We’ve all been there: totally missed the nuance in a written message, or failed to catch the sarcasm in someone’s voice. Hotels.com is leaning into that universal experience to an absurd degree.
The travel platform today unveiled a global brand campaign, “It’s All in the Name,” emphasizing that its name is refreshingly literal.
Created by Mischief @ No Fixed Address and directed by Andreas Nilsson, both ads play on the idea that not everything should be taken at face value.
In “Chicken Fingers,” a woman relaxing on a beach chair is reminded that the deep-fried treats aren’t actual fingers — courtesy of a passing chicken that steals her fries.
And in “Headphones,” a man in a waiting room finds himself surrounded by people with old-school telephone receivers where their heads should be.
The “It’s All in the Name” tagline reinforces Hotels.com’s positioning as a no-frills booking platform that is straightforward to use, whether a traveler is searching for a place to stay or tapping into the brand’s Save Your Way rewards program.
“Hotels.com is built on a simple promise: make travel easier, every time,” Natalie Wills, senior vice president of marketing and creative at Expedia Group, said in a statement. “With ‘It’s All in the Name,’ we’re reminding travelers exactly what we deliver: rewards, simplicity, and flexibility they can trust.”
The campaign coincides with a visual identity refresh that includes a reworked, three-layered “H” logo representing the customer journey: discovery, booking, and rewards. The new look will roll out across the brand’s app, website, and marketing channels, while both spots are set to air on U.S. TV from March 17.
