In his latest attempt to educate the world on the obvious, the cult Hotels.com character Captain Obvious has been live-streaming a real countryside all week via Periscope. The literal live stream of a stream isn't just a silly pun either, as it offers hawk-eyed viewers the chance to win hotel vouchers when they spot certain cues. “Thanks, Captain Obvious” has for decades been a pop culture reference in the US, but it was first brought to life by Hotels.com in 2014 in the US market in the guise of a super fan “the Captain,” who revels in pointing out the self-evident. This latest campaign comes on the back of the successful UK launch of Captain Obvious in May, where his “Skip ad” saw a record engagement rate on 4OD.
The stunt is the latest work from Crispin Porter + Bogusky London for the brand, helping to position it as the obvious choice travellers make when when booking hotels. The Obvious Live Stream is taking place all this week (from Monday 19th September to Friday 24th September) between 10am and 5pm, and is also viewable on Twitter (@CaptainObvious). Viewers are invited to tweet the Captain when they spot rubber ducks floating down the river, using the hashtag #ObviousLiveStream. Winners will be chosen randomly everyday throughout the week, with Hotels.com vouchers worth up to £200 up for grabs.
Aude Ducharme, Senior Marketing Manager EMEA at Hotels.com, said: “Streaming a stream; that’s just how Captain Obvious rolls. He has long been an icon in the US and is now making a name for himself on this side of the pond (or stream) for pointing out what is patently clear. Fun and engaging, he represents Hotels.com (the obvious choice) perfectly.” The live stream is being streamed from the beautiful 5 star Gidleigh Park on the edge of Dartmoor, which is just one of many country hotels available to book on Hotels.com.
