Mirage Resorts, which confirmed last week that at least four shops were being considered for creative duties on its estimated $50 million account, said it has allotted time to screen materials from additional agencies.
John Schadler, vice president of advertising for Mirage, confirmed that shops contacted include The Richards Group in Dallas; GSD&M of Austin, Texas; Deutsch in New York; and TBWA/Chiat/Day of Playa del Rey, Calif.
Schadler said those shops are not necessarily finalists or the only ones that will be considered. “I’ve not come down to a list of finalists yet. It’s only been two weeks,” he said. “We have been deluged with FedEx packages from agencies interested in this [account]. And although this is a closed review, I am taking the time to do my duty and be fair and go through all of these packages.”
Schadler said he has moved back the Dec. 1 decision date to Jan. 1.
The review was launched after Mirage parted with Publicis & Hal Riney, San Francisco, last month [Adweek Online, Oct. 27]. The company’s media buying, handled by Western International Media, Los Angeles, is not affected.
Sources said competing agencies expect to have one more meeting–primarily focusing on capabilities discussions–with Mirage chairman, president and chief executive Stephen Wynn. Speculative creative is not a requirement.
The winning agency’s duties will include advertising for the Bellagio, Golden Nugget, Treasure Island and Mirage properties in Las Vegas and the new Beau Rivage, which opens in Biloxi, Miss., next year.
Riney’s current contract with Mirage Resorts expires at the end of January.
More Is Not Merrier For Mirage
