Airbnb was the top travel brand spender on U.S. TV, but Expedia Group brands collectively committed more dinero. Booking.com got way more active than last year.
It’s no secret that the pandemic’s extreme measures have turned advertising on its head, but travel advertising is moving back and forth in leaps, from TV to internet, then back to TV. In 2022, travel brands are showing even more dedication to television, countering all speculation that national TV is coming to an end.
Airbnb is going with huge brand marketing campaigns in 2021 to take hosting mainstream. But when travel recovers and rivals turn on their performance marketing on Google, will Airbnb de-prioritizing search engine marketing come back to haunt it?
Sister brands Vrbo and Expedia are being opportunistic in getting relatively aggressive about U.S. TV advertising early in 2021 when rival brands are standing down. You can debate whether it is smart or risky given the pandemic backdrop.
The most popular travel ads on TV in the United States in July were aspirational, but they also emphasized booking flexibility and low pricing. Pandemic formulations.
"The Open Road Is Open Again." With that message to tap Americans' pent-up demand to get the hell out of the house and escape lockdowns, Choice Hotels went big on U.S. TV and was the most-seen brand. Being in the right place at an opportune moment helps, but backing it up with effective creative wins the month.
Trivago and Booking.com have dramatically reduced their U.S. TV advertising. Trivago is doing so to try to stem losses, and Booking.com, which last year indicated it would lean into TV advertising, may be trying to tighten control of some marketing costs.