PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Super 8® by Wyndham, one of the world’s largest economy hotel brands, today unveiled the latest installment of its award-winning #JourneySafe campaign. Featuring the voice of actor, family man, and avid road-tripper Oliver Hudson, the reimagined, multi-channel campaign—best known for its use of iconic dashboard bobbleheads—takes a light-hearted, PSA-style approach to promote the continued importance of safe and responsible travel.
#JourneySafe returns as millions of travelers—many showing increasing levels of consumer confidence—look to balance a new willingness to travel with the continued desire to do so safely.
According to a recent third-party travel study shared by the United States Travel Association with its members, close to 9 out of 10 American travelers now have travel plans in the next six months1.
“This last year has changed what it means to #JourneySafe. The words carry new weight and it was important to us that our campaign evolve to reflect that,” said Mike Mueller, president, Brand Operations, Super 8 by Wyndham. “As millions of travelers start making plans to get back on the road—some for the first time in more than a year—we want to let them know that Super 8 hotels are ready to welcome them and their families. From elevated health and safety protocols to flexible booking policies, we’re here to be their companion on the road.”
Inspired by Super 8’s passion for promoting safe travel, Hudson—known for his work on series like Rules of Engagement, Nashville, and Splitting Up Together, as well as the hit podcasts Sibling Revelry and Daddy Issues with Joe Buck and Oliver Hudson—joins as the voice of Coach in the campaign’s anchor: a 30-second PSA-style video. In the spot, he and his “team” of dashboard characters share practical advice for a safe journey—think tips around hand sanitizer, face masks, and pit stops—as they prepare to get back on the road.
“I’ve always associated the open road with freedom and exploration, which is why I find this campaign so important—it’s about reinvigorating the all-American, road-warrior spirit while promoting practices that will continue to help keep all of us prepared, safe, and healthy,” said Hudson. “It’s a message I’m proud to be a part of and, on a lighter note, one that has also allowed me to check off my career goal playing an athlete. Win-win. Now I just need to update that road trip playlist of mine.”
The nationwide rollout of #JourneySafe begins today and includes a comprehensive digital and social media presence. Complementing the brand’s creativity is a call to action on www.super8.com/journeysafe, where travelers can not only pledge to #JourneySafe themselves but find resources to help them inspire family and friends to do the same. Super 8 first launched its #JourneySafe campaign in 2019 as a means to draw attention to the underreported issue of drowsy driving but has since evolved the campaign in light of COVID-19 to promote safe and responsible travel.
Now through May 28, 2021, travelers can earn a free night—provided in the form of 7,500 Wyndham Rewards® points—when they book three consecutive nights or more and stay before May 31, 2021 (full terms and conditions are available at www.wyndhamrewards.com). Committed to providing guests with peace of mind, Super 8 hotels throughout the U.S. and Canada have implemented elevated health and safety protocols as part of Wyndham’s Count on US® initiative and continue to offer flexible booking policies along with low-contact mobile check-in and checkout. In addition, members of the Wyndham Rewards loyalty program, of which the brand’s hotels participate, have had their current benefits extended through the end of 2021 and expiration of points paused through June 30, 2021.
