Hilton live project for third years

As regular readers of this blog will know, every year the Creative Advertising programme team run live students projects with local businesses to give the third years the valuable experience of working on a real client brief. And nothing beats that feeling of seeing your final ad actually produced and proudly displayed on a billboard or in a magazine! Previous projects have included campaigns for St Marks shopping centre and North Lincolnshire Safer Neighbourhoods.

This year's live project is with DoubleTree by Hilton who have recently opened a very nice new hotel in Lincoln. In November last year, the third years were set a brief to advertise the rather splendid top floor Electric Bar and Restaurant via the strategic positioning of 'sophisticated escapism'.

The third year students worked on the brief with each team developing a creative campaign. Following an initial selection of the best ideas, the shortlisted students prepared and gave presentations in the hotel's business facilities to the client team that was made up of Niki Shepheard - Sales and Marketing Manager; Dan Ralley - Food and Beverage Manager; and Andy Hallam - Bars Manager.

After the very impressive and professional student presentations the client team (with tutors Gyles and Mike) then cogitated and deliberated, eventually decided which campaign they thought was the best and most appropriate.

Niki, Dan and Andy considering all the campaigns

 Which campaign best answers the brief?

A few days later, all the shortlisted students were invited back to the Electric bar at the Lincoln DoubleTree by Hilton hotel to be thanked by the client team and the winning team was announced.

The shortlisted students with the client team in the Electric bar

The wining campaign was created by creative team Maria Sousa and Sam Barber with the client having discussions with Mel Webb and Matt Parsons on potentially producing their campaign later in the year.

Maria and Sam will now work with Gyles, Mike and Niki to produce their campaign with a 'go live' date set for May. Exciting times!