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HOT Media Publishing launches new monthly

HOT Media Publishing will launch new Dubai guide, DXB City Expert on December 2, 2015. The new 80-page monthly guide will be available to dnata Travel customers with a circulation of 40,000 copies and will showcase Dubai’s must-have visitor experiences to inbound tourists through its print and digital versions.

“As a large travel company in the Middle East, dnata Travel welcomes over 3 million visitors to Dubai each year. It’s almost impossible to travel to Dubai without enjoying the services of one of dnata’s entities – even if you didn’t book with one of our international travel agency and holiday brands, you could be greeted on arrival by our Marhaba services, transfer to your hotel in one of our chauffeured cars, explore Dubai on one of our City Sightseeing buses, or enjoy one of our market-leading activities booked through Arabian Adventures,” says Iain Andrew, Divisional Senior Vice President, dnata Travel. “We love Dubai, and we want to make sure our guests love our home as much as we do. That is why we are launching the ultimate tourist guide to Dubai exclusively for our customers. DXB City Expert will be an edit of the city’s best restaurants, activities, events, shopping and tours, and will be handed and emailed to our customers. The guide’s monthly frequency, and vastly experienced editorial team, will ensure DXB City Expert is always up to date with the latest additions to this uniquely brilliant city of ours.”

Victoria Thatcher, Managing Director, HOT Media Publishing adds, “Following the ongoing success of World Traveller magazine, HOT Media is delighted to once again partner with dnata Travel to produce a publication for its customers. As we approach our 10th year of publishing in Dubai, we can’t wait to launch this exciting guide and ensure that dnata’s customers maximise their holiday experiences in our favourite city. DXB City Expert will showcase all that Dubai has to offer in a monthly format and will give Dubai’s tourism stakeholders unprecedented access to affluent Dubai visitors. The guide will reach visitors via multi platforms, both offline and online but, more importantly, it will reach them before they have even made it to their hotel, giving advertisers the chance to make a lasting first impression.”

Penelope Walsh leaves Time Out

Penelope Walsh has been appointed as the Online Editor for Hotelier, Caterer and Arabian Travel News magazines. Previously Eating Out Editor for Time Out Dubai for the last three and a half years, Penelope will continue to cover restaurant, bar, hotel and travel news across the region more in depth and with industry-relevant perspective.

She will focus on new openings of hotels and restaurants, industry appointments, new hotel and F&B operational features and relevant on-trade developments.

The Portsmouth Group hires Teesta Raha

Teesta Raha joins The Portsmouth Group as Consultant. In her previous position as Account Manager at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, she managed PR strategy for consumer, corporate, technology and finance accounts including Sony Professional, Intel, Coca-Cola, TetraPak and Meshreq.

In her new role as Consultant, Teesta will be responsible for all PR and creative communications strategy for a range of clients and include managing retainer accounts and select client projects from across the technology, corporate and consumer sectors.

Middle East PR Awards 2015 shortlist announced

Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) announces shortlist for the 2015 Middle East PR Awards set to take place in three weeks on December 14, 2015 at the JW Marriott Marquis. The MEPRA Awards Program is judged by peers and acknowledges the best in class in PR throughout the Middle East and is set to break records with the largest event year to date.

Entries for the awards are welcomed from businesses and individuals operating in the public relations sector across the Middle East. This year, fourteen categories are available which include; ‘Consumer Goods’, ‘Consumer Services’, ‘Healthcare & Services’, ‘Corporate Reputation & Image’, ‘Government Communications’, ‘Business to Business’, ‘Financial PR’, ‘Corporate Social Responsibility & Environmental PR’, ‘Corporate Social Responsibility & Environmental PR’, ‘Best Integrated campaign’, ‘Best Use of Social Media/Digital PR’, ‘Best use of Media Relations – consumer or trade’, ‘Best Employee Engagement’, ‘Best Live Event/Stunt’, ‘Agency of the Year’ and the ‘Dave Robinson Award – Outstanding Young Communicator of the Year’.

For more information and to register, visit www.mepra.org/mepra-awards/

 

IHC welcomes new Director of Social Marketing

Nihal Osman has joined IHC Integrated Communications as Director of Social Marketing. Previously Senior Communications Specialist at MBC for six years, Nihal handled all corporate and media relations including protocol management. She also oversaw the media buying and acquisition process and was Associate Producer for Arabs Got Talent and Arab Idol.

