Airport Express appoints new agency
News Release: 23 April 2002 AIRPORT EXPRESS APPOINTS NEW AGENCY Airport Express has awarded RPM3 as its lead advertising agency. The agency has been appointed on a two year contract and will start work immediately on campaigns topping £1 million to develop and expand the Alliance's profile, and to grow its market share of the rail-air market. Launched in 2000, Airport Express is a trade marketing and sales alliance for the Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted Express air-rail links. The Alliance's services carry 20% annually of the terminating passengers using the South East's three airports. In partnership with the in-house marketing team, RPM3 will work with Airport Express's existing agencies: Carat, media buyers and planners; Citrus, web management and development; srf, PR agency, to create a comprehensive strategy that will enhance all marketing activity from the air-side airport posters through to direct communications with the Alliance's trade partners. RPM3 was selected from 70 companies who offered to tender through the OJEC procedure. Commenting on the appointment, Jeremy Job, marketing director said: "We were impressed with all the short-listed companies' proposals. However, RPM3 showed a particularly clear understanding of our brand values, whilst offering excellent creative solutions, sound CRM strategies, and all round experience. "Our campaign will involve a range of media, targeting the inbound airline passenger, and passengers departing the UK from either Heathrow, Gatwick, or Stansted airport. Our objective is to encourage a fundamental change in the way people travel to the airport by enhancing consumer's perception of public transport links. We believe our selected partners will support this unique opportunity and the products we offer." Mark Brandis, RPM3's managing director said: "This is our first rail account and it is especially exciting to be involved with these services as they represent the best examples in the world for rapid rail-air transfers. Our experience with travel and airports will assist us in creating a blueprint of their brand that can be used to fully integrate their key messages across all communications". Notes to Editors A photograph of Jeremy Job, Airport Express Commercial Director is available from Stephen Forster at srf on 01256 701010, or email your request to stephen@communicationmatters.co.uk Airport Express is a joint alliance between BAA plc and the National Express Group to promote and market the Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Express rail services. The alliance brings together the sales and marketing activities of all three operations to create a single point of contact for travel trade agents and tour operators. Since its creation in July 2000, Airport Express has introduced new streamlined ticketing systems and simplified booking procedures for the three rail services which link central London with its major airports which have resulted in contracts with a number of high profile ticket agents and tour operators. For further press information, please contact Stephen Forster/Nicki Sturzaker at srf on 01256 701010, or email stephen@communicationmatters.co.uk. or Claire Keane/ Mark Mann at the Airport Express press office on 020 7313 0308 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/23/20020423BIT00740/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/23/20020423BIT00740/wkr0002.pdf