Photos: Bermuda Tourism Launch ‘More Pink’
Over the last week Bermuda has been colour bombed with the colour pink. Pink umbrellas were hung in Washington Lane, the two East Broadway bus stops were decorated, giant pink flip flops appeared in different locations, and even Johnny Barnes’ shorts went pink. Statutes and other Bermuda land marks were lit pink including the lighthouse, Bacardi, City Hall and ACE.
Lenny the Longtail dressed in pink shorts joined in at Harbour Nights giving hugs to the kids. Street art with a pink symbol of the word ‘MORE’ was placed all over Hamilton and pink cupcakes were given out to bus and ferry passengers with Lenny the Longtail.
Who is behind the movement?
It was ignited by the Bermuda Tourism Board’s Tourism Appreciation Committee, who said they “wanted to create a sense of pride and community in our residents.” Members of this committee include Joanne MacPhee [Chair], Michelle Cox, Muriel Richardson, Antonia Holder and Erin Smith.
What is all the PINK about?
A spokesperson said, “More Pink Bda is a grass roots social movement to champion Bermudians and empower them to be MORE. The Tourism tagline is Bermuda is ‘so much more’, but what is the more? The more is You. The more is every single person in Bermuda.
“The purpose of this movement is to start the conversation on what it means to be MORE. It’s not an advertising campaign to push a brand. This is a long-term goal to ignite passion and excitement in our locals that will spill over into our everyday lives and touch every person and guest on our island.”
Why all the mystery?
“The movement was designed to surprise and delight Bermuda with the unexpected. The joy of being given a gift ‘just because’ and the anticipation of not knowing what is coming next; to be creative, interesting and fun, and, most importantly start a conversation and get people talking,” said the organisers.
“The sense of buzz and excitement when people first saw the umbrellas on Washington Lane and the drama and magic of seeing the lighthouse turn pink is a wonderful feeling that is only created through a sense of mystery and creativity.”
Why Pink?
“A colour was needed to reflect not only the physical beauty of Bermuda, but also the spirit of the Bermudian people. It needed to feel energetic, creative, stylish, eye catching and empowering,” said a spokesperson.
“Pink was the answer and synonymous with Bermuda. Pink is the colour of our sand, hibiscus, houses, shorts, Tourism, sunsets, the colour of our love and so much more.”
A spokesperson said, “The Committee would like to thank AAC Saatchi & Saatchi, Great Sound, This Week In Bermuda, Washington Properties, Bermuda Blue Printing, The Chamber of Commerce, The City of Hamilton and many other local businesses and entrepreneurs who have all supported the movement.”
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ok..hypothetically im a foreigner..i see this in the news…but why would i go to Bermuda just because they put pink everywhere????
You wouldn’t but your comment is slightly irrelevant because its not aimed at tourists…You do realize that Bermuda Tourism has a Marketing Agency overseas who do the whole “marketing to tourist” thing right?
hmmm,bermy still has a long way to go before we are in de pink!
more ignorance – or is it because it’s so boring here sometimes!
Money wasted on foolishness or fullishness’
Lord you people are cynical. The internet has created a whole new breed of bully! Anonymous gangstas who spew negativity and have no input in the least in creating solutions. What if one day you simple said something nice?
You comment proves one thing, Tourism was on the right track when it thought it needed to improve the attitude of the residents on this island. Xman would you like to step up as the first one to volunteer for an attitude adjustment!
Mrs. Simons – all the Tourist want is a reasonable price to get here,decent transportation,Safety,
Welcoming attitudes from Bermudians, good food, a nice tour, Blue Sky’s with Sunshine ,our Clear Water to swim and PINK BEACHES !
Pink Umbrella’s – how much did this foolish act cost anyway—- waste of money!
“Welcoming attitudes”
But then visitors are still getting here to you and your grumpy little self! They enjoy all the beauty the island beholds and then run into a miserable local, in the form of you, a bus driver, a cashier and the list goes on…. Yeah your right Beaches are all that matter, because they certainly don’t have beaches in countries where people that are nice actually live!