In her new role as Director of Social Marketing at IHC Integrated Communications, Nihal will handle all social marketing campaigns, traditional and digital including press releases, social media campaigns, SEO, brand activations and ground promotional campaigns as well as promoting IHC’s new Event Management department.

“I’ve chosen to join IHC because of their impressive portfolio and excellent work ethic,” says Nihal. “I am extremely excited to be working with IHC – their ability to combine both traditional and contemporary marketing – and bring them to life, is a real inspiration for me.”

Lucy Harvey promoted to Regional Director

Hill+Knowlton Strategies has promoted Lucy Harvey to Regional Director. Lucy joined the Hill+Knowlton Middle East team in 2010, as General Manager of the Abu Dhabi office and most recently as General Manager for the Dubai office where she also lead the region’s Marketing Communications Practice.

In her new role as Regional Director, Lucy will support operations, strategy and key client relationships across the wider Middle East region and will work across all eight Hill+Knowlton offices in the Middle East and within the Hill+Knowlton EMEA network.

“Hill+Knowlton has a unique regional network with fully owned offices in key Middle East locations, so I am particularly excited to be working with these talented and diverse teams in my new role,” says Lucy. “We’re all looking forward to creating more world-class and award-winning 360° campaigns in 2016.”

Effie MENA Awards winners announced

The seventh edition of the annual Effie MENA Awards hosted a total of 25 categories for entrants this year. There were 12 categories under ‘Product and Service,’ eight under ‘Specialty’ and a single category ‘Shopper Marketing.’ There was also a chance to win a ‘Grand Prix’ award and to have the titles ‘The Most Effective Marketing Team of the Year,’ ‘Most Effective MENA Agency Network of the Year’ and ‘Most Effective MENA Advertising Agency Office of the Year’, ‘Most Effective MENA Media Agency Office of the Year’ bestowed. To win an Effie Award, entrants need to impress the judges in four main criteria; ‘Strategic Challenge and Objectives,’ ‘Idea,’ ‘Bringing the Idea to Life’ and ‘Results.’

This year’s Grand Prix winner was Impact BBDO Cairo and OMD – Media Direction for the Sting Launch Campaign. Advertising agency FP7 received a double win and was awarded most effective agency office of the year and most effective agency network of the year. OMD Dubai won the title of most effective media office of the year.

“The high standard of entries combined with the rigorous and stringent evaluation procedures mean that it was a very tough competition indeed this year,” says Alexandre Hawari, Co-COE of Mediaquest Corp. “As organisers of the annual Effie MENA Awards, we are both honoured and delighted to have such a range of distinguished figures participating as judges in this year’s programme.”

Those who excelled as being the most influential entities in the region’s marketing sector for the past 12 months and who celebrated with a gold Effie MENA Award this year were:

–       Smartlife – FP7/DXB

–       Dominos – JWT KSA

–       Sony Mobile Communications – FP7/DXB

–       Chrysler ME – Publicis ME

–       Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) – Geometry Global

–       Emirates NBD – FP7/DXB

–       touch – JWT Beirut

–       Coca-Cola ME – FP7 DXB and Memac Ogilvy & Mather Dubai

–       Rani Float – Mindshare MENA

–       Quaker – DDB

–       Infiniti ME – TBWA/RAAD & Mindshare MENA

–       Sting – Impact BBDO Cairo & OMD- Media Direction

–       UN Women – Impact BBDO Dubai

–       Coca-Cola ME – FP7/DXB & Memac Ogilvy & Mather

–       Smartlife – Capital Group & FP7/DXB

–       Chipsy – Impact BBDO Cairo & OMD – Media Direction- Abla Fahita – JWT Entertainment & JWT

–       Fanta – FP7/DXB

–       Fanta – FP7/DXB & Power League Gaming

–       7UP – Impact BBDO Dubai & OMD

 

Amy Frengley joins Omnia

Branding and digital communications company Omnia has welcomed Amy Frengley to the role of Strategy Director. Amy previously worked as Managing Partner at Brandsmiths, part of the All About Brand network , and brings with her a wealth of experience in branding after years of extensive freelance work in Dubai. In her new role as Strategy Director, Amy will oversee all strategic direction and implementation of the agency’s key branding projects.

“After a number of years working in the region, I am delighted to be joining Omnia to flag a new chapter in the agency’s growth,” says Amy. “With a bolstered strategy offer, we can provide our clients with the insight and thinking that’s needed to develop brands with resonance and help them drive long term growth.”