Savages by Don Winslow is the best pop fiction book of the summer. Hands down. How did I find it? The power of PR. A great review in the New York Times convinced me that I needed to order this book … despite the fact I have stacks of unread books scattered throughout my home. And I’m glad I did … from the first two-word chapter, the book grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. Its characters jump to life off the page. And the action is non-stop. I could hardly put the book down. So if you’re heading to the beach this summer, you may want to give it a try. And kudos to the publicist who got the review that got me to buy the book. Job well done.
It’s July, and recession or not, summer travel season seems to be peaking. Every click I make lately has me counting down the days until my next weekend getaway. Here’s a quick overview of online resources to check out before you leave on your next trip.
Getaway Gear
- Have you seen InStyle’s recommendations on your must-have travel items under $20? The straw fedora is definitely in my future.
- Before my last trip I couldn’t help but treat myself to a new set of luggage I found on Overstock. They have really affordable deals for all your travel needs, and if you sign up for their e-newletter, those deals are delivered weekly right to your inbox.
- A killer playlist is always a must-have before any trip. I love the new iTunes Genius feature to do the work for me.
Sumer Vacation Social Networking
- If you’re currently planning your next trip, you’ll want to read this article on Top 4 Travel Social Networks to help with recommendations destination research..
- Once you depart for your trip, or upon your return, be sure to leverage your existing online identities to share your experience (Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, foursquare).
- According to Travelocity’s recent poll, more than half of travelers share vacation information via Social Media. Be sure to check out their tips for safe travel sharing.
Best Travel Sites
Bonus Tip: Don’t forget to stay on top of your frequent flier miles or hotel points for free stays/travel, too.
With so much information at your fingertips, it’s hard to imagine how people planned trips before the Internet. Happy travels!
Signing up for the Birthright Israel trip is somewhat of an expected rite of passage for American Jewish youth/young professionals, without fully grasping everything you’re in for should you get past the application process and waist lists. For those who are unfamiliar, Taglit-Birthright is the gift of a 10-day educational trip around Israel for Jewish young adults. Getting approved and placed on a June trip with my best friend Carrie, we were beyond excited but mostly focused on efficiently packing for two weeks in the desert and planning our extension trip over the July 4th holiday to Istanbul.
The cab ride at sunrise to JFK and 11 hour plane ride to Tel Aviv were surreal, with neither of us able to fully grasp what we were about to embark upon. Meeting our 40 fellow participants, I couldn’t have predicted how close we would become within just a few short days. Our itinerary didn’t do the trip justice; you couldn’t have predicted the amount of distance and history we would cover and knowledge we would soak up in just 10 days. Now having been back in the states for a week, I’ve had some time to reflect, reminisce and culminate the (at least initial) top 10 moments of what I’m sure will continue to reveal itself as one of the most impactful and inspiring trips of my life:
1) Feeling of connection: Exploring the storied land I’ve been told about since my time in Hebrew school, meeting the people who comprise such a warm and welcoming country and connecting with other American Jews from around the country strengthened my connection to my own Judaism in ways I couldn’t have imagined
2) Shabbat on a Kibbutz: After five jam-packed days, we were in need of some serious R&R and our Shabbat evening, dinner, lounging by the Kibbutz’s pool and Havdalah service to close out our day of rest were just what we needed to rejuvenate and inspire
3) ‘The changing landscape’ discussion: Hosted by Israel Experts founder Joe Perlov, I learned more about the Middle East’s political, geographical and social conflicts in one hour than I walked in the room with. His impassioned, interactive presentation left me motivated with the need to delve deeper into the topic and an ownership of the problems and in finding a solution
4) Reflection at the Western Wall
5) Bus ride debates and history lessons
6) Listening to the passionate, Gospel rendition of the Shema (considered the most important prayer in Judaism) sang by our ‘counselor’ Gabi in the first synagogue atop Masada
7) Hearing a recording of David Ben-Gurion recite Israel’s declaration of independence in the room where it happened, and hearing what it means to the young Israeli soldiers who had just joined our group
8) Hearing the heroic and determined story of American First Sgt. Michael Levin’s service in the Israeli army at his grave in Mount Herzl cemetery
9) Climbing Mt. Masada to see the sun rise
10) Evening conversations over our stock of Israeli wine
It’s hard to imagine such an experience was a gift, and that I would walk away with so many more.
