TQ bosses at loggerheads over campaign
Tuesday 2 November 2010
TQ bosses at loggerheads over campaign
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"Absolutely disastrous marketing." That's how former Tourism Queensland head Jim Kennedy describes TQ's latest campaign 'Queensland, Where Australia Shines', saying that the promotion is “not going to attract one visitor”.
"Anybody with a brain would realise they’re out of ideas if that’s the best they can come up with,” Mr Kennedy said in a recent interview.
But current CEO, Anthony Hayes, was quick to hit back at Mr Kennedy's remarks.
“I’m afraid much of the article (published in the Courier Mail) is quite ignorant, without any real understanding of the facts, and certainly lacking in any understanding of the aggressive sales and marketing activities we have undertaken in recent years,” he said.
Mr Kennedy said that TQ fell down by not selling its product well enough to travel agents and airlines. Mr Hayes sarcastically bagged the comment.
“Gee, that’s a good idea...why didn’t we think of that?” he said, adding that there has been a “strong retail focus” over the past 18 months.
"I could not be more proud of the work we have done here at TQ over the last couple of years," Mr Hayes said in a statement in 'Tourism on Q', TQ's weekly e-newsletter.
"Tourism Queensland’s marketing activities are based on far more than a single uninformed opinion."
So who do you agree with? Has TQ run out of good ideas, or is Mr Hayes on the money with his latest campaign? Let us know your thoughts.