HOTELS

Adam Kirby

'Simpsons' Makes Dig At Hotel Names
January 7, 2008

Everyone’s favorite cartoon family, The Simpsons, takes a subtle, light-hearted shot at the hotel industry’s ubiquitous branding in the episode “E Pluribus Wiggum,” which aired Sunday in the United States.

In the episode, which satires the American electoral process, Homer and company attend a focus group presentation held at a hotel with the intentionally long-winded name: “Residence Inn by Hyatt Embassy Suites by Courtyard by Marriot—A Starwood Hotel.” Marriott is indeed misspelled, most likely an error by the animators. The meshing of seven hotel brands from four companies, however, is less a mistake than an example of the charming “Simpsons” quality of just not caring whether it makes any sense.



At Marriott International headquarters in Washington, D.C., the Simpsons gag generated a hearty chuckle. “We think this did a decent job of clearing up the branding confusion that can exist in today’s lodging industry,” says corporate spokesman Jeff Flaherty. “We also understand why there wasn’t enough room on the sign for the second T in Marriott.”

The simple sight gag does indeed resonate with truth on some level with the public, though. With so many brands in the marketplace, the casual traveler really can’t keep them all straight, let alone know which brands are associated with what parent companies. Not to mention, there are a lot of hotels with some ridiculously long and unwieldy names out there— Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club- Lahaina and Napili Villas, A Marriott Vacation Club, anyone?

Posted by Adam Kirby on January 7, 2008 | Comments (0)