Xman,
I am wondering who is footing the bill ($$$$$)on all of this ‘pink’. I’m unmoved by surprises these days–seeing that family, friends and others are out of work, lost their homes and having a tough time feeding themselves.
I didn’t see no pink sunset yesterday nor at any other time I sit off on my patio enjoying them. This campaign is to get people talking? Yeah, we’re talking how much of a waste of money this is of our tax paying dollars…
I guess the material will now go in the trash and the umbrellas will be giving away.
Some people will paint a picture to have others believe it has a meaning…
You ever heard of the pike vote? or a huntsman’s scarlet coat which is worn by hunters.
You need a cupcake, and to actually pay attention to this sunsets! How can one enjoy such beauty and be so negative.
Listen tourists don’t want fluff, it’s all unnecessary and a waste of money. Sure it’s pretty but what after that? what does it really do to bring in and keep the tourists returning?
As a teacher who just finished doing a summer camp, I think the tourist Minister along with Parks should look into keeping our public bathroom facilities in decent order so that our children, along with our visitors can use the toilets at our beaches. They are disgusting, dirty, stinky, and overflowing. Is this the view we want to show tourists who use our beaches? Why not do something that makes a difference and helps people enjoy their visit? Let’s not just do surface decorating, it is not impressive at all.
As a teacher have you even stopped to read any information regarding the initiative?
It’s not even designed to get tourist here… it’s about getting locals in a better mood. Based on your bitterness, it sounds like you may need a little #morepinkbda #justsaying
Bermuda tourism should focus on tourists not locals! Typical!
I agree 100 %
i actually like the ‘more pink’ but like others have said, it’s not going to get bermuda far.
tourism has so much to do to win tourist to this island. good start though.
Did any of you making comments even read the article? It’s not supposed to be for tourists! And the Tourism Board is not funded by Government or tax payer dollars.
Sadly, most people probably didn’t read it and others just don’t get it.
I love the idea and thank you to the Tourism Board! I saw many adults and young children with smiles on their faces after looking at the umbrellas at the Washington Mall?
I heard that Gibbs Hill Lighthouse was lit up in Pink but I didn’t see it.
I was so excited to finally read the explanation behind the Pink installations, and scrolled down to what I expected to be delighted reactions. But there is so much negativity behind this campaign that I don’t understand! From what I understood, the goal of the Pink campaign was to raise local’s spirits with simple positive gestures. It couldn’t have ‘wasted’ that many ‘tax dollars’ to bake cupcakes and put up curtains, but THESE ARE LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY. And that’s what it was all about! It made us recognize iconic parts of the island that we may take for granted – pink buses, Johnny Barnes, bermuda shorts, longtails etc. Once we start to appreciate these things more, and put smiles on our faces every once in a while, then maybe our island can get a much needed attitude adjustment.
I agree that this campaign might not do much to get new tourists to the island, but hopefully it brightened the days of the locals that saw the Pink, if only just a little. Tourists will be more likely to return if they have good experiences with the people of the country. Smiles are contagious! Let’s forget the fact that it may be fluff just for a second, and enjoy the giant smiling longtail handing you a cupcake on your way to work
Kudos to MorePinkBda for such a positive campaign. I’d personally love to see more happy little things like this set up around the island, just because.
Cedar tree nice that someone else saw the good in the campaign. Not at all surprising that Bernews regulars are spitting hate as usual. Bermudians were behind this campaign, don’t they get a little credit?
Normally everyone complains about why tourism had to go overseas for marketing agencies. They used a local agency with locals coming up with the ideas.
If you want a positive reaction head over to the more pink bda Facebook page. People love it and are actively joining in on the fun.
anything to distract from what is really going on in this Island eh?
Maybe if people knew their history that would instill a sense of pride in them, not umbrellas.