Unlike anything I’ve seen before, World Cup buzz has swept the U.S. this year. Nearly every restaurant on Brooklyn’s Smith Street offered a unique viewing opportunity, a special menu and international wine pairings to match. I am thrilled to see this new level of excitement.
This year, my husband and I decided to make a trip that coupled two of our loves – “football” and South Africa. To be clear, despite my adoration of the sport, I’m not a paint my face, jersey wearing, toot-my-Vuvuzela type of girl. I’m simply a person who played in her youth and appreciates the thrill of the game and the banter shared amongst fans around the world. For me, the 2010 World Cup has served as a much needed distraction from the headlines of man-made and natural disasters and political missteps. It has taken the spotlight away from each country’s flubs and flaws and offered a level playing field for spectators to gradually shape opinion and join in the excitement.
Highlights of my journey as a spectator included…
- 24-hour pit stop in Dubai: Unlike the US, Dubai does not televise the matches. Instead, they create fan zones and direct people to arenas/pubs scattered around the city. It’s at an arena that we viewed the US team play their final game of the Cup. Despite the heartbreaking outcome, it was fascinating to see hundreds of people, from every cultural background imaginable, all cheering for the “little engine that could.”
- Cape Town, South Africa: Tickets in hand, we made our way down Long Street to the stadium and giddily watched Spain’s command of the field and ultimate victory over Portugal. It was surreal to be at the site that merely days prior, served as a backdrop on the telly.
- One and Only Resort, Cape Town, South Africa: Unlike any of my past experiences, this was my very first World Cup red carpet, cocktail party. Though the people-watching was exceptional, and it was a treat to see the likes of Francois Pienaar, Sheikh Mohammed, Leo Dicaprio and Mick Jagger, the game itself was a tad difficult to focus on. The only time the crowd simmered down was sadly when Ghana missed a penalty shot against Uruguay and moments later the last African team standing had seen it’s last day on the field.
This weekend marks the conclusion of what has been an extraordinary adventure for me. I am grateful to have been a part of the World Cup and to have been able to take it in from such diverse vantage points in New York, Dubai and Cape Town. My only regret is seeing all of the fanfare come to a close.
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Last night was the first Cannes Lions award ceremony of 2010. It also marked the second year PR Lions were awarded.
Since arriving, I’ve anxiously anticipated this event and the chance to see great PR campaigns from agencies around the world. As I began sifting through the Lions short list in the morning, my excitement was tempered. I found myself asking the question many in the PR industry are now pondering: Why the low number of submissions by PR agencies?
The Cannes Lions committee noted that there was a 32% increase this year in PR entries. Yet many of the PR campaigns were submitted by non-PR agencies. Even more curious: the PR campaign that received the Grand Prix was actually submitted by an ad agency!
Check out my PRWeek blog post to hear more about the awards: http://www.prweekus.com/prweek-insider/section/1255/
Stay tuned for more insider info on Cannes Lions.
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So far, the Cannes Lions Festival has been very exciting! Between the awards ceremonies, seminars, classes, workshops and panel discussions, there’s so much creativity and inspiration all in one place. Being here is also a chance to see old friends in the industry and make new ones.
Speaking of friends, today I attended an interesting “Master Class” titled Five Secrets for Inspiring Your Clients, presented by Mary Beth West, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer of Kraft Foods, Inc. Mary Beth started her discussion with a bold statement, “I hate being called a client because it’s formal and clinical. I prefer to be thought of as a friend.”
Mary Beth values the power of personal relationships, which are at the heart of the partnerships she can count on. With every relationship, there’s give and take, and here are the five things Mary Beth is looking for from her agencies partners:
1) Teach us something new: Our role at agencies is to be out there, exploring the world and bringing that learning and creativity back into the company.
2) Don’t digitally bug us – talk to us:
Technology is all around us, but you can’t forget that emails don’t inspire, people and their ideas do. Be present!
3) Get to know us without blinders on:
Take the time to get to know who we are and what we do as broadly as possible.
