Hilton Hotels Ties Bookings to Sweepstakes
Hilton Hotels & Resorts is rewarding guests who travel with their pets a chance to win a family vacation. It’s the latest incentive by the hotel chain to promote its pet friendly program.
Hilton has teamed up with DreamWorks Pictures’ and Nickelodeon Movies to support the new movie, “Hotel for Dogs” with the sweepstakes. People who make a pet friendly booking by phone, or book a stay through the www.Hilton.com/HotelForDogs and uses the promo code “DOGS” through Jan. 31 will be entered to win a four-night vacation for four.
The grand-prize winner can select one his or her prize from Hilton locations in Hawaii, New York City, Los Angeles and Santa Fe, NM, inspired by the characters from the movie. The top winner will also receive movie tickets for four, a $300 gift card, tickets to a local attraction and a night of room service or dinner at the hotel restaurant. Other prizes include Hilton Stay Certificates, Hilton Pet Packs and movie tickets.
Hilton has long offered accommodations to guests with domesticated four-legged friends, company spokesperson Lauren Jaffe said. In June, the Hilton brand formally launched a pet friendly program http://www.Hilton.com/pets, which welcomes cats and dogs in most of its properties across North America. Traveling pets are treated to upscale amenities, including a pet bed, food and water bowls with placemat and a pet amenity kit, which includes dog waste clean-up bags and treats.
How is business? Hilton doesn’t track specific data at the brand level, but pet owners have been “incredibly responsive” to the program, Jaffe said.
About 14% of U.S. adults (29.1 million) traveled with a pet on a trip of 50 miles or more one way in the last three years, according to the Travel Industry Association. “It is because of statistics like this that Hilton felt it was important to offer consistent and comfortable accommodation for pets, as well as the rest of the family,” Jaffe said.
The sweepstakes is being marketed online at Hilton.com and via travel, television and magazines Web sites, including Expedia.com, Google.com and CNN.com and through in-room television channels. Banner ads and a print ad in USA Today also support the promotion. Paramount and Hilton Hotels handled the sweepstakes development and prize fulfillment.
