Thursday, August 19, 2010

Holiday Inn Logo

Awesome Holiday Inn from the 1970s

The other day on my way to ShopRite, I passed the Parsippany Holiday Inn. Passing this Holiday Inn is something I do about once a week. Every time I see that big green and white Holiday Inn logo, my heart sinks just a tiny bit.  It may sound silly to you, but here's why...

I'm not happy about this logo
In October of 2007, the Holiday Inn CEO and marketing team unveiled an updated, modern logo to match the hotel chain's new and improved services and amenities. Fancy new shower heads, bedding and even a newly developed Holiday Inn fragrance welcomes overnight guests.  CEO Andy Cosslette reveled, "We're creating a Holiday Inn scent. It's going to be very subliminal, You're not going to walk in and find it hits you between the eyes. It'll be very subtle."

I love that Holiday Inn has updated their service and style, I'm behind all of it, but not the new and improved branding. I guess I'm a sucker for the vintage look and feel. I want to see the old script I identify with childhood drives down to Disney while squeezed between my little brother and a pile of pillows.


As a kid, I loved the Fisher Price Little People toy hotel. Notice it's a Holiday Inn. The Holiday Inn and I go way back. Why does everything have to be so new and improved? I'm still applauding Coca Cola for returning to the old school Mello Yello logo. I think brand managers should continue to push the vintage. Let consumers hold on to their memories, although I understand the idea of forming new memories. I guess I'm just an old-fashioned girl. How about you?

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21 comments:

  1. Wings1295August 19, 2010 at 11:32 AM

    I am right there with you on this WHOLE post! I had that playset as a kid, remember it so well. I loved it. And staying at a real Holiday Inn when I was about 17 for the first time was mainly because I wanted to experience it. Nothing really special other than the memories, but yeah, the vintage signs/logos rock so much more than these bland new ones.

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  2. Wings1295August 19, 2010 at 11:32 AM

    THANK YOU for this post & those pics!

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  3. Tiffany KadaniAugust 19, 2010 at 11:32 AM

    That is so cute! I totally loved Legos as a kid- and probably would now also. Perfect gift for the constant traveler who never grew up. Hey, that's me!

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  4. RMbAugust 19, 2010 at 11:35 AM

    haha, i totally remember those!! and i agree with you about loving old logos.
    as for the holiday inn scent... i'm a little put off by it. what is it going to be a scent of? :\

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  5. lizAugust 19, 2010 at 11:43 AM

    i love the old toy! i can see why you prefer the vintage feel, but i do think the new logo is more fresh and updated!

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  6. Amber Von FeltsAugust 19, 2010 at 12:24 PM

    I have a book about vintage Motels & Hotels. Holiday Inn practically "invented" the art form of kitchy motel signs. They were the first to use the crazy arrow and neon. After that everyone was trying to out-do each other and they got wilder and wilder. I cannot believe that they would turn their back on that type of history. Boooooo.

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  7. CopyboyAugust 19, 2010 at 12:35 PM

    It's funny that you wrote about this since vintage logo tees are all the rage. I bought a Fanta shirt yesterday. People at work think the shirt looks cool, but I still look like a dork. Baby steps I guess.

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  8. reprise vintageAugust 19, 2010 at 12:39 PM

    i adore that holiday inn fp playset! thanks for sharing.

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  9. AnonymousAugust 19, 2010 at 1:04 PM

    Kind of like "If it ain't broke don't fix it" right??? Yeah if the log was working why change it???

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  10. Pat TillettAugust 19, 2010 at 1:15 PM

    I've stayed in many an old Holiday Inn and I thought they always had a "scent."

    I agree about the logo. It's something we indentify things with. Somebody needs to tell these stupid earthlings that "new" and "improved" is not always better, or even what we want. We want familiar...

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  11. MaceyAugust 19, 2010 at 2:32 PM

    Wait a sec...they have a signature smell??
    That's what that is?!

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  12. SaltAugust 19, 2010 at 3:38 PM

    I work for a property management company and we actually own a Holiday Inn. I am going to have to ask the powers that be about the scent thing!

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  13. Cecelia WinesapAugust 19, 2010 at 4:04 PM

    I agree the new logo is crap. Makes it look cheap in my opinion.

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  14. MarleneAugust 19, 2010 at 4:16 PM

    I suddenly have the urge to play with legos....and there are none around here. Does anyone have a kid (with legos) that I can borrow?

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  15. mamahasspokenAugust 19, 2010 at 6:26 PM

    Growing up we never stayed at the Holiday Inn because my parents thought they were too expensive. Guess that's why I was happy when we spent our wedding night at one!

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  16. Jeanne C.August 19, 2010 at 8:53 PM

    found your blog "by accident", and want you to know I grew up in the 70's, 80's, and 90's in Floral Park and Garden City!
    Going through your posts is a trip - the Franklin Square McDonalds! LOL!
    Where did you grow up and go to school?
    You can send me an e-mail
    cjcam918@optonline.net

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  17. TS HendrikAugust 19, 2010 at 9:37 PM

    I'm just not a fan of Holiday Inns in general. Or hotels for that matter. But I do like the older logo better.

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  18. CheeseboyAugust 19, 2010 at 10:44 PM

    Well, of course you love the vintage. I like their old style too.

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  19. UnknownAugust 20, 2010 at 5:51 PM

    I had that the Holiday Inn Playskool playset as a kid. I for one hated the new logo. I almost included it in a post I did for my blog on old corporate logo's versus new ones.

    New marketing and design just doesn't seem fresh and creative anymore. And what's with all the shortening of names? KFC.. BK.. IHOP.. Geezaloo!

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  20. LaraAnnAugust 21, 2010 at 9:52 AM

    I wish that I had that playset when I was a kid. My brother and I had the airport, farm and house.

    I don't care for the new logo either. We used to have a Holiday Inn near us but they tore it down and put a Shop Rite there. I miss seeing it.

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  21. Heather TaylorAugust 26, 2010 at 12:26 AM

    I like the vintage look too! Sometimes it's okay to not update everything. Hint, hint company advertising team.

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