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| Press release photo issued Christmas Day from Yachte.com.au |
Wild Oats is owned by the owner of Hamilton Island, Bob Oatley, and it is probably the best known yacht in not only the Whitsundays, but Australia, and maybe the world.
But, Tourism Queensland and Tourism Whitsundays have quietly sponsored a 13 year old Volvo60 owned by a member (and supplier) of Tourism Whitsundays, Mr Leo Rodriguez (see that story here).
This latest 'marketing campaign' by TQ comes amid reports of 'black holes' in TQ's budgets, and calls by the State Opposition for a full investigation into the marketing practices and staff at Tourism Queensland (see that story here).
The sponsorship (and lack of announcements) of a TW mate's boat by TW & TQ has been shrouded in mystery and raises some questions.
Senior journos would know to keep an eye out for press releases from companies and the government during Christmas, as it used by marketing people to 'soften the blow' of news they would prefer not to be released. Here are all the stories written about 'Merit' by the media:
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| Marketing Fail: Image from Official Race Website Note the Whitsundays Logo missing. |
Forecast should suit Leo Rodriguez & Merit crew in bid for Performance Handicap class trophy. No mention of sponsorship.
23 December 2010: Whitsunday Times:
EXCITMENT (sic) is building towards Boxing Day and the start of the 2010 Rolex Sydney-Harbour yacht race. No mention of the sponsorship arrangement.
25 December 2010: Yachte.com.au:
Merit - Rolex Sydney to Hobart crew tells the world they’d rather be in the Whitsundays!
26 December 2010: Official Race WebSite:
Merit's official photos fail to show the Whitsundays logo and/or sail.
There has been no other 'press release related' news about Merit or its sponsorship by the Whitsundays since Boxing Day.
The most important part of this 'marketing campaign' is the sail - that's where the Whitsundays is supposed to be getting its exposure. A check of Google for any news about 'Merit' in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race found:
News Articles: None
News Images: None
Summary:
- Was this really meant to be a marketing exercise, or was there another agenda, because there has been zero value from publicity.
- There has been no traditional media exposure (Newspapers, TV, Radio) except for our local paper, three days before the start, and that made no mention of the sponsorship.
- Keeping the sponsorship deal quiet, especially from the locals, makes the deal smell a bit fishy. How much did this exercise cost TW & TQ ?
Another marketing failure by Tourism Queensland and Tourism Whitsundays.
Sources:
Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Whitsunday Times
BYM Sailing News
Yachte.com.au
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