What’s in a name? Tale of two cities
In Texas, a city is considering the addition of the name “island” to draw more visitors, and in California a city is defending its long-standing status as “Surf City.”
A marketing firm is telling Galveston, Texas, that the new name “City of Galveston Island” would increase tourist levels by broadening the appeal of the area.
The firm came up with the ideas to spice up city marketing efforts after an $86,000, 10-month study on how to better “brand” the city, according to news accounts.
The firm of North Star polled visitors, residents and businesses before making its recommendation.
There was no immediate information on what legal hoops might have to be involved to change the name.
In the Southern California town of Huntington Beach, the city is fighting in state court a t-shirt company that is trying to use its designation as “Surf City USA.”
“The Surf City USA trademark has been the cornerstone for the past two years of a branding initiative to market our city as a top tourist destination,” said Doug Traub, president and CEO of the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau.
Huntington Beach has seven federally-registered Surf City USA trademarks on various categories of goods and services.
The t-shirt merchant, Noland’s T-Shirts, is currently suing in the courts to use the Surf City designation.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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