4) Look outside the category for inspiration: Find an analog in a category the brand is aspiring to and get to know it. Mary Beth shared the work Kraft did with Crystal Light — how they looked at it as a health and beauty brand vs. a simple drink which inspired the team to reach outside the usual confines, and spend a day at the Fashion Institute of Technology, tour beauty and fashion retailers and work with a design team that specialized in beauty not beverages. As an agency that specializes in marketing-to-women, BRAVO for getting the Crystal Light brand’s “reinvigoration” so right!
5) Move it forward fast: In today’s marketing world, the need for rapid innovation is ever present. Mary Beth talked about “hot house” ideation sessions that Kraft has held where teams spend two or three days together and run through three steps, Stimulate, Ruminate and Activate, coming out ready to go with an idea.
Who could argue with a CMO wanting these five things from her agency partners? These “secrets” are at the core of building supportive and sustainable relationships with our client partners, and are tenets to live by.
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There’s an air of anticipation at MMC today as our staff prepares for the annual summer season kick-off weekend. Many of our teams have been burning the candle at both ends lately launching fabulous new products, partnering with celebrities and answering the question “what’s next?” for our clients. It’s time to put all the hard work in perspective and recharge!
I took a quick survey to see how our PR pros plan to celebrate Memorial weekend. Many of us are hopping on planes to explore cities like Paris, Chicago, Savannah or San Juan, but the majority is traveling locally to area beaches and family gatherings. Barbequing with family and friends is our favorite way to enjoy the arrival of summer!
Food is a hot topic at MMC, so I asked our teams about their favorite summer dishes. Hearing tales about perfectly grilled ribs, shrimp, hotdogs and burgers has me ready to fire up my beachside BBQ! Our summer salad favorites include “juicy watermelon mixed with feta and fresh basil” and “fresh tomatoes with mozzarella, basil and vinaigrette.” Lobster topped the list of seafood treats along with fresh seasonal fruit and berries.
But, the clear leader in Memorial weekend activities for MMCers is reading. Judging by the summer reading list, it’s easy to see where the creativity at MMC originates. Our interests are wonderfully varied covering everything from classics like the Great Gatsby to chick lit like Something Blue, travel preparation in A Hedonist’s Guide to Istanbul to the culinary inspiration of Ruth Reichl’s Garlic and Sapphire. Like many lying on the beaches around our nation, we will be following the actions of Lisbeth Salandar in the Millennium Series by Stieg Larsson and stepping back in time to 1960 Jackson, Mississippi with The Help. We’ll be laughing with Chelsea Handler and nodding along with Kelly Cutrone.
Some of us are even planning to sharpen our skills with the help of The Fussy Baby Book and Engage: Complete Guide for Brands and Businesses to Build, Cultivate, and Measure Success in the New Web.
We wish you a wonderful Memorial weekend filled with inspiration and relaxation!
Last week, I traveled to Costa Rica for vacation. It was my first visit to Central America and a country on my must-see list and I did extensive research on the best places to visit, activities to try and food to eat.
Also, other than Israel, it was the first country I had visited in a few years and was itching for a new cultural experience. After spending eight days there, I can see why it’s listed as one of the top travel destinations – it is ideal for anyone looking to have it all on vacation… adventure, nature and relaxation.
Here are some highlights from the trip:
- Rumbling rocks in Arenal: Arenal is one of the world’s top most active volcanoes and an incredible sight. While we didn’t get lucky enough to see the glowing lava eruption at night, we were able to hear the rumbling from lava rocks tumbling down the mountain on a hike at the base.
- Tree-tops in Monteverde: The best experience of the trip by far was zip lining over the canopy in Monteverde’s cloud forest. My heart was racing as I zipped into clouds, through the rain, with nothing between me and the tree-tops but my harness. It was a sight I’ll never forget.
- Sunset in Guanacaste: In my opinion, no vacation is complete without soaking up the sunset. On a small boat on the Pacific coast, I watched the sky turn from blue to shades of yellow, pink and orange as the sun dipped down.
Visiting another country, trying their food, speaking their language and seeing their sites is the ultimate form of inspiration for me, which will come in handy as I head into planning season for some of my clients. Onto the next adventure!
