the scariest amusement park
You probably remember the news helicopter shots of a flooded Six Flags amusement park in New Orleans, after hurricane Katrina. The WebUrbanist has assembled a spooky collection of more recent shots of the park that show its decay and life of abandonment. Sad and spooky, yet inspiring to urban explorers.
From @dabitch. Image from Brynne Photography.
Labels: creativeinspiration, hospitality, photography
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:07 AM
0 comments
branded entertainment: has its time come?
File this under "B2B doesn't stand for Boring2Boring." Hyatt just cut a sweet deal with Funny or Die to produce a series of pieces that promote the hotel chain's meeting planning and hosting services. Yes, that's a B2B ploy in a consumer world.
Hyatt realizes that business people are humans, and watch real media. Have you ever met someone who said "I'm sorry, I can't watch that video. I'm a business person, not a consumer." Yet brands with B2B messages continue to believe that B2B only belongs on a B2B channel (that's channel 456 on most cable systems.)
Even better, Hyatt's spending about $300K on the deal - likely a fraction of their competitor's spend on traditional media buys.
The other important aspect of this deal is that Funny or Die is producing the content. Not the agency, not a commercial director. There have been countless branded content ploys over the last few years, but it appears that we're finally in a place and time where the audience is there, the content is good, and the brands are willing to spend. Woohoo. Keep it coming.
Labels: b2b, hospitality
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:16 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
widgets done well
We've all heard the buzz about widgets, but the truth is, not many brands have done this well. Worklight is looking to change that.
Check out the widget they produced for Best Western. Guests can get rates, check availability and make reservations without ever leaving Facebook, the blogs or the sites that they're on.
With the Worklight platform, brands can build widgets once (or have their agencies build them :), and Worklight syndicates it out to multiple platforms. Securely. Sounds like a deal. Let's go.
Labels: ads, hospitality
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
1 comments
Monday, February 15, 2010
miss piggy: say my name, say my name.
As part of their Give a Day Get a Day volunteer promotion, Disney has created a site that's customizable to your name. You've seen that before, but they've taken it a step further by adding customized audio as well.
Hearing Kermit and Miss Piggy say your name will take you back to your favorite Muppets episode. Or make you want to volunteer. Or have you sending it to a friend.
If that wasn't enough, when you revisit the site, they produced an entirely different segment, acknowledging your return. Wasn't a necessity, but a super nice, unexpected surprise. And nice surprises deliver results, on the internet.
Labels: ads, hospitality
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:07 AM
0 comments
Monday, December 14, 2009
give the gift of fine hotel furniture
Like your hotel room? Would you like to give it to someone for Christmas? Now that's possible, with the ShopMarriott store. Hotels selling their goods is nothing new, but Marriott has taken it up a notch with ShopMarriott. They've successfully extended their brand essence into the retail space, with an online store that pretty much sells your entire room experience.
It'll be hilarious when you try and convince your girlfriend that you didn't steal her gift on your last business trip...you bought it online. "No really, I paid for this. I swear."
Labels: hospitality, retail, travel
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:20 AM
0 comments
Thursday, December 03, 2009
cocktail mixmasters with flair
Check out the mixmagical skills of the Prestwick Crew. All to remind you that TGI Fridays is the place for drinking with flair during the holiday season. Awesomeness.
Labels: hospitality, video
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:28 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
holiday inn may be out of key cards when you check in...
Holiday Inn is in the midst of "the largest re-launch in the hospitality industry." How to celebrate? How about building an entire lobby and hotel room with Holiday Inn key cards? Nice.
Thanks, Casey!!
Labels: hospitality, travel
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:30 AM
0 comments
Thursday, September 17, 2009
come to denmark and have anonymous sex
This is definitely one of the oddest tourism campaigns that you'll ever see. A single mom from Denmark who doesn't remember her baby daddy's name, but hoping that he'll see the YouTube video, and remember having sex with her.
This is meant to inspire you to vacation in Denmark.
There's much more juice and background on the campaign over at Adland, including some detail about where the concept might have originated from (a ripped off idea?).
Planning a vacation? Bring protection.
