Travel

The following information was provided on the advertisers’ website:

“Conor McGregor Fights in Las Vegas
Total from €799
Based on: Dublin (DUB), 12 Dec 2015, 3 Nights…”

The fight of the year is going to take place in Las Vegas this December, Conor McGregor v Jose Aldo! Why not fly over for a few days and go see the fight for yourself!
Travel Date: 12th December 2015
UFC ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP
What’s Included
3 Night Package Includes:
• Return Flights from Dublin with Aer Lingus
• 3 nights in the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino in a Premium Room
• Airline Taxes

*Conor McGregor Fight Ticket to MGM Grand is not included

Please Note: Prices are based on 2 adults sharing, includes flights and accommodation only, fight tickets not included

The complainant said they considered the advertising to be misleading and asked why the main heading of the advertisement referred to ‘Conor McGregor Fights in Las Vegas’ if, in the small print, the advertisers confirmed that tickets to the fight were not part of the package.

The advertisers said that Las Vegas was a very popular destination and it was their experience that it was very often the case that people liked to travel to a location when an event was taking place to soak up the atmosphere surrounding the occasion.

They said they did not consider their advertising to be misleading as they had clearly stated in the main body of the advertisement and not in the small print that a ticket to the fight was not included in the package. They also said, however, that they would hold further discussions in the matter with their Marketing Department.

Complaint Upheld.

The Complaints Committee considered the detail of the complaint and the advertisers’ response. They noted that while the advertisers had referred to the fact that a ticket to the fight was not included in the package that it was the only event included under the heading ‘Concert Breaks’ that did not include a ticket to the event.

The Committee noted that travel companies can and do offer travel to the locations of events without necessarily including entrance tickets. On this occasion, however, they considered that the main theme of the offer related to seeing the fight and they noted the message of “see the fight for yourself” in addition to “Conor McGregor Fights in Las Vegas”. The Committee therefore concluded that it was misleading to feature a trip to Vegas under ‘Concert Breaks’ with the heading ‘Conor McGregor Fights in Las Vegas’ if tickets to the event were not part of the package. The Committee upheld the complaint under Sections 2.22 and 2.24 of the Code.

Action Required:
The advertising should not be used in the same format again.