Media Mix: Apadmi; New Mind; Opening Doors; and more

MANCHESTER-based mobile apps company, Apadmi, has developed an official tourist app guide for Visit Britain.

The app has been developed exclusively for use on Samsung smartphones and provides tourists with information on events, festivals, accommodation, entertainment, restaurants and bars.

The app also uses GPS to point out locations near to users and map navigations and integrates with several Facebook functions. It was designed by Hiss Design.

Visit Britain commissioned the app in partnership with Samsung, which is an official partner of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Apadmi CEO Garry Partington said: “The app is the official guide to the best places to visit around Britain, illustrated with stunning imagery, and is intended to inspire tourists to explore the whole of the UK.  

“It features an animated carousel interface together with clear navigation and Apadmi has also developed a back-end content management system so that it can be easily updated on a regular basis.”  

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LIVERPOOL-based technology company, New Mind has won its first contract with national tourism organisation VisitScotland.

New Mind’s e-tourism platform has been chosen by VisitScotland to power all of the country’s official tourism websites as well as provide the front-of-house software for all the Visitor Information Centres in the country.

The win follows a rigorous nine-month tender process involving 50 expressions of interest, which was whittled down to 12 tenders and eventually shortlisted to the final three contenders.  

Richard Veal, managing director of Brunswick Business Park-based New Mind, said: “We are very pleased to be working with such a high-profile organisation such as VisitScotland.

“This project will be one of the most significant pieces of work we have ever undertaken, and is our first project for a National tourism organisation.”

The company added that the four-year contract would allow it to employ an extra six members of staff over the period.

Steve Smith, digital director for Liverpool Vision, said: “New Mind has been a consistent performer for the best part of a decade and this win demonstrates their dominance of E-Tourism software in the UK.”

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FAMILY-owned marketing agency Opening Doors has opened a new creative design studio at its base at Dale Mill in Congleton.

The agency, which opened in 2004, provides a full service including market research, design, communications and public relations. The company has grown from just three staff at launch to around 15 at present.

Account manager Lucy France said: “Our approach is consultative. We are open and honest as an agency, prepared to constructively challenge in order to help the client; it’s the strategic work before the design that makes us different.”

The new studio was opened by local MP Fiona Bruce.

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TREE Communications has been appointed to provide a public relations service for the European Taekwondo Championships 2012 taking place in Manchester from May 3-6.

The European Championships is being staged in the UK for the first time and the event will be the last opportunity for leading teams from across the continent to compete before the Olympic Games.

Steve Flynn, commercial director for GB Taekwondo, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Sarah and her team at Tree Communications during what is going to be an incredibly exciting and busy year for GB Taekwondo.”