Today, the Expedia Super Bowl spot was released and it features acclaimed actor and intrepid traveler Ewan McGregor (upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi) challenging viewers to prioritize life experiences gathered through travel. Expedia brings the message that experiences in life matter most, not the stuff.
To help people discover the value of experiences over things for themselves, Expedia will turn other game day ads into chances to get away with its “Travel the Ads” sweepstakes.
The Expedia Super Bowl sweepstakes will take place on Twitter during Sunday’s game, when Expedia will engage with viewers in real-time, drawing trip ideas from the night’s biggest spots. Prizes will be awarded to up to 20 winners in the form of Expedia Rewards points and valued at a total of $120,000.
“During the game, we’re turning every other commercial into a chance to travel,” said Hector Muelas, senior vice president of global creative for Expedia. “Sure, stuff is great, but travel is a more powerful vehicle for meaningful experiences and that’s what we’ve missed over these past few years.”
You have a chance to win during this Sunday’s game by quote retweeting a tweet from @Expedia relating to the commercial spots airing during the entry period and include the hashtag #TravelTheAds.
The Travel the Ads sweepstakes begins at 3:30 p.m. PST on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. Prizes include 19 first place prizes valued at $5,000 and one grand prize valued at $25,000.
In order to be awarded a prize, winners must be Expedia Rewards members. It’s free and easy to sign up, and membership comes with benefits, including instant access to member-only discounts of 10% off or more on thousands of hotels.
See full sweepstakes rules and restrictions at Expedia.com/TravelTheAds.
The Expedia Super Bowl ad, which you can watch below, shows McGregor walking through various production sets for commercials touting stuff — a trendier perfume, a thinner TV, a smarter smartphone — and exiting the studio to walk out to a beautiful beach, asking viewers, “Will we regret the things we didn’t buy? Or the places we didn’t go?”
In addition to inspiring the traveler in everyone, there are hidden Easter eggs throughout the commercial that pay homage to classic ads. It’s up to the viewers to spot them.
“Travel is an important part of my life and it’s given me such wonderful memories. It’s made me grow and I think it feeds your soul to travel,” McGregor said.
“I’ve learned that life is more about experiences than owning things. This ad fits me. It’s a cheeky look at the stuff we’re being sold all the time versus inspiring people to travel.”
Expedia’s first gameday ad in more than a decade was produced by Anomaly’s LA office.
The :30 version will air in the U.S. and Canada during the first quarter of Sunday’s big game, which will be broadcast on February 13, 2022.