2 Shops Exit Promus Review

GSD&M and Deutsch withdrew from Promus Hotel Corp.’s 3-month-old agency review, which leaves five shops in contention for the estimated $40 million account.
Still in the running are Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos and Arnold Communications, both in Boston; TBWA Chiat/Day, New York; Foote, Cone & Belding, Chicago; and DDB Needham Dallas.
GSD&M, the incumbent on Promus’ $16 million Doubletree account, decided to pull out shortly before its final presentation last week, according to president Roy Spence. He declined to comment on the reasons.
According to sources, however, GSD&M opted not to defend due to concerns that the account might shift from branding ads to price-driven promotional work.
Deutsch also said it had withdrawn.