Last week, Choice Hotels Asia-Pac unveiled its national consumer campaign, “Experience More with Choice Hotels”, fronted by comedian, radio broadcaster and television presenter Merrick Watts.

Merrick Watts has been in the public eye for quite some time. He’s well known as half of the comedy duo Merrick and Rosso, but he’s also appeared on The Hollowmen, Underbelly, SAS: Australia, Thank God You’re Here, The Cheap Seats and The Project, amongst others. Now, he’s the face of the “Experience more with Choice Hotels” campaign. But why Watts?

“Merrick Watts is the perfect fit for Choice Hotels Asia-Pac. He’s recognised across our key markets of Australia and New Zealand and he has a down-to-earth, relatable, almost boy-next-door kind of charm,” says Kari Hunter, Senior Director Commercial and Revenue Management for Choice Hotels Asia-Pac. “He’s also stayed a number of our hotels when travelling with his family, which makes him an authentic voice for this campaign.”

There’s no denying that Watts brings a fresh, fun perspective to the campaign, which aligns with Choice’s promise to deliver more for every type of traveller. The simple joys of travel, the new experiences, the relaxed comfort, the family fun, and even the business travel experience, are brought to life through well-crafted cinematography techniques, clever scripting, and Watts’ wit.  It’s quirky, it’s fun, and it champions the ways in which Choice Hotels properties deliver stays that go beyond expectations.

The campaign also nods to Choice Hotels’ value-for-money proposition across its portfolio of five brands across Australia and New Zealand, from the expanding upscale soft-brand Ascend Hotel Collection™ and Clarion Hotels™ to midscale and flagship brands Quality Hotels™ and Comfort Hotels™ and the economy brand, Econo Lodge, with the call to action being to book direct at Choicehotels.com.

“I’m excited to see how the campaign performs in regards to direct bookings, but also more general awareness of the properties under the Choice Hotels umbrella” says Kelly Sullivan from Quality Hotel Lakeside in Bendigo. “This is a great example of how being part of a franchise network expands our marketing visibility, as individually, we wouldn’t be able to pull together a campaign of this size.”

For more information about Choice Hotels Asia-Pac, see joinchoicehotels.com.au