I’m writing this from the Worldcom Annual General Meeting in Shanghai.
What an exciting time to be in this city with our Worldcom partners from around the world. The World Expo has 400,000 visitors a day and the growth and development in this country is mind boggling.
James McGregor, author of “One Billion Customers: Lessons from the Front Lines of Doing Business in China,” was one of the presenters. He’s an American who has lived in China for more than 20 years and a former Wall Street Journal bureau chief in Taiwan and Mainland China.
Here are some of the interesting facts about China we learned from him as well as some of our colleagues from Asia.
China was not prepared to take on the global leadership role it’s been asked to assume since the world economic crisis. Because China has such aggressive ambitions for development in its own country, McGregor predicts that it will be challenging for China to “put what’s good for the world in front of its own agenda.”
The cost of Chinese goods and labor are increasing. China will not be able to continue to afford to sell goods as cheaply as in the past.
Traditional media are very vibrant here, despite continued control by the Communist Party. McGregor believes that governmental censorship won’t change for a long time.
Think the internet and social media aren’t important here? Think again. China accounts for 20 percent of all internet usage globally. While YouTube, Twitter and Facebook are blocked in China, social media is alive and kicking. The Chinese have developed their own social networking platforms like QQ.com. Like practically every other global market, bloggers are growing in importance and the government is having a difficult time controlling their influence.
Chinese companies are eager to understand how do to business in Western markets but have a ways to go in learning the value of building a brand. Traditionally, they’ve focused on increasing sales and market share and consider the long term investment in brand building too “intangible.” While they understand the value of luxury brands, many manufacturers feel that a brand is only a “name on a box.” This is expected to change in the next 10 years and we have a fantastic opportunity to help our Chinese colleagues understand Western-style marketing.
But there are many upsides to this mindset. One is the speed at which things happen here. In the last two years, for example, the government has built 10 subway lines in Shanghai. And we’re still waiting for that Second Avenue subway line to be built in New York!
Anyone who knows me knows this: I’m a sucker for a deal. Offer me something with a discount, and I’m almost sure to buy it. Heck, I’ve even been known to purchase asparagus (which I hate) when it’s on sale. So when friend and colleague Scott Slattery approached me to make him a bona fide New Yorker and bring him to his first Broadway show, it was only natural that the first thing I did was check for a coupon. Hey, this city’s not cheap! And I wasn’t overly familiar with the show, “Next to Normal,” outside of the fact that it had won a few Tonys last year.
Well, thank you, MMC for enrolling us in Plum Benefits, which provides discounts to various forms of entertainment, like plays and sporting events. With this service, it’s rare I pay full price to a Broadway play anymore… in fact, doing so has become almost become unjustifiable!
And I’m not the only one who thinks so. A report released earlier this week from Valassis, shows coupon usage is continuing to increase, despite the growing belief that this recession is over. So how can consumers get the value they’re seeking? And how should discounts be doled out? While a coupon simply seems like money saved to shoppers, for us PR folks, it’s a great opportunity to reach consumers and provide an appreciated service. As much as I’d like to encourage mass couponing to satisfy my own shopaholic tendencies, I know better. Before couponing, first consider the objective and ensure it’s the right approach.
On many of our Brands’ Facebook pages, coupons are in high demand. Giving away coupons in response seems obvious, but we used the opportunity to tell our fans we are listening to them. We developed various approaches to surprise and delight with unexpected giveaways and drive product interaction through rewards for posts. Now, our communities are active and flourishing, showing how couponing can be a strong opportunity to make an impact and engage people with Brands.
Take me and “Next to Normal.” I wouldn’t have seen it without the discount. (Sorry Scott). But the show was so fantastic, I’m already planning on going back, and even better for its producers… going back with friends. Because I received a small percentage off, I’ve now become an advocate. And in that spirit, here’s my pitch: “Next to Normal” is a must-see. Bold and moving, you’re sure to cry. Probably more than once. This intense tale of a dysfunctional family striving towards somewhere “next to normal,” will leave you wonderfully surprised at what you just experienced on Broadway. The pop rock music and shifting set energize and excite as forcefully as the story itself. So go, blog readers, and let yourself be moved. Just don’t forget to check for a coupon code first!
