Burnett dealt a blow as STB goes to BBDO

<p>Leo Burnett Singapore has been dealt a blow after losing a blue </p><p>chip account it has handled for 27 years. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Following a pitch, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) awarded its </p><p>meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) business to </p><p>BBDO Singapore. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>However, Burnett retained the design portion of the account. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"This year and last year, we won 12 creative awards for STB, so we </p><p>didn't feel comfortable about changing the strategic and creative </p><p>direction," a senior Burnett source told MEDIA. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>BBDO Singapore MD Arto Hampartsoumian said, "STB has now tasked us with </p><p>formulating a global campaign to promote Singapore as a premium location </p><p>for organising conferences." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The MICE account, said to be worth between S$3 million and </p><p>S$6 million, also has a new media agency in the form of BBDO's </p><p>media dependent OMD. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>It was previously handled by Starcom. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The other parts of the STB business - the long haul and short haul </p><p>accounts, worth a total of S$25 million, to promote international </p><p>tourism to the Lion City - remains with Batey Ads. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>