Dubai, 10 November, 2004: Following the successful Gulf Brands of the Decade Awards in 2003, Gulf Marketing Review, one of the region's preeminent marketing and business magazines, is launching an annual Marketing Effectiveness Awards.

The aim of the awards is to recognize marketing excellence, build industry understanding of what marketing excellence means and help individuals and organizations improve the quality of their marketing performance. "We believe that these Marketing Effectiveness Awards will build on our platform of education and quality in marketing activity as they will be results oriented with effectiveness being measured against initial objectives and other quantifiable factors," commented Barry Gray, Managing Director of event organisers, Gray Business Communications.

In an awards structure which needs to be transparent and comprehensive, the quality of scrutiny and a high standard of judging is imperative. The organisers bring together a panel of jurors comprising senior marketing practitioners and academics from the Middle East and Europe including Ron de Pear - Billets International, Lance de Masi - American University of Dubai, Anita Mehra Homayoun - Dubai International Airport DCA and Ramzi Raad - TBWA RAAD. All respected , qualified and experienced within their respective marketing fields.

"It is refreshing to see an organisation raising the standard of conventional awards and factoring in the most important aspect of marketing communications - the results. I for one am looking forward to travelling to Dubai and contributing to the judging process for this industry pioneering endeavour," commented Mr Ron de Pear, Chairman of Billetts International, a leading Europe-based media auditing organisation.  

The awards, which are structured to acknowledge the depth and breadth of the marketing function, incorporate a total of twelve categories which apply to all companies, regardless of geographic location, industry or size.

Companies, agencies and brand guardians will be able to make their nomination in any of ten categories including new brand launch, new product launch, brand revitalization, brand alliances, integrated communications, public relations, customer loyalty, government/semi-government marketing, marketing achievement large company and marketing achievement small/medium company. In addition Young Marketer of the Year will be open to individuals to nominate themselves for significant marketing achievement, while Marketing Achievement of the Year will be selected by the panel of judges from the nominations submitted.

The Marketing Effectiveness Awards will be announced on February 9th at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, organised under the auspices of Gulf Marketing Review, and sponsored by leading brands in the region including HSBC, The Economist, Nokia, Synovate, Arjo Wiggins and BBC World.

Submissions for the various categories will be open until 9 December 2004. Further information on the event and registration details can be accessed on the organiser's website www.gmr-events.com or by calling Gray Business Communications on +9714 349 6663.

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For further information please contact: 
Arafaat Ali Khan/Sandy Barqawi       
Landmark Public Relations     
P O Box 502182,
Dubai Media City,
Dubai,
U.A.E.
Tel.: (009714) 391 2140/1/2/3/4  
Fax: (009714) 390 4345

© Press Release 2004