Sixteen bidders: Tourism Dept. prepares to award contract for advertising - New Mexico Business Weekly:

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The creators of the scaly who have been touting the wonders of New Mexico topotentiall visitors, are nearing the end of their four-year contract with the state’ss Department of Tourism, and they are facing increased competitionm this year. unveiled the “Best Places in the Universe” campaign in 2007. It broughyt a mix of reactions here. But officialds with Saatchi and the Tourism Department say the campaignh has been successful in leveragingthe state’ss paltry marketing funds to cut through the media clutter. Saatchi is among 16 firms vying for theTourisnm Department’s new advertising contract, which startzs with the state’s new fiscal year on July 1.
A reviewe committee of eight people, whoswe names were not made public, will announce the winner in mid-April. The crop of contenders includes some of the top firmsz in New Mexico as well as many from outsideethe state. (See below.) The presence of so many out-of-stater agencies is new, said Martin advertising manager with theTourism Department. He sees two factorss at work. “We had hired an out-of-state agencyt and that sent a message to thos outside New Mexico that we are amenablee to having anoutside agency,” he It’s unusual for state tourism offices to use an out-of-stat agency, he added. “It’s also the Leger said.
“A lot of agencies are stretchin g their boundaries tofind work.” Beforr Saatchi got the current it had been held for 14 yearxs by of Albuquerque. “We’re excites to try and win it back,” said Erik CEO of Rick Johnson. The Tourismm Department’s advertising budget is contingenf on the decision of the but the request for proposals lists the annual budge t atabout $3 million.
It’d not huge, but there are many who woulcd like to see the contract return to a NewMexico firm, whicu means the agency fees would stay here as The state specifically asks for strategied that would secure privatse sector partners to leverage the Tourism Department’s Several competitors for the contracgt say they’re up to the challenge. “We’re very good with limitexd budgets,” said Bart Cleveland, creative director of . The localp McKee Wallwork is the agency of recorf forthe . Another competitor for the contract, of Arkansas, has worked with the ACVB on its Web AnotherAlbuquerque competitor, , has the ad contract for the .
Meredith Vaughn, president of of Colorado Springs, said her firm worked with a very smalll budget at the and increased the return on investmenftto $215 for every $1 She declined to reveal how the firm did that at least not this earlyt in the bidding process. Vladimirr Jones also represents . Dave principal for in Santa Fe, said his firm has been involvexd in tourism around the state for years and made the finak four the last time the contractwas bid.
Shelleyh Gregory, owner of in Albuquerque, said this is her firm’ first time bidding on the but her creative team hastourism “We thought the state would need to go into a different direction, givenb the economy,” she said.