The news released this week that Australian billionaire, Clive Palmer, will build a Titanic 
replica – Titanic II – got us thinking about brand/name recognition. It’s been just over 100 years since the original sank after hitting an iceberg, killing 1,500 people and 15 years since the wildly popular movie. Certainly, when you say “Titanic,” nearly everyone will know what you are talking about. Pretty strong name recognition.
But…it’s recognition of an enormously tragic event. Is it good or bad to associate so strongly with something that was such a catastrophe?
Sure, there will be travelers who are curious and will appreciate the novelty of the new ship. On the other hand, there are those who are superstitious and wouldn’t set foot on the darn thing.
And let’s hope it’s not an exact replica. Luxury? Hardly: although most passengers had to share bathrooms (only the two promenade suites in first class had private bathrooms), third class had it rough with only two bathtubs for more than 700 passengers.
Mr. Palmer assures the public that the ship, “will have state-of-the-art 21st-century technology and the latest navigation and safety systems.” He’d better keep singing that tune until the new ship sets sail in 2016. He’s fighting 100 years of a name that to many means death.