I don’t know what school you went to, but in my school we were taught Bermuda History.
How about a truckload of pink cupcakes for the HMS Customs at the airport. Maybe then you will get some returning visitors. Their attitude needs adjusted some!
I’ve noticed a huge attitude change at the airport in the last year. It may just be coincidence or maybe I have been lucky but it seems to me that they seem to have picked some happier customs officers on the front line.
the pink bustops and crappy spray painted pink palm trees were a disgusting travesty. they were so gross i honestly thought it was a teenage prank to make a horrid bustop.
you people need some creativity before you waste time and money, and hurt our eyes further. have some common sense.
pink umbrellas? why is it raining? they aren’t sun umbrellas. even if thety were its stupid.
I could think of a million better ideas and would be willing to get paid for it as a job, than to watch these people make a mockery of common sense.
“Jointhemovement”: No thanks. This is a six figure marketing campaign, not a movement.
It hasn’t been executed very well, as per the responses above. The bus stop looked like a slapper’s boudoir! The pink flip flops were only painted pink on one side. TGAOTU covered the palm trees! The umbrellas, they looked great, but can’t help think the marketing team missed a trick by not branding them and then giving them out in a competition or something, to give them, and the campaign, longevity. Are these umbrellas going in the bin?
Think the idea of a “mystery week” reveal was a mis-step. In my line of work I see a lot of “guerrilla marketing” attempts, like this one, that miss the mark. The danger of “guerrilla-gone-wrong” is inauthenticity. Tapping into meaningful social veins is difficult. When you miss, all you have left are empty marketing tricks.
Overall, I think they’ve missed the mark so far. It will be interesting to see what they have coming in the pipeline. Maybe they can save it.
If this was community lead, by a school or college group, or a Chewstick initiative, for example, it might have more buy-in than it does.
you looking for attitude adjustments…… wondering why there is all this negativity here on this beautiful island…. the people have been lied to so much… They are financially burdened… jobless and homeless.
So while your Pink campaign may have got people talking… what happens now….?? talk is all we have been hearing for decades. MORE… ? more of what? those of you that put on this campaign I am sure have food in your belly a roof over your heads and a JOB. Did you consult with the grass roots people!? from your pink frills I doubt it very much… I am about Bermuda I Love my Island and all her People (what you call attitude adjustment others call hurting.) we don’t need PINK we need healing!
Well this is quite patronizing. How can Bermudians be empower to be MORE when thousands of BERMUDIANS are unemployed. To pure salt in wounds these umbrellas are above the entrance to a salon that has a photo that shows its foreign employees. Now when I walk past I will think of how oba criticized plp’s plan to help educate Bermudians to be nail technicians.
Call me a cynic if you want but when permit holders have their relatives & friends come in as tourist & end up getting a permit & job here I’m feeling there’s so much less for locals. If they really wanted to entice those that have been given so much more they should have said, “kaya marami pang iba” then it would have translated better to those who are getting so much more out of Bermuda. Getting jobs & hand outs for education while many Bermudians can’t afford to give their children a proper meal or education.
F-U very much for the, “surprise” Now why don’t you get to work bringing REAL tourist to Bermuda that spend REAL money in Bermuda instead of spending OUR money on this patronizing crap.
this is crazy, as a tourist in Bermuda im not into the pink thing.
I would really like to see the toilets cleaned around the beaches and parks, how disgusting they are.
also it needs to be cheaper before I come back here, ya Bermuda is nice and all that but your hotels are so expensive,everything is expensive here.
make some changes Bermuda because there’s lots of competition out their for us tourists.
WHOA!!! I thought I was a grumpy, cynical guy! I’ve got nothing on some of these posters.
Pink is our unofficial Island colour. No this bit of frivolity will not bring visitors here. It will bring smiles to faces of those here though.
Gibbs Light, maybe City Hall, should be lighted in pink 365.
