Best Travel Ads This Week: Air New Zealand’s Latest Hobbit Homage

From Air New Zealand’s elfish employees to Visit Scotland’s child-like anticipation for coming events, this week’s roundup of travel video ads have a playful side to them.

FOR ALL OF OUR SKIFTADS OF THE WEEK COLLECTION, CHECK OUT OUR ARCHIVES HERE.

Just in case anyone forgot, New Zealand wants to be the real-life stand-in for the Lord of Ring‘s Middle-earth and Air New Zealand is the airline to get you there. The airline, country’s tourism board, and Hollywood are continuing their multi-year marketing effort in run up to the premiere of The Hobbit. And this branding video is adorable enough for keep us watching.

Hyatt Hotels has turned Kate into its model millennial guest. Last week we saw Hyatt lend busy, device-obsessed Kate a phone charger. This week, Hyatt uses Kate to how it keeps guests healthy and looking food with health-conscious snacks and high-quality products. Now we’re just waiting for Kate’s partner in crime, Keith, to appear.

VisitScotland unveiled its 2014 marketing campaign this week to promote upcoming events such as Ryder Cup and the Commonwealth Games. A set of four ads highlight the “brilliant moments” that are scheduled to happen in the coming year. Celebrities including Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy, violinist Nicola Benedetti, and Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley star in the ads.

Malaysia Airlines promotes its social media accounts in a new video ad with Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna. It asks viewers to share their travel stories on Malaysia’s social streams, undoubtedly to provide the carrier with content about each of its destinations. Rising start Yuna outshines Malaysia Air in this ad, and maybe that’s on purpose.