Here are 32 big achievements and contribution the principals of Backus Turner have made through their 32 years of being in business in South Florida:
1. Launched the first ATM system in the country, "24 Hour Jack," for Flagship Banks -now Sun Bank.
2. Launched the first over-the-phone loan program, "Phone Loan," for Flagship Banks.
3. Launched the first Medicare HMO in the country, " Gold Plus Plan" -now Humana.
4. Over a number of years the agency assisted the Gold Plus Plan to become the largest Medicare HMO in the country.
5. Launched the Karen Carpenter Foundation for eating disorders to educate women on the growing problem of anorexia and bulimia.
6. Launched the International Hotel Brand of Renaissance Hotels.
7. Branded the Renaissance Hotels as properties equivalent to Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton with a breakthrough campaign -removing the stigma of the budget brand Ramada.
8. Launched a new concept for cruising, "cruises to nowhere," for Discovery Cruise Line.
9. Developed Discovery Cruise Line to be the largest tour operator to Grand Bahama Island selling hotel packages through its Cruise N Stay program to the Bahamas.
10. Created the most successful music festival on South Beach - SOBE Music Fest with Sheryl Crow and The Goo Goo Dolls.
11. Developed the Grand Opening of numerous hotels and their brands, such as the Loews Miami Beach, New York Renaissance Times Square, The Westin Cypress Creek Hotel, The Westin Dolphin Hotel Orlando, The Orlando Hilton, The Miami Airport Hilton, Embassy Suites Miami, Sonesta Coconut Grove, Trump Sonesta International, The Our Lucaya Resort, Old Bahama Bay Resort, and many more.
12. Developed and sustained the most successful music club for Specs Music, "Payback".
13. Developed the concept of trading in old CDs for credits against new purchases of CDs from Specs Music, "Cool Deals".
14. Served as the Miami Chairman of the Sports Authority during the negotiations to build The Miami arena.
15. Served as the Miami Chairman of the Sports Authority during the negotiations to acquire an NBA Franchise that is now the Miami Heat.
16. Developed and launched the first and largest and most successful destination wedding site in the industry, CaribbeanWeddings.com.
17. Developed the successful logo and image of Bal Harbour Shops that has been used for 30 years.
18. Developed and promoted the Playboy Millennium Launch with Hugh Hefner in South Beach.
19. Developed the grand opening events for The Falls Shopping Center, The Fashion Mall at Plantation, Mayfair in Coconut Grove, The Eaton Center in Toronto and Miami Center.
20. Launched the first Condo Hotel in Florida, The Mutiny Park, in Miami.
21. Developed a major fundraiser for The Elizabeth Glazier Pediatric Fund with headliner Michael Bolton as the featured entertainer.
22. Promoted and contributed to a celebrity line up of magazine covers for a very successful national magazine, Channels Magazine. Celebrities featured on the cover include Brook Shields, Sarah Jessica Parker, Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz, Kirk Douglas, and Angela Bassett
23. Successfully marketed the Bahamas as a tourist destination achieving and delivering over 3.5 million visitors to the islands.
24. Developed the name and innovative design concept for Scarab Boats which is still used today.
25. Launched and developed the national magazine which the company now owns, Honeymoon Magazine.
26. Launched and developed the international magazine Caribbean Weddings Magazine, which it currently owns.
27. Launched and developed the international magazine Romance & Travel Magazine, which it currently owns.
28. Chaired the fundraising committee that raised the funds to build the Miami Children's Hospital.
29. Chaired the annual Rolex Tennis Tournament for the Orange Bowl Committee, secured the sponsors and supervised the entire series of games.
30. Created the national brands of Diabetes Lifestyles of America and Arthritis Lifestyle of America for a national hospital chain, HCA Hospitals.
31. Created national exposure for a medical company with celebrity icons Mike Douglas, Glenn Ford, Barbara Mandell , and George Burns.
32. Continuously keeps clients in the National and International Press with major news ideas and promotions - press coverage includes New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Network television, specialty tv shows like David Letterman, and other regional and national mediums.
