Search articles from thousands of Examiners
Write for us
Washington DC Travel DC Gay Travel Examiner
DC Gay Travel Examiner

Orbitz launches new gay-friendly television commercial

June 16, 11:05 AMDC Gay Travel ExaminerTroy Petenbrink
7 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe


Get alerts when there is a new article from the DC Gay Travel Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.
Email Address


  Include other special offers from Examiner.com
Terms of Use

HRC Logo

In a newly launched television commercial by Orbitz, a leading online travel company, four male golfers have their game interrupted when a hovercraft lands in the middle of the green. The pilot approaches the men and distributes checks to three of the men. He informs them that the price of the hotels they booked on Orbitz went down and that the checks are for the difference. The forth golfer is told he doesn't get a check because he didn't book with Orbitz.

The advertisement is clearly designed to promote Orbitz's new price assurance program that guarantees that if a customer books a flight or hotel reservation and another Orbitz customer subsequently books the same reservation at a lower published fare, and first customer receives a check for the difference.

What might not be obvious to many viewers is that that ad also contains a subtle nod to gay viewers.  One of the three golfers that receives a check is wearing a shirt embossed with the HRC logo, a yellow equal symbol on a blue square.

HRC promotes itself as America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality.

The inclusion of the HRC logo was confirmed by Brian Hoyt, Orbitz's vice president of corporate communications and government affairs.

Orbitz has a history of marketing to the gay community.  In June 2002, the company launched a gay-specific microsite, www.orbitz.com/gaytravel, within its main Web site. The microsite features information about gay-friendly destinations and events and specially tailored travel deals.

 

 

 

 

More About: gay travel

Comments

Name:


Comments:
characters left

NOTE: Do Not Alter These Fields:

Year in Review
What will you remember from 2009? See the Travel Year in Review.
New Year, New You
From battling the bulge to beating debt, Examiners guide you to success in 2010.

Recent Articles

Thursday, December 31, 2009
Palm Springs rolls out the red (slightly pink) carpet next week, January 5 to 18, 2010, for the 21st Palm Springs International Film Festival. More …
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Resolving to travel more in 2010? Since 1964, Damron has been a leading publisher of informative gay travel guides. Its 2010 Men's Travel …