Page 315 – The Media Network

DMS signs as sales partner for Kooora.com

February 2, 2014/0 Comments/in Regional News /by Team TMN

Digital Media Services (DMS), which serves as the digital arm of Choueiri Group, has been appointed as the exclusive media sales representative for digital sports publication, Kooora.com.

Kooora.com provides coverage of everything related to sports, from up-to-the-minute scores and news, in-depth and often controversial analysis, to team decisions, transfers and stadium reviews, information on referees, amongst other related topics. The site also features live matches, as well as rebroadcasts of major sporting events from TV channels.

“Kooora.com has swiftly grown to become the region’s leading website for sports, centred predominantly on the region’s long-standing affinity with football,” says Khalid Aldoseri, Founder, Kooora.com. “Today it has come to encompass all team sports, and a huge range of the top regional, as well as global competitions. As we move to enhance our leadership in the region, we are pleased to be partnering with DMS as our exclusive media sales representatives and look forward to a fruitful and prosperous journey ahead with them”.

Expressing his views on the newly drafted DMS and Kooora.com partnership, Pierre Choueiri, Chairman and CEO of Choueiri Group stated, “With digital continuing to grow at a remarkable pace in the region, we are very pleased to welcome the Middle East’s leading sports website to the DMS portfolio. Patnering with Kooora.com is a very important milestone adding a significant element to the diversified solutions that DMS offers agencies and brands. Our role, as always will be centred on optimising the marketing of this platform and ensuring its sustained growth as a premium digital advertising platform. We are extremely happy to have Kooora.com on board with us”.

BBC Good Food winners announced

February 2, 2014/0 Comments/in Award win /by Team TMN

The fourth annual BBC Good Food Middle East Awards took place on Wednesday evening at The Address, Dubai Marina. New category winners included Best New Restaurant, Doha, which was awarded to Market by Jean Georges, W Doha Hotel & Residences, Best Seafood Restaurant, which went to Bice Mare, and Best Experiential Dining, which was awarded to The Act Dubai.

“This year’s awards were a resounding success, with everyone who attended – not just the winners – having had a great time,” says Sudeshna Ghosh, Editor of BBC Good Food Middle East magazine. “The results were a mix of some surprise winners as well as some long-time favourites coming out on top.”

For a full list of winners, visit http://www.cpievents.net/bbcgf-awards-2013/2013-award-winners/

DPQ wins Pizza Express PR Account

February 2, 2014/0 Comments/in Account win /by Team TMN

Pizza Express has appointed DPQ Communications to oversee its PR activity for the UAE. Representing both the Jazz@PizzaExpress and Pizza Express brands, DPQ will cover all seven branches in the UAE.

“We’re really excited to have this brand on board,” says Katie Harvey, Co-founder and Managing Director, DPQ Communications. “The DPQ team love Jazz@PizzaExpress and we have some great announcements for the restaurant coming up.”

Aziza Communications wins Don Alfonso account

January 30, 2014/0 Comments/in Account win /by Team TMN

Aziza Communications has been appointed as PR representative for Don Alfonso 1890. The two-Michelin star Italian restaurant brand is due to open in mid-March in the Shangri-La hotel, Dubai, and is the fourth Don Alfonso 1890 restaurant to open, following launches in Macau, Marrakesh and Rome.

“We’re thrilled to add Don Alfonso 1890 to our growing portfolio of F&B clients,” says Sarah Jacotine, Account Manager, Aziza Communications. “We’re looking forward to working closely with the Frontline Management team on the launch of this exclusive restaurant and introducing the brand’s unique style of Italian cuisine to the UAE.”

Sephora appoints The Qode to manage GCC PR

January 28, 2014/0 Comments/in Account win /by Team TMN

The Qode has been appointed to represent French cosmetic chain Sephora as its PR agency in the Middle East. Account Director, Rania Kfoury, will oversee the account, that was previously held by Havas PR.

“Sephora represents the youthful and modern face of beauty,” says Rania. “Working on the exclusive brands Sephora has, as well as their own signature brand, fits into my special interest in the beauty industry, a passion I developed working with various beauty brands throughout my career.”

Katie Heskett joins Gulf News Magazines

January 28, 2014/0 Comments/in Movers & Shakers /by Team TMN

Previously Publisher at ITP Consumer Publishing for the Ahlan! Group of magazines and websites, Katie Heskett has joined Gulf News Magazines as Associate Publisher for the Women’s Lifestyle and Homes & Interiors brands.

Currently focusing on Aquarius and InsideOut magazines and websites, Katie is also working on new launches in 2014.

“After eight great years at ITP, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to take on a really exciting new challenge with a great team at Gulf News Magazines. The plans we have for Aquarius and Inside Out both in print and online – as well as the developments taking place overall at Gulf News Magazines – are inspirational and I’m looking forward to being a part of a market-leading publishing organisation.”

James Hewes, Publishing Director for Gulf News Magazines, said: “I am delighted to welcome Katie to the Gulf News Magazines team. I’m incredibly excited by her appointment and I know that she’ll be using her wealth of publishing expertise to take Aquarius and InsideOut to the next level. Katie’s appointment is just the first of a number of exciting developments planned for the next few months as we start a new phase in the development of Gulf News Magazines.”

