Daring hero gets what he wants in Virgin Holidays ad

LONDON – Virgin Holidays has launched a cross-media campaign created by Kitcatt Nohr that sees it return to direct response TV with an ad featuring a consumer hero goading traditional travel agents with a strip routine.

The character features in a 30-second TV ad as well as national press and online executions throughout the month, timed to make Virgin Holidays stand out in a key period for booking holidays and generate consumer response.

The consumer character walks into a provincial travel agency in a coat and carrying a cassette player. After failing to catch the eye of any of the travel agents, he turns on his player and sheds his coat, revealing he is naked except for seven "veils" taped to his body, and his shoes.

Dancing the dance of the seven veils, he plucks them off in turn while ranting about having had enough of rubbish package holidays and how he wants scheduled flights, a wide choice of destinations and value for money.

When he threatens to remove the last veil one of the travel agents rushes over to spare everyone by covering him up with a Virgin Holidays travel brochure, and the strapline "Virgin Holidays. Whatever it takes" appears.

The ad was directed by Blink director Brian Baderman, who has directed ads including Jaffa Cakes' "full moon half moon', Panadol's "Mum!" and Phones4U.

David Ody, Virgin Holidays acquisition marketing manager, said: "We wanted a campaign that would stand out in the January sales frenzy, and that is exactly what Kitcatt Nohr delivered."

Paul Kitcatt, creative director at Kitcatt Nohr, which won the account in May, said: "Only Virgin could make an ad like this. It's unlike any of the usual run-of-the-mill holiday ads, and that's exactly right for the brand."

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