An ad campaign that lowers your blood pressure - "Pure Michigan" returns

[Bozita]

http://freep.com/article/20100303/NEWS06/100303025/1319/9.5M-OKd-for-Pure-Michigan-ads

POSTED: 11:20 A.M. MARCH 3, 2010
Senate OKs $9.5M for Pure Michigan campaign
BY CHRIS CHRISTOFF
FREE PRESS LANSING BUREAU CHIEF


LANSING — The state Senate today approved $9.5 million to continue the Pure Michigan television ad campaign, amid pleas from the tourism industry to spend much more.

The money will allow the state to spend a total of $15 million on the campaign — half of what was spent last year. The award-winning ads feature the voice of Michigan-born actor Tim Allen exalting the state’s golf, water, trees and beaches.

The bill goes to the House, where intense lobbying by tourism businesses is expected to try to boost the amount of state money for the ads.

Senate Republicans defeated a Democratic amendment to raise another $13 million for the campaign by imposing a $2.50-a-day fee on all rental cars at airports and hotels.

Sen. Nancy Cassis, R-Novi, whose Finance Committee approved the compromise funding plan, said the financially strapped state cannot afford more money for a tourism campaign.

“Emotionally, there is no doubt that these Pure Michigan ads are first-class and inspiring,” Cassis said. But she sharply questioned results of a study that concluded the Pure Michigan campaign lured 1.8 million visitors from outside Michigan to the state last year — one third of them from beyond the Great Lakes region.

The study, commissioned by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, was conducted by Longwoods International, a Toronto-based tourism research firm.

more...

click and kick back with ...
http://www.michigan.org/topics/pure-michigan-ads/default.aspx

[Bozita]

1. This parody cracks me up ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-aGx6ctttI