitality News, Technology, Tips and Trends Series
Dana Communications welcomes new hire Bethany Diddle to the role of Senior Account Executive. Diddle brings a strong background in branding strategy, account management and client interaction.
With a BA from New Mexico State University and an MBA from Cornell University Johnson Graduate School of Management, Diddle also comes to Dana with valuable agency experience and an extensive list of previous clientele.
Her prior work experience comprises account, management and marketing positions with General Electric, Pearlfisher, Inc., the National Foreign Trade Council, Arnold Worldwide and WestWayne, Inc. These roles afforded her the opportunity to work with clients including Celebrity Cruises, Amtrak, Hershey’s, Johnson & Johnson, Jose Cuervo and The Campbell Soup Company.
When it comes to branding, Diddle believes that “the answers are already there…all you have to do is listen.” By lending an attentive ear and an open mind to her clients (and the world), she works to extract authentic points of differentiation that capture the heart and soul of each brand and meaningfully connect with audiences.
Her strategic aptitude is complemented by keen organization and a consultative approach to account management. Diddle has also traveled to 37 states and 10 countries, so she truly understands the meaning of “travel and hospitality.” She is a welcome addition to the Dana team and is expected to be a positive new figure among Dana’s clients and colleagues alike.
Dana Communications Celebrates 30 Years of Service!
Posted by Eric Welsh | Filed under Dana News, Technology, Travel
We are fast approaching our final months of our year long celebration of 30 years of service!
Now Premiering on Broadway!
Posted by Eric Welsh | Filed under Advertising, Dana News, Hospitality News, Interactive, Media, Uncategorized
From the Golden Gate Bridge to the sweet Carolinas, Dana is all over the map—and we’ve just moved our NY office to its new home in Times Square! We’re now boasting a brand-new address among the bright lights of Broadway.
To Contact our New York Office, call Jared Zech at 646.666.7016, or jzech@danacommunications.com.
Dana Communications Joins SoDA!
Posted by Eric Welsh | Filed under Advertising, Dana News, Hospitality News, Interactive, Social Media, Technology
The Society of Digital Agencies (SoDA) serves as a worldwide voice of digital marketing professionals with a mission to advance the profession through best practices, education, and advocacy.
Dana’s Director of Interactive Services, Eric Welsh, says of SoDA— “This is Dana doing what Dana does best. Staying informed while developing relationships. Our goal interactively has always been focused on trends, participation and delivery to our clients. Our business cards say on the back, ‘knowledge. ideas. relationships’ and we really do practice that.”
Visit Society of Digital Agencies
Out of the Bunker and into the Black
Posted by Bethany Diddle | Filed under Advertising, Dana News, Golf, Hospitality News, Interactive, Tips and Trends Series, Travel
Dana recently attended the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida. The Orange County Convention Center was all a buzz with vendors, pros, golfers and media—what a great event! We had the chance to talk to industry insiders and were impressed by their upbeat outlook for 2010. Of real interest to our team was a study released by PGA Magazine, which showed the impact of PGA Professionals on travel decisions…
About 70% of PGA Professionals travel with groups annually. Almost half take three or more trips per year, and their groups average about nine golfers playing about three rounds of golf when they travel together. 75% of these trips are booked more than two months in advance, which is welcome revenue in this era of short-lead bookings.
We were intrigued by the amount of influence PGA Pros have on determining where their groups travel. 86% of golf professionals either select the specific golf destination or narrow the choices to a few on which the group can decide—and more than 70% make all of the travel arrangements. What’s more, the vast majority is asked at least once a week for recommendations on places to stay and play golf.
We’ve all seen the number of golf resorts in the U.S. grow in the past decade, creating a very competitive marketplace. Meanwhile, the number of golfers remains flat, and bookings for corporate group outings have sharply declined. Reaching the 28,000 PGA Professionals who are key influencers on travel is a smart play.
Dana Communications has partnered with Hunter PR to analyze this study’s findings and show how to leverage the influence of PGA Professionals. To see more on these results and learn about getting out of the bunker and into the black, visit www.danacommunications.com/bunker2black.
Pink Socks & Pocket Protectors
Posted by Bob Prewitt | Filed under Advertising, Dana News, Design, Interactive, Media, Technology, Tips and Trends Series
Marketing in the Age of the World Wide Web
Marketing has always been a combination of art and science. There have always been creative types and account types. Just watch Mad Men.
But today, with the explosive growth of interactive marketing (the Web), there is a huge distinction between creative brand development behavior (Pink Socks) and web engineering behavior (Pocket Protectors).
Both behavioral types are necessary to the development and execution of a successful marketing operation. But you need to pay special attention to managing the interaction between the two because, often, they don’t relate well to one another.
Dana participated in a speaking engagement at this year’s PCMA Annual Meeting, and we addressed this very topic. The presentation defined the marketing process that must be employed in the current age—one in which marketing is dominated by the World Wide Web. We identified situations in which you should be utilizing Pink Socks, as well as those in which Pocket Protectors are needed.
Our attendees came away from this event with a basic understanding of the marketing vehicles available through the web (PPC, rich media, optimization, behavioral tracking, etc.). They gained an understanding of the conflict that can exist when Pink Socks and Pocket Protectors are brought together to create marketing communications.
Your marketing efforts don’t have to be obsolete or out-of-touch just because marketing thinking has changed so quickly. But you do need to have a basic understanding of the radically changed and still-changing marketing scene.
To learn more about making Pink Socks and Pocket Protectors work for you in today’s interactive age, contact bprewitt@danacommunications.com.
Tell Us Your Favorite Things!
Posted by Lynn Kaniper | Filed under Dana News, Design, Interactive
Dana is taking a break from tips, trips and trends to remember what makes the holiday season bright. Take a look at a few of our favorite things—then share your own—at danacommunications.com/favorite. Do you celebrate indulgent pleasures or innocent joys? Are your merriest memories naughty or nice? (OK, not too naughty…) For every post made, we’ll add to our donation to the Community Food Bank of NJ. Have fun!
