Hilton Survey Finds Americans Cut Holidays with Family Short
During the holidays, many Americans find staying with family more stressful than comforting. A Hilton survey shows that more than 50% of folks who stay with family during the holidays cut their visits short. Hilton recently partnered with Morning Consult to survey 2,200 adults, discovering only 15% of them are planning to stay overnight with family this holiday season.
The research showcased that 36 % of guests sleep somewhere other than a bed (such as a couch or floor) when staying with relatives. Additionally, 38 % of guests say they need some alone time within 24 hours of arriving.
However, social traditions make the top of the list with 44 % of respondents disliking imposed bedtimes, 43 % matching outfits, and 39 % frustrated with mandatory group activities. As a result, 53 % of Americans admit they’ve made excuses to cut their visits short.
Hosts aren’t immune to the fatigue. Among those hosting overnight guests, 63 % say it’s exhausting, and 46 % would enjoy the holiday more if their guests stayed elsewhere. In response, Hilton is offering up to 25 % off stays to encourage people to skip the stress and opt for a hotel break instead.
Learn more here.
Office Depot Expands Holiday Lineup with New Brands and Big Discounts
Office Depot is bringing new products and a lineup of fan-favorite brands this holiday season. These categories include major launches like LEGO®, the collectible brick-brand Brickcraft™ (which features characters such as Hello Kitty, Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake and the Grinch Advent Calendar), resurgent fan-favorite Stitch merchandise, plus expanded selections from Crayola® and classic holiday-gift and stationery offerings via Hallmark.
In addition to merchandise, the company is offering a wide range of holiday savings and services. Some of the headline offers include up to 30% off print services for purchases of $125 or more (excluding photo services), 50% off all photo products, and 20% off FedEx shipping services (excluding One Rate) during the holiday window.
For larger ticket items, their Black Friday and Cyber Week promotions feature savings such as save up to $200 on select PCs and printers, and save over $200 on select gaming furniture. The brand is also offering “Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store within 15 minutes” plus free same-day delivery on eligible items, and flexible payment options via PayPal.
Learn more here.
BERO Brewing Launches Connected-Packaging Loyalty Experience with Digimarc
BERO Brewing, a premium non-alcoholic beer brand, has teamed up with Digimarc to roll out a loyalty program that leverages connected packaging. Instead of entering long codes, customers can scan a QR code embedded in the packaging, which is authenticated using Digimarc’s Illuminate platform. This makes participating in the rewards program quick and seamless, and links directly to BERO’s loyalty partner, Rivo, where customers earn credits.
To prevent fraud, each QR code is serialized, verified via Digimarc’s system, and invalidated after first scan. This eliminates duplicate or fraudulent redemptions and removes the need for users to manually upload or keep receipts. Customers earn loyalty credits regardless of where they buy — whether on BERO’s own website, Amazon, Target, or elsewhere.
BERO offers a multi-tiered membership: a free tier and a paid “BEROMASTER” tier. BEROMASTER members will receive benefits such as free shipping, 10% off every purchase, early access to new products, double credits during launches, quarterly gifts, and invitations to community events. Looking forward, BERO plans to deepen engagement by using data from the connected packaging to deliver more personalized experiences, real-time content, and long-term customer connections.
Learn more here.