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Hallmark Channel wanted to announce their new first-ever prime time series, Cedar Cove, in unique and memorable ways. They chose to place tent tables, postcards and door hangers in inns across America to reach their

target audience, 30-55 year old women who valued relationships and travel.

Tent tables featured actors in the show such as Andie McDowel while postcards offered a Buy-One-Night-Get-the-Second-Night Free voucher, good for an average value of $150 toward guests next getaway at any of 1,200 inns. Innkeepers enthusiastically got behind

the program because of the high value gift they were offering their guests (the free night) and because of the wholesome programming. The result of this grass roots B&B media placement combined with other advertising, The Cedar Cove series became the number one show on Saturday night in its time slot, including broadcast television (ABC, NBC, CBS). 3.8 million viewers were cited in a Neilson report. Many iLoveInns consumer product sampling programs have included media placement. Land “O Lakes gave branded placements for innkeepers to place near coffee stations, Post cereal offered table tents, Tom”s of Maine created 4” x “5 product brochures and MinuteMaid orange juice came with tastefully designed table tents. Door hangers announced the Cedar Cove series.  

Couldn”t help but

share this comment we received today from a long time user of iLoveInns.com. This fan was using our programs and books pre-online. – Deborah “I think I completed 12 reviews today! I started going to www.iLoveInns.com (and American Historic Inns) bed and breakfasts I think about 20 years ago now! The

first time I got a Free Night certificate, it was on a cereal box–if sent in so many box tops, you would get a certificate! We started going to B and B”s then and haven”t stopped. Some of our most memorable vacations have been while we stayed at a bed and breakfast. I always look here first when traveling and carry the book with me on trips! The buy one, get one free certificates are great fun to use and especially helpful in this economy! Anyway, we love using I Love Inns! Jackie Porcello

Amy Baker of Belles on a Budget talks about the www.iloveinns.com brand new 2011 edition of Bed & Breakfasts and Country Inns. “I absolutely love this certificate because it makes inns so affordable- in many cases cheaper than a hotel! This would be a fabulous way to save money on your honeymoon or an affordable way to celebrate something special- like your first year anniversary! “This book is a guide to inns across the country with detailed listings of inns in every state and Canada. And the especially exciting part?? The guide comes with a Buy One Get One Free Certificate!! So if you stay one night at a participating bed and breakfast, you get your second night free (a value of $50 to $650) My husband and I have the 2010 guide and we used the gift certificate a few weeks ago. I could not be more thrilled with the experience! We found it very easy to use the certificate- you can search on ILoveInns.com for participating bed and breakfasts and it also lists any restrictions an inn has right there. So we just selected Williamsburg and found an amazing bed and breakfast that accepted the gift certificates in August. We were so happy with the complete experience- the bed and breakfast was beautiful and we had a yummy gourmet breakfast every morning (which beats the donuts

and coffee at a continental breakfast any day!) and we loved talking with the owners. And the best part- these two nights were cheaper than what we would

have spent on a hotel- for much nicer accommodations! Thanks Amy for sharing your experience with our readers! And we hope you will keep visiting B&Bs!