Press room

06-12-2005
Miami Agency Hits The Road to Pitch Mississippi Gulf Coast Tourism Account.

Research reveals Mississippi GulfCoast regulars visit several times a year to escape their routine lives. They also admitted that yes, they come here to gamble – mostly – but they really like being able to say they visit for other reasons. Without alienating their regular guests, our task is to attract more of the “venturers” with the positioning that Mississippi GulfCoast is much more than a great casino vacation – it's also deep-sea fishing, great golf and spas, authentic cuisine and history, local art, and of course, sunny beaches.

Forty agencies from 14 states submitted responses to the CVB's request for proposals. TURKEL was one of eight finalists that made a creative presentation to the CVB selection committee on Friday, June 18th. The road trip, dubbed the "2004 TURKEL Mississippi Gulf Coast or Bust RV Adventure Tour", was an opportunity for the creative team to immerse themselves in the area's sights, sounds, tastes and culture. What they learned along the way shaped the work that was presented on the 18th.

"What we're doing is unusual, but when you think about it - the way all pitches should really be done," said Bruce Turkel, CEO and executive creative director of TURKEL. "There's far too much winging it. Far too much guesswork. Far too much reliance on hunches. We're hoping to uncover compelling facts, truths, and previously unconsidered tactics."

While their competitors were toiling away in the comfort of their air-conditioned offices, TURKEL's team set up a complete wireless network and did everything from drawing up concept boards to editing daily-shot video footage from the confines of their RV. And if that wasn't enough, they delivered daily uploads of photos, observations, wise-cracks and other tasty tidbits onto a specially created Web site, www.turkel.info/mississippi/ that will serves as a documentary of the tour.

The members of the 2004 TURKEL Mississippi Gulf Coast or Bust RV Adventure Tour are:

Please visit www.turkel.info/mississippi/ to see the tour movie and journal.

For more information, contact:

Marlisa Shapiro
public relations, TURKEL at 305-476-3516

Jeanne Sullivan
assoc. VP, media relations, GMCVB at 305-539-3084 / cell: 305-401-3636