Articles by Patty Odell

DoubleTree, Google Design Custom-built YouTube Channel for Travelers

|  by Patty Odell

In a partnership with Google, DoubleTree by Hilton has launched a custom-built YouTube channel—DTour—that offers travelers a new way to plan and share their trips. Supporting the channel is a yearlong “DTour of a Lifetime” competition offering six people the chance to be brand ambassadors traveling the world and documenting their adventures on the channel.…

Chico’s FAS Runs its Cause Program Locally

|  by Patty Odell

Chico’s FAS family of brands began last month its take-three of “May is For Miracles” campaign. The program operates out of local stores by offering communities a number of ways to raise funds for a local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.

Red Roof Inn Turns 40, Celebrates with a Road Tour

|  by Patty Odell

Marketers love to play the numbers and Red Roof Inn is no exception. March marked its 40th anniversary and it is churning out a host of promotions through the fall tied to that number. Last month, the lodging company began running the “40 & Fabulous” campaign that includes all kinds of incentives, a sweepstakes and…

Heineken USA’s CMO on Pulling Brands out of the Ditch with a Challenger Mentality

|  by Patty Odell

Heineken USA is marketing in an incredibly competitive environment overflowing with low–growth categories and competitors owning some of the largest ad spends out there. When Lesya Lysyj joined Heineken USA several years ago as its chief marketing officer, two forces were reshaping the beer category—consumer media consumption habits and the craft beer movement—that caused the…

Denny’s CMO on Stopping its Sales Free Fall

|  by Patty Odell

By 2010, Denny Corp.’s same-store sales had been in a free fall for at least four years. The number of customers coming to its restaurants had been declining for 20 years. The company had withstood several bankruptcies and a nasty lawsuit. It was challenged by a ton of competition and the recent recession only aggravated…

Pepsi Talks About its New Bottle

|  by Patty Odell

For the first time in 16 years, Pepsi has unveiled a new single-serve bottle design for its trademark portfolio. A Pepsi spokesperson gives CM readers a behind-the-scenes look at how the new bottle came to be and how this all-important package fits into Pepsi’s overall marketing plan.