Sleepy Bear and Kermit the Frog helped Travelodge Hotels, Inc. take home two awards from the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association Internationals (HSMAI) 10th annual awards night. Travelodge won Silver and Bronze Merit Adrian Awards.
In the Summer of 1999, the “Blast Off With the Muppets” campaign landed at Travelodge and earned the brand the Silver Merit Award. Tied in with the summer release of Muppets From Space, the latest movie starring Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, the promotion gave Travelodge Miles program members the opportunity to receive great Muppet gifts while staying at the hotel. For 750 Travelodge Miles, guests could earn a copy of the three most popular Muppet movies: The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper or The Muppets Take Manhattan.

Travelodge also picked up the Bronze Merit Award for the success of its “Free Phone Card” promotion. The promotion, which ran in the Spring of 1999, allowed members of the free Travelodge Miles frequent guest program to redeem their Miles for a limited edition Sleepy Bear prepaid phone card. Additionally, five percent of the cards regular retail value was donated to Travelodges corporate charity, Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“The Adrian Merit awards reinforce Travelodges dedication to offering our guests the best service and the best value,” said Teri Danahey, Travelodge`s Vice President of Marketing. “Besides giving them a great room at a great price, these two promotions offered guests added value. The phone cards and free Muppet movies gave people an incentive to stay with and return to Travelodge. It`s also our way of thanking them for choosing our hotels.”

“The Adrian Merit awards reinforce Travelodge`s dedication to offering our guests the best service and the best value,” said Teri Danahey, Travelodge`s Vice President of Marketing. “Besides giving them a great room at a great price, these two promotions offered guests added value. The phone cards and free Muppet movies gave people an incentive to stay with and return to Travelodge. It`s also our way of thanking them for choosing our hotels.”

The HSMAI Adrian and Golden Bell Awards competition is the largest, most prestigious and only event of its kind in the travel industry. Two of Travelodge`s 1999 seasonal promotions were recognized for their success in front of nearly 800 people at the ceremony held at the Hilton New York in New York City.

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