Bath Balloons, one of the region’s longest-established hot air ballooning companies, has appointed Tony Rees to market the brand, part of the Bristol-based company Ballooning Network.
Tony, an experienced marketer, joins from English Heritage where he held several positions, most recently marketing historic properties in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset.
Ballooning Network managing director Nic Amor said: “We identified the need for more specialised marketing skills to take Bath Balloons forward. So finding someone like Tony, with his wide-ranging marketing experience and contacts in the tourism industry, was exactly what we were looking for.”
Tony made his first balloon flight 30 years ago but it was a not until recently that he took it up again. He said he is “looking forward to the new challenge of moving from the pubic to private sector and bringing the wonderful experience of hot air ballooning to wider public, commercial and corporate audiences.”
Mr Amor – who bought the business in 2008, some 25 years after joining as a crew member – added: “2013 will be an exciting year for us as ballooning continues to feature highly on people’s ‘to do’ lists.
“In order that the supply of spaces in ballooning baskets can keep pace with demand, new balloons will have to be commissioned. This provides an ideal opportunity for ‘upward-looking’ companies and organisations to associate themselves with this distinctive activity though sponsorship and commercial activity.”
Bath Balloons usually launches its distinctive Bath Building Society-sponsored balloon from Royal Victoria Park.
