Room at the Inn joke lost in translation
CARDIFF – Holiday Inn has attracted criticism for a British promotion offering discounts to help "offload" mothers-in-law during the holidays.
Holiday Inn said the mother-in-law rate, which offers rooms across Britain for 25 percent off, is designed to reduce holiday stress in overcrowded houses between December 23 and December 29, the Western Mail reported.
"The mother-in-law rate is a tongue-in-cheek initiative providing families with an alternative solution to help them avoid the stress of an overcrowded home this Christmas and save the in-laws from sleeping on the sofa," a spokesman for the hotel chain said.
However, Iwan Rhys Roberts of Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales said he does not find the promotion funny.
"Someone needs to tell Holiday Inn that this is 2009, not 1979," he said.
"Attitudes have changed a lot over the last 30 years and mother-in-law jokes have gone the way of the kipper tie.
“Christmas is meant to be a happy time – a time for goodwill and family but it can also be a difficult and lonely time for many older people.
"I’m surprised that anyone would market the idea that you can offload your mother-in-law at a hotel over the festive period," he said.
"It is insensitive and very offensive."
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt