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$25M state tourism ad contract set to change hands
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Related Topics: BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - A $25 million state advertising contract to promote tourism in Maryland is set to change hands today if the Board of Public Works approves the move from Gray Kirk Van Sant to two other local firms, Trahan Burden Charles and Media Works.
Roger Gray, the head of the agency that lost the contract, dismissed the assertion by an anti-O’Malley Web site that there was any politics involved.
“We’re disappointed that we lost the tourism business,” Gray said, noting the three other state contracts his firm holds with Maryland Lottery and the health department. “We lost this thing on pricing.”
According to state documents, TBC’s winning bid for creative services was $1.5 million, $400,000 less than the GKV bid, and Media Works’ bid for placing advertising was $787,000, almost half of GKV’s bid but $37,000 higher than TBC’s bid for media services. Media Works’ “superior technical offer … outweighed their 5 percent higher price,” the board’s agenda says.
Joy Berg, owner of Media Works, which has $25 million in annual billings, said she had been asked by state officials not to talk about the contract until it was approved by the board. Karen Glenn Hood, a spokeswoman for the Department of Business and Economic Development, also said she was not permitted to release any more details other than to say, “In these fiscally challenging times, we have to go with the lowest bidder.”
On May 9, OMalleyWatch.com claimed TBC got the contract due to more than $20,000 in contributions to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s campaign.
If there had been any indication of political influence, “I’m not afraid to raise my hand on an issue like this,” Gray said. “I don’t think O’Malley operates that way.”
Gray said every dollar in the current tourism ads they are producing and placing generated $34 in visitor dollars, a major increase in return on investment.
Gray’s firm contributed $7,000 to the campaign of former Gov. Robert Ehrlich.
llazarick@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
10:42 AM MST on Tue., Aug. 5, 2008 re: "Area may make history, again"
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Examiner Reader said:
The 2000 census recorded 8.5% of the Tenderloin population as youth (under 18 years of age). Where did the over 500 additional youth come from?
4 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader for the laughs said:
Yes, if we can finally get a Tenderloin supermarket and get rid of some of the corner liquor stores that would be more of an accomplishment for the residents. Having a museum helps those who would make money off of it. The residents need quality food and hope for a brighter future. If the property owners are looking for a boost in their value of property they should work with the community and not hide behind limited partnerships and incompetent property managers.
9 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader for the laughs said:
Here is another story about the Tenderloin were paid employees are contacted by the media to discuss the exact same issues they are making a living on. Again, another news article that disempowers residents into mere statistics. So, who exactly going to make some money related to this article?
10 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Many of the tenderloin's residents live there because they can AFFORD to. Immigrants can get a start there and its a place where people on fixed incomes can make something of a home. What I'm hearing here is a call for gentrification in search of increased rents. Where are the current residents going to move? Its not like San Francisco needs one more costly neighborhood to live in.
3 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
they should have an oral history of prostitution in the tenderloin museum. heh, i know that gal!
2 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
""As it stands, the neighborhood has dozens of empty storefronts and one of the highest crime rates in The City — though only about 15 percent of that crime is perpetrated by people who live there, said Tenderloin Police Station Capt. Gary Jimenez. As of July, the Tenderloin had seen about 3,500 arrests. The area is one of five San Francisco neighborhoods where police have boosted manpower to curb violent crime."" Can anyone please confirm that Supervisor Daly is moving from his condo on Stevenson Street to Eddy so he will oversee the non-gentrification of his District 6. Remember the Supervisor does not want any trees planted on Eddy since that will beautify the area and bring in the white yuppies....yeah right typical Karl Rove technique..yeah its all the white yuppies fault. While your at it why not throw in the guppies and families with children.
3 agree | 5 disagree
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Sean from Baltimore said:
Remember the original variety, quirkiness and charm of the Pavilions? It's GONE. The interior layout has been hacked up and blocked off, restaurants keep closing, and the remaining high-quality specialty shops are leaving one by one. The upper floor of the Light Street Pavilion is a WASTELAND beyond the food court. General Growth Properties has done a HORRIBLE job.
6 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
rouse, then owner, said this about horrible place 10 years ago, hat in hand for city $. do your homework. some figures and perspective might make your business stories relevant to somebody.
6 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
journalism -- or press release, which some construe and present to the world as journalism on the cheap. it shows.
6 agree | 4 disagree
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Bill said:
um...Fire & Ice *is* a national chain. Ok, so fill the empty space with 'upscale national retailers'. What have you got? TowsonTown Center South. BFD.
6 agree | 5 disagree
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Rocko said:
I was in OC this past weekend and it was VERY quiet down there. Much fewer people than I am used to seeing this time of year. I have been going to OC at least8 times per year over the past 20 years, and it was much quieter than usual.
4 agree | 5 disagree
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mike johnson said:
As a native born Baltimorean, I have always had an inferiority complex next to Philly and Washington DC. There have been places that are must-sees for people coming into town, like the architecture around Mount Vernon, the restaurants of Little Italy and Inner Harbor East, the wineries in Carroll and Harford County (in season), and the world class gems of the Walters and BMA. Historically, Philadelphia shined in the colonial period and has been lovingly restored. Washington is the home of a thousand federally funded tourist attractions. Baltimore became a major city in that period of time after the powdered wig era and before Washington became capital of the world. Americans have lost track of how much of the US of today would not exist without the sailing ships, steam locomotives, warehouseman and factory workers that met here. Show me the last time one of the conventioneers was murdered in Baltimore. Baltimore is a city, not Disneyland, but I like it.
283 agree | 288 disagree
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