Sources say these agencies are shoo-ins given their political connections; however, the client could not be reached at press time.
Smascomm, which handles TM for East Asia, including China, is expected to pick up business for North Asia. TBWA\ISC will retain Europe and gain South Africa. Sen Media will hang on to media buying duties in West and South Asia. Other parts of the business - domestic, South Asia, Asean and events - have not yet been decided.
The news follows the client’s decision to cut its agency roster from 11 to nine (Media, 3 September). About 100 agencies are said to be pitching for the business.
TBWA-ISC's PR Director Yeannie Quah, commented: "ISC is re-tendering for its Tourism Malaysia contract solely based on its record of having won more than 25 top international creative and marketing awards for its work on 'Malaysia: Truly Asia' ever since it conceived and developed the campaign in late-1999".
Incumbents tipped to grow hold on TM
KUALA LUMPUR - Tourism Malaysia (TM) is expected to award a chunk of its RM150 million (US$44 million) advertising business to incumbents TBWA\ISC, Smascomm and Sen Media.
