Leading advertising and marketing firm Ardmore has been appointed as the UK media buyer for the tourist body of Canada’s iconic British Columbia province, following a new transatlantic partnership with a Canadian agency.
The collaboration, with Vancouver-based Wasserman, is delivering a tourism campaign for Destination British Columbia, the destination management organisation for Canada’s westernmost province, known globally for its dramatic coastline, mountain ranges, ski resorts and unique wildlife including grizzly bears.
The campaign delivered by Ardmore and Wasserman focuses on highlighting British Columbia as an adventure destination for UK holidaymakers who as a result of the pandemic have a strengthened desire to reconnect with nature and harness its powers of rejuvenation – whether in the mighty Canadian Rockies or the coastal Great Bear Rainforest.
Cam Landell, president at Wasserman, commented on the partnership with Ardmore and the collective vision for the Destination British Columbia campaign; “The Destination British Columbia campaign reminds active adventurers and more relaxed sightseers that they belong in the wild, and inspires them to awaken a deeper connection with nature and regain perspective of what it means to be alive. As they explore the sights and unique places in this land of astonishing natural scenery, and experience the remarkable cultural diversity in the province, from Indigenous art and storytelling, to Chinese culinary tours, they will also find new sides of themselves. We are delighted to partner with Ardmore on the campaign to share this message with those in the UK who are drawn to the uniquely transformative power of British Columbia. As one of the UK’s leading independent agencies, and with experience in working with a long list of notable tourism clients, Ardmore is well placed to navigate the UK media landscape, deliver a strategic and impactful campaign for British Columbia, and showcase the world-class experiences it has to offer travellers from the UK.”
Ardmore’s partnership with Wasserman comes as a result of a global consortium of advertising and marketing agencies which have come together to form a hub that harnesses the creativity, local expertise and diversified capabilities of creative teams around the world.
Worldwide Partners Inc. (WPI), of which Ardmore is a longstanding partner and shareholder, is a worldwide network of more than 70 independent agencies in over 40 countries, who work together as one to deliver meaningful campaigns for a range of global clients.
Alison O’Neill, media director at Ardmore, added; “We highly value our partnership with Wasserman and with the Worldwide Partners Inc network, which allows us to share and collaborate with like-minded agencies across the world. The UK is a global hub for our industry with thousands of agencies across the country, and to be appointed as the lead media buyer for Destination British Columbia is an incredible achievement. International contract wins like this show that our business is competing at the very highest level and we’re proud to represent the UK on the world’s media stage.”
Based in Holywood, County Down, Ardmore is a Campaign UK Top 30 regional agency representing a range of premier clients including Network Rail, Stena Line, Lidl, Dale Farm, Phoenix Natural Gas, Power NI, Translink, and National Trust.
Ardmore has been included in The Drum’s list of the UK’s Top 100 independent and in 2022 moved up to number 22 in the Campaign Top 30 list of best regional agencies in the UK.