Try fasting for a few days or shutting off your lights for a few weeks & living in the dark before you judge others. No I’m not staving or lack electricity but I pack an extra lunch for my children’s friends who are. I do this because I know their parents are trying hard but still can’t make it when only part time jobs can be found. I feel for them because I know the fallacies people think of them who are fortunate enough to be able to have a computer to post their trash. They don’t know an eighth of the trash that is said but still others belittle the defenseless without remorse.
You want to give away more money. I’m sure BELCO would like that. Why not just paint the lighthouse and city hall pink if you want people to talk about something. Roof and all…SMH
bda spend money on stupid things
,,this is to atrract tourist?? how?
people that say stop the negitive talk are the ones that are doing ok
probably one of these stay home wives u see sitting having lunch down miles
someones gay idea
Actually jake the colour chosen to represent gay rights is purple just like the purple face next to your comment.
Despite how useless & condescending I feel this launch is pegging a tint of red or any other colour as a representation of sexuality is ignorant. Besides the international symbol of homosexuality is the rainbow so a gay person may relate themselves to an assortment of colours maybe even one that you’re wearing at this moment.
gay as in happy ,,,why you so defensive?
did i hit some nerve? sorry
No nerve hit as I’m very comfortable with my sexuality I just misunderstood your meaning of gay. Now that you’ve clarified the meaning I guess that means we can both admit to being gay sometimes. Isn’t that right Jake?
i have on all black today,,blacks not in your rainbow tommy
Oh but it is when you mix all the colours together you get black or white depending on the medium. So it seems you’re having one of those fully melded rainbow days. Those days when you can feel the full merge of the rainbow are the best. Isn’t that right jake?
Minister Crockwell is this the best you can come up with SOS.
You mean people were actually paid to come up with this asinine idea?
money wasted — the bus stops looked trashy… that’s th eonly thing I saw
most comments by a bunch of negative, backward,grumpy old fools who can’t see past their own attitudes
It’s nice to see that someone is at least looking at tourism with a view of improving it. I’m an OBA supporter but I do not support the decision to have David Dodwell lead the tourism charge. He had his chance before and failed. I have little faith that he will succeed this time.
What bermuda needs to do is recruit innovative thinkers. We are competing with every hotel in Mexico and the Caribbean and we are loosing. We need to create a unique brand for Bermuda. We need to breath life into a stale product.
We need to stop spending huge amounts of money on an advertising initiative that isn’t giving us the results. Instead we need to begin to think about bermuda like a cruise ship operator does his ship. We need to help local companies create fun activities that our visitor will want to attend when they are on the island. We then need to promote the hell out of those activities. How about weekly pig roast / bomb fire on one of our beautiful beaches with a steel band playing in the back ground. (forget the amplifiers). The event could move to a different hotel every week.
We also need to create boutique travel tour operators that will create bermuda tour packages around existing activities like the world Rugby Classic, the golf and sailing events to name a few. The objective it to bring lots of additional spectators to the island that will spend money.
These operators should negotiate favourable rates with local hotels, Restaurants, moped rentals, taxi Tours etc . and create packages that are action packed and interesting like you would find on a cruise ship. These package can be easily promoted because rugby, golf, etc are all organised into clubs. You would give the clubs incentives to promote the packages.
Package should also be developed to promote Golf, Tennis, Scuba, and anything else we can think of. Imagine a one week scuba package for 20-25 people that had the guests doing two dives a day for a week all on different wreaks. At night you would book them in to local restaurants and encourage people like Teddy Tucker, Neil Burnie, the BIOS and aquariium guys to give evening lectures during the week. The guests would have one day off to go shopping armed with coupons.
Everyone would benefit. The guests have a great week, a tour boat is booked for an entire week, Hotel rooms are sold, restaurants are serving dinners and stores are selling stuff. The lecture guests a attracting attention to their cause.
My point is stop wasting money and start developing programs that will yield tangible results.