How Burger King’s creative marketing beats the ad blockers.

Burger King have nailed the art of grabbing attention by doing the unexpected and generating an enormous amount of publicity at a very modest cost.

The restaurant chain have this week opened a spa in Helsinki, featuring saunas and steam rooms.

The restaurant’s 15-person sauna, according to its website, is ideal for social gatherings, birthday parties and other events.

Designed by Finnish celebrity designer Teuvo Loman, the sauna features Burger King-themed benches and towels, a stove and a television with gaming capabilities – reports Time.

Whoppers are accessible both in the sauna and restaurant — though you have to book your spa trip in advance.

The restaurant chain consistently entertain customers with creative promotions, frequently demonstrating more personality and wit than rivals.

In Japan – they released a limited edition, Whooper-scented perfume.

In honour of the Queen’s birthday this year they renamed their Tottenham Court Road restaurant ‘Burger Queen’.

The company made a wonderful statement about equality at San Francisco’s Pride festival – by launching The Proud Whopper.

Famously this year they publicly offered to call a truce with their biggest rival McDonalds.

The goal?

To operate one restaurant for one day staffed by employees of both companies and selling a burger called the McWhopper, a blend of the Big Mac and the Whopper.

Sales proceeds would be donated to Peace One Day, a nonprofit group seeking to raise awareness of the International Day of Peace.

McDonald’s posted a response from its chief executive, on Facebook and Twitter declining the opportunity.

Burger King generated coverage around the world and many were disappointed that McDonald’s didn’t rise to the challenge.

In the brave new world of ad-blocking software and ad-skipping technology one sure-fire way to cut through is with creative publicity.

[by @itsjamesherring]