NATIONAL REPORT—With Election Day approaching, hospitality groups and hotels are encouraging their guests to go out and vote. Here’s a look at some of the recent initiatives, promotions and campaigns:
Indigo Road to Close Restaurants and Bars on Election Day
The Indigo Road Hospitality Group has decided to close its restaurants and bars on election day, Nov. 3rd. Most of them are normally closed on Mondays and will be open on Monday, Nov. 2nd, to help make up for the loss of income for team members and for the businesses. Indigo Road has two restaurants in hotels: Hotel Clermont in Atlanta and the Westin in Nashville, TN (Tiny Lou’s and Oak Steakhouse, respectively).
“I think that the lack of civic engagement in recent decades has gotten our country where it is today—severe political polarization caused by the most extreme citizens picking our leaders rather than a larger, more diverse representation of our citizenry participating in the elections,” said Larry Spelts, president of lodging & lifestyle adventures, Indigo Road Hospitality Group. “Anything that we as employers and business leaders can do to improve that situation is in our best interest as citizens and as businesspeople.”
Les Cactus Offers Voting Package for Guests
With the election quickly approaching, Les Cactus hopes all of its guests will get out and vote. Now through Nov. 3rd, Les Cactus Palm Springs is offering 10% discounts on all reservations for three nights or more with valid proof of voter registration, along with a bottle of wine (house wine) to calm the nerves during this period of pre-election anxiety. The hotel has also partnered with non-partisan movement I am a Voter, and will be directing guests to their website for more information on the voting process.
“I chose to create the Vote & Vacay promotion and partner with I am a Voter to help encourage people to vote, be heard and to protect their freedoms,” said Matthew Kurtz, owner, Les Cactus.
Virgin Hotels, The Source Launch Voting Campaign
Virgin Hotels, the lifestyle hotel brand by Sir Richard Branson, has launched “Don’t Sleep on Voting” campaign in partnership with The Source, the original home of hip hop. Designed to inspire voter participation, the nonpartisan campaign calls upon a lineup of familiar faces—artists, performers, creatives and more—to remind people to use their voice and vote in the 2020 election.
Both Virgin Hotels and The Source have already started utilizing their platforms and brands to inspire voting, whether by offering voting resources or details on how to register to vote. Taking this commitment a step further, the social media based campaign will roll out video messages from a diverse group of artists and creators on both the Virgin Hotels and The Source Instagram handles, urging people to not sleep on voting. Content will go live each day across Virgin Hotels and The Source’s social media platforms leading up to Nov. 3. Each video will have its own unique spin, as the influencers were encouraged to create a video in their own personal style to ensure a powerful call-to-action.
