Founded in 1978 by Roberta Backus, Backus Turner International has been one of Florida's most respected marketing/advertising/public relations agencies for more than two decades. Over the course of those years, the agency has built a reputation based on a proven ability to develop effective marketing strategies driven by innovative creative campaigns, well targeted media planning and powerhouse publicity initiatives designed to reach local, national and international markets.

While highly successful, the agency has made every effort to remain mid-sized and manageable. Being lean allows the principals to maintain a hands-on involvement with every client. Equally important, it allows the agency to remain nimble and fast on its collective feet, with the capacity to respond quickly to an ever-changing marketplace.

While the agency has won more than 1,000 awards for excellence in such diverse fields as travel and tourism, retail, financial services and real estate, BTI's overriding objective is the generation of meaningful and measurable bottom-line results for its clients.

BTI is well known for its marketing expertise. Clients depend on the firm to develop marketing programs that can be executed effectively within the established budgetary parameters. In short, BTI has the capacity to provide clients with data, research, market analysis and the resulting business plan that will enable a client to successfully take a product or service from concept through the design, manufacturing and distribution process to its ultimate destination - the marketplace.

In recent years, BTI has become a leader in web site creation and E-commerce initiations for a wide variety of clients, and has also developed its own proprietary web sites, such as www.caribbeanweddings.com.

Because the agency maintains full-service marketing, advertising, interactive, sales and public relations departments under a single roof, BTI is able to take advantage of every marketing opportunity on behalf of clients -- from networking, trade show representation, database marketing and lead generation, to last-minute editorial development and the securing of co-op advertising or co-sponsorship opportunities.

BTI has represented a large and impressive roster of clients. The agency has a wealth of local, national and international experience in the following areas:

• Launching new companies and products
• Pre-opening marketing, advertising, public relations, direct response promotions and direct sales
• Press conferences, special events and grand openings
• Sales programs, tours, FAM trips, lead generation, trade show representation of concierge and travel agent programs
• Advertising programs that generate significant, quantifiable results, including all expertise in all media, from print and broadcast to outdoor and interactive
• Development of sponsorship programs and events
• Collateral programs, from branding and floor and window displays, to magazine development and sales
• All aspects of public relations, from press conferences and editorial placement to corporate communications and crisis management
• Creation and sales of concierge programs and other industry programs
• Expertise in international markets and local Hispanic markets
• Expertise and representation in retail sales and wholesale and retail package programs

The agency is well-equipped to represent mass market consumer clients, having orchestrated history making product introductions for such clients as Grand Bahama Island, Simon DeBartolo Malls, Mayfair, The Falls Shopping Center, Fashion Mall of Plantation, Renaissance International Hotels & Resorts, Eastman Kodak, Marriott Hotels, Parrot Jungle & Gardens and Discovery Cruise Line.

In all cases, strong marketing concepts and sales programs, excellent branding and image programs and widespread media coverage developed by BTI has successfully launched the product by generating widespread awareness and sales.