SkiftAds of the Week: Ireland, Switzerland, Le Meridien, Canada, and Aeroflot

The next few weeks are a traditionally slow period for travel with companies and tourists getting back to work after the holidays. We expect a lull in destination advertising as the debut of spring-themed travel ads is just weeks away. The exception to that is Ireland, which just launched a yearlong marketing initiative and aired its newest ad just minutes after the ball dropped in New York City.

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For all of our SkiftAds of the Week collection, check out our archives here.

Discover Ireland: These fun and engaging ads are part of The Gathering, Ireland’s largest tourism marketing initiative ever. The core of the initiative is a series of events held by organizations and individuals throughout 2013. The ads aim to show the diversity of the country with quick clips of activities that push tourists to get active in Ireland, to “jump in, dive in, race in, rush in, tuck in…”

Switzerland Tourism: The winter tourism ad  plays on Switzerland’s position as the world’s largest producer of watches and its reputation as an extremely punctual population. The rural and old-fashioned countryside adds to the portrayal of Switzerland as a destination where tourists can escape the daily hustle and bustle of life.

Le Meridien Amman: Le Meridien is one of four Starwood properties in Amman and one of its six properties in Jordan. The ad positions the hotel as a luxury option for international business travelers by showing guests of every demographic and fine dining options that include Middle Eastern and European cuisine.

Canadian Tourism: This is the second video that Canadian Tourism has produced that aims to show foreign travelers why they should add Canada to any trip planned to the U.S. The ad is reminiscent of the tourism board’s viral ad, Keep Exploring, and highlights the country’s social media marketing efforts.

Aeroflot: This video posted by the Russian Airline shows the unveiling of the airline’s new meal options for 2013. Aeroflot is improving its options by introducing duck, rabbit, lamb, and soup to the menu. The food actually looks quite appealing, but maybe that’s just because it’s served on a table rather than a tiny tray.