DETROIT—Finn Partners has opened an office in downtown Detroit. According to Peter Finn, founding partner, "Our work with existing clients in Detroit such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has given us a first-hand look at the growing potential in the market, and we think the outlook in Michigan is strong. The office will be staffed by Finn Partners employees relocating from other offices, as well as local professionals who will be hired throughout 2014. The office will be headed by Dan Pooley, managing partner, who also has responsibility for firm’s Chicago office.

KNOXVILLE, TN—Ackermann PR and DMG|Bluegill have formed a strategic partnership to help growth-oriented companies “go to market” with a customized approach that boosts their sales and revenues by integrating traditional marketing communications and sophisticated digital strategies.
DMG|Bluegill specializes in overall digital strategy development, including website design and production, mobile applications, SEO/SEM, lead generation, digital audits, and programming. “By combining our capabilities, our two firms will be able to offer a complete suite of high-level, business-focused services and to create marketing outreach programs that are completely integrated,” says Ackermann PR CEO Cathy Ackermann.

SALT LAKE CITY—Method Communications has opened a new office in downtown San Francisco, signaling the public relations agency¹s expansion into the Bay Area. The move enables Method to meet the escalating demand for its strategic expertise in media relations, content creation and social media, and better serve its rapidly expanding client base in Silicon Valley and San Francisco. Method currently derives more than half of its revenue from the Bay Area, with clients such as View, Kiip, Bitglass, Rapt Studio, and Jetpac.

BERLIN—The former Tourism Trademark network of independent marketing communications firms has rebranded as the Travel Lifestyle Network in a move that reflects the network’s growing list of travel and lifestyle clients. Originally founded to work seamlessly across borders for clients in the tourism sector, member agencies deliver marketing and public relations services to clients across travel, hospitality, destination, lifestyle and consumer industries. Members include Zapwater Communications in the US; McCluskey International in the UK; and KPRN in Germany.

CHICAGO—GolinHarris has launched its 2014 SX Scout, a digital guide to South by Southwest Interactive. The firm dispatched SX Scouts to examine, inspect, hand-pick and curate content for the most relevant events to marketers and communicators taking place at SXSWi. According to Jeff Beringer, global digital practice leader, “We wanted to offer perspective on what’s important now, what’s next and how to learn about both during SXSW 2014.” GolinHarris SX Scouts will be on the ground reporting live during the festival from each of the 20 sessions and will provide post-SX analysis.

KANSAS CITY, MO—Integrated travel marketing firm MMGY Global has launched Consul – The Global Travel Marketing Alliance, consisting of advertising, public relations, media and marketing firms spread across five continents. Other members include ad agency Accord in the UK, digital firm Dragon Tail Interactive in China, Fitch y Asociados in Mexico, corporate communications firm FSB Comunicações in Brazil, Interface Tourism which covers Southern Europe, and PacRim Marketing Group, based in Hawaii with offices in Japan.

NEW YORK—New York City based branding and marketing communications agency The Halo Group has joined the Advertising & Marketing International Network, a global alliance of more than 50 independently owned integrated agencies. AMIN’s member agencies are located across 35 countries, with 79 offices and over 2,600 professionals. “Joining AMIN is a way to strengthen our global expertise and capabilities, adding valuable resources to our growing list of multinational clients who are looking for global marketing campaigns,” said Linda Passante, CEO and co-founder.