UK theme parks from another point of view!
-
- Crofty
Alton Towers Marketing/PR Stunts Topic
Alton Towers Marketing/PR Stunts Topic.
After several topics this season alone regarding some clever and some not so clever marketing promotions/ media stunts we have decided to consolidate them into this handy, pocket sized topic. The main reason for this is simple, having so many different topics ends up with stale discussion and the same old points covered, having one topic will prevent people having to repeat themselves and will be a handy location to keep track of the numerous PR stunts that occur over the seasons.
I will merge all the recent topics here in due course.
:D :D
After several topics this season alone regarding some clever and some not so clever marketing promotions/ media stunts we have decided to consolidate them into this handy, pocket sized topic. The main reason for this is simple, having so many different topics ends up with stale discussion and the same old points covered, having one topic will prevent people having to repeat themselves and will be a handy location to keep track of the numerous PR stunts that occur over the seasons.
I will merge all the recent topics here in due course.
:D :D
New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
"Sunday Mercury" wrote:New Alton Towers ride TH13TEEN gets coated in bug repellent
Jun 26 2010
Alton Towers Resort announced today that it is introducing a natural insect repellent coating to its new rollercoaster TH13TEEN in a bid to stop riders swallowing an estimated 20 bugs a day at the theme park.
With the average man consuming 500g worth of insects in a lifetime, the park has revealed that visitors can swallow up to 5% of this during one day at the theme park because of the time spent open mouthed on rides. While swallowing insects is not often dangerous, the majority are likely to be flies and these can carry bacteria that cause illness. They are also surprisingly calorific with 20 flies the equivalent to a small bag of jelly beans.
In a move that coincides with National Insect Week, the park will begin trialling the use of natural essential oil of the lemon eucalyptus on its new ultimate ride TH13TEEN, in a bid to minimise the amount of insects swallowed and killed.
Morwenna Angove, sales and marketing director at the Alton Towers Resort, said ‘We’ve had a reported increase in the number of people swallowing insects, particularly on TH13TEEN as it’s based in a wooded area. We’re hoping the new repellant will help make our visitors’ experience more pleasant and also go some way to protecting British insect life’
[url=http://www.sundaymercury.net/news/midlands-news/2010/06/26/new-alton-towers-ride-th13teen-gets-coated-in-bug-repellent-66331-26731914/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]http://www.sundaymercury.net/news/midla ... -26731914/[/url]
Thanks to Screamscape for the heads up. Are proper national newspapers even bothering reporting this stuff anymore? Overkill...
-
- Crofty
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
Oh dear, they've resorted to going over old ground?
This was the subject of a radio campaign last year if I recall, although they didn't mention Bug repellent being used then.
They'll just keep churning this stuff out and if it gets picked up then it's a bonus I suppose. :roll:
This was the subject of a radio campaign last year if I recall, although they didn't mention Bug repellent being used then.
They'll just keep churning this stuff out and if it gets picked up then it's a bonus I suppose. :roll:
-
- Joelio
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
You could change the title to be less specific and have this as a PR port of call? However, thanks for the post :)
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
Im sorry but who in their right mind thinks of a PR Stunt like this?
Logically this is so silly, as why would people be attracted to visit somewhere where many people have complained of being pestered by insects. Obviously a number of the public would realise this is just a stunt, but the vast majority will actually believe they'll be in danger of swallowing insects!
Logically this is so silly, as why would people be attracted to visit somewhere where many people have complained of being pestered by insects. Obviously a number of the public would realise this is just a stunt, but the vast majority will actually believe they'll be in danger of swallowing insects!
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
The fact that Alton Towers, Thirteen and the Dark Forest are receiving publicity means that this has been a successful stunt.
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
Indeed, whilst the it may all sound silly, by doing these stunts it keeps the ride fresh in the publics mind. These stunts are also a cheap way of doing so. Remember TV advertising costs a hell of a lot of money for a 30 second advert, and it would be hard to justify the ongoing cost of TV advertising throughout the season if there are other options which are more financially viable which can be used either in conjuction with or other than TV advertising.
Some are silly, some are cringeworthy, especially the "Ban" ones, but it works so it will continue. :D
Some are silly, some are cringeworthy, especially the "Ban" ones, but it works so it will continue. :D
Sent from my ZX81 via Time Travel
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
Why is there never a moderator when you need one? :lol:
It's already been discussed here [url=http://forum.towerstimes.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=68&t=26285&p=526732#p526732" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]viewtopic.php?f=68&t=26285&p=526732#p526732[/url]
It's already been discussed here [url=http://forum.towerstimes.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=68&t=26285&p=526732#p526732" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]viewtopic.php?f=68&t=26285&p=526732#p526732[/url]
-
-
Spike
TT Member
- Posts: 4287
- Joined:
- Location: Curled up in Nemmies claws. Sound asleep and purring like a kitten.
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
Mess about with your gun too much and it's going to back-fire eventually. :roll:
MY HAND IS A DOLPHIN!!! >:O
*Honest Cint!*
-
-
CoasterCrazyChris
TT Member
- Posts: 2758
- Joined:
- Location: Bristol
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
To me these publicity stunts are lowering the status of the ride in my mind - it is degrading the ride and its theme.
:|
:|
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
I am sick of hearing about these quite frankly ridiculous PR Stunts all the time!
Complete and utter tosh!
Complete and utter tosh!
-
- DiogoJ42
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
Took the words right out of my mouth, Kryn.
:no:
The joke got old years ago.
:no:
The joke got old years ago.
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
The PR stunts are great for Alton Towers, it's free advertising and gets people talking. The park can't afford to run multi-million pound advertising campaigns all season and things like this really keep the park in the media.
I think Alton Towers marketing has become quite clever in recent years, quickly responding to events in the 'real' world, and despite any negative opinions amongst the fanboys, it's having a great impact on the parks head count and balance sheet!
The insects story has been followed up with some radio adverts too.
I think Alton Towers marketing has become quite clever in recent years, quickly responding to events in the 'real' world, and despite any negative opinions amongst the fanboys, it's having a great impact on the parks head count and balance sheet!
The insects story has been followed up with some radio adverts too.
-
- Blaze
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
The thing is, there's just too many now, they don't have any effect on me. If they limmited themselves to say, 4 or 5 a season, maybe one or two during winter, it would be great, but every other hour and they loose their effect.
That said, I think we take them all too seriously, they're only a bit of fun.
That said, I think we take them all too seriously, they're only a bit of fun.
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
Surely if you are getting fed up with seeing these 'PR Stunts', how about just ignore them? Get off TTF and do something else? Skim past them in the papers?
If they are getting to you that much, maybe it's time you did something else? Right?
I think they're great. Would love to see more of the knome type stunts. They were genious!
If they are getting to you that much, maybe it's time you did something else? Right?
I think they're great. Would love to see more of the knome type stunts. They were genious!
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
As silly as myself and others find these publicity stunts, you have to applaud Morwenna for coming up with them. I mean come on, seriously, bug repellent, testing hats? Who could really think that up... And as long as the publicity is working (which it is), I don't think Alton + Merlin care too much. Besides, all this money is gonna go to future attractions *coughSW7cough* :twisted:
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
"bennyboy-92" wrote:As silly as myself and others find these publicity stunts, you have to applaud Morwenna for coming up with them. I mean come on, seriously, bug repellent, testing hats? Who could really think that up...
Someone whose full-time job it is to come up with this stuff and who has a degree in marketing?
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
"Blaze" wrote:That said, I think we take them all too seriously, they're only a bit of fun.
Nail. Head. Hammer.
Silly PR stunts are not meant to be taken seriously - and a good chunk of TTF is suffering from a major epidemic of taking things too seriously at the moment! It's a good job that general joe public are a lot more open to a good laugh!
Morwenna is a Marketing Director - she's responsible for monitoring, managing and building the parks brand, appeal and general reputation. She won't be directly responsible for the creative side of things, or have directly come up with these ideas - she receives far too much creative recognition amongst these forums!
Alton Towers use numerous advertising and marketing agencies to do creative work, and their direct PR is managed by a company called Frank PR.
-
-
Spike
TT Member
- Posts: 4287
- Joined:
- Location: Curled up in Nemmies claws. Sound asleep and purring like a kitten.
Re: New PR stunt: people swallowing insects on coasters.
"haydn!" wrote:and their direct PR is managed by a company called Frank PR.
Maybe we should talk to Frank then. 8-[
MY HAND IS A DOLPHIN!!! >:O
*Honest Cint!*
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 226 guests