Madrid, October 9, 2018 - Thetrue story of a great guy , a moving documentary based on the real experience of 93-year-old Barcelonan Antonio Benedico , was awarded a bronze in the "content" category at the prestigious International Echo Awards last Sunday night .
The piece was created and promoted by Pullmantur Cruises and the agency Proximity Madrid. Its distribution was entirely digital, through a global campaign on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, reaching 10 million views in just over two weeks.
Pullmantur Cruises President & CEO Richard J. Vogel says : “I am very proud that Mr. Antonio’s story has crossed borders, being recognized by the jury of the International Echo Awards, one of the most important awards in the industry.”
This recognition is “a great incentive to continue on this path, developing creative actions that allow us to take another step and commit to innovation in our campaigns,” Vogel adds.
International Echo Awards
These awards—whose ceremony was held tonight in Las Vegas, Nevada—recognize the success and value of the world's best marketing campaigns. The gala offers a glimpse into the strategy, creativity, and results behind the boldest, most daring, and most successful campaigns globally. Furthermore, the International Echo Awards set the standard for data-driven creativity, strategy, and results.
In this edition, the jury was made up of more than 400 judges - selected from among the most influential marketing leaders in the world - from 27 countries.
The true story of a great guy
The piece revolves around Antonio Benedico, a 93-year-old who, after a difficult 2006, decided to embark on a cruise. From then until 2017, Antonio had taken 33 cruises with the company over seven years and affirmed that Pullmantur “saved his life.” The piece was recorded in early October 2017 aboard the Sovereign during a unique voyage.
After overcoming the illness that had prevented Antonio from traveling, Pullmantur Cruises decided to return the affection and thank him for his loyalty shown during these years with a surprise: to reproduce his home room in one of the cabins of the Sovereign ship so that he would feel, even more, at home while enjoying a very special trip through the Mediterranean, full of unique and unforgettable moments with his daughter and granddaughter.
Among them, highlights include a personalized welcome both at the Barcelona port terminal and on board, or being named Honorary Ambassador of Pullmantur Cruises during an event held in the Sovereign theater before the watchful eyes of nearly 900 passengers.
Antonio & Pullmantur Cruises
Antonio's relationship with Pullmantur Cruises began in 2009, when he decided to embark on a cruise to try and forget 2006, a year he'd rather forget. Since then, Antonio's life has been inextricably linked to Pullmantur Cruises and its crew, whom he considers "his other family.".
Benedico's affection for the shipping company is so profound that he doesn't hesitate to say: "When I die, I want you to scatter my ashes into the sea from the stern of the Sovereign.".
