Howard Johnson To Offer Free Hotel Room To Anyone Named ?Don Draper? After ?Mad Men? HoJo Episode

By Nadine DeNinno | April 25 2012 10:12 AM

If your name is legally Don Draper, not only do you have the same name as possibly the most suave ad man in fiction's history, but you could also score yourself a free hotel room at Howard Johnson.

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If your name is legally Don Draper, not only do you have the same name as possibly the most suave ad man in fiction's history, but you could also score yourself a free hotel room at Howard Johnson. The HoJo hotel chain is using the latest episode of "Mad Men," where Mr. and Mrs. Draper had a horrific experience during their stay, as a marketing ploy - and an apology - to everyone named Don Draper by giving a free one-night stay in order to boost the brand and revenue.

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The HoJo hotel chain is using the latest episode of Mad Men, where Mr. and Mrs. Draper had a horrific experience during their stay, as a marketing ploy -- and an apology -- to everyone named Don Draper by giving a free one-night stay in order to boost the brand and revenue.

To the Don Drapers of the world, the Howard Johnson hotel brand would like to say this: We're sorry and your next stay is on us, the company said in a letter posted on the Facebook page.

Any guest whose legal name is Don Draper is eligible to book a free one-night stay at one of the eight HoJo locations by asking for the Don Draper rate. Rooms must be booked by May 8 and used by August 31 with a valid ID proving Don Draper as a legal name.

At Howard Johnson hotels, our owners strive to give each and every guest a great stay, one that creates the same happy-filled memories that the brand's legacy is built upon, Senior Vice President Rui Barros said. Unfortunately, sometimes things happen that are beyond our control. This is our way of showing Mr. Draper that we value him as a guest and hope to welcome him back soon.

On Sunday night's episode of Mad Men, Don and Megan Draper take a visit to trendy 1966 Howard Johnson, where a fight about sherbet and clams escalated, resulting in Don leaving Megan behind in the hotel parking lot, and Megan completely disappearing when he returned to look for his wife.

The Howard Johnson brand, which once included over 800 locations across the nation, is down to just a fraction, according to CNN. The participating locations with the Don Draper deal include: the Howard Johnson Plaza Anaheim Resort and the Howard Johnson Inn San Diego Sea World in California; the Howard Johnson Inn Mystic in Mystic, Connecticut; the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel -- Miami Airport in Florida; the Howard Johnson Plaza in Portland, Maine; the Howard Johnson Toms River in New Jersey; the Howard Johnson Rapid City in South Dakota and the Howard Johnson Express Inn near Arlington Ballpark and Six Flags in Arlington, Texas.