NEW YORK STATE BEGINS CAMPAIGN
By Adnews Staff
The state of New York's economic development agency, the Empire State Development Corporation, began the first phase of a new "I Love NY" advertising campaign this week. The $40 million effort aims to bring visitors back to New York following the attacks on the World Trade Centre last month. A 60-second television spot created by Wolf Group of New York debuted on Wednesday night, airing simultaneously on more than 100 stations just before 8:00 p.m. The commercial features New York Governor George Pataki and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani inviting business travelers and tourists to "Come see New York united in its finest hour." A number of other New Yorkers also appear, including Ben Stiller, Nathan Lane, Bebe Neuwirth, Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa. The spot will run for six weeks in Albany, Baltimore, Binghamton, Boston, Buffalo, Burlington/Plattsburgh, Cleveland, Elmira, Hartford/New Haven, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Washington, D.C. and Watertown. In Canada it will run in Toronto and Montreal. Additional elements of the campaign include radio and print ads, outdoor and Internet advertising and a direct mail campaign.