Difference between revisions of "Kids Go HoJo with Sega"

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{{sub-stub}}'''{{PAGENAME}}'''  was a [[Sega of America]]-sponsored marketing campaign for the American hotel/motel chain [[wikipedia:Howard Johnson's|Howard Johnson's]], produced by Californian marketing firm [[Strottman]].
 
{{sub-stub}}'''{{PAGENAME}}'''  was a [[Sega of America]]-sponsored marketing campaign for the American hotel/motel chain [[wikipedia:Howard Johnson's|Howard Johnson's]], produced by Californian marketing firm [[Strottman]].
  
==History==
+
==Campaign==
 
Born from a venture between [[Sega of America]] and the American chain of hotels and motels [[wikipedia:Howard Johnson's|Howard Johnson's]], {{PAGENAME}} was a unique summer promotion intended to increase room sales at the company's properties by making the chain seen more enticing to the children of possible lodgers. The promotion ran in all Howard Johnson's across the United States of America and Canada over three periods: From May 24th through September 6th, 1993, from May 27th through September 5th, 1994, and from May 27th through September 4th, 1995.{{ref|https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/07/travel/practical-traveler-hotels-offer-deals-and-toys.html}} During the promotion, all the company's hotels, motels, and inns were equipped with life-size cutouts of [[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic the Hedgehog]] displayed in the lobby for guests to take souvenir photographs with.  
 
Born from a venture between [[Sega of America]] and the American chain of hotels and motels [[wikipedia:Howard Johnson's|Howard Johnson's]], {{PAGENAME}} was a unique summer promotion intended to increase room sales at the company's properties by making the chain seen more enticing to the children of possible lodgers. The promotion ran in all Howard Johnson's across the United States of America and Canada over three periods: From May 24th through September 6th, 1993, from May 27th through September 5th, 1994, and from May 27th through September 4th, 1995.{{ref|https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/07/travel/practical-traveler-hotels-offer-deals-and-toys.html}} During the promotion, all the company's hotels, motels, and inns were equipped with life-size cutouts of [[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic the Hedgehog]] displayed in the lobby for guests to take souvenir photographs with.  
  
Sega provided Howard Johnson's properties with [[Sega Game Gear]]s and a small library of video game titles for guests to play at no charge, free VHS cassettes like ''[[Sega Game Gear Tips Volume 1]]'' and ''[[Sega Game Gear Tips Volume 2]]'', which contained hints and tips for several Sega Game Gear games and a collectible series of Kids Go HoJo [[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog|''Sonic the Hedgehog'']] FunPacks which contained puzzles, games, booklets, and toys to amuse children while they were traveling.
+
Sega provided Howard Johnson's properties with [[Sega Game Gear]]s and a small library of video game titles for guests to play at no charge. Children were also provided with a collectible series of [[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic the Hedgehog]] FunPacks containing Sega-themed puzzles, games, booklets, and toys, and a series of VHS promotional features were available to rent or purchase, ''[[Sega Game Gear Tips Volume 1]]'' and ''[[Sega Game Gear Tips Volume 2]]''.
 
 
The summer promotion was supported by a $3,500,000{{intref|Press release: 1993-02-18: NEW HOWARD JOHNSON KIDS GO HOJO WITH SEGA VIDEO GAME FUN PROGRAM}} advertising campaign, including national television, radio and print, as well as local promotional activities. It was created by American Marketer Michael Berreth{{ref|http://michaelberreth.weebly.com/about.html}}{{ref|http://michaelberreth.weebly.com/press.html}} of [[wikipedia:Irvine, California|Irvine]]-based advertising agency Strottman International Inc.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20010520171726/http://www.strottman.com:80/history2.html}}{{ref|http://strottman.com/}} (founded in 1983 by Kenneth James Strottman, former Vice President of Marketing at [[wikipedia:Mattel|Mattel, Inc.]]) and won a [[wikipedia:Columbia Scholastic Press Association|CSPA]] Award of Excellence for Best Worldwide Traffic-Building Promotion, with Howard Johnson's becoming a leader{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/19970408055912/http://www.hojo.com:80/common/history.html}} in mid-level lodging segment due to a 9% increase in room sales.
 
