Lighting the way with a bright idea
When the annual Cowboy Mardi Gras takes over the small Texas town of Bandera, the Best Western® Bandera Suites and Saloon is ready. The only hotel in town embraces the three-day hootenanny, offering fun promo items for staff and guests.
Joining the shindig
Upon checking into their rooms for this year’s Cowboy Mardi Gras weekend, hotel guests were much obliged to find two light-up cowboy hats. The headwear was a perfect fit for the bash in Bandera—aka the Cowboy Capital of the World®. The light-up hats were seen late into the night, on the streets, and in and around the bars and restaurants.
“People really liked the light-up hats,” said Charisse Hilchey, director of sales and marketing for Lodging Host Hotel Corp., the hotel’s management company. “They thought they were fun.”
Saddling up
The weekend included fun swag for employees as well. Each staff member was given a light-up hat to keep guests—and each other—smiling. “The staff is a hoot,” Hilchey said. After the guests and staff were outfitted, the remaining light-up hats were sold in the hotel gift shop.
Standing out from the herd
Hilchey liked the one-size-fits-all aspect of the light-up cowboy hats. She also chose colors that complemented Best Western’s branding. While she’s still putting together promotions for next year, there’s plenty of time. However, for Cowboy Mardi Gras guests, planning is already a thing of the past—the Best Western Bandera Suites and Saloon is fully booked for the February event.
BEST WESTERN is a registered trademark of Best Western International, Inc., 6201 North 24th Parkway, Phoenix, ARIZONA UNITED STATES 85016
COWBOY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD is a registered trademark of 563 Wagon Creek Road, Bandera, TEXAS UNITED STATES 78003