AdFest announce Festival venue and introduce new Promo and Lotus Roots categories

AdFest has announced that their 2011 Festival will take place at Movenpick Resort & Spa on the tropical island of Phuket, Thailand from 17th-19th March 2011.

AdFest is also introducing two new Awards categories – Promo Lotus and Lotus Roots. The Promo Lotus category celebrates promotional activities that are created for the sole purpose of increasing sales. This includes sampling, field marketing, competitions and cross-promotions.

“Over the past year, AdFest has received a lot of feedback from agencies who feel that Promo deserves a category of its own. AdFest prides itself on responding to industry feedback, so the launch of the Promo Lotus category reflects the growing importance of promotional initiatives in driving sales,” says President Jimmy Lam.

“We’ve also received a lot of feedback from executives who feel the Lotus Roots category is the most important award category to emerge in Asia this decade. By introducing a Call For Entries to Lotus Roots in 2011, we are giving agencies the chance to justify how their campaigns are rooted in local culture, which is the inspiration behind the Lotus Roots award.”

This year’s inaugural Promo Jury President is Tan Kien Eng, CEO of Leo Burnett / Arc Worldwide / Alpha 245 in Singapore and Malaysia, who will also be Jury President of the Direct Lotus category.

The 2011 AdFest Awards will now be divided into 15 separate Lotus categories: Film Lotus; Radio Lotus; Press Lotus; Poster Lotus: Direct Lotus; Promo Lotus; Cyber Lotus; Outdoor Lotus; Film Craft Lotus; Print Craft Lotus; Design Lotus; New Director Lotus, INNOVA Lotus; 360 Lotus; and Lotus Roots. The Call For Entries to all 15 Lotus categories will go out in the coming weeks.