Embassy Suites Hotels is all set to launch a $15 million campaign on television, print and online advertisements that introduces the concept of “more of more”—directed by Roman Coppola, sister of filmmaker Sofia and son of the legendary director Francis Ford.

This is Roman Coppola’s first directorial foray in the hotel industry.

The campaign was created by BBDO-Atlanta. The television campaign, launching March 6, features 30-second spots starring a quirky guest named Mr. More who’s always looking for “more of more” and “less of less.”

The commercials were filmed at the Embassy Suites Los Angeles-Glendale in California, and the 30-second spots offer viewers a chance to connect the brand’s selling points with a human face and character.

As the U.S. Travel Association proved with the Faces of Travel contest launched to combat the AIG Effect, it’s important to find a human face that people can relate to and use as a link to connect with the underlying brand or campaign.

Mr. More, Embassy Suites advertisement

The spots aim to highlight the size of the two-room suites, free breakfasts and complimentary drinks that the hotel brand offers. In one ad, Mr. More is shown taking off with a massive heap of plates piled high with food, and the next shot shows him seated at a table with his large family eating breakfast.

“Mr. More speaks for everyone who wants to get the most from their travel dollars, and he represents how great it feels to always get more during a stay at Embassy Suites,” said John Lee, vice president, brand marketing for Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Worldwide, in a statement. “Roman’s quietly off-kilter sensibility and innate understanding of the brand’s personality was a great match for us.”

The commercials will run throughout the year in markets including Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; Chicago; Dallas/Fort Worth; New York; Atlanta; San Francisco; Memphis; Houston; and Phoenix.

See the advertisements online on youtube.

Photo – Embassy Suites

US Airways has signed a new multi-year agreement with Sabre Travel Network. At a time when some airlines are pulling away from major global distribution systems (GDSs) and online travel agencies (OTAs), this agreement looks to extend the services that can be sold by Sabre Connected agents, which include Travelocity and Expedia.

A statement from Travelocity on Tuesday said that the booking site would have access to US Airways’ full range of content, including its Choice Seats product. Choice Seats can currently be purchased for all US Airways and US Airways Express flights when booking directly with the airline or as an upgrade at the airport. They’re described as “window or aisle seats toward the front of the Coach class cabin.” Pricing for Choice Seats varies by flight and can range from $5 to $30.

Last month, Virgin America announced an extension of its agreement with Sabre that would include making all of its ancillaries available through Sabre’s GDS. Other airlines currently marketing ancillary services through the network include United Airlines, Air New Zealand, Qantas, WestJet, Porter Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.

According the Sabre website, more than 55,000 travel agencies and booking sites use Sabre’s GDS and will now have access to Choice Seats and other ancillary services.

Photo courtesy of US Airways

Related Posts:
Hot Topic: American Airlines Battles OTAs
American Airlines Pulls Tickets From Orbitz
Everbread Selling ITA Competition to the Industry

Travel industry folks have been thrilled the past few months with the economy on the upswing and most indicators and surveys decidedly showing a return to travel after too many years of people delaying or scaling back vacation plans.

But 2011 might not register the growth numbers anticipated by suppliers thanks to these four current situations:

1. U.S. government shutdown – National parks, closed. National monuments, closed. Passport applications and renewals, unavailable. According to USA Today, during the previous government freeze 15 years ago, 200,000 passport applications were stalled and the National Park Service closed 368 sites, losing 7 million visitors. The impact today would be even greater, with visitation numbers up since then. In addition, 2011 is the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, with several events planned this spring to commemorate it, some at historic sites and memorials that now potentially could be shuttered.

2. Rising gas prices – Due to the unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, petroleum prices have been climbing—reaching $3.29 per gallon on average last week, a record for this time of year when prices are generally lower, according to the Boston Globe.

Not only will this affect the cost of a driving vacation, but airlines have been raising prices and adding on fuel surcharges multiple times since the beginning of this year. Combine those increases with the rising costs of food, utilities and other items dependent upon petroleum, and discretionary funds for travel, and just about anything else, could shrink, fast. One bit of good news: The cruise industry has so far decided to hold off on passing along any fuel increases to its customers.

3. Rising prices in general – As anyone who’s taken Economics 101 can attest, higher demand means higher prices. So with the current recovery come rising airfares (even before the recent fuel increases), hotel room rates, car rental rates, attraction fees, restaurant prices … you get the picture. Yes, the economy has improved for many people, but unemployment is still fairly high overall, and discretionary income, particularly for value-conscious and family travelers, remains tight.

4. Foreign exchange rates – The past six months has been mixed for the value of the U.S. dollar, but in three major tourism markets it has declined in value since early September, dropping 7.57 percent against the Canadian dollar (US$0.951 to US$1.023), 7.8 percent against the Euro ($1.281 to $1.381) and 5.46 percent against the British Pound ($1.539 to $1.623). Of course, any detraction from international travel can be a boon to domestic destinations, so this last item might cancel out some travel losses due to the previous items.

Would any of the above cause you to delay or change your vacation plans this year? Are any other factors impacting your travel plans in 2011? Let us know.

Photo credit: basykes

Related posts:
Vacations are Back and Other 2011 PhoCusWright Travel Trends
Top 10 National Parks Visited in 2010
Vacation Rental Market Following in Hotel Footsteps, Almost