New TV advertising featuring "Frank, the frequent business traveler" starts Sept. 15 on cable TV stations such as ESPN, CNN Networks, Weather Channel, Fox News and Turner Sports. The advertising campaign and promotion web tour are both very similar: each use Frank's help to communicate Hampton's multi-million upgrade program, while simultaneously inspiring a little laughter. ("Ladies, please, no pictures.")

Taking a "deeper" look inside the average business trip and hotel experience, "Frank" guides viewers through a Hampton hotel, pointing out the new Hampton amenities that make his trip more fun, and ... well ... more like what Frank's been wishing for in a hotel.

By visiting www.hamptoninn.com, users can view the tour beginning today in under two minutes to experience Frank's humorous take on Hampton's new hot breakfast, "to go" breakfast, complimentary high-speed internet throughout the hotel, Hampton's unique alarm clock, and new shower experience. Hampton's fall "Come In and Win Giveaway" promotion, running September 1 through October 31, 2004, takes Web surfers on a similar tour, using rollover technology that creates "hot spots" on site pages that can become "live action" scenes. Participants use their mouse to move through the hotel, choosing the right hotel key card to unlock the door and see what's inside the new Hampton guest room. Some of the site's areas use "motion blur" technology to directly enlarge certain images. Clicking on the night table alarm clock immediately zooms in to play "rock," "country," or "news talk" over the computer. Or, viewers can take a moment to tour the bathroom and witness Frank's talents singing in the shower.

While Hampton's "Frank" may have a more unusual personality from the usual business traveler, Hampton believes that all business travelers will be able to relate to some of Frank's scenes, or at least be a little more interested in experiencing the items themselves at a Hampton Inn or Hampton Inn & Suites hotel.

"Laughter can be the best medicine, even for the travel weary," said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president, Brand Marketing, Hampton Hotels. "We wanted this tour and promotion to give consumers a taste of the lighthearted personality and experience inside the Hampton brand and Hampton Inn hotel, but in a tech-savvy way. There are more than 120 new products and services rolling out at each Hampton hotel this year, and everyone knows that seeing is believing."

Hampton, which includes Hampton Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites hotels, is a mid-priced leader in the lodging segment. Hampton is part of Hilton Hotels Corporation, which develops, owns, manages or franchises more than 2,100 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties.