This past week, months of planning came to an end as my new husband and I celebrated our wedding. As the celebration ended, we packed up and headed for a week of relaxation in sunny Mexico. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe it’s just because I work in the promotional product industry. But as we landed in the hot Cancun airport, and I started looking for the red and khaki embroidered uniforms of our travel company, I couldn’t help but notice how surrounded we were by corporate branding.
From embroidered uniforms to vans marked with car magnets, travelers are instantly surrounded by the branding efforts of those in the travel and hospitality industries. From the initial pickup at the airport, this branding continues all the way into the guest room of the hotel. When we arrived at our resort, we found embroidered robes and slippers; printed bags for laundry service; soaps; personal sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner; dental, shaving, sewing, and vanity kits along with notepads and pens all branded with their logo.
We absolutely enjoyed the robes during our stay and I was greatly tempted to purchase the same logo-embroidered robe at the gift shop at the end of our trip. While I resisted the temptation, I did leave with a printed pen, a note written on paper from the imprinted notepad in our room, a sewing kit and a bottle of lotion – all with our hotel’s logo branded on each item.
The moral of my story? While I will never forget my honeymoon for more reasons than just the promotional items we received, the consistent branding and the helpful kits and supplies left a very positive impression on us. When you treat your guests, clients and customers with small – but thoughtful – items, you increase brand loyalty and boost your name recognition. With printed apparel and branded promotional items, you can turn a one-time guest into a lifetime customer! I can tell you for sure – my husband and I will be returning!
