The Las Vegas Sun reports that a marketing committee of the Nevada Tourism Commission is recommending the department find creative ways to do more with less in the face of budget cuts. Budget cuts already have resulted in the state discontinuing its advertising and marketing contract with DRGM Advertising of Reno, which produced the state’s award-winning “icon” ad campaign in 2007, canceling the “Nevada Passage” made-for-TV syndicated program and eliminating the state’s TV ad budget. Representatives of the commission’s marketing staff told the committee they would do more with low-cost social media Web sites such as YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, Flicker and Twitter. The committee said the state needs to work closer with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority to coordinate campaigns.
Terry Jicinsky, senior vice president of marketing for the LVCVA, who sat in at the committee meeting, recommended the state modify its marketing message to reflect the need for people to get away during the down economy. The LVCVA is employing a similar ad message in its advertising efforts.