  
 
===Rentable hardware and software===
 
===Rentable hardware and software===
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====List of rentable software====
 
====List of rentable software====
  
===FunPacs===
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===FunPacks===
  
 
===Kids Go HoJo Fun Club===
 
===Kids Go HoJo Fun Club===
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===''Sega Game Gear Tips''===
 
===''Sega Game Gear Tips''===
 
:''Main article: [[Sega Game Gear Tips Volume 1]], [[Sega Game Gear Tips Volume 2]]''
 
:''Main article: [[Sega Game Gear Tips Volume 1]], [[Sega Game Gear Tips Volume 2]]''
 +
 +
==History==
 +
Created by marketer Michael Berreth of American advertising agency [[Strottman International]]{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20010520171726/http://www.strottman.com:80/history2.html}}{{ref|http://strottman.com/}}{{ref|http://michaelberreth.weebly.com/about.html}}{{ref|http://michaelberreth.weebly.com/press.html}}, {{PAGENAME}} was supported by a $3,500,000 advertising campaign, including commercials on national television, print advertisements, and radio promotions, as well as local, grassroots promotions in smaller advertising areas.{{intref|Press release: 1993-02-18: NEW HOWARD JOHNSON KIDS GO HOJO WITH SEGA VIDEO GAME FUN PROGRAM}}
 +
 +
The campaign was largely a success, with [[wikipedia:Howard Johnson's|Howard Johnson's]] seeing a notable 9% increase in room sales, resulting in the chain becoming the leader of its respective consumer lodging market.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/19970408055912/http://www.hojo.com:80/common/history.html}}
 +
 +
===Legacy===
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{{PAGENAME}} won [[Strottman International]] a [[wikipedia:Columbia Scholastic Press Association|CSPA]] Award of Excellence for Best Worldwide Traffic-Building Promotion.
  
 
==Promotional material==
 
==Promotional material==

Revision as of 05:49, 24 October 2021

KidsGoHojo logo 1994.png

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Kids Go HoJo with Sega was a Sega of America-sponsored marketing campaign for the American hotel/motel chain Howard Johnson's, produced by Californian marketing firm Strottman.

Campaign

Born from a venture between Sega of America and the American chain of hotels and motels Howard Johnson's, Kids Go HoJo with Sega was a unique summer promotion intended to increase room sales at the company's properties by making the chain seen more enticing to the children of possible lodgers. The promotion ran in all Howard Johnson's across the United States of America and Canada over three periods: From May 24th through September 6th, 1993, from May 27th through September 5th, 1994, and from May 27th through September 4th, 1995.[1] During the promotion, all the company's hotels, motels, and inns were equipped with life-size cutouts of Sonic the Hedgehog displayed in the lobby for guests to take souvenir photographs with.

Sega provided Howard Johnson's properties with Sega Game Gears and a small library of video game titles for guests to play at no charge. Children were also provided with a collectible series of Sonic the Hedgehog FunPacks containing Sega-themed puzzles, games, booklets, and toys, and a series of VHS promotional features were available to rent or purchase, Sega Game Gear Tips Volume 1 and Sega Game Gear Tips Volume 2.

Rentable hardware and software

List of rentable hardware

List of rentable software

FunPacks

Kids Go HoJo Fun Club

Children staying at Howard Johnson hotels could sign up for a complementary membership in the Kids Go HoJo Fun Club, which notably including a free subscription to Sega Visions magazine.

Sega Game Gear Tips

Main article: Sega Game Gear Tips Volume 1, Sega Game Gear Tips Volume 2

History

Created by marketer Michael Berreth of American advertising agency Strottman International[2][3][4][5], Kids Go HoJo with Sega was supported by a $3,500,000 advertising campaign, including commercials on national television, print advertisements, and radio promotions, as well as local, grassroots promotions in smaller advertising areas.[6]

The campaign was largely a success, with Howard Johnson's seeing a notable 9% increase in room sales, resulting in the chain becoming the leader of its respective consumer lodging market.[7]

Legacy

Kids Go HoJo with Sega won Strottman International a CSPA Award of Excellence for Best Worldwide Traffic-Building Promotion.

Promotional material

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Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #12: "April/May 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #18: "April/May 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #24: "May 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
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Photo gallery

1993 pack

1994 pack

1995 pack

Artwork

External links

References