Business & Finance

Homewood Suites Joins Float Lineup of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

NEW EORK, NY - August 31, 2010 - “On The Roll Again” showcases an adorable family of Ducks as they set out on the trip of a lifetime on Thanksgiving Day New York, NY– August 30, 2010 – A colorful family of the “quacking” variety gets set for a Thanksgiving trip they’ll never forget, as they debut in the float line-up of the 84th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®. Homewood Suites by Hilton joins the famed holiday spectacular with a whimsical new float that takes the family vacation to a whole new level. Inspired by the duck emblem that welcomes families to more than 300 Homewood Suites properties throughout North America, the “On The Roll Again” float will travel down the streets of Manhattan on Thursday, November 25, 2010, in front of more than 3.5 million spectators and over 50 million television viewers.

Based on the wonder of wooden pull toys, Macy’s has arranged the colorful family of ducks (literally) in a Parade. The father duck, Lewis, wearing his most dapper hat and carrying a backpack, takes the lead on this family getaway. Letting his feet do the “cranking,” Lewis will pull the mother, Lois and the kids down the line of march. As Lois gets her camera ready to capture the memories, the kids flap their wings with glee sitting on a wagon with their luggage piled high. The On the Roll Again float features three distinct units linked together and at over 46 feet long, this adorable family of ducks has one of the longest floats in the Parade.

“We are delighted to welcome Homewood Suites to the Macy’s Parade family. They certainly have all of their ducks in a row with this marvelous depiction of the classic pull toy newly imagined by the masters at Macy’s Parade Studio,” said Amy Kule, producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “Macy’s and Homewood Suites share a commitment to the whole family and this float promises to be a spectacular new addition to this year’s Parade line-up.” “We are thrilled to be involved in such a beloved national tradition and for the opportunity to showcase our brand on an international stage,” said Bill Duncan, global head, Homewood Suites by Hilton. “The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a uniquely creative, yet logical way for us to align with a partner that shares the same dedication to the family market.”

In celebration of their Parade debut, Homewood Suites will give guests the chance to win an opportunity to see the Parade live*. Now through October 17th, guests booking online at HomewoodSuites.com/Macys will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for four to New York City to see the Macy’s Parade. The trip includes hotel accommodations**, a $3,500 gift card, and VIP grandstand seating on Thanksgiving Day.

“As a leading, award-winning extended-stay brand, it’s exciting for Homewood Suites to partner with Macy’s, the leader in family retail,” said Carla Raynor, vice president of marketing, Homewood Suites by Hilton. “With millions of families watching the event on Thanksgiving morning, it’s a wonderful opportunity so showcase our brand with the absolute best of the best.”

Homewood Suites is the first single hotel brand to publish its own children’s book series, which is based on the brand’s mascot, Lewis the Duck. Three books are currently available, including “Lewis the Duck and His Long Trip,” “Lewis Goes to Canada,” and “Lewis Goes to Mexico.” An interactive game, activity sheets, quacky card creator, and luggage tag maker are available on www.lewistheduck.com. With frequent updates, content stays fresh and interactive for children and are all based on Lewis’s adventures.

The 84th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade steps off on Thursday, November 25, 2010 and is broadcast nationally on NBC-TV, from 9 A.M. to 12 P.M., in all time zones.

About the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
With more than 50 million viewers across the country and more than 3.5 million spectators that line up along the streets of New York City each year, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a national icon that has grown into a world-famous holiday event. For more than 80 years, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has marked the official start of the holiday season. Growing in size and scale, the Parade proudly marches down a more than 2-mile route in New York City with more than 8,000 participants in tow including Macy’s employees, their families, celebrities, athletes, clowns and dance groups spreading holiday cheer. The Parade also features America’s best marching bands, fabulous floats and Macy’s signature giant helium character balloons. For more information on the Macy’s Parade please visit www.macysparade.com or call the Parade hotline at (212) 494-4495 (212) 494-4495 .

About Homewood Suites
Launched in 1989, the Homewood Suites by Hilton brand today has more than 300 hotels open with approximately 110 in the development pipeline. Beyond its spacious suites and home-like amenities, additional guest features include an on-site Suite Shop convenience store, complimentary grocery shopping services**, a complete business center, and laundry services at most locations. To make reservations at a Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel, travelers can visit the Homewood Suites Web site at www.homewoodsuites.com or call 1-800-CALL-HOME 1-800-CALL-HOME .

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