Labels: ads, hospitality, travel, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:52 AM
1 comments
Friday, August 28, 2009
please stop having sex in front of the window
The Standard Hotel in NYC sits on top of the new High Line Park. The Standard also features rooms that are pretty much all window. And they actively promoted the possibilities that the windows present on their website.
The Gothamist reports that their Facebook page tells fans "We encourage you to exercise your inner exhibitionist," and their website asks, "Whatever you do, just make sure the shots are HOT and that you get them to us in whichever way you can. It's all about sex all the time, and you're our star."
And then families from Ohio became surprised at the live peep shows. Or maybe the highline was becoming too crowded with viewers. Or maybe it was just the NY Post article.
Now the Standard is changing their marketing message. They've cleaned up their website marketing copy, and now warn visitors that their rooms are essentially on display while the curtains are open. (Although the Facebook group still seems pretty sexy.)
Whatever the case, you can bet that the the hotel sex as marketing message has them booked through the end of the year.
Labels: facebook, hospitality, newyork
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:47 AM
3 comments
Friday, July 17, 2009
everyday brand decisions
(Cross-posting this from the Plaid tour blog - because I'm lazy, and I thought you might appreciate it.)
Sometimes the difference between brand awesomeness and brand ridiculousness are the simplest decisions.
While on tour, we're getting to experience both. When we hit Kanasas City, we'll get to stay in the luxurious Q Hotel and Spa (a PlaidNation sponsor), who could teach many hoteliers a lesson in brand awesomeness. And we're counting down the days until the Q.
But until then...we're learning brand and customer experience lessons the hard way:
On some random day somewhere, some person with Soooper 8 made a decision. Was it to spend fifty cents more and supply guests with towels that aren't made from sandpaper? Nope. Was it to put a respectable sign on the elevator? Nope.
This decision involved the experience that a guest might have in the bathroom. Not soaps. Not shampoo or other niceties. Somebody said "we can add your logo to this $2 faucet, if you want", and then a Soooper 8 employee replied "absolutely."
Here's proof that branding is more than your old logo on crappy equipment. It's little decisions that affect your customer's experience every day. Thanks, Soooper 8, but I really would have preferred the non-sandpaper bath towel.
Labels: branding, hospitality, plaidsummertour
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:30 AM
1 comments
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
what to do with that big jar of pennies
Maybe you've thought about staying at the Standard Hotel, but now there's a reason to eat there, too. The Standard Grill, inside the Standard Hotel, has a floor made from pennies. Finally, our currency system being put to a good use.
Labels: architecture, hospitality, interior design, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:42 AM
1 comments
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
what your brand could learn from a hotel
The new ACE Hotel in NYC is like a textbook of brand awesomeness. NOTCOT has a really delicious pictorial that illustrates how ACE really, really, really understands the brand experience.
It's like they designed everything, and then walked through the entire place and examined every object, thinking "how could this be a part of the brand experience?"
If you are even remotely associated with anything branding, you have to check this out.
You could do the same with your brand. Have you really evaluated each and every single little thing that your client's see? Touch? Experience? How could they be more true to your brand?
(And yes, I would totally borrow one of those coat hangers.)
Labels: branding, design, hospitality, newyork, travel, typography
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:57 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
where to eat before you hug the toilet
Anyone who has ever had to play waitress to the drunk crowd will likely appreciate this spot from Denny's.
It's part of their new new campaign to confirm that Denny's is the place to go after the bars have closed and the joints have been smoked. Sounds real tasty.
Labels: ads, hospitality, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:32 AM
0 comments
Monday, April 13, 2009
bed jumpers have more fun
You know you've done this. Jumped on the bed. Jumped from bed to bed. And done tricks while jumping on the bed because you knew your mom wasn't there to stop you.
That's why this is a great promotion idea for SuiteHotel. The largest ever international bed jumping contest. Book your room and let the jumping begin.
Labels: ads, hospitality
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:49 AM
1 comments
Thursday, March 12, 2009
putting empty storefronts to work
Carnival Cruise lines has produced virtual aquariums using vacant storefronts in a handful of cities across the U.S.
The windows are interactive - if you move your arms around in the air and make fish faces with your lips, people on the street will point and laugh at you. But it will all be worthwhile because the animated fish will dance, or sing, or entertain you in some way.
