Howard Johnson Launches Crayola Kids Rooms Specifically Designed for Kids and Families (12/00)

Howard Johnson International Inc. unveiled a room designed specifically for kids and families, the Howard Johnson Crayola® Kids Room(SM).

The rooms, which will accommodate parents and children, will be decorated in primary colors and have family-friendly amenities. Each Howard Johnson Crayola Kids Room will include a child's table and chairs, a Crayola easel, a Crayola lamp, a Crayola alarm clock-radio, a video cassette player, a micro-fridge, wall decor and childproofing devices. Rooms will also feature child-themed artwork.

Children's books and G-rated videos will be available at the front desk of each property. In addition, each family checking into a Howard Johnson hotel will receive a Crayola Kids Go HoJo(SM) Fun Pack featuring Crayola Crayons.

These unique rooms will begin appearing at Howard Johnson locations in Spring 2001.

"From decor to design, these colorful rooms will cater to our littlest guests," said Christopher Trick, vice president of marketing for Howard Johnson International Inc. "The rooms provide a place where both parents and kids can relax, have fun and enjoy their vacation."

According to the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), since 1987 there has been a 230 percent increase in the number of business trips that include children. Over the past five years, TIA reports that 92 million U.S. adults took a child on a trip of 100 miles or more from home. Sixteen percent included grandchildren on a trip, 8 percent took a niece or nephew on the road and 6 percent brought along children from another household on their trip.

"The lines of business and leisure travel are starting to blur as travelers extend their business trips," said Trick. "These rooms cater to families and provide a refreshing and stimulating environment."

Two Brands Strengthen Colorful Relationship

In addition, the hotel chain and Binney & Smith, the maker of Crayola products, will strengthen their relationship that began this year with Crayola Kids Magazine.

"Howard Johnson and the Crayola brand are teaming up to present a dynamic 2001 Kids Go HoJo program," said Trick. "The 2001 program will take the brand's relationship with Crayola products to the next level."

Howard Johnson will strengthen its existing relationship with Binney & Smith, maker of Crayola products, through Internet activities and a summer promotion to bring an added dimension of excitement during this peak travel season. There will also be a premium item offered at the front desk and, as always, kids stay free at Howard Johnson.

"Howard Johnson believes in working with organizations that provide kids with positive experiences," Trick said. "What better way to provide that to kids than giving them Crayola art tools that inspire creativity?"

As part of the Kids Go HoJo program, the brand will continue to sponsor the Kids Go HoJo Scholarship Sweepstakes. Now in its sixth year, this contest provides a $50,000 college scholarship to one child. An entry form will be included in the activity book that is distributed at the front desk. A winner will be selected at random, and no purchase is necessary to participate. Please visit http://www.hojo.com for rules and entry requirements.

From its early days producing pigments and carbon black, to its role today, as the maker of kids favorite art products, Binney & Smith is a company with color at its core. Since 1903, when the company's founders Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith produced the first box of eight Crayola crayons, Binney & Smith has earned a reputation as a quality manufacturer of hands-on art products that enable children to creatively express themselves. Headquartered in Easton, Pa., Binney & Smith is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc. of Kansas City, Mo. The company employees more than 2,000 people around the world and its products are sold in more than 80 countries. Company products are manufactured in the U.S., Mexico, England, Indonesia. For more information contact 800-CRAYOLA.

Howard Johnson International Inc. Franchises more than 500 hotels and inns worldwide, including properties in Argentina, Canada, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Venezuela.