Where is my Gnome? was a series of viral marketing advertisements used by Travelocity in early 2004 created by the creative agency McKinney.
Contents
Overview
The advertisements consisted of a man named "Bill" looking for his garden gnome. On January 3, the Boston Herald and the Boston Globe had these advertisements on their publication. The advertisements were inspired by the travelling gnome prank. Since the initiation of the advertising campaign, the "Roaming Gnome" has become the de facto mascot of Travelocity.
After TV advertisements voiced by Harry Enfield were screened nationally on United States networks, and on a Web site whereismygnome.com, many readers considered it to be a prank of the Garden Gnome Liberation Front.
The gnome remains in the commercials; however, he is no longer held against his will, but now works as "The Roaming Gnome: Denouncer of Travel Myths." In these commercials he discusses two myths, one where the gnome states that Travelocity's services are able to "denounce" the myth, and the other where the gnome ends up causing a mess. In one such commercial, he visits the Bermuda Triangle to see if things really do disappear there, denouncing the myth even as objects disappear behind him until he also vanishes mid-sentence.
In 2006, a major promotion involved 20 Travelocity gnomes carefully hidden throughout the 4.5-acre (1.8 ha) atrium of Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida. During the resort's Best of Florida Christmas promotion, guests were encouraged to find the gnomes to win a cruise to Alaska.
Inspiration
The concept of the roaming gnome and his international escapades dates back to the "traveling gnome prank" that began in the 1980s, later reflected in the 2001 French film Amélie. In the film, Amelie's father finds that his lawn gnome has gone missing. In the mail, he receives pictures of the gnome in exotic landmark locations.
Credits
The original campaign was invented by Lisa Shimotakahara and Philip Marchington of McKinney & Silver, an advertising agency in Durham, North Carolina. The tagline, "You'll never roam alone", was written by John Guynn, a copywriter at the same agency. Avant Garde Studio, with lead artists, Amy Medford and Leonid Siveriver, worked with Philip Marchington to design/create the unique look of "The Roaming Gnome". Avant Garde Studio is also responsible for sculpting and painting the original 3d sculpture prototypes