Destination marketing organizations for Anaheim and Vancouver, British Columbia, joined forces on a recent campaign that aimed to highlight similarities between the two cities.
The effort includes promotional videos created with support from Canada-based WestJet Airlines Ltd.
Visit Anaheim also hosted a day-long event for about 500 people at indoor venue 6Pack Beach that “brought sunny Anaheim to Vancouverites” and featured “beach volleyball, sand castle competitions, face painting, opportunities to meet with travel trade representatives from [Disneyland Resort] and more.”
“Western Canada is a really important market for us to reach and market to, promoting how easy it is to come to Anaheim and experience the wonder of our destination,” Senior Vice President of Marketing Charles Harris said in a statement. “It’s been a dream to work with a like-minded partner and similar destination to tell great stories together, all with the same goal in mind—bringing new visitors to our destinations.”
Vancouver receives more than 400,000 visitors from California annually. The count was up 9.7% over 2015, according to Tourism Vancouver Marketing Manager Candice Gibson.
“Paired with strong air access between Vancouver International Airport and John Wayne Airport, a partnership with Anaheim just made sense,” Gibson said.
Retail Moves
Marketing Director Edie Trott has left her post at the District at Tustin Legacy to serve in a similar role at the Gateway in Salt Lake City, Utah. Vestar and joint-venture partner Oaktree Capital Management LP last year acquired the 623,205-square-foot open-air retail, residential, and office complex in Salt Lake City. The Phoenix-based real estate company also owns the District.
Shannon Campbell this month took over for Trott, who also worked as South Coast Plaza’s public relations manager.
Campbell worked with Irvine Company Retail Properties as senior manager of marketing from 2004 to 2014 and then as marketing consultant until joining Vestar.
Uber, Kia at All-Star Game
Kia Motors America Inc. in Irvine, the official automotive partner of the NBA, partnered with Uber Technologies Inc. to offer free rides during All-Star weekend in New Orleans Feb. 15 to 18.
Fans entered the “Kia All-Star Ride” sweepstakes via the Uber app. Winners were picked up in specially outfitted Kia vehicles, and also had a chance to participate in “an interactive in-vehicle game” to score gift cards, NBA jerseys and tickets to the NBA All-Star Game.
“This year marks Kia’s 10th season in partnership with the NBA,” Director of Marketing Communications Kimberley Gardiner said in a statement. “As we celebrate that milestone we want to thank and reward basketball fans with the chance for free, interactive rides at one of the league’s signature events.”
Bits & Pieces
Casanova/McCann in Costa Mesa is on a team that will handle Chevrolet’s social media efforts. “We are so excited,” said agency Chief Executive Ingrid Smart. “We had a consolidated solution between [Commonwealth, Weber Shandwick] and Casanova. We pitched it out of our Costa Mesa and Detroit offices.” … Digital Map Products in Irvine, provider of cloud-based location technology and data solutions, hired Tim Tyrell-Smith as vice president of marketing, a new position. … The National Bicycle Dealers Association is moving its headquarters from Costa Mesa to Boulder, Colo. The nonprofit association promotes the interests of specialty bicycle retailers and also licenses Bicycle Retailer & Industry News in Laguna Hills from San Juan Capistrano-based Emerald Expositions, owner of Interbike expo. … GALLEGOS United in Huntington Beach named Andy Lund design director and promoted Chris Mellow to executive director of activation. Lund served in a similar role in Carmichael Lynch’s Minneapolis office prior to joining GALLEGOS United. … The Chicago Auto Show and the Word of Mouth Marketing Association recognized Cypress-based Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. with a Driving Engagement Award for its “Kids Talk Safety” campaign. … Social Costa Mesa restaurant hired Powerhouse Public Relations in Santa Ana to provide “a wide scope of public relations, marketing and social media support.”
