Yamaha Philippines (Yamaha) strikes a deal with Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1), LRT 1 operator Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), for a three-year advertising program under the Station Partnership Program.
The Station Partnership Program is spearheaded by PHAR, the international agency who serves as LRMC’s ancillary revenue partner. PHAR launched the Southeast Asia’s first Naming Rights program in 2016 in Kuala Lumpur. It proved to be a great success with banks, real estate companies, and airlines all taking part.
Yamaha is the first company that has committed to a long term investment in an LRT-1 station. Through the Station Partnership Program, funds will be used to offset the station improvement works that LRMC has undertaken in Monumento station. Included here are improved lighting, roofing, the installation of security and the overall cleanliness and maintenance of the station.
“We have been working with LRMC for over a year now to design the Naming Rights program – everything from the logo, to the branding, to the improvements in the station. This is win-win for everybody. Yamaha gets valuable marketing rights, LRMC gets revenue which goes back into station improvements, and passengers get better facilities,” said Prem Bhatia, Managing Director of PHAR.
He added, “With Yamaha it was very clear from the outset. Although they valued the ridership and the branding, Yamaha wanted to give back to the city of Manila - they wanted to improve the city in a measurable, visible and tangible manner. With LRMC they found the right partner to help them realize that ambition.”
PHAR works with a number of transport majors like Transport for London, Jewel Changi Airport, Manchester Airport Group, Air Asia, Philippines Airlines, Jetstar, Rapid KL, to name a few.
Naming Rights is a trend that began with sports stadiums in the USA, and has now seen several companies targeting transport hubs as marketing opportunities, given that it gives brands the opportunity to be seen by passengers 365 days a year.
