Somerset Maugham famously referred to the French Riviera as a "sunny place for shady people."
Naturally, this recalls that annual marketing boondoggle known industry-wide as the Cannes festival. Official U.S. representative USA Today exuberantly calls it "the ultimate celebration of global creativity in marketing and communications."
This year's full registration fee is about $3,600 a head. And festival-suggested hotels include the five-star Hôtel Majestic Barrière, at up to $2,700 a night. (Thank goodness the euro's in the toilet, or it would cost even more.)
I got many comments last year when I wrote about financially struggling USAT's role, so you'd think I'd have it on my calendar this month. But thanks to the paper's Cannes twitter feed, I know it's just 11 days away.
Earlier: USAT orders second-quarter furloughs.
This year's full registration fee is about $3,600 a head. And festival-suggested hotels include the five-star Hôtel Majestic Barrière, at up to $2,700 a night. (Thank goodness the euro's in the toilet, or it would cost even more.)
I got many comments last year when I wrote about financially struggling USAT's role, so you'd think I'd have it on my calendar this month. But thanks to the paper's Cannes twitter feed, I know it's just 11 days away.
Earlier: USAT orders second-quarter furloughs.
Without Lee Jones, Rudd Jones Lori Erdos around, which of the gal pals will Banikarim have in tow this year? can't wait for the Hunkster to defend his worthless trip again this year.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a problem with the money spent as much as the complete lack of results that follow. Boondoggle pure and simple.
ReplyDeleteBanikarim shopping trip. Nothing more. What a complete waste of money. Hope there is something to justify the cost that will be explained on Gannett's new Purpose Wall.
ReplyDeleteAnd please don't tell me Hunke is going. That would be the ultimate insult.
ReplyDeleteJim, your hed is misleading. if you are on furlough you cannot do any company related biz.
ReplyDeleteWith the relaunch of USATODAY right around the corner, how can anyone in marketing justify being on a boondoggle right now?
ReplyDelete2:03 Thank you, and you are correct. It's a joke, however.
ReplyDeleteLet's see what Willie Nelson Banikarim will tweet from being on the Cannes road.
ReplyDeleteMaryam Banikarim fired all the USAT clowns running this Cannes Lions "sponsorship" joke that was created by Jackie Kelly and Craig Moon ten years ago. So who is nkw overseeing this hundred thousand dollar silliness now? Why none other than the Banimarim Micek marketing shipwreck. Au revoir.
ReplyDeleteThe former maeketing crew, including one of Jim's friends, used to go on this trip and yet I never heard a peep about their party behavior. Why the double standard? They all went last year.
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ReplyDeleteThe budget for the Cannes event for USAToday is just over $750,000, not including the expensive dinners that will flow through our expense reporting system. Myron M estimates it to run about a million dollars, which is slightly below the last two years of $1.1mm.
ReplyDeleteAt least we don't have to worry about Columbian hookers like the Secret Service refuses to pay... our folks are professionals at screwing people - and they do it because they love the work.
ReplyDeleteThe newsroom has been sending Laura Petrecca to supposedly "cover" Cannes awards and parties for years yet we've never seen a single story about it. I want her assignment.
ReplyDeleteSo they need to get rid of a couple of vps to cover the cost of Cannes. No big deal. Im sure it is worth every penny we shell out.
ReplyDeleteCant wait for Mariyam's insighful tweets. In French.