Visa, the world’s leading payment solutions provider, has unveiled its promotional campaign which will take place during Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) 2006/2007. Visa has joined forces with 20th Century Fox and the film, ‘Eragon’ to promote Visa activities for the DSF. To launch this campaign, Visa hosted the U.A.E premiere of the epic adventure movie, ‘Eragon’ last night which was attended by guests, merchants and member banks.
Visa, which is enjoying its 11th year as key sponsor of the popular shopping festival, is set to captivate both residents and visitors with its exciting activities and value-added offers around the epic adventures of Eragon. From December 20, 2006 to February 2, 2007, every time a shopper uses a Visa or Visa Electron in the U.A.E they will be automatically entered into a grand prize draw to win one of four dazzling Damas necklaces worth AED 500,000 in total.
During the six-week Visa DSF promotion, cardholders will have the opportunity to win these stunning gem necklaces, inspired by the Eragon film. The prizes consist of one grand prize worth AED 275,000 and three secondary prize necklaces worth AED 75,000 each. Each Necklace has been individually designed and contains precious White Diamonds and Blue Topaz with White Gold. Four lucky winners will be drawn during DSF and invited to the grand finale event on February 13, 2007 to compete against each other to win the grand prize.
Furthermore, Visa cardholders have the opportunity to double their chances of winning these amazing prizes. By using a Visa or Visa Electron card at selected retail partners for purchases, automatically entitles shoppers to two entries per transaction into the grand prize draw. Such retail outlets as Bin Hendi outlets (Hugo Boss, Brioni, Zilli, Paul & Shark, Ulyse Nardine, Jacob & Co, Graff, Porsche Design, Japengo, Bella Donna and many more), all Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group outlets, EPPCO/ENOC, Dubai Duty Free and Burger King will participate in the promotion.
Visa cardholders even have an exclusive opportunity to win a Bentley Car at Bin Hendi Outlets. By spending Dhs1000 during DSF, Visa cardholders will automatically be entered into the draw.
Kamran Siddiqi, General Manager for Visa International Middle East commented; “DSF has developed over the past eleven years to become a major contributor to the development of Dubai. Each year Visa has partnered with DSF to support the success of the event.”
He added, “Our participation in DSF adds value for our cardholders and the promotions actively encourage people to enjoy the convenience of paying by card instead of cash. The exciting, relevant and value-added offers for the campaign period are a way of rewarding our customers.”
Commenting on Visa’s choice of the Eragon-theme for its key activities this DSF, Stephen Coakley, Marketing Communications Manager for Visa International in the Middle East stated that Visa’s role as key sponsor of DSF puts it in the perfect position to represent the brand with a theme which signifies the essence of DSF - fun for the entire family. “As key sponsor of DSF for the past 11 years, we feel we have a significant role to play in aligning our activities and promotions to perfectly complement the shopping festival and provide added-value to shoppers. DSF stands for fun-filled family entertainment and shopping and what better way to demonstrate this than to build our activities around a thrilling, adventurous theme such as Eragon, which will run during DSF.”
“This initiative, as with Visa’s other activities and promotions throughout the year, is designed to introduce shoppers to the practicality and convenience of using Visa credit and Visa Electron debit cards instead of cash for everyday purchases. We are educating Visa cardholders on the safety and convenience they can enjoy using their credit or debit card and we plan to change the habit of using cash for shopping. As well as enjoying the privilege of special promotions such as this one, Visa cardholders can make secure purchases at any of the 24 million merchants around the world that accept Visa cards.”
In addition to the raffle draws with valuable gem-necklaces up for grabs, Visa will be offering in-mall instant giveaways at select malls in Dubai. Visa cardholders who visit the dragon-shaped Visa – Eragon kiosks located at selected malls in the Emirate, will be invited to win an instant Visa-Eragon branded gift by completing a simple task.
Visa cardholders will also be able to compete for prizes through extensive radio, SMS and online competitions.
Visa International’s continued participation in DSF reiterates the success of the event in terms of increasing card usage and in maintaining customer loyalty.
“Visa’s role in DSF supports our member banks by providing excellent usage figures and provides our customers with some of the most fun and rewarding promotions throughout DSF without the hassle of filling in coupons,” Siddiqi concluded.