OMD wins Beiersdorf digital account

January 27, 2014/0 Comments/in Account win /by Team TMN

Following a multi-agency pitch, Beiersdorf has selected OMD to lead, design and execute its comprehensive digital strategy. This move builds on the media services already provided by OMD, which include communications planning and investments, digital display, social media, performance marketing and analytics.

OMD’s approach was to identify an overarching theme that would strengthen the bond between the brand and consumers. To deploy this, OMD joined forces with another invited agency, Flip Media, using the fully integrated model they already operate on other shared clients. Haytham Zoghby will be assuming the leadership of the creative strategy and deployment for Beiersdorf, as OMD’s director of innovation.

“OMD has not only demonstrated a great passion for and understanding of our brand, as well as a very robust digital expertise, they’ve also surprised us with their ingenuity and resourcefulness,” says Naheel Abdelall, Marketing Communications Manager, Beiersdorf Middle East. “Together with Flip Media, they’ve demonstrated they have the kind of leadership, talent and performance to help us meet the goals we’ve set for ourselves, both qualitatively and quantitatively.”

Nadim Samara, Managing Director, OMD UAE & Lower Gulf, adds: “This appointment is a significant marker for us at OMD and, potentially, for the industry at large. Beiersdorf’s progressive view on pursuing a full-service digital solution across media, creative development, content generation, curation, operation and overall brand leadership, required us to organise ourselves, internally and externally, to lead the process.”

Ultratravel Middle East trebles circulation

January 27, 2014/0 Comments/in Regional News /by Team TMN

Ultratravel Middle East has announced it will vastly increase its circulation effective from the Spring issue, available from March 20, 2014. The magazine will treble its print run, with over 174,000 copies to be released in separate Arabic and English editions.

Two major newspapers will carry the bulk of distribution, with 109,000 Arabic copies being delivered with Al Ittihad and 65,000 English copies going out with The National. Additional copies are to be released in high-end golf resorts, spas and hotels.

“The increase in circulation reflects what an exciting market this is,” says Adam Portingale, Associate Publisher, Ultratravel Middle East. “Even if we halved our new circulation, it would still be by far the biggest luxury travel and lifestyle magazine in the region.”

AVIAREPS launches global PR platform

January 26, 2014/0 Comments/in New Launch /by Team TMN

AVIAREPS, a global leader in tourism, aviation, hospitality and trade promotion representation, has launched a Global Public Relations Platform specifically tailored for tourism, hospitality, airline and trade promotion entities seeking economical PR solutions. The platform, launched at the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) in Madrid, Spain, provides effective brand, product and service awareness activities among key industry players around the world, and is unique for the level of professional, multi-lingual PR services provided, the international outreach achieved, and the economic value at which the service can be provided.

“The AVIAREPS Global PR Platform now makes it economically viable for all tourism and hospitality entities big or small to have a truly international PR footprint,” says Michael Gaebler, Chairman & CEO AVIAREPS Group. We are able to offer such a professional yet economical PR service where others can not, as our offices around the world are self-owned, the professional skill sets we hold are in-house and not outsourced, and because of our tourism and aviation specialisation, each of our offices are naturally in regular contact with the local travel trade and industry related media in each of their markets of expertise.”

Through the AVIAREPS Global Public Relations Platform, press releases and key messaging are translated into nine key languages and disseminated to the tourism, aviation and international trade promotion industries’ key media by each of the 46 AVIAREPS offices around the world. Media clippings of the exposure achieved from each of the markets are also provided along with an overview of total PR values achieved on a monthly basis.

Getty Images expands UAE sports photography team

January 26, 2014/0 Comments/in Regional News /by Team TMN

Getty Images has announced the addition of two new sport photographers to its Dubai office, as the company looks to expand its offering of premium sport coverage and assignment work in the Middle East.

Award-winning photographer Warren Little joins from the London office, where he has been based for the past 14 years. Specialising in golf and rugby, Warren has represented Getty Images at some of the world’s biggest sporting events including the British Open, European Tour, the Rugby World Cup and at summer and winter Olympic Games. He has also worked on assignment for some of the biggest global brands including Nike, Adidas, Dunhill and Guinness and was awarded first prize in Sports Feature at the Press Photographer’s Year.

Francois Nel joins Getty Images from Gulf News, the largest English language newspaper in the Middle East, where he has been covering all the major events in Dubai for the past five year as a staff photographer. Previous to that he worked as a sport and news photographer at Die Burger Newspaper in Cape Town, in his home country of South Africa.

“It is a really exciting time for sport in the Middle East,” says Lee Martin, SVP Global Sports Business, Getty Images. “Some of the world’s major events are already held here and with the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the focus on sport is only going to intensify. As the world leader in sport photography, we already service this region with best-in-class coverage of its sporting events, which we then distribute globally. Warren Little and Francois Nel are both exceptional professionals and will be huge assets to Getty Images Middle East as we further expand our services in the region.”

As the official photographic partner to the IOC, Getty Images will be sending a team of 80 specialist sport professionals to cover the Sochi Winter Olympics. In addition to covering Opening and Closing Ceremonies in Sochi, Getty Images will cover all 16 featured sports and will capture moments from every medal event, uploading more than 2,000 images per day to gettyimages.com.