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Omahans to be urged to talk up their city
BY JOSEPH MORTON
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Local tourism promoters are working on a campaign to educate Omahans
about how to talk up the city as a fun, happening place for conventions
and other events.
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Initial print designs, TV storyboards and audio clips for the "Know the
O!" campaign were presented to the Omaha City Council this week.
The new concept could complement the ongoing "O!" campaign by the
Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and efforts to have Omahans bring
conventions to town, said Dana Markel, director of operations for the
Greater Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The idea is in its preliminary stages, Markel said, and it's unclear
how it will be funded. It will be up to Mayor Mike Fahey whether the
campaign goes forward, she said.
Fahey spokeswoman Tess Fogarty said the mayor is working with the
visitors bureau and others to find the right promotional campaign. She
said there is no timetable for a decision.
While 2006 looks strong for conventions coming to Omaha, Markel said,
2007 looks "lean."
The hope is that by showing Omahans how to promote the city, they can
lure more conventions.
Markel said she wants Omahans to be thinking about great local
attractions when they go to conventions, family reunions or other
activities elsewhere. That way, they can make the pitch for moving
those events to Omaha.
"I want to arm them with some ammunition when they're traveling,"
Markel said.
Clark Creative Group has donated the initial work on the campaign.
Company president Fred Clark displayed the early efforts for councilmen
Tuesday.
Clark said his group took inspiration from movie scenes in "The Blues
Brothers" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," in which people are dancing
in the streets of Chicago.
He also pointed to the introduction to "The Drew Carey Show," which
features music, dancing and the phrase "Cleveland Rocks."
Television spots could show people dancing with upbeat, Omaha-touting
songs playing in the background.
Clark also played a radio spot in which filmmaker Alexander Payne
talked about the benefits of Omaha.
The songs played Tuesday included phrases like "Come on and know the
O!" exhorting Omahans to show off their city.
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