Aussie Hotel Group Turns Up The Heat In Bid To Lure Tourists.

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By Kate Schneider

THERE are sexy ads and then there are those that are simply disturbing.
Well an Australian hotel group is pushing the boundaries of good taste in its bid to lure tourists to its Brisbane properties.
Jumping on board the 50 Shades of Grey craze, Accor released a self-proclaimed “saucy” press release yesterday promoting its Brisbane hotels the Quay West Suites, the Sebel Suites and the Sebel King George Square.

An Australian hotel group used 50 Shades of Grey as inspiration for an ad. Picture: Thinkstock

It advertised a hotel package that includes lip balm as a “lip biting remedy” and room service breakfast for two “as a girl’s gotta keep up her energy”.
Oh, and don't forget the satin blindfold - “oh my”, and the do-not -disturb sign.
“Brisbane is turning up the heat this winter and introducing a saucy overnight package sure to turn fans of the 50 Shades phenomenon in a spin,” the press release said.

It's not the only hotel to use the popular novel for publicity - last month a hotel boss in the UK replaced Bibles with copies of the book.

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I chose this article for discussion because it relates to how fast the tourism and hospitality industry reacts to societies interest and because it was published quiet recently by a reliable source the Herald Sun. The passing phenomenon 50 Shades Of Grey is a book that has grasped children, teens and adults more than the craze of Harry Potter. Brisbane hotels Quay West Suits, The Sebel Suites and the Sebel George King Square are now advertising a hotel package, that’s right a hotel package that includes lip balm as a ‘lip biting remedy’ and room service breakfast for two marketed as ‘a girls gotta’ keep up her energy’. The package is clearly aimed at fans of the book in hope to attract guests to indulge in the package where their fantasies can become reality. This article shows that hospitality and tourism will take advantage of anything accessible in the media and society to increase its revenue. Another good example is McDonalds Happy Meals. Constantly the toys that are collectable in the Happy Meals are relevant to movies or tv series that are current at the time.