You have to give Kobo credit for being hustlers. While they do not have the brand cache that Barnes & Noble, Amazon or Apple have, they are aggressive about getting their name out there in creative ways. Admittedly, the Kobo Reader for $149 lost some thunder in the wake of eBook Price Wars 2010, but they’ve come up with a creative plan to market their budget ebook reader.
Kobo has partnered with both Random House and Fairmont Hotels to provide Kobo Readers to travelers in Fairmont’s loyalty program. This way you can just show up at your destination and “borrow” a fully stocked reader while you’re on vacation. I can see this working extremely well with consumers who say “Well, I only read on vacation, so why do I need an ebook reader?” Not only are they exposed to Random House titles, but they also become familiar with an affordable ebook reader in a risk-free setting. If all goes well, these people may head home and snap up a Kobo device at their local Borders or Indigo Canada!
While it’s only being tested in a few markets, this has great potential to be a “trojan horse” that lures more people to testing out ebooks. If nothing else, I am sure people who hate reading poolside with an iPad will want to take advantage of this great offer!
Check out the full press release, and share in the comments if you plan on taking advantage of this program!
READING IN STYLE: KOBO EREADERS AVAILABLE AT SELECT FAIRMONT HOTELS IN NORTH AMERICA
10 Fairmont properties offer Kobo eReaders loaded with Random House bestsellers
TORONTO, ON —August 11, 2010— Kobo, a global eReading service, today announced that Fairmont Gold guests will have access to Kobo eReaders featuring a library of new and bestselling Random House books. The Kobo eReaders are now available at select properties in the US and Canada for guests staying on Fairmont Gold, a private, dedicated area offering guests the experience of an exclusive oasis with personalized service and enhanced amenities. The eReaders are loaded with a variety of fiction and non-fiction eBooks by authors including Bret Easton Ellis, Sophie Kinsella and Alexander McCall Smith. Upon returning the Kobo eReader, guests will receive a special offer for $2 off select Random House titles redeemable at www.kobobooks.com/randomhouse.
“Travelers are a great fit for the Kobo offering and a group that is eager to engage in eReading,” said Michael Serbinis, CEO of Kobo. “We know that travelers do not want to carry heavy books in their luggage, and vacations provide the perfect time to relax and catch up on reading. This partnership allows Kobo to expand our reach and offer our service to an important segment of our customer base.”
The opportunity to trial a Kobo eReader is a benefit of Fairmont President’s Club (FPC), the brand’s guest loyalty program. Free to join, Fairmont President’s Club provides guests with special benefits and privileges designed to reflect individual travel preferences and offer an enhanced level of service. Personalized travel profiles afford members customized stay experiences, while in-hotel benefits include private check-in, complimentary room upgrades, and high-speed and wireless Internet access. Guests can enroll at time of booking or online at www.fairmont.com/fpc.
Brad Martin, President and CEO, Random House of Canada commented, “Random House is excited to partner with Kobo and Fairmont Hotels to give travelers the opportunity and convenience to read books by some of our bestselling and award-winning authors on Kobo eReaders. I’m sure guests will really enjoy this great reading experience.”
In addition to the Random House library, Fairmont guests can easily access Kobo’s eBook store at www.kobobooks.com to browse and purchase from Kobo’s collection of over two million titles, thousands of which are available for free. Kobo also offers free eReading apps for today’s most popular devices such as; iPhone, BlackberryÒ, Android, and the latest tablets – such as iPad. Kobo‘s eReading service is being used by customers in more than 200 countries. A customer’s Kobo library is bookmarked from one device to the next for a continuous reading experience. The Kobo eReader is available for $149 at Borders in the US and at Indigo Books & Music and Walmart stores in Canada.
Brian Richardson, VP Marketing and Communications, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts says, “Offering benefits that are valued and distinctive allows us to provide our most loyal guests with something unique – either during the stay or when they return home. The Kobo eReader is a great way for guests to enjoy entertainment while staying with Fairmont and a great partner for us.”
The Kobo eReader is available at the following Fairmont Hotels & Resorts*: The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Fairmont Pacific Rim, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, The Fairmont Royal York, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Fairmont Château Laurier, Fairmont Turnberry Isle, The Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston, and The Plaza, A Fairmont Managed Hotel.
* Where Fairmont Gold is not available, guests can request Kobo eReaders through Royal Service.
About Kobo, Inc.
Kobo is a global eReading service backed by majority shareholder Indigo Books & Music, Borders Group, REDgroup Retail, and Cheung Kong Holdings. Kobo believes consumers should be able to read any book on any device. With a catalog of over two million eBooks, and an open platform, Kobo enables retailers, device manufacturers and mobile operators to bring the joy of eReading to customers everywhere. For more information, visit www.kobobooks.com.
About Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
With over 60 distinctive hotels, including the iconic Fairmont San Francisco and Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai, and more in development, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality brand known for its warm and engaging service and culturally rich experiences. Located in coveted worldwide destinations, its unrivalled collection of classic hotels imbue a sense of heritage, sophistication, and social importance, and are often considered destinations in and of themselves. Fairmont is also committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership program. Fairmont is owned by FRHI Holdings Limited, a leading global hotel company with 95 hotels under the Fairmont, Raffles, and Swissôtel brands. The company also manages Fairmont and Raffles branded residences, estates and luxury private residence club properties. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com.
About Random House
Random House is the world’s largest publisher of general interest hardcover, paperback, audio, and digital adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction books, Their parent company is Bertelsmann AG, one of the world’s foremost media companies. For more information, visit us at www.randomhouse.com or www.randomhouse.ca.
