How Rapid Ad Testing Refined a Global Travel Brand’s Messaging

Rapid Ad Testing

Business Problem

A leading travel and tourism brand needed to evaluate the effectiveness of its destination marketing creatives across multiple international markets. The goal was to ensure the messaging aligned with the brand’s core strategy and resonated emotionally with affluent travelers — while also adapting to diverse cultural expectations.

What & How We Did It

Borderless Access conducted a comprehensive ad testing study using quantitative research combined with neuromarketing techniques to assess both the rational and emotional reactions to the creatives.

  • Seven ad options were tested across five markets: KSA, UAE, USA, UK, and India.
  •  Testing captured cognitive comprehension (rationale) and emotional engagement (using facial coding, eye tracking, and heatmaps)
  •  The objective was to identify the creatives that best reinforced brand differentiation while maximizing emotional appeal across culturally varied audiences.

Key Insights

  • Single-minded messaging aligned with brand strategy performed consistently well across all markets.
  •  Ads with a strong brand cue (clear visual or verbal brand linkage) achieved higher emotional engagement and recall.
  •  Creatives featuring international celebrities underperformed, particularly in international markets, suggesting a disconnect with local cultural resonance.

Client Impact :

Leveraging these insights, the brand was able to fine-tune its marketing executions by tailoring creative elements to local market sensitivities. This strategic refinement strengthened brand integration, improved emotional resonance, and enabled more impactful, culturally attuned campaigns across key global markets — driving stronger engagement and measurable brand growth.

Market

USA Flag

USA

UK Flag

UK

India Flag Image

India

KSA Flag

KSA

India Flag

KSA