Q&A: Hilton Steps Up Customer Loyalty Efforts†

Brandweek, February 24, 2009 — The hotel industry is going through a rough patch. But even in tough times, consumers are looking for an occasional getaway, according to Adam Burke, svp-customer loyalty at Hilton Hotels, which earlier this year kicked off its Hilton HHonors Double Points loyalty program. In a recent interview with Brandweek, Burke discussed the new program and how the Hilton family of hotels is faring in a down economy.

Automakers Report Worst January Sales in Almost 50 Years†

Monthly Totals in U.S. Fall Below Those in China for First Time

Advertising Age, February 4, 2009 — DETROIT (AdAge.com) — The last time the auto industry sold roughly 669,000 vehicles in the U.S. in January, as it did this year, was in 1963, when Chubby Checker ruled the music charts and Michael Jordan was born. Adding to that bad news, China surpassed the U.S. for the first time in monthly sales, said Mike DiGiovanni, executive director-global market analysis at General Motors Corp. He said about 790,000 units were sold in China last month.

In Campaign Wars, Apple Still Has Microsoft’s Number

New York Times, February 3, 2009 — TWENTY-FIVE years ago, Apple hurled a legendary marketing sledgehammer at I.B.M. personal computers that ran Microsoft software. During the 1984 Super Bowl, Apple ran a television ad that depicted those machines as instruments of Big Brotherish conformity. The ad was shown just once, but people still talk about it. Today, Apple is still producing ads that hammer away at computers that run Microsoft’s software. But this time, Apple’s pounding is constant, even as Microsoft has been weakened by product stumbles and a series of ads that fell flat with the public.

Pepsi, Coke Bowl Buys Pay Off in Online Buzz†

Heaviest Spender Generated Most Chatter, but Big Bucks Don't Mean Positive Feedback

Advertising Age, February 2, 2009 — Who says you can't buy buzz? In the end, the marketer that bought the most ad time ended up reaping the most chatter among the Twitterers, bloggers and online talkers.

As Consumers Try to Cut Back, Tropicana Promotes Quality and Value

New York Times, January 8, 2009 — HOW much does Tropicana want to become America’s main squeeze? Enough to undertake a major makeover of its advertising, marketing and packaging, centered on “squeeze” as a noun as well as a verb.

The campaign carries the typographically challenging theme “squeeze it’s a natural,” which is intended to evoke the way oranges are turned into Tropicana along with the warm way in which the company wants consumers to embrace the brand.

Crown Royal Preps First TV Ads In Five Years

Marketing Daily, December 10, 2008 — Diageo's Crown Royal Canadian Blended Whisky, the spirit category's first-ever TV advertiser back in 1996, said it will return to the airwaves this holiday season for its first national brand campaign in over five years. Royal Crown had run a responsible drinking-themed campaign on national cable in the summer of 2007 featuring Jamie McMurray, a driver for its sponsored NASCAR team.

Burger King, Crispin's Latest Stunt: 'Whopper Virgins'†

But Taste-Test Campaign Is Causing Some to Freak Out Over Use of 'Impoverished' People

Advertising Age, December 3, 2008 — Talk about a taste test: Burger King is literally trekking all over the globe to convince consumers its Whopper sandwich tops McDonald's Big Mac with its new "Whopper Virgins" campaign.

The fast feeder has created a set of new of 15-second teaser spots driving people to a website, Whoppervirgins.com, in its latest zany marketing ploy hatched by Burger King's agency of record, Crispin Porter & Bogusky, the MDC Partners creative shop credited with campaigns like "Whopper Freakout" and "Subservient Chicken" for Burger King.

Baileys Orders Up JWT Campaign for the Holidays†

The Old 'Serve Chilled' Slogan Didn't Translate, Leading Diageo to Shop Around -- and Pass on 'Hot Shop' Boutiques

Wall Street Journal, November 25, 2008 — Wine-and-spirits giant Diageo passed on two of the world's hottest ad agencies last spring to hire a Madison Avenue stalwart, JWT, to advertise its Baileys liqueur. Starting with Thanksgiving, JWT will try to prove it was the right decision.

As the Economy Worsens, Is There Money for Play?

New York Times, November 16, 2008 — From the “Buick” emblazoned on Tiger Woods’s golf bag to the Chevrolet Camaro that Cole Hamels drove home last month for being named the most valuable player of the World Series, it is hard to be a sports fan without stumbling across some type of advertisement for General Motors. The company consistently ranks first among advertisers of televised sporting events, outspending other automakers by more than two to one.

But as G.M. faces a financial crisis that has executives pleading with Congress for a federal bailout, many are wondering how far the company’s troubles will extend into the sports industry, which is already struggling to attract advertisers and sponsors in a weakened economy.