Canadian Affair has appointed Bell Pottinger Business & Brand (BPB&B) to handle its brand, consumer and travel trade public relations account in the UK.
The UK's leading tour operator to Canada has appointed the agency with a brief to increase awareness of its extensive flight and holiday programme to Canada, which has doubled in capacity since last year.
Canadian Affair will this summer offer over 400,000 flight seats to seven Canadian cities from eight UK airports - including new services from London Heathrow, Exeter, Newcastle and Edinburgh. The operator was acquired by Canadian travel conglomerate, Air Transat, in August 2006.
BPB&B is establishing a UK-wide press office for the tour operator, and will run a media and public relations programme that incorporates activities such as press briefings, press trips for key media and promotions in regional media close to its UK airports.
Kathryn Munro, Canadian Affair's Communication & Marketing Director, says: "The Bell Pottinger team demonstrated clear knowledge of the travel sector in the pitch process which, coupled with their strategic approach, made them our obvious partner of choice."
David Wilson, Chairman of BPB&B, says: "We're delighted to be working with Canadian Affair, whose operation provides the widest range of flight-only and package holiday products to Canada. We aim to raise awareness of the brand with key media, not least in the regions - underpinning the fact that with such a wide range of regional operations, there's a direct service to Canada right on people's doorstep."
Canadian Affair is the latest in a number of travel and transport companies to be handled by Bell Pottinger. Its new specialist Aviation & Transport practice also represents the Dubai-based Emirates Airline and its UK tour operator arm, Emirates Tours, plus Belgian carrier VLM Airlines and Budget Rent-A-Car. It also represents Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, a major account won in 2006.
The Canadian Affair account will be overseen by David Wilson, assisted by Account Director, Charlie Hampton.
ENDS
For further information contact: David Wilson on 0207 861 2445 (direct) or for more information on Bell Pottinger visit www.bell-pottinger.co.uk
