Dan Hollings’ posterous

I saw this video on iReport, and the title was intriguing, but after watching it I think it's ineffective as a marketing strategy.

1. It makes me think the hotel is dirty. Even though the point of it is supposed to be that one could lick all of these surfaces, the only thing that stays in my mind is that someone has licked all of those surfaces.

2. It is offensive to women (or at least certainly to me). I get the distinct impression from the video that the viewer is supposed to be getting some sort of prurient thrill from watching it, especially with the remote. When it moves into the bathroom and she licks the toilet, I was completely disgusted. I think it's careless of the hotel chain to make assumptions about their internet audience and the way they'll react; I felt like they were assuming that their audience would be male and they would think the video was hot.

I wouldn't stay at one of these hotels given the choice, because the image they just gave off was one of pure sleaze.

Hi Dan,

I have to agree with Ann. It is sexually suggestive in an unfunny, uncharming way, and it's disgusting. Half the people in my office use a hand disinfectant because they don't want to catch colds. I'd say Bad, Marketing, Bad :)

This video prompted me to google Extended Stay America and see what came up. Seems toxic ricin poison was found earlier this year in a Las Vegas Extended Stay America Hotel. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/01/us/01ricin.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

The message I now have about Extended Stay America is that they are the best hotel for catching a disease!

I know sex sells. When sex sells Axe body wash to 20 year old guys, I get it. But using a young girl seductively licking a remote control and a toilet seat to sell motel rooms? All it sold me on was that Extended Stay America probably rents by the hour and that their rooms need to be cleaned with bleach!

I travel often and I have stayed at this hotel in the past. I can guarantee you that after seeing this, I will never stay at an Extended Stay America hotel again.

I am not sure yet if I would send this video to friends. I’d like to know their feedback and Id like to warn them about staying at this hotel chain. But, I also know that the number of viewers is used to claim success of the viral video and I am sure that the guys who made this video could be easily confused by the statistics.

Thanks for following me on Twitter, Dan. I love what you've done with the place; why, it's so clean on this blog I just want to lick it.

I am NOT EVEN going to push the PLAY button. No way! I thank you for the spoiler so I didn't have to actually WATCH the video! The media "experts" who created such a horror ought to be [insert your own idea of horrendous torture here.]

I am apalled, yet I have learned. Good for you for making this "posterous."

I'm now following you back.

I didn't get it, I actually did not make out that she said "very clean'. Again a great example of someone trying to be clever - not smart. There are a lot better ways to show the cleanliness. Now if she had said "Ooooh soo clean" after each lick - maybe it would have sunk in.

Not a huge fan of marketing that is clever and viral at the expense of the message.

That being said... I enjoyed making the video with her - sorry - just kidding... or am I

I used to work on Holiday Inn and the top concern of guests is cleanliness. This spot demonstrates that in way you'll never forget.

This is horrible... sorry.... doesn't get the point across in my honest opinion. So many ways this is wrong. I'm going to have nightmares tonight.

That was just nasty! The whole time I watched it I kept hoping that everything was sterilized! Yes, I watched the whole thing, but didn't remember it was for extended stay until I read one of the comments above. Conclusion's: Not effective marketing, amazed at what someone will do for money!

I honestly cannot believe that enough adults agreed that this was good enough to even get to the script phase. Upon viewing - it's a dreadful mistake and should never have been released.

There is so much wrong with this ad - and 99% of them obvious to anyone - that I won't bother listing them.

Shame on everyone involved in bringing this to life - they should be fired and retrained for something they have a real talent for.

Disgusting. Disgusting. Disgusting. All I'll be able to think about in my next hotel stay is, "Did someone lick this spoon? And put it back?" The company filed Ch.11. My hope is that they (and this ad) go away.

I agree with Rick, that it is amazing that the concept got a green light, let alone the client's go ahead to spend money producing this dreck. Bad decisions, awful execution and flawed thinking throughout. Perhaps the only remedy (outside of making sure these people do not find work ever again) is to have the entire creative team go through this lingual exercise at several of the client hotels (unannounced) as a means of testing their own truth in advertising standard.

Ski Sullivan! What's a nice guy like you - doing in a place like this?

The fact that this ad ever saw the light of day - or YouTube - is proof positive that a group of smart adults is able to make a terrible decision.

Kind of reminds me of the Obama administration...

Completely grossed me out.