AddingValue Blog

Fancy sleeping suspended among the tree tops?

We love the quirkiness of this five-star eco resort ‘E’terra Samara’ designed by Farrow Partnership studio . It consists of twelve tree-house villas nestled into Canada’s Bruce Peninsula forest, which is listed as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The tree-houses are designed to be suspended in such a way that they ‘hug’ the trees, rather than being nailed directly into the lofty, historical arbors, working in perfect harmony with the dramatic natural landscape. Stunning!

What’s the craic in Ireland?

Last week we were invited to a ‘Meet in Ireland’ workshop at the chic Corinthia Hotel London to discover what the Island of Ireland has to offer the world of events. I was intrigued to learn more about the green nation; a country not only renowned for its famous black beer Guinness, but a place steeped in tradition, history and diversity. The well-known friendliness of the Irish most certainly extended to my visit to the Corinthia, where welcoming smiles and passionate narratives of Ireland were entirely genuine and refreshingly unpretentious.

My delightful experience of Irish hospitality continued throughout the evening as my partner and I enjoyed a visit to the West End followed by Irish food, entertainment and overnight accommodation at the Corinthia. My un-denied passion for Ireland not only stems from my Irish ancestry, but the fact that the country has a magical beauty comparable to the breath taking scenery of the epic Lord of the Rings.

Whether you’re looking for cutting edge conference facilities in the heart of vivacious Dublin or stimulating incentive programmes on the stunning West Coast, Ireland has unprecedented potential which would particularly appeal to an international client looking for a balance between the modern city and traditional countryside.

Disney Make A Move To The Dark Side

Making waves in the social sphere, trending across twitter and causing a mixed response from fans and film stars alike the very recent $4 billion  (£2.48 billion) sale of the Star Wars franchise to Disney has caught most people off guard with the promise of episode 7 by 2015, the first in another trilogy.

Growing up with the original’s and in fact being born on the UK release of Episode 6 this news did send a small shiver up my spine having been totally disconnected from the more recent prequel episodes 1-3.

I was very keen to see that Disney having acquired such an iconic brand were quick off the mark utilising their new foray of characters in a new promotion aligning the new kids on the block. Kind of makes you wonder, what would Darth get up to after signing a new contract?

We shall be watching this space to see if Disney can turn around the fates of such an iconic if faltering brand inline with their recent Marvel successes,  “hmm clouded the dark side is”.

We don't believe you Mr Brand Owner, if you don't tell the truth, others will tell the truth for you.

Whilst we thought we were all working hard to help our clients to promote their products and services, sparking interest and enthusiasm - it turns out we could actually have been inciting riots!!

The latest report into the causes of last year's riots has suggested that "aggressive marketing" helped to fuel the unrest.

As reported in Marketing this week The Riots, Communities and Victims Panel said a range of factors were behind the outbreak of disorder, but it also highlighted the role played by consumerism.

A survey of those affected by the August riots found that 85% of people feel advertising puts pressure on young people to own the latest products.

So should we all work less hard to ensure a more peaceful Summer on the streets?? Try selling that to the clients :-)

  The U.S. Army appears to be a leader within the concept of social video = social media + video content as marketing. 

  In 2008, a handful of production companies were invited to submit a proposal for a film project, possibly a documentary, that would bolster recruitment, honour fallen heroes and correct misleading fare, writes John Jurgenson of the Wall Street journal. "The SEAL ethos is a lifestyle of teamwork, hard work and academic discipline," says Captain Duncan Smith, who initiated the project. 

  The project gave the chosen production company access to SEALs and military assets, but carried no funding. For two years, the Bandito Brothers, "a full service media company that creates, produces, manages and distributes audio-visual content", had inside access to this elite and secretive force to create a film that starred real-life SEALs. The result: a feature film, "Act of Valor," that is not a documentary. It straddles reality and fiction, military messaging and entertainment.