As states begin to lift lockdowns from the pandemic, Hotels.com is dipping back into messaging around travel. The Dallas, Texas-based brand is pushing a new 30-second spot that urges consumers to get back out there and book some vacations.
In the commercial, Captain Obvious, who has been the brand’s spokesman since 2014, asks dreamy customers if they “remember places.” He says, “The good news is, these places still exist. With hundreds of thousands of not-your-house places all over the world, Hotels.com is the best place to book a place.” The video calls out several specific sites, like a Napa Valley B&B, which “has wine that’s not in a box,” and a Miami Beach Resort, which “has free toilet paper.”
The spot is a departure from the recent marketing Hotels.com was doing during the pandemic, in which Captain Obvious encouraged consumers to stay home. In March, the brand abandoned its then-campaign, which was around traveling away from home, to focus on safety.