Labels: ads, hospitality, retail, travel
posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:43 AM
2 comments
whopper bar now grilling
The Whopper Bar is open! Burger King opened their first ever burger bar this week in Orlando. And another six to ten will follow in the next few months, across the globe.
Great idea. They're greying the lines between fast food and casual dining, while raising perceived value (and taste) of burgers. I love the interior design, but have a feeling they still don't sell veggie burgers. Cuz the King is all about beef, yo.
Labels: hospitality, retail, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 5:32 AM
1 comments
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
free breakfast a grand slam for dennys
AdAge has a nice write up on the Dennys promotion that gave free Grand Slam breakfasts to 2 million people across the country yesterday.
A premium that cost them a reported $5 million, and has left a lasting impression on a country of hungry people. That's less than $3 per person served. A grand idea to get people in the doors, change perception of what Dennys might be, and swim in a delicious plate of PR. Mmmmmm. Bacon.
Labels: hospitality, marketing, superbowl, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:20 AM
3 comments
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
what every restaurant owner should be doing
Everyone knows someone who owns a restaurant. You should send the person that you know this link to an awesome guide to social media, just for restaurateurs.
David Finch details how to use blogs, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and just about every other internet tool to drive patrons into seats. Great input during a time where people seem to be eating out less.
Coworker Sara inspects a salad, above.
Labels: hospitality, social media, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:08 AM
0 comments
Monday, January 12, 2009
it's a plane! it's a hotel!
Someone's taken a retired 747 and turned it into a hotel. This has to be the best airport hotel in the entire world. Ever. Avoiding the mile high club jokes for now.
Labels: architecture, hospitality, travel
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:47 AM
0 comments
Thursday, December 11, 2008
walk around the guggenheim in your underwear
Perhaps you could browse the museum in your undies during the day, but wouldn't it be nice to have the entire museum to yourself for the night?
As part of their current AnySpaceWhatever exhibit, there's one piece of art that's actually a revolving hotel room. And you can rent it for $300/night. Of course it's sold out, to people who are cooler and faster than us. Can you imagine? Actually sleeping in the museum? I would bring roller skates.
Labels: art, hospitality, newyork
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:28 AM
0 comments
Friday, December 05, 2008
compressed chicken parts surrounded by a deep fried crust. mmmmn nuggnuts.
By now, you've probably seen the new campaign for McD's chicken nuggets. If you haven't already peeked at the campaign site, it's worthy of a visit. Probably some of the freshest creative that McDonalds has seen in a very, very long time. I like the Nuggnut pledge.
But...it's still just compressed chicken parts with a crust, right?
UPDATE:
Megan Severs from McD's PR firm writes us to say:
I wanted to let you know that McDonald’s actually recently gave consumers a behind the scenes look at how McNuggets are made - from farm to fork. You can watch a video of their tour and read what they had to say about the quality of the chicken in McNuggets after witnessing the process first-hand
Thanks, Megan!
Labels: food, hospitality, retail, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:17 AM
2 comments
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
mcdonalds now just a quarter pounder, in japan
McDonalds is doing some weird stuff in Japan. They've opened two new stores - called Quarter Pounder. No golden arches. No McDonalds name.
There are two things on the menu: A quarter pounder and a double quarter pounder. The stores were opened with some attempted fanfare, a fake secret service type security guard and "Top Secret" signs.
The store design looks beautiful, and the graphics and package design are equally well designed - a departure from the poor/cheap/please everyone design that MCD's is known for elsewhere.
New micro retail concept? Marketing stunt? Only that freaky red headed clown knows for sure.
Labels: design, hospitality, japan, retail, stunts, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:41 AM
2 comments
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
attack of the giant pinatas
What if every city had giant party pinatas filled with candy, dancing in the streets? Why not? Maybe our new president could make that happen.
In the meantime, there's the Carnival Cruise Lines promotion, featuring a ginormous pinata filled with 8000 pounds of sugary delicious goodness. About a week ago, they produced the world's largest beach balls, and now they're cracking open the world's largest pinata, all over the streets of Philadelphia.
(We should send these to countries in need of aid. Giant food pinatas, filled with essentials like Mary Janes, Milk Duds and Pixie Stix. We'll air drop them, like pinata bombs.)
Here's some behind the scenes footage of the Philly pinata being built. Sounds like a giant party, which I guess is the point.
Labels: hospitality, streetteams, stunts, travel
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:07 AM
3 comments
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
what it's like to be a naked sushi model
Maybe your kids have asked: "Mommy, what's it like to be a naked sushi model?"
Now you can answer the question, thanks to Confessions of a Naked Sushi Model from Vanity Fair.
Labels: hospitality, pop culture, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:05 AM
1 comments
Friday, October 24, 2008
meeting rooms, 2.0 style
The boutique hotel concept has finally arrived in the event planning industry. Meet at the Apartment is a new concept in corporate meeting space. Highly designed, ultra cool, uber hip meeting space that you rent on an as needed basis.
Awesome for brainstorms, client meetings in NYC when your office is in Toldeo, or a fun off-site location. But they don't come cheap.
These aren't likely to replace the "let's meet at Starbucks" crowd, at a flat rate of $5,000 to $10,000 per day. Yes, this includes staffing (concierge, server and on-call A/V tech), audio-visual components, meeting facilitation supplies and unlimited beverages and snacks. Mmmmm. Awesome idea for a small conference or series of meetings. From Springwise.
Labels: architecture, hospitality, interior design, newyork, tradeshow, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:30 AM
0 comments
Monday, October 13, 2008
vote for breakfast
Nothing says breakfast like a bowl full of Obama O's or Cap'n McCain. Mmmmm, delicious. Wonder if the the McCain flavor comes with PalinBerries.
Oh yeah - the effort promotes Air Bed and Breakfast, a "peer to peer" hotel/couch/b&b service. From Quipsologies.
Labels: hospitality, parody, politics, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:17 AM
1 comments
Thursday, August 07, 2008
ruby tuesday attempts 'viral'.
Ruby Tuesday has a new online campaign. We're supposed to believe that they've blown up the wrong restaurant, in a publicity stunt gone awry.
Instead, it feels like a 'viral' attempt gone wrong. All of the right ingredients: explosions, humor, video and microsites. But those are just tools. Former Plaid intern Katie says it's lame. I agree.
Here's where they went wrong:
+ The content doesn't seem aimed at a specific audience. Tweens? Twenty somethings? Families? This doesn't seem to speak to any of them directly.
+ What's the message? Anything about the food? Or the dining experience? Is "change" enough to bring me into your restaurant?
+ It's not believable. Or "hilarious" as the YouTube poster suggests. It could have been produced in a manner that left the viewer thinking "is this for real?" (Think of the Burger King campaigns.) Or it could have left the viewers understanding that it wasn't anywhere near real, but actually hilarious. (Think Paris Hilton for prez)
I'm curious to know what Ruby Tuesday has paid for the (currently) 13K views on YouTube. And how this differentiates them from Applebees, TGI Fridays, and BENNIGANS.
Labels: ads, hospitality, viral, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:15 AM
2 comments
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
so clean, you can lick it.
Apparently this is a real campaign. I have a hard time watching this. But maybe that's because I'm off a recent tour where we stay in places that I wouldn't even remove socks for fear of the disease-ridden creatures that live on the floor.
But if you enjoy watching girls licking things, and you need a hotel room clean enough to lick - then this campaign is for you.
Labels: ads, hospitality, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:17 AM
2 comments
Friday, June 27, 2008
where would you like your hotel room, sir?
This is the coolest hotel concept ever. A super mod, ultra designed portable hotel room that can be parked virtually anywhere.
I wonder about the important stuff - like where does the toilet water go? Does it just flush onto the street below? But things like that aren't important when you've got the world's most spectacular view of the Eiffel Tower. This would make for a sweet party or promotional event.
Labels: architecture, hospitality, travel
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:31 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
ice hotel snapshots
By now, you've certainly heard of the Ice Hotel. BLDGBlog has some stunning pics of the place. And maps/diagrams, so you won't get lost when you arrive!
Labels: creativeinspiration, hospitality, photography
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:25 AM
0 comments
