Hotel campaign seeks return of one-of-a-kind items stolen from its properties
Nord DDB pleads with the public in a playful effort for BWH Hotels

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A product that’s good enough to steal. We’ve seen various iterations of this idea over the years—“Shoplifters” for Harvey Nichols, a few different McDonald’s campaigns, a recent Stella Artois effort around its “chalices.” But here’s a fresh take on the genre: a hotel’s campaign seeking the return of bespoke items pilfered from its rooms.
Nord DDB has created the campaign for BWH Hotels, a Scandinavian chain that’s comprised of 171 individually owned properties—often run by local entrepreneurs—that tend to boast unique interiors featuring one-of-a-kind items. Many of those items have gone missing from the properties, so BWH is now offering a hotel stay as a reward for tips leading to their recovery.
“We love how unique each of our hotels is, from Stora Hotellet in Umeå to Ole Bull in Bergen. Guests seem to agree—perhaps a bit too much—given the number of items that have gone missing over the years,” said Johan Michelson, CEO of BWH Hotels. “Now, we want our treasures back to restore the special atmosphere at our hotels and could use some help. For those willing to be heroes, we’re offering open arms and a hotel voucher, no questions asked!”
Among the more treasured pieces to go MIA is Kent, a mannequin in a sailor suit that had stood in the reception area of Hotel Norra Vättern in Sweden. Kent’s absence has been “deeply felt by guests,” BWH said.
“We really miss Kent here in reception, and guests often ask about him,” said Jörgen Jacobsson, owner of Hotel Norra Vättern. “Dressed in his sailor suit, he welcomed everyone in his silent yet friendly way, making him an integral part of our reception. Both children and adults loved him, and we hope he can come home soon.”
The hotel is seeking 18 different products, including a horse statue, Indian decorative elephants, a knight’s armor and a flagpole finial. There’s a full list of products here, and they’ve also made individual videos for Kent, the horse statue and the suit of armor.
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Credits
- Date
- Jan 13, 2025
- Client :
- BWH Hotels
- Agency :
- Nord DDB
- Production Company :
- Bleck
- Director :
- Daniel Lundh
- PR :
- Geelmyden Kiese
- Media :
- Pineberry
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