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Travel Montana splits advertising contracts between Great Falls based Wendt Kochman and Bozeman-based Mercury Advertising

Montana’s tourism promotion arm has awarded two major advertising contracts to separate Montana agencies.

By BETH BRITTON
Tribune Business Editor

The contract for Travel Montana’s $600,000 to $800,000 winter promotion was awarded to Bozeman-based Mercury Advertising, and its $1.2 million to $1.6 million warm season contract will go to Great Falls’ Wendt Kochman, said Sarah Lawlor, Travel Montana consumer marketing manager.

Earlier this year, Travel Montana’s request for proposals, or RFP, process ended in protest when Mercury Advertising officials argued that Wendt Kochman, the firm that held the full Travel Montana contract for 14 years, did not follow the rules.

Wendt Kochman officials distributed a self-promotional piece to the RFP committee members after the RFP was released, Mercury co-owner Jamie Willett-Hurd, the daughter of Showdown Ski Area owner George Willett, argued at the time.

A five-member committee had assigned Wendt Kochman the top score, but after Mercury’s protest the RFP began again from scratch. As a result, Travel Montana officials restructured the way it awards its advertising contract, which ranges from $2.2 million to $2.6 million annually.

"In the past, we’ve never had (an advertising) message that went year-round. They are completely separate messages, and that’s why we could split up the RFPs," Lawlor said. "If in our planning we find that it would be beneficial to have a cohesive link, we can craft that between the two agencies."

The contracts are for one year and are renewable for up to seven years, she said. A third portion of Travel Montana’s advertising plan, publicity, will be handled in-house, Lawlor added.

"This is something we have worked toward for quite a while, and it’s an industry we know a lot about," Willett-Hurd said. "We basically had more experience in the ski industry than our competitors. We are excited for the opportunity."

Mercury Advertising handles work for Big Sky Resort and Showdown, as well as for the chambers of commerce in Red Lodge and Bozeman.

Wendt Kochman President and CEO Carl Kochman said the Travel Montana contract — combined with an overall slowdown in advertising — was one of many reasons the firm laid off six employees this week.

"Obviously any time you lose a $600,000 piece of business it’s a big deal," Kochman said. Travel Montana remains one of Wendt Kochman’s largest clients.

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20030702/localnews/577628.html

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