What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, is one of the most effective taglines in modern day advertising and marketing.
It has literally brought millions, if not billions of tourists, and even more important, dollars to Las Vegas.
And I think it is time that Barrhead comes up with a brilliant marketing campaign to bring tourists into the region.
No offence to the people who came up with Aaron the Heron, but perhaps it is time that we take a look at revamping Aaron’s image or come up with something new.
I know, easier said than done. Often coming up with an effective marketing idea is a long and costly process, but that is not necessarily the case.
For example the Las Vegas campaign came about as a result of a brain-storming session between Las Vegas Tourism and its marketing agency R &R partners in 2003.
Nor would it necessarily cost a large amount to implement the idea, thanks to the world of YouTube and social media.
Why am I bringing this up now, after most people have already taken their yearly vacation?
Well it seems that I have fallen victim to one of these brilliant marketing ideas. As I sit here writing this column, I am wearing my new Peachland, B.C. Ogopogo T-shirt, which I purchased when I was on vacation in the Okanagan Valley a couple of weeks ago.
As many readers may recall, I lived in Peachland and the Okanagan Valley for many years, but like many locals I never bought in to it, figuratively or literally, the Ogopogo. Until now that is.
For those of you who don’t know, Ogopogo is the name given to the mythical creature, similar to the Loch Ness monster, that lives in Okanagan Lake.
Although Okanagan area First Nations have spoken about “N’ha-a-itk”, a fierce lake monster from before the time of European settlement, Ogopogo, really did not take off until a Kelowna civic employee came up with exploiting the legend as a way to bolster sagging tourism in the 1950s. At least that is what a former colleague told me who recently had the opportunity to talk with the individual responsible for me spending money on a T-shirt.
So let’s dust off our thinking caps and see if we can find our own version of Ogopogo to help bring people into our community and show them what we all know — that’s it a wonderful community with a